Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

I have gone back to my classics list. I read "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck over the holidays. Actually, since it was such a short read it was more of like one day. This book is particularly interesting as it was a book I had read in high school. Since I am LDS, this book had a lot of cursing in it and at that time I had a problem with it. I also look back at how I never did understand this book as well as I do now. I find it fascinating at how much you can get from a book depending on your age and maturity. It was such a short read I finished it pretty quickly. I was still astounded at the cursing in it but it's not like it had the F word in it. I've definitely seen worse on TV and in the movies. I can also read it with a more mature mindset.

I really rather enjoyed that it was so short. Even though the length was short (especially as I had only read one other John Steinbeck book and that was "Grapes of Wrath") it had a lot in it. The journey of 2 men working hard in the fields for someone else yet still dreaming of owning their own farms someday, and to make sure there are plenty of rabbits for Lenny. I find George's character particularly intriguing. He was a good friend to Lenny and his intentions were good. He is such a loyal friend for staying with Lenny and helping him out. Yet, in the end, he is the one that seals Lenny's inevitable fate. At least it was by the hand of his friend and not by an angry mob.

My heart goes out to Lenny. He was born in a time where his uniqueness was not understood and people were afraid of that. His physical strength gets ahead of him in his childlike manner, which causes him trouble. I can hardly imagine what it must've been like for people similar to Lenny to live in that era.

Steinbeck does such a great job with symbolism and foreshadow. He also brings to life the way life was back during the Great Depression. I'm always impressed with the dialogue and how you can put an accent with words. I understand a lot more now than when I read it in high school.

The Help by Kathrynn Stockett

I went on a vacation with my sisters, aunt and mom. My mom bought me a book to read on the driving trip but I get sick when I read in the car and I was too busy having fun to read it on the vacation so I read it a different time. I was so grateful my mom got me this book. It's called "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. I had heard about it every once in a while and even heard that it was becoming a movie but I had no idea what it was about. Which made it more exciting to read. Of course I read the back of the book and the synopsis. It is a story about change in the 1960s. A time I was defiantly not a part of but only learned about in history class.

I finished the book at the end of August this year. It was one of those books where I read it at work whenever I had a free moment or the kids were just playing. It was an amazing book! This book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. It tells of how three women changed the dynamics between the white folk and the black folk during this time in our U.S. history. How you ask? Well by telling it how it is. A brave writer named Skeeter complies interviews of the black help on how it is/was to work for white people. Skeeter could not have done this without the help of Aibileen and Minny.

I thought the time that it was set in was timely. I never lived in the '60s but this gave a good representation. The depiction of the 60's was portrayed through the eyes of two black women, Aibileen and Minny, and one white woman, Skeeter. So it offered a variant of point of view. The way Stockett used first person in the book made it very real. Especially when Aibileen and Minny talked. You can almost hear that thick southern accent. It's also neat how there is the point of view from Aibileen and the point of view from Minny, two women of similarity yet different enough to let their personalities show.

I especially loved Skeeter's character, the white woman that "talks." She aspires to write therefore I am naturally drawn to her. The villain, Hilly, is portrayed as a classic '60s wife who is beyond racist, manipulative, and judgmental. She fully deserves to get a lawn full of toilets.

By reading this book and getting acquainted with the characters, it makes you wonder which character would you be. The judgmental Hilly, the concerned Skeeter, the follow-the-crowd Miss Leefolt, the drunken Miss Celia, don't-care-what-you-think Minny, or the loyal Aibileen. I am anxiously awaiting to see the movie and hoping not to be disappointed.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I've just come to grips with my reading list. It doesn't all have to be classic literature. Those grips that I came to with myself was brought forth by attempting to read "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I did not realize how hard this book was to read. So I'm saving that for another day when I can do it. Anyway, this book named Wicked by Gregory Maguire was, I think, based on some musical. Oh Right! It's called "Wicked." But this is the book I'm talking about mostly because I have not seen the musical yet. With this reading challenge I am trying to read the book before I see the movie, or in this case, musical. I'm glad I did! (As I usually am).

I was always curious as to what this story was about. I knew it had to do with The Wizard of Oz and how Glinda and Elphaba were friends but I had no idea it was like this. I am probably sure that the musical isn't quite like the book as the book is pretty dark. The story is about Glinda and Elphaba when they were young and in school and Elphaba's turning into the Wicked Witch of the West. I did not realize how political this book really is, which kinda bored me but that's because politics do that to me. However, the overall story was great!!! It did have some vulgar words in it and some not so clean scenes in it.

I love how Maguire tells most of it from Elphaba's point of view. I think his other books are like that but with different fairy tales. I haven't read his other books but I sure as heck am going to. He used words in there that I had never seen before and his descriptions were so unique. I loved how it took a child's story and made it into an adult book. It's liked how he created this whole new world of Oz that you wouldn't have thought existed.

I know this isn't a very long review but it was a really good read. Defiantly not for reading to the kids a bedtime story, keep the original Wizard of Oz for that. I am looking forward to reading more of Gregory Maguire's books.

Eat Pray Love By Elizabeth Gilbert

I finished Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert on May 10, 2011. I found it at the house where I babysit. I read it while I was there at work, when I had some free time. It was a great read! It came at a most needed time in my life. I was gonna watch the movie and read the book later, when I had my hands on a copy. With were we are financially , I can't go and buy it yet. So it was a blessing that I was able to read it when I did.

The basic premise of this story is about Elizabeth Gilbert's path to happiness. It tells her story of a devastating divorce and her journey of getting to know God and herself by going to Italy, India, and Bali, spending 3-4 months in each country. I find that so inspiring and noble. She's a writer by profession and the way she writes this book is of particular interest to me. She writes in first person and it's got the feel of reading her personal journal. Knowing what she was thinking at a particular moment. She is so funny and witty. The characters in here are so real (probably because they are) and enjoyable.

