The Classics Club: Meme #4

In November, The Classics Club asked us whether and what classic piece of literature most intimidates us, and why. I wish, I could say I've never been intimidated by any classics, or any books for that matter. But to be honest, there are indeed books that frighten me.

Why? It's because I am afraid that I'll have to go through pain. I don't mean some imaginary pain, but true physical pain. I'm either too sensitive or my imagination is too vivid, or both. Whatever the reason, when I'm reading a book and a character is suffering (I mean severely suffering), I'm feeling his or her pains in my body.

A particular page of a sensitive author may well have revived a prostrate soul: and I who read the page, I who am touched by it . . . by feeling similar emotions I enter into some sort of communion with those whose fate I so deeply grieve. (Germaine de Staël, The Influence of Literature upon Society) 

For example, I've recently read Michelle Moran's Madame Tussaud and it was a very difficult and disturbing reading for me precisely because I was feeling constant pain. Do not misunderstand me. I truly liked Moran's writing style and I heartily recommend her book. But, her vivid description of the events of the French Revolution triggered my empathy for the innocent people and what they had been through which in turn was causing me instant pain.

So, poorly written books cannot frighten me; in worst-case scenario, I can simply abandon them. By contrast, well-written books with a lot of suffering can cause me sleepless nights and heartaches, especially if I can't get those vivid pictures out of my head. This is the reason why I'm particularly afraid of reading Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, which is number 27 on my Classics Club list.

And, what about you? Does your body aches sometimes, when you're reading tragic stories? Do you have restless nights?

The Classics Club: Meme #3

Regrettably, I wasn't able to post my answer to the Classic Club meme questions between October and December, because I had been under a lot of stress and had major worries over my dog's health. But now that my dog is recovering from a successful surgery, I have the time and am in the right frame of mind to reply to those questions. Let's begin with the question for October.

Ideal Bookshelf by Jane Mount

These Are A Few of My Favourite Reads...

Today is Top Ten Tuesday; a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. However, this week's Top Ten Tuesday is about the top ten 2013 debut books that we are most looking forward to read. To be honest, I am quite ignorant of authors to make their debut in 2013. Actually, I've just read in the Guardian that Carlos Acosta, principal guest artist with the Royal Ballet, is making his debut as novelist. Even though I was lucky enough to be able to admire Acosta's dancing skills in a performance at the Royal Opera House in 2011, I'm not sure I want to read his book. Anyway, I am simply ill informed as regards 2013 debut books. Hence, I am not able to compile this weeks top ten list.

Fadette by George Sand

Fadette is a pastoral novel, written around 1848 by George Sand, which is set in a small French village and tells the story of Francoise (Fanchon), alias the little Fadette, and the “twins of the Twinnery.” The novel begins with the birth of the twins—Landry and Sylvinet Barbeau—and with some wise advice on how to raise twins in order to ensure that both children become strong in mind and body. Regrettably, any of the parents follows the advice of the midwife, which mistake will prove almost fatal to the life of one of the twins later. Despite this serious error of judgment that their parents make, Landry and Sylvinet grow up in a loving family, which doesn’t lack financial stability.

By contrast, little Fadette’s childhood is anything but idyllic. Their wicked and mean grandmother is raising Fadette and her little brother, who is mentally and physically disabled, because their mother, a woman with a very bad reputation, abandoned them. They live in poverty and suffer domestic violence, but what is more, the people of the country do not treat them with compassion either. Everybody considers Fadette a bad and ugly witch, mainly because she isn’t clean and well dressed and she practices alternative medicine. Hence, people call her names, such as Fadette, meaning will o’ the wisp, and Cricket, after the insect.

The Barbeau family is no exception either; every member of the family is proud and prejudiced against Fadette. Some unfortunate events, however, force Landry Barbeau in asking little Fadette for help, becoming acquainted with her true herself, and learning to respect and love her. Of course, Fadette and Landry’s love is being put to the test, but I can assure every romantic among us, that this is a book with Happy Ending, with only a hint of unhappiness.

My Thoughts
George Sand’s charming story of Fadette is an easy and fast read. Sand’s writing style is simple; there are no complicated plots, no superfluous characters with names you are not able to memorize, and no lengthy descriptions. Moreover, no major tragedies occur in Fadette, which is one of the reasons why I recommend reading this novel when you seek comfort, when you are in the “depths of despair.”

