A Review: The Book Thief, from page to screen.

It has been an incredibly long break, but I'm back, and I have a review of the recent book to film adaptation of the bestselling novel, The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak. The book comes highly recommended and its popularity speaks for itself, but I will tell you how I feel the film lived up to these high expectations.

Director: Brian Percival
Starring: Sophie Nelisse, Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson
Running time: 131 minutes
Rating: ★★★★☆

Adapting Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, a novel that has spent over 230 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list, was always going to be an exciting prospect, but also a notably difficult one. How do you do justice to a novel that is narrated by Death? Brian Percival seems to know how. The unnerving omniscient narrator is introduced as the film opens amongst the buoyant and fluffy clouds. Percival seamlessly incorporates Death, managing to avoid uncomfortably and jarringly inhibiting the story of Nazi Germany and the inhabitants of ‘Heaven Street’. Death is subtly assimilated by interesting camera angles such as those from the hatch of a bombing plane. We see him indiscriminatingly claim his victims as the bombs are dropped and the village is illuminated and destroyed.

From the very beginning, the randomness of death, and the vulnerability of life, is portrayed. Reminiscent of a Harry Potter death-eater scene, the shot sweeps through the train carriage as Death intimidatingly glares at the nameless bodies, before selecting his victim and taking a child’s life – the first of many. Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) haunts Death, eluding his grasp on each of their encounters.

The casting of the film is responsible for successfully unfolding such an affecting story. Tears and laughter come hand in hand as we watch a young girl move in with her foster family, and try to enjoy a normal childhood. Geoffrey Rush, as Hans, doesn’t disappoint in reflecting the sensitive Papa, who teaches Liesel to read, inspiring her love and appreciation for books just at a time that they are being ruthlessly burned. Emily Watson, as Rosa, steals the show. She skilfully represents Mama, an uptight woman desperately trying to feed her family and losing business every day. The childhood friendship of Liesel and the endearingly infatuated Rudy (Nico Liersch) is excellently and convincingly portrayed. The scenes of childhood play partially transport the audience away from Nazi Germany into a place of youthful innocence and naivety.

The book and film offer an interesting perspective on Nazi Germany from the domestic life of German non-conformists, removing the focus from the political side of the war. There is a sense of naivety as Liesel fails to understand why she can’t say she hates Hitler, and why you can’t hide a Jew. Although at times this does seems slightly unrealistic, it works to convey the senselessness of the circumstances.

There were several incongruous parts, such as the strangely unmaimed corpses of the inhabitants of a village that has been destroyed. However, the fantastical gloss seems to allow for these slight oddities, or perhaps it’s because the film is partially from Liesel’s innocent perspective. In this sense the uninjured corpses represent the message that death will come to everybody, and for those with love, it will do so in peace. Given the serious subject matter, the tone is certainly far from dark and gritty. Some of the scenes almost seem incongruously picturesque, as a steam train makes its path through blankets of virgin snow, or as the village is depicted as a perfect biscuit-box Bavarian town. Perhaps these artistic glosses are what enable the message to be conveyed: despite the political atrocities of Nazi repression, you have to live your life by enjoying the small things, looking for beauty, and taking risks for what you love. You have to steal a book, or hide a Jew.

Have you read the book or seen the film? What did you think?

Literary Places: Lamb House & a Henry James book review

A few weekends ago we decided to enjoy the sun by having a day out in Rye. We jumped into Mum's car and drove through the tumbling hills along the winding roads with the intention of having a relaxing wander around the pretty town. The sun was shining as we walked up the cobble streets admiring the picturesque town. We then came across the fine Georgian house pictured below, and excitedly promised to return later on after lunch, to have a peruse of whose house, but Henry James'? 

To those that don't know,  Henry James was an American novelist born in New York in 1843. He moved to England, lived in London for 20yrs, before moving to Rye in 1896. He died in 1916, having assumed british nationality. He was considered a key-figure in the 19th century birth of literary realism and his novels concentrate on observations of the higher ranks of society with intimate detail. Often his novels offer a narrative romance set against a backdrop of social commentary regarding politics, and class. He is also interested in exploring personal freedom and individualism versus social obligation and morality, and this he does specifically in juxtaposing Europe and Britain, with America. He is commended for his narrative techniques that allow for this character insight, those which include: interior monologue, point of view, and unreliable narrators.

