www wednesday

WWW Wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (with my son)

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

Recently Finished:

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I read this for my "evil" choice for the What's in A Name 4 challenge and also because it has been on my TBR list for a really long time! I can't believe I waited so long to read this! I ended up listening to it because I had a hard time reading it and I find when that happens, it's easier for me to listen, if that makes any sense! I found that once I got back the first part and they were actually at Shizz (sp), I really got into the story. As I listened I couldn't help but compare it to the musical and of course, it is so different. Aside from wondering what goes on in Gregory Maguire's head (and frankly, being a little worried--lol), I honestly enjoyed this book and the real story of the Wicked Witch of the West. Of course, I will have to watch the Wizard of Oz again soon!

The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

I read this for the following challenges: my "number" choice for the What's in a Name 4 challenge, the 1001 books you must read challenge, and the Celebrate the Author challenge. I think I may have a new favorite author on my hands! Other than The Scarlet Letter, I have never read anything by Hawthorne and I absolutely loved this!

The Old Man of the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

I read this for the the following challenges: my "life stage" choice for the What's in a Name 4 Challenge and the Celebrate the Author challenge. This was my first time reading Hemingway and I was surprised by what a quick read this turned out to be! I enjoyed the determination of the Old Man in fighting his battle against the big fish.

Coming Up:

The Silver Boat by Luanne Rice

Stories I only Tell my Friends by Rob Lowe

WWW Wednesday

Once again, I missed a week. I need to keep up!!!

This covers two weeks, AGAIN!!!

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (with my son)

Recently Finished:

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

I read this for my "1972" choice for The Century Challenge. A rather quick read but while I liked it, I wasn't in love with it.

The Reader by Bernhard Schlinck

I read this for the 1001 Books You Must Read Challenge. It has been on my TBR list for awhile. It's the story of a young man who has a love affair with a woman twice his age; it ends abruptly and when he next sees her, he's a law student and she is on trial for her life. I devoured this book and can't say enough good things about it!

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

I read this for four challenges: my "Banned Book" choice for the Back to the Classics Challenge, my "U" choice for the A to Z Challenge, my June choice for the Celebrate the Author challenge, and for the 1001 Books You Must Read Challenge. Aside from the use of the "n-word", I can't think of anything that would place this on the banned books list! Obviously, I didn't live back then but it seems to be a pretty accurate depiction of what happened during that time period.
(Actually, that's probably what scared so many people) I enjoyed the story of Eliza who is separated from her son and husband and her quest to be reunited with them through the help of Uncle Tom, a negro himself, who is known to help the southern slaves to freedom. A wonderful book that I highly recommend!

Coming Up:

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

Book Review: The Bluest Eye

This was my choice for 1970 for The Century Challenge.

Summary from wikipedia: Claudia and Frieda MacTeer live in Ohio with their parents. The MacTeer family takes two other people into their home, Mr. Henry and Pecola. Pecola is a troubled young girl with a hard life. Her parents are constantly fighting, both physically and verbally. Pecola is continually being told and reminded of what an “ugly” girl she is, thus fueling her desire to be Caucasian with blue eyes. Throughout the novel, it is revealed that not only has Pecola had a life full of hatred and hardships, but her parents have as well.

My Thoughts: I think I was supposed to read this in college at some point but never actually finished the book. I've always meant to read Toni Morrison so I guess it's appropriate to start with her first book. It is the story of eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove, who believing that blond haired, blue-eyed girls live better lives, prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. It was startling to read the story of Pecola , who is mistreated by her parents, eventually being raped by her father and separated from them, coming to live with the MacTeers. The two girls in the family feel resentful of her as they are too young to really understand what is going on. Though it is only one year in Pecola's life, it is the year that she will forever be changed by the events that occurred.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Toni Morrison, based on how much I enjoyed this one.