Even though Fadette is a simple, natural novel, one should not come to the erroneous conclusion that George Sand was an untalented or uncreative writer. Sand deliberately wanted to write a work that provides the reader with comfort. At the time of developing the idea of Fadette, French people had been at war with each other; France was torn by civil war. Hence, sensitive human beings, Sand too, were on the brink of losing their faith in humaneness, their belief in a bright (or rather any kind of) future. As she explains in her preface to Fadette, “[a]t such a moment as this,” a serious and great (and male) writer “writes . . . a drama full of torments and of groans” (p. 6). But, Sand feels it is her duty to create an idyllic picture. She writes thus:

In times when evil comes because men misunderstand and hate one another, it is the mission of the artist to praise sweetness, confidence, and friendship, and so to remind men, hardened or discouraged, that pure morals, tender sentiments, and primitive justice still exist, or at least can exist, in this world. (p. 6)

Correspondingly, Fadette is far more than a 19th century chick-lit. The love story of little Fadette and Landry teaches us valuable lessons about compassion, humaneness, friendship, selflessness, and, of course, true love. Moreover, little Fadette’s relationship with God and her strong and genuine faith is an example to us all. That is why this novel qualifies as one of the best comfort readings I have came across and recommend it to every kindred spirit.

Favourite Quotes

God has written in the law of nature that when two people are joined in love or friendship, one must always give his heart more perfectly than the other. (p. 34) 

No place is ugly to those who understand the virtues and sweetness of everything that God has made. (p. 142) 

[I]t is that we are too apt to despise what appears to be neither good nor beautiful, and thus we lose what is helpful and salutary. (p. 142) 

God abandons only those who abandon themselves, and whoever has the courage to shut up his sorrow within his own heart is stronger to fight against it than he who complains. (p. 207)

Rating:
Title:	Fadette
Author:	George Sand
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Release Date:	1893 [1849]
Format:	Kindle Edition
Length:	295 Pages
ISBN:	----
Language:	English
Source:	Free Download from Internet Archive

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals for 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a Top Ten list that they answer and invite every blogger to share their own answers.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about our bookish resolutions for 2013. I'm a bit late, but, as I mentioned yesterday, I had difficult times. But better late than never. So, here are my Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013:

1. Read at least 30 books or 12'000 pages
Last year I challenged myself on Goodreads to read 30 books, but I wasn't able to complete my aim, as I read only 27 books. At least, that's how it seems, because Goodreads counts 2in1 and 3in1 books as 1 book only. Otherwise, the number of books I read in 2012 would be 33. Nevertheless, I'm somewhat disappointed with my achievement and want to try harder this year. According to my calculations, I read 9'715 pages in 2012 and I want to increase this number to 12'000 at least. This is not much, I know, but as I'm not a native English speaker and the books I want to read are all in English, this is a good aim, I think. I also hope there won't be any kind of injuries or illnesses in 2013 which would prevent me from achieving this aim.


2. Read at least 10 classics
As regards the Classics Club Challenge, I'm totally disappointed with my achievement in 2012. Even though I had read 5 classics in 2012, that had happened before I joined the Classics Club. I've been a member of this precious club since August and I should have read 3 to 4 classics since joining, in order to be on schedule and be able to achieve my aim. On the other hand, I was very sorry to learn that some people that inspired me to join the Club, doesn't belong to it anymore. Sometimes, it really isn't easy to stick to the schedule and there are so many other bookish temptations... But, I don't want to be one of those members who give up when difficulties arise. So, I must must must read at least 10 classics in 2013.


3. Write at least 10 book reviews
I'm very sorry to confess that my first review is still to be written, despite the fact that my blog was born on August 31, 2012. Things can't go on like this, that's pretty obvious. I don't have much time to write book reviews, and I certainly need more time to write a blog post than native-speaker need, but this is no reason to neglect my duties. I want my Classics Club challenge to be a success; thus, I must not only read 10 classics this year but also review them. Hence, I challenge myself to write at least 10 book reviews in 2013.