He is best known for his novels The Wings of the Dove, The Golden Bowl, The Ambassadors, and The Portrait of a Lady, although he was also a playwright, and literary critic.

Having walked through the imposing door, which rose high in accordance with Georgian architectural symmetry and proportion, we made our way into the hallway. Along one of the walls were portraits of all of the literary figures that had visited Lamb's House, including portraits of Hugh Walpole, Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, Arnold Bennett, H.G Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Virginia Woolf etc. I have a strange fondness for this kind of trivia, I love learning about the connections between authors, and how they were interlinked with certain places, or with different artistic movements.

This is particularly interesting since I subsequently learned how James' later work was seen to have influenced the modern movement, particularly regarding the stream of consciousness most famously attributed to Joyce or Woolf.

We wandered around the rooms, all of which  were beautiful- this one particularly, which looked onto the garden.

Having enjoyed the blooming gardens, and yearned to have a high tea in the garden - a garden that gave the impression of having being designed with that very purpose in mind, we went to explore the rest of Rye. I wasn't quite able to avert my attention from the stall of his books before leaving Lamb House. I couldn't help but pick up The Portrait of a Lady, which had been on my reading list for a long while. 

If you read my last book review, you might have found that I alluded to James' novel being slightly displeasing. In truth, it was mainly frustrating, slow and rather long so I can be forgiven for finding his comment about Collins' The Woman in White, a bit rich- thus demonstrating why I felt the need to stick up for Collins! 

A Portrait of a Lady is interesting in that it very different from anything I have ever read.  The commentary on both American and British character and their respective civilisations was new to me. Undeniably James has great skill in characterisation achieved largely through the observatory narrative which details the character's emotions and thoughts, creating a psychological novel that deeply explores the minds of its characters. Since James wrote whilst watching the Victorian era draw to a close, the insight into the underlying fissures in a society that had vehemently maintained an archaic social hierachy despite dissent, and huge changes technologically, informs his writing. The only problem I found was that despite my enjoyment of these two aspects, of his skilful writing, that was essentially all there was. A lot of convoluted language, but very little plot, very little movement, making for a very static novel. Now, bear in mind this is being said by a lover of 19th Century literature, not one who absolutely requires an abundance of action, nor simplistic language, but even for me the story itself was a little insubstantial. It was essentially disappointing.  I definitely appreciated James' skill, but the novel felt like it could have been condensed to half if not a third of the size! Anyway, that's my twopence on James; he's a little pretentious, and a little bit too disinterested in entertaining the reader.

H.G. Wells harshly portrayed James as a hippopotamus laboriously attempting to pick up a pea that has got into a corner of its cage- whether this is fair, and his language is clumsy or not, or whether the picking up of a pea is pretty banal and never climaxes into anything more complex or significant, is for you to decide. But despite all of this, I came across a little anecdote that told of James on his deathbed, having just had a stroke, searching a thesaurus for a word more appropriate than 'paralytic' for his present state. So evidently, it wasn't all show, which is at least something!

Have you ever visited any literary places? Have you read any Henry James?

A Book Review: The Woman in White

Written between 1859 and 1860, The Woman in White was published in weekly instalments. This Victorian novel succeeds in being accessible and enjoyable, despite its length. Slow in some places, a criticism appropriate to much 19th century writing stretching even to the beloved Brontes', the epistolary form, combined with a gripping mystery story, coalesce in generating a page turner.
Dickens was named a friend, boss and mentor to Collins and they are said to have inspired one another. Whilst both combine elements such as romance, mystery, mercenary villains, and gothic features, the reader's experience of the two authors proves distinctly different. Wilkie Collins employs a style that was coined the first detective novel and is considered foundational for "sensation fiction". Despite these achievements, Dickens remains a 21st Century household name over Wilkie Collins who was at the time one of the best known, best loved, and, for a time, best paid of Victorian fiction writers. However after Collins' death, his reputation declined whereas Dickens' grew increasingly popular. Whilst a fan of Dickens, 'The Woman in White' has certainly confirmed to me that he wasn't the only talented story writer of the time, so if you're fond of Dickens, and after something marginally less dense and literary, then maybe you will be pleased to pick up one of Collins' novels.