She made me feel like I was with her traveling but getting a VIP pass into her thoughts and feelings. I thought the book would be kind of boring but it was anything but that. It does have some language in it and the "F" word a few times, but really inspirational and enlightening. She is honest and open about her experiences and her life.

She had all these wants and thoughts when so much horribleness was happening... why can't I do that especially when I have so much greatness in my life. I don't have to be recently divorced or childless to have these wants and pursue them. Granted I might have to work around them but it is possible.

At first I didn't think I would finish it that day because I didn't want to neglect the kids. I was able to finish it and that made me happy. I wanted to rush home and watch the movie. We ate dinner and I started watching it with Lilly on my laptop but I was getting frustrated with her because she kept trying to push the buttons. I asked Sam to take Lilly. (He was glad I asked him). To be honest, (and it's really no surprise) I didn't like the movie as much as I liked the book. In the book I had so much more access to what Gilbert was thinking and feeling. The movie had stuff in there that wasn't in the book. Now with reading about scriptwriting recently, I have more of a sense as to why they changed things for the movie but that doesn't mean they should have done it. It so much great content in it I don't know why they felt like they had to change or exaggerate anything.

The movie adaptation was pretty on the spot, though, with regard to dialogue. Almost too much so. It's probably because I just got done reading the book. Plus it just looked different in my imagination. I also could have missed some things. I probably sound condescending and flip floppy.

Reading the book gave me a look at my life. I believe, for the first time in a long time, I saw my potential potential (I mean that as in noun and adjective, like potentially seeing my potential). My dreams have just seemed out of reach lately. I need to be patient and do my best to make of the situation. I can find happiness and balance in my life. Looking at this life with an eternal perspective. It's not easily achieved but when that is considered, it makes trials a little bit more bearable.

Gilbert mentions going to Italy "pinched and thin" and through her experiences she's "gained weight." I look at that aspect, rather I apply it to my own life but flipped. I keep the weight and have kept the weight. I have a hard time letting things go. I have come into recent experiences that have made me keep and not let go. That's not healthy.

There is a quote in the book that really made me think. "...Overall satisfying life of motherhood, and marriage and career. " She is referencing her friend who is married, just had a baby and is an artist. I realized that I have 2/3 of these things. I'm missing a career. So I feel incomplete. Yes, I understand that both motherhood and marriage could be a career and I love both. I just want to feel success.

I did stray off my classic literature list when reading this book but it was worth it (like it's a big deal). It is a New York Times Bestseller and very popular. Gilbert's book has inspired me to be at peace with myself, to pray to God and to find pleasure even if it is small. This is definitely a keeper. When you have you in order, everything else will be in order.

Here are a few quotes that I really enjoyed from the book:

"It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live on imitation of somebody else's life with perfection." -The Bhagavad Gita

"You are given life; it is your duty ( and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."

"You should never give yourself a chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over again. You must practice staying strong, instead." -Elizabeth's Guru

"I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore..."

"Tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth."

The Lord of the Flies By William Golding

As one of my goals for this year is to further my reading in classical literature, I figure I'll start off with The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I got this book from the library so as of now it's not officially apart of my book collection. I finished the book on August 3, 2010. It actually was a pretty good read. I never did read it in high school. Since it was a while ago since I finished the book, I'll go off of my memory. It is a memorable read don't get me wrong but it is definitely very...um...different.

I did hear things about the book on how sad and violent it is. I've heard it referenced many times in TV shows ("Lost") as well as movies and didn't really understand them until now.

I did think a lot about "Lost" as I read it even comparing it in similar ways. It does make you wonder what would happen if boys were stranded on an island. What would happen if no grown ups were allowed? What would happen if there were no rules? I think it's interesting how the first group of boys to turn savage are the ones who were apparently from the church and grew up around religion. I'm not saying religion turns you into a savage but with out rules and structure there would be anarchy and chaos.

The ending intrigued me too and surprised me. I thought they all would end up dead or kill each other but they were saved. It's sad that it happen like it did but William Golding was definitely trying to make a point. As I don't agree with all the childish violence and the sad death of Piggy, I think it has merit for being a classic. I'm just glad I didn't read it in high school.

Uncle Tom's Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe

My next book that I finished on my classic literature list is Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I can see why it had such a profound affect on people as well as America during the time it was written. Stowe had such a strong opinion and beliefs and I think that was shown in this book.

I had bought the book at Border's when I was visiting Denver in August of 2010. I was reading it on and off for a few months. I'm surprised I still remembered what I had read in between moments of not reading. I finally finished it yesterday and I don't think I'll forget this story. Stowe must have been so courageous to write something like this during the times of the Civil War. She seemed so passionate about what she believed and didn't care what people thought. I don't know if all that's true but it would seems so with her writing.

The characters seemed so real, and most, if not all, were actually based on true people according to the final chapter entitled "Concluding Remarks." The way she wrote made me believe that I was back on the Kentucky plantations and among those people. I cried and go so emotional over the death of little Eva and the sudden departure of St. Clare. I couldn't help hating Legree and what he did to Tom.Tom's faith is a great example that should be followed by every Christian. I really enjoyed how she wrote it. She would write the story and go on side notes that would address the reader directly, then return to the story.

I even got inspired to do a story about Eva and Topsy, or maybe a screenplay about this book. There was a particular moment on page 298 with a great point of view. There could be a story just about Eva. She had such an impact on the characters in the story. I'm glad that I have this book apart of my book collection and would read it again.