Diary: A Novel - Chuck Palahniuk

So, its been awhile since I blogged about a book, but I made the mistake of starting about 6 different series, so until I finish a bunch of them I only have the odd single book to blog about. If I could give you one piece of advice, don’t do that. Don’t start a bunch of different series at the same time. You’ll go crazy. On that note, let’s talk about this book.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book. When it first started I was quite confused as to what it was supposed to be about and who was actually speaking. The entire book is written in 3rd person. Without revealing too much of the plot, you are reading the diary of Misty, wife and mother. I’ve never read a book like this so it was very interesting and it took me a little to get into it. I wasn’t sure if I would like the book, but it was so short (260pages) I figured I might as well just power through it and make my judgement after.

My judgement, I liked it but not until the end. In the days since reading it I’ve grown to appreciate the writing style more and more and the main characters sarcastic and witty thoughts made me laugh on a number of occasions. I never really understood exactly what was going on until the very end and some characters (like her daughter) really got on my nerves. That was probably the point though. If you like reading books that are different with a bit of a twist I highly recommend this one. 

A.

P.S. Today's weather is hopeful with small bursts of excitement :P

The Hunger Games ***SPOILERS***

Seriously ***SPOILERS!! DON'T READ IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!***

I suppose I should prequel this with “I watched the movie first”. In this instance I am very glad for that fact. In the movie you have less time to form an attachment to certain characters so when they die you feel less sad. This is an important fact for me in a book prevailing in death. I’ve been known to quit a whole series if I get too affected by something; I end up with too many emotions and can fix it only by trying to forget it happened. Although expecting it is only half of it, even when I know it’s going to happen a part of me still wishes it will end differently.

The book was, with the exception of a few minor details, exactly the same as the movie.  It’s written in first person so you really get into Katniss’ head; what she is thinking and her motives behind everything. You find out what drives her. I like this. It’s been awhile since I read a book in 1^st person.

This book seems very controversial since not only is it about killing, but it’s about killing children. I’m not sure if this should bother me more, but all I really think about is Gladiator. Sure Russell Crowe was an adult, but I doubt every gladiator in the coliseum was an ex-roman soldier, so I weigh it with similar value. Our civilization has proven throughout history that it finds entertainment in slaughter and death, so why should this future society be any different? The final death in the series is the most disturbing, and I try not to think of it because it makes me feel very sick. No one should be treated like that, and it really made me hate the Capitol as much as Katniss. More than anything I want her to win.

The death I was dreading throughout the book was Rue. I don’t remember feeling very affected by her death when I saw the movie but I didn’t really know her that well either. I remember the first time she was mentioned in the book, and every time her name came up I wanted to start crying. I knew she was going to die. I expected it. I still wanted it to be a lie. With every page turn I knew I was merely expediting the tragic scene of her death. The alliance doesn’t last long between Katniss and Rue, but every time Katniss speaks of her, mentions her, describes her, you’re left with this sense; you want her to live. I think it’s a little more impacting because she is the youngest. At 12 years old she is forced into this gruesome battle. At 12 years old she breathes her last breath. It’s not quick and it’s not painless. Of every death in this book Rue is the one that matters most, it is the most haunting, and no matter what else happens Katniss always comes back to Rue. I cried.

Pride & Prejudice and Through the Looking Glass

Since I'm already well into this I'll just start with the two most recent books I finished. I'll start with Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll because I have the least to say about it. Basically instead of Alice falling down a rabbit hole she gets sucked into a looking glass. Its just as messed up as Alice's first encounters in Wonderland and include memorable characters like tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum. Its a very quick read so if you enjoyed Alice in Wonderland I do recommend this one. Alice is trying to make her way across a chess board to become the queen! And what an imagination she has to get there. I don't have much insight to share since, really, who knows what Lewis Carroll was thinking when he wrote this stuff. 

Pride and Prejudice is a book I've become completely enraptured by. I LOVED this book!! I finished it and wanted to start it over. I sufficed by reading some of my favourite scenes over again. From the first time you meet Mr. Darcy you just have to love him. Not because he's endearing in ANY way, but for his honesty and complete lack of restraint during his conversations with Miss Bennett. Likewise I think Eliza holds even less back and her frankness is quite admirable to someone like me who only wishes I could be as open as her. Every page kept me wanting more and I could hardly wait for their next encounter. One of my favourite scenes (which I think is for many) is his first confession scene.  I felt as surprised as Elizabeth did. And the "argument" that ensued is so honest and raw, everything they had been holding back before this moment is laid to the table. 
As you continue the book you see the dramatic change in attitude between first confession Darcy and second confession Darcy. He comes from a very proud and arrogant state and throughout the book you see his defenses completely stripped away. He takes every criticism Elizabeth so wantingly shares and makes an effort to improve and become a better person (which we see when she accidentally meets him at Pemberley). And likewise I suppose Elizabeth's great irony is from one her first references to Mr. Darcy where she states 

"Heaven forbid! - That would be the greatest misfortune of all! - To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! - Do not wish me such an evil". 

Her prejudice toward Mr. Darcy is based on an account from a most unscrupulous character (Wickham); its not until his first confession that she learns the truth. After that she learns more about his true character and is forced to re-evaluate almost everything she previously thought about him. By the time they meet at Pemberly she's so embarrassed by her previous actions its really quite awkward (REALLY AWKWARD). 
Pemberley is the first time you start to see a big change in Elizabeth's attitude towards Mr. Darcy. Both characters have bewitched me and I will probably read this book many more times in my lifetime. For now I will leave you with one of the best confession scenes I've ever beheld. Matthew McFayden definitely makes a beautifully vulnerable Mr. Darcy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFsgLhx9dxg

My Challenge should I choose to accept it

When I was in highschool I made a list of things I wanted to do before I died (bucket list?) and I wrote them on my bedroom wall. I think there was only 10, and I forget most of them, but they were things like "Visit France and buy a whole outfit and eat real french bread" and "own a piece of the rainforest". Since starting on Goodreads I have added many books and am reminded of a goal I forgot about, which was to read 500 books by 25. As I add my 300th book to my "read" list on goodreads (that I can remember the title of at least) I realised I'm 200 books away from my goal and have only 7 months left before my 26th birthday. At the time I wrote this goal I didn't specify that they had to be novels, all I said was books. Now I know I have read plenty more books than I have on goodreads since I started reading when I was about 4 and have a whole box of childrens books I've read many times and have many books I read for school that I've forgotten about. So lets say I add 100 books to the list to make up for all the books I read as a child and all the school books I read for projects. That leaves me 7 months to read 100 books to reach my goal of reading 500 books before my 26th birthday. I legitimately want to try and reach this goal and I thought, "Hey, maybe I'll blog about it". I'm starting late, I've got 92 books left to reach 400 books on Goodreads, but I am going to start blogging my experience through this starting now. I need to read approx 13 books every month for the next 7 months to accomplish this goal by Feburary 18th which will is my 26th birthday. So look forward to many a blog post in the coming months. Depending on how much I struggle through some of the books on my list I might post at the end of each book or post once I get part way through. Wish my luck!!