Summary:

Following an unusual epistolary form, Collins juggles the narratorial voice between a variety of different characters all of whom gradually reveal the intricacies of the story. This form is a perfect plot device for unravelling all of the elements of the story, leaving one with blanks, questions, and intrigues on the way, facilitating suspense, and qualifying the novel as one of the first in gothic mystery fiction.

It is Walter Haltright's voice that opens the novel, whilst introducing his Italian friend Pesca, when we are made aware of the news of his appointment as drawing master to Laura Fairlie and Marian Halcombe of Limmeridge House. In conjunction with this revelation, one late summer's evening Hartright has a moonlit and eerie sighting of the distressed and strangely impassioned Woman in White.

'In one moment, every drop of blood in my body was brought to a stop... There, as if it had that moment sprung out of the earth, stood the figure of a solitary Woman, dressed from head to foot in white'

Little does he know that this troubling incident, and the woman he mysteriously comes across, will prove to determine the course of his future, intercepting and intertwining with his path again and again, and haunting the following chapters.

Shortly afterwards, Hartright takes his position and forms an affection for one of the ladies, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the Woman in White. This intimacy must be ruthlessly abandoned since she is priorly engaged. After a mysterious letter warning against the impending marriage, the union nevertheless takes place. Following the honeymoon, the couple settle in the family estate of Blackwater Park along with the lady's sister, and Count Fosco, the husband's close friend. 
In this Hampshire country house, the wife and sister undergo misery, confusion, and utter helplessness, at the hands of the cunning household occupants. How far will these villains go to cover the traces of their immoral past? Haltright comes to the fore as detective, but what is the nature of the mystery he will he unravel? What dangers will he overcome to uncover the truth and achieve a sense of justice? How will the uncanny resemblance between the Woman in White and Laura Fairlie conclude?

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this novel immensely. Collins employs the typical, and unfailingly interesting, Victorian themes of romance, false identity, inheritance, and mercenary villains while exploring the lengths that humans will go to for selfish motives. He examines vulnerability and mental instability whilst identifying the loyalty and determination of lovers and family in overcoming the depths of human misery.
Collins skilfully crafts his diverse characters from inspiring Marian Halcombe; innocent Laura Fairlie; to loyal, compelling yet disturbing Anne Catherick; insufferable and unbearable Mr Frederick Fairlie; intimidating Percival Glyde, to perhaps his greatest feat, the mysteriously inscrutable, and deceiving Count Fosco. These developed and interesting characters are all heavily invested in telling the story and provide further suspense and confusion caused by the suspected unreliability of said narrators.

The novel combines Gothic horror with psychological realism, avoiding all the cliches of cobweb ridden castles, haunting ghosts, and secret labyrinth passages. Instead Collins successfully creates an affecting gothic scene made more frightening when transposed into everyday life and penetrating one's own sense of domestic safety. 

I must address Henry James' criticism concerning the "ponderosity" of the novel, by justifying to you the length based on all of its other merits, and by commenting that, Mr James, you can wait to see what I have to say about your novels.

A Review: And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini has set the bar high with his first two novels, The Kite Runner (2003) and A Thousand Splendid Suns (2009); fortunately his latest release, And the Mountains Echoed, doesn’t disappoint and proves to be a more than worthy successor. Following the same themes of conflict, betrayal, friendship, love, and loyalty, the novel is once again set in Afghanistan, but feels original despite the same backdrop of war.

The story opens by a father telling his children a fable- one that ruthlessly foreshadows the separation of brother and sister, Abdulla and Pari, who share an unusually strong bond adoring one another immensely. As Pari is whisked away from the small countryside village of Shadbagh to bustling Kabul, the lives of the siblings change forever. The initial rupture leads to a multitude of splintering circumstances that perpetuate throughout the story that spans 60years. The story unfolds by telling of the subsequent ramifications that stem from the single line in the fable, 'A finger had to be cut to save the hand.’

Just as things start to look up for Pari and she settles into a new life with the wealthy Wahdati family, she finds herself relocated to Paris where she will grow up with mysterious voids and unexplainable absences in her life.

Will the hitherto seemingly inseparable siblings be reunited? How will their lives unfold without one another?

Hosseini is incredibly skilled in juggling between the third and first person narrative, interconnecting the multi-faceted short stories, and in spanning three continents; he explores these stories with such precision, depth, and variety, whilst continually achieving a sense of unity and coherence.