4. Write at least one blog post per month
As I mentioned before, I'm somewhat disappointed with my blogging frequency. So, I want to write not only more book reviews but also more posts generally. I'll try to participate in Top Ten Tuesday more often and to write other book-related posts.


5. Read all books I acquired in 2012
According to my records on Goodreads, I acquire approximately 30 to 40 books a year. But, I rarely read the books immediately and they often remain on my shelves for years. I want to change that bad habit and am going to read the books I acquired in 2012 and haven't read yet.


6. Be less conservative and more open-minded when selecting books
I confessed earlier on this blog that I'm not a book fashionista. That is to say, I usually avoid books surrounded by hype, such as the Harry Potter series. However, I also have a very conservative taste, as regards my reading. Hence, my pathological, albeit inexplicable, dislike for science fiction. But, this year I will take my first step towards reforming myself. Thus, I will read both the Harry Potter and the Hunger Games series at last.


7. No re-reads, unless the books are on my list for a challenge
I love to re-read my favourite books, but re-reading wastes precious time and prevents me from achieving my goals. Hence, this year, I try not to re-read any books, unless they are on my list for a challenge.


8. Participate in my first read-a-long or readathon ever
I was very sorry that I wasn't able to participate in the first Classics Club Readathon. And, I've also been flirting with the read-a-longs hosted by Wallace over at Unputdownables for long, but until now, I either hadn't the time or had other reading plans. I hope, however, that, in 2013, I will be able to enter at least one event, because I want to improve my connections with the reading community.


9. Don't mark new books as to-read until I've significantly reduced my current to-read list
Currently, I have 222 books on my goodreads to-read list. That's pathological and I must do something about that. So, I decided to stop looking for new books either on my favourite blogs or on Goodreads, until I've read at least 30 books from this list. That is to say, in 2013, I should rather not add anything new to my current to-read list.


10. Catalogue all my owned books on Goodreads 
I own approximately 700 books. No they are not on an e-reader or in the clouds. They are all sitting on my bookshelves. And, I'm a Goodreads addict because I love cataloguing my books there. In 2012, I catalogued 505 books, and many of those books hadn't been added to Goodreads before, because they're Hungarian or German editions. So, I needed to add them manually. But, I really love this task and want to catalogue the remainders too.

About the Depth of Despair and the Joyful Morning

Have you ever been in the depth of despair? Kindred spirits probably know what I'm talking about. As Anne explains to Marilla, upon learning that Marilla doesn't want her to stay at Green Gables, because Anne isn't a boy, the depth of despair is a state of mind when you can't do anything that you usually would.

"You're not eating anything," said Marilla sharply, eying her as if it were a serious shortcoming. Anne sighed.
"I can't. I'm in the depths of despair. Can you eat when you are in the depths of despair?"
"I've never been in the depths of despair, so I can't say," responded Marilla.
"Weren't you? Well, did you ever try to IMAGINE you were in the depths of despair?"
"No, I didn't."
"Then I don't think you can understand what it's like. It's very uncomfortable feeling indeed. When you try to eat a lump comes right up in your throat and you can't swallow anything, not even if it was a chocolate caramel.

(L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Ch. 3)

I'm a kind of person who completely understands what Anne is meaning. I don't need to try to imagine that because I've often been there... Maybe I'm hypersensitive or too passionate or both, anyways, in the past 3-4 weeks, I've constantly been in the depth of despair, because we learned that our family dog, Sunny, is suffering from spinal disc herniation and must undergo surgery.

(By the way, the whole story had began earlier, back in April 2012, when Sunny and I were taking our regular afternoon walk and a Rottweiler attacked us. It's a breed famous for its aggression, but, regrettably, it's not yet banned from Hungary. Sunny almost died, but, thank God and one of His Angels, in the form of a bodyguard, we were rescued. However, my right hand was seriously injured; I thought I would never be able to play the piano or knit again. And, as we recognised some months later, our Vizsla had been injured more seriously than we first thought.)

Thus, due to the worries about the Sunshine of our life, I wasn't able to eat normal and couldn't even read as usual. I was just browsing my bookcases, searching for some kind of comfort reading, and tried several books to read, but couldn't focus on the text, until I began George Sand's Fadette. That novel turned out to be a real comfort reading. (Review is coming soon...) Nevertheless, our family's Christmas and New Year's Eve weren't too merry, because we knew that Sunny's surgery would take place soon.