Hosseini encompasses both the political and domestic worlds, as with his other novels, but he also explores the deeply personal: the selfish and deceitful decisions made by one character and the consequent ripples this will have on the whole network of characters.

Defying the established principles, Hosseini introduces a vast multitude of different relationships and stories that would ordinarily attract criticism, but none seem superfluous, none seem contrived. Instead, they all appear important in demonstrating the complexities of Afghan society. It is true that certain aspects are perhaps lingered upon, characters developed who could be dispensed with, perhaps Hosseini is a little too intent on incorporating his own experiences, but none of this proves jarring. The narrative digressions allow one to become absorbed in the book, to empathise anew for each of the characters and to create suspense throughout by forming an atmosphere in which we are on edge, not knowing where Hosseini is ultimately taking us.


The ending is a slight departure from what Hosseini fans might be used to, the ends come neatly together, but we are not indulged with the typical 'happy ending.' Nevertheless, the conclusion is aptly bittersweet, it is touching if not so much heart-warming or fulfilling. Ultimately it is a novel that explores unspoken feelings and regrets obliging any reader to linger upon their own missed opportunities, fractured relationships, and reassessing the direction their life has taken; Hosseini certainly lives up to his name of ‘master storyteller’.

________________________________________________________________

I spent just over a day and a half reading the book, one of which was spent languidly laying around without many cares, (my exams are over), soaking up Hosseini's stories and having strange nostalgic impulses of my own.

Much tea was consumed, and although I tried to slow down the reading to make the book last a little longer, my attempts weren't successful enough to give me time to clean my multitude of mugs of tea.

Have you ever read any Hosseini? Were you as gripped as I was?

An Author: Khaled Hosseini

A short while ago I heard that Khaled Hosseini, the celebrated author of debut novel The Kite Runner, was to release a new book. Having had his second book on my shelf for a long while and on my list of 'to be read' for just as long, it was definitely a chance to get round to reading it- in preparation for his third book And The Mountains Echoed.

I find Khaled Hosseini's background very interesting in making his writing informed in a pretty unique way, so here is a little insight.

A little bit about the Author 

• Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965.
• Father: diplomat in the Afghan Foreign Ministry. Mother: Farsi and History teacher at a high school in Kabul.
• Through the Father's work with the Foreign Ministry, the family is relocated to Paris, (1976.)
• Unable to return to their war-torn homeland, the Hosseinis moved to San Jose, California in 1980 having successfully been granted asylum. 
• Khaled Hosseini earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1988 from Santa Clara University.
• The following year he entered the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, where he earned a medical degree in 1993.
• In March 2001, while practicing medicine, Hosseini began writing his first novel.
• Named a Goodwill Envoy to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency in 2006. 
• Establishes The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, a nonprofit organisation providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan

A lot of us have read The Kite Runner, but it also seems that a lot are yet to read it, (my survey being all the people that asked what I was reading, my answer being 'Khaled Hosseini's new book, you know the author of the Kite Runner' and their answer being 'oh I've always meant to read the Kite Runner.' Despite his second book being another bestseller it seems that fewer are aware of A Thousand Splendid Suns, perhaps it hasn't made it onto the school curriculum, yet. So, to those who have read neither, here is a little summary and a taster of what to expect in his latest release.

The Kite Runner

This poignant story discusses themes of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, and the pursuit of redemption. Amir born into wealth, Hassan born into poverty, as a Hazara and servant to Amir's father, make an unlikely friendship -one that is incredibly touching and seemingly unimpeachable. 

The story's backdrop, Afghanistan over a turbulent thirty year period, closely follows the closing years of the monarchy and the first years of the short-lived republic. The impact of the war pervades the entire story and the lives of the characters.

Having made two selfish, juvenile, in truth simply unexplainable and unjustifiable decisions, Amir loses contact with his best friend and sees him leave the home. As the Communist regime takes over, Amir moves, with his father, to U.S. After a period that sees Amir find a wife, he finally returns to Taliban-occupied Afghanistan, on receiving a letter from his father's ex-employee. Long-overdue, he searches for redemption, but will it be too late?

A truly heartbreaking novel evocatively expressing the strength of friendship and love.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Similarly, A Thousand Splendid Suns spans thirty years of Afghan history. The volatile events in Kabul are no less dramatic in being recycled, for the characters aren't safely exiled, but rather live through all the devastation. The novel explores shame, friendship, domestic violence, unforeseen love, and the infinite bond with one's homeland.
It tells the story of two women, Mariam and Laila, 'brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate.' In the terror and violence surrounding their mutual home and inextricably entwined with it, the love that these women develop knows no limits. In a shocking, heroic, yet morally questionable turn of events, Mariam is compelled to save her friend and family.
Mariam's journey from self-sacrifice to self-knowledge means that despite her fate, despite her harrowing story, she will remain in the hearts of her loved ones, in those of a following generation, and in the hearts of anyone who reads her story.

The story is haunting and terrifying, but equally Hosseini instills in us a faith in humanity that had seemed far from achievable given the betrayal, selfishness, violence, and misogyny throughout. Ultimately, the strength of love permeates, overwhelms and overcomes all obstacles in its way.

The wonderful aspect of these novels, amidst the compelling characters and their poignant relationships of love and loyalty, is the context of Afghanistan. You can't help but learn about the history of the country from a unique and empathy-inducing perspective. Hosseini has the skill of producing suspense throughout, absorbing you in the story, yet always reserving that ability to shock. Both novels are satisfyingly tied up with redemptive or retributive endings. Despite the plethora of families, periods of time, and relationships that for much of the novel remain loose and potentially disparate, Hosseini reveals his unifying meaning in a carefully constructed ending.

Check out my following post for a review of Hosseini's newest novel And The Mountains Echoed.




Biographical info sourced from KhaledHosseini.com
Image sources: 1 Credit: Elena Seibert, 2, 3

A Review: The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion

Yesterday, whilst in London visiting the Manet Exhibition, (post to follow), I popped into Piccadilly's Waterstones. Although I was customarily distracted by the huge selection of books all of which begged to become my next read, I was in there with a purpose. That purpose was to buy The Rosie Project, which was only released on Thursday. My purpose wasn't, however, to be writing a review on it less than 24 hours after purchasing it, but that is testament to my enjoyment of this new Romantic Comedy.

The charmingly funny atypical protagonist, Don Tillman, is a genetics professor. He has a project: to get married. His problem is a universal one; he cannot find a compatible partner. His difficulty is exacerbated through his social awkwardness resultant of being somewhere on the autism spectrum. His solution is less than conventional, but entirely logical.

He devises a scientific project consisting of: 

'[A 16 page questionnaire,]such an obvious solution [to finding a life partner.] A purpose-built, scientifically valid instrument incorporating current best practice to filter out the time wasters, the disorganised, the ice-cream discriminators, the visual-harassment complainers, the crystal gazers, the horoscope readers, the fashion obsessives, the religious fanatics, the vegans, the sports watchers, the creationists, the smokers, the scientifically illiterate, the homeopaths, leaving ideally the perfect partner, or, realistically, a manageable short-list of candidates.'

Rosie, however, is all of these. She is patently unsuitable and is naturally disregarded. Nevertheless a relationship ensues, for the reason that Don can aid her in her own project to find her biological father, through his access to, and capability of, DNA testing. Rosie begins as a disturbance to Don's regimented lifestyle before utterly dismantling the entirety of his timetabled life. 

We experience the all too familiar frustrations in the quest for love: the disaster dates and awkward circumstances, but surely none of us have eclipsed Don in practicing sex positions with the help of a manual, using a skeleton, in his office, as the dean walks in. The effect of these incidents is nothing short of irrepressible amusement.

Rarely is there a novel with such an abundance of likeable characters. Graeme Simsion manages to create an endearing character without being patronising. He handles the humour perfectly; we can laugh at and with our hero, Don, who although on the Asperger's spectrum isn’t depicted problematically causing any controversial or awkward moments. Instead we are left questioning and challenging our pre or misconceptions. In fact, the novel is incredibly positive in many of its aspects. As Don identifies, ‘Asperger's isn't a fault. It's a variant. It's potentially a major advantage.’

Passionate, spontaneous, and outspoken Rosie is the perfect antidote for Don's regimented and clinical lifestyle. His journey begins with his emotional disfunction and ends in the acceptance of illogical love, that begins as such a perplexing concept to him. It seems that chemistry prevails over the checklist attitude, a list of required characteristics that would make for the perfect partner, a device that many of us subconsciously employ.

The Rosie Project is an impressive debut from Graeme Simsion.

A light, easy and swift read despite handling a serious and thought-provoking topic. Genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, heart-warming, and ideal for a long train journey, holiday, or a break from revision.

‘Imagine the literary equivalent of one of those lamps prescribed for sufferers of seasonal affective disorder—a book that found the crack in our seemingly interminable winter to let laughter and light flood in.’

Sunday Times UK

A Review: 'Chocolat', By Joanne Harris

A wonderful book to enjoy over a relaxing Easter weekend.

Summary: The novel is set in a small rural town in France, 'Lansquenet-sous-Tannes'. It tells the story of a travelling lady, Vianne Rocher (a single mum), and her daughter, (Anouk) as these outsiders attempt to settle in to the local community. The locals are stubborn and traditional disliking change and the alien customs that they bring with them. The book explores the awakening of the traditional and straight-laced village when aroused with the pleasure of Vianne's chocolaterie 'La Céleste Praline.' The outraged parish priest, Francis Reynaud, feels threatened by what he interprets as a challenge to his religious sentiments, chiefly with relation to Lenten vows. Religion is an interesting theme which is interrogated through Vianne's superstitious mother's ideas- as a tarot card reader. Paganism in amongst the Easter celebrations is also threatening for the priest who condemns all of the chocolate festivities. 
Desperately Vianne's mother had spent her life running from the 'Black Man', (a tarot card), and now it is Vianne's turn to flee or embrace his presence. The novel takes us through their struggle to become integrated and her more emotional and challenging struggle of remaining rooted in a set place permanently.

My thoughts
It is beautifully written and has vivid descriptions throughout. I found it an uplifting and easy read. I would suggest that if you are on a diet, and avoiding sweet treats, you don't reach for this book. The mention of croissants, pain au chocolats, florentines, champagne truffles, coconut mice, chocolate almonds, marzipan fruits etc is enough to make anyone ache with yearning.

I particularly enjoyed Harris' description of the town's flock-like inhabitants. She amusingly depicts their flaws whilst celebrating the free-thinking non-conformist characters both as brave and proud.
Vianne Rocher is an interesting yet mysterious character; she holds a majestic quality of insight- one which enables her to determine the inhabitants' very favourite sweet treat, but leaves us questioning whether she has witch-like characteristics. 
Lastly, the resounding idea that regardless of religion the aim to strive for is a pursuit of happiness is one that I entirely agree with. 

In essence, it is a heart-warming, and easy read- perfect to take on holiday, to enjoy on a lazy Easter weekend, and particularly as the cold weather fails to leaves us as we reach for the same comforting hot cocoa that Vivianne embraces as a solution to any problem.

Finally, the thoughts of the good people at goodreads:
'Chocolat's every page offers a description of chocolate to melt in the mouths of chocoholics, francophiles, armchair gourmets, cookbook readers, and lovers of passion everywhere. It's a must for anyone who craves an escapist read..' 

The Brontes and Haworth

At the end of last year, I visited the Yorkshire village of Haworth. The Brontës were born in Thornton, but lived in Haworth for most of their writing careers. We went for a walk and submersed ourselves into the minds of the talented sisters in replicating the steps they would have taken in these Pennines. I could easily discern from where their inspiration might have derived in exploring the beautiful and wild scenery. On this walk it occurred to me that it wasn't surprising how many authors and poets have been inspired by their surroundings.

Looking less than stylish in our 'trekking gear'.

It was a lovely day out, the cold air was fresh and a perfect excuse for a good cup of warm hot chocolate on arrival back into the quaint village with lunch.
I found the village surprisingly unspoilt; it felt like I had stepped back in time as I walked through the cobbled streets. We didn't actually have time to visit the Parsonage, which is now a museum dedicated to the Brontës, although I think that we might be planning on returning with this in mind.
I would definitely recommend a trip if you're in the area, it was a wonderful way to spend a wintery day.
In fact, I have decided that there is little that's better than going on a brisk walk, admiring the beautiful countryside, and then returning home to warm up with a hot drink and a big knitted jumper.


What is your favourite thing to do on a Sunday or on a cold wintery day?

Jane Austen's bicentenary

On the 28th of January Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice celebrates its 200th Birthday. Recently I wrote an article on it for my student newspaper.

Jane Austen’s ‘darling child’ celebrates its bicentenary

Pride and Prejudice, one of Austen’s most popular and arguably best-loved works, celebrates its bicentenary this January. So arises the question, why are we recognising this 200 year anniversary? What makes a novel, deeply routed in a time of traditional nuclear families and gender restrictions, still relevant to us today- in a world of increasing diversity, and single-parent families?

The playful wit and social commentary of 19^th Century Regency England are imperative to critical scholarly debate, and contribute significantly to many of Austen fans’ admiration, without, crucially, seeming anachronistic. As evidenced through the number of homages, film adaptations and abundance of sequels, there is undeniably something timeless about her writing.

Her plots still feature in many of the nation’s favourite love stories and ‘chic flics’ today- think Bridget Jones’ Diary. The strength of this novel and its appeal must be partly derived from the happy ending, the perfect love story. 

Still, Pride and Prejudice includes an awareness of hierarchical superiority, marital necessity, and the plight of the poor. Perhaps it is thus the realism, particularly with regards to the obstacles to love or happiness, which makes for a novel that is still relevant- explored afresh in Bride and Prejudice (2004) with the introduction of a cultural hurdle.

Austen also includes a variety of stereotypes - caricatures, even, that live amongst us in society today.  We have conceited Mr Darcy juxtaposed with the benevolent Mr Bingley. Bingley respectively is a man who is ‘too nice’, alongside the ‘bad boy’, Wickham. Elizabeth’s passion is contrasted with Jane’s seeming reserve. Her characters are irresistible and engaging. The affecting and occasionally disconsolate emotions evoked in the love story are interposed with comical Mrs Bennett and even Lady Catherine De Burgh- the archetypal villain. 

If that wasn’t enough, Mr Collins, the sycophantic skin crawl inducing man, is depicted so vividly as to surely make him a contender for the least agreeable literary husband of all time. Essentially, what is revealed is Austen’s greatest skill: the formation of believable, three-dimensional, and timeless characters.

Even the National Curriculum has failed to put off a generation of students from these books. True, there are many who aren’t so enthusiastic and criticise Austen’s sparse plot line in which ‘nothing happens’, but this does little to overpower the popular admiration for the author and her works.

It seems that Austen’s works are here to stay. Celebrations have been organised across the country. The city of Bath is fully embracing its connection with her, and her books, by hosting a ‘Readathon’ on the 28^th January in which celebrities, authors, politicians, and school children will read 10minute excerpts of her text. 2013 also boasts a number of biographies as well as new editions of the novel.

Jane Austen, 200 years later, lives on not only in legacy, but in the constant reinvention of her plot and the regeneration of her characters.

Heather

A Review: Villette, Charlotte Bronte

This Christmas I read 'Villette' by Charlotte Bronte enjoyed with many a mince pie, and the occasional Sherry, Gin & Tonic, or Baileys whilst snuggled up on the sofa.

Summary: The novel follows the life and psychology of Lucy Snowe, an observant and passive orphan. She has little sense of belonging and we follow her from England, when living with her godmother, to the French town of Villette. Here she teaches at a boarding school where she encounters teachers and pupils who offer interesting characters whose study provides a large basis of the novel itself. Lucy experiences loneliness and isolation, love, heartbreak, adventure, dissatisfaction, and a desire for independence. The novel offers an intimate acquaintance with her psychology and leaves us with an ambiguous ending.

My thoughts:

I read Jane Eyre and loved it; I liked this book too and in several ways it is similar.

The disappointment I felt is also similar: it is predominantly the plot line which proves unsatisfactory, everything is a little too coincidental and a little too unlikely. However, if one can ignore these contrived circumstances our focus shifts onto the language used to express the feelings in these novels. 

In this aspect, I love Charlotte Bronte and her exploration into the depth of her characters. Lucy Snowe is full of contradictions which is what makes her so realistic; she is reserved and self-controlled yet experiences extremes of emotion that lead to her physical degeneration. 

We are made aware of the patriarchal constructs that determine her actions or provide the voice of retribution.

We recognise the conflicts that Lucy faces with regards to gender roles in education, in cultural elements, and between Protestantism and Catholicism.

If you were left wanting more after Jane Eyre I recommend having a read of Villette. It is an interesting study of character, although quite a slow read due to its very minimal plot.