Yesterday was the day. And, I was sick worried. We took him to the hospital at 10:00 a.m. and we didn't know anything about him until 3:00 p.m. I just kept praying and praying and hoped that everything will be fine. Later we also learned that our Sunny is feeling better and was also able to walk a bit. But he had to stay at the hospital for the night and we weren't allowed to visit him so that he doesn't become agitated. It's been a hard day's night, believe me.

But, we are thanking God that today at 8:45 a.m., we got back our Sunny safe and sound. Of course, he's having pains, ought to take prescription drugs, and it will take several weeks till he's completely healed. In sum, we are praying together with Anne this beautiful sentence from Psalm 30:

"Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning."

(L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island, Ch. 40)

And what about you? Have you ever felt the depth of despair? Were you able to read? And, what kind of books did/do you read in hard times? What are your favourite comfort readings?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Resolve To Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week they post a Top Ten list that they answer and invite every blogger to share their own answers.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is about books we resolve to read in 2013. So, today I went to my Goodreads account and asked myself which books I'd like to read, in 2013, from my TBR list, which consists of 209 books currently and is growing perpetually... I also recognised that I had fallen far behind with my reading for the Classics Clubs challenge and something must be done about that... And, here are the results of my reflection, i.e. here are the Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read in 2013.

1. Fadette by George Sand
This is such a lovely book! It's about love, witches, about how to raise twins, and about how to survive unrequited love. I read it many years ago in Hungarian and have actually started to read it in English. (My French isn't that good, regrettably...) It is also on my list for the Classics Club Challenge.


2. What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan
This is a non-fiction about Jane Austen's works and was a birthday present. To be honest, I very seldom read literary criticism. I somehow have this idea in my mind that the beauty of a novel and the pleasure of reading it is being lost to those who are reading the novel from a critical point of view. That's why I've never considered the idea to study literature. Anyway, a good friend of mine, who is actually doing research on literature and is also a Janeite, presented me with this book and I've started reading it in September 2012. The book isn't that bad at all; not that dry that theoretical works usually are. Nevertheless, I wasn't able to finish it yet. Let's hope I will tackle it soon, because I don't want to abandon it.


3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I've desperately wanted to read this book since I saw the movie, but I simply hadn't any time due to all the other books on my TBR list for 2012. But now, I can't wait anymore...


4. A Conspiracy Of Friends: A Corduroy Mansions Novel by Alexander McCall Smith
This is the third and final part of a series, which I've enjoyed reading in 2012. Do you know and love the movie Love Actually (2003)? The concept of the Corduroy Mansions series is very similar; there are many characters living in Corduroy Mansions and their lives are, in some way or another, connected. And, somebody has a very special dog (Freddie de la Hay) that embarks on interesting adventures. So, if you love dogs, England, and human stories, do read this series.


5. The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
I love the Regency Era. Full Stop. The fashion, the literature, the architecture, the arts. Everything. And, of course, I am a Janeite. But, I shiver at the very thought of reading any prequel or sequel to any novel by Jane. So, I was searching for something I could read after Austen and The Grand Sophy was so highly recommended by kindred spirits that it must be worthy of attention.


6. Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin
I am a fan of good chick-lit in general and Giffin in particular. I also am one of those few people who were able to sympathise with both Rachel and Darcy and didn't feel any hatred towards any of these characters. This novel is new to me, but the story seems very gripping.


7. The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
This novel got very controversial reviews on Goodreads; maybe that's why I want to read it that much. On the other hand, both Hannah from So Obsessed With and Wallace from Unputdownables gave this book 5 stars, and I have trust in their taste.


8. Persuasion by Jane Austen
The first time I read Persuasion, I didn't like it. However, since then, much has happened in my life and I believe that I will understand Anne Elliot's feelings and story better now. Sometimes love doesn't comes that easily... And, I have also been keen re-reading this novel, since I saw The Lake House (2006). Persuasion is the favourite novel of Sandra Bullock's character, and there's a scene in which she explains the charm and moral of this story so well that it truly made me want to refresh my memories.


9. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
I am no fan of science fiction. Actually, I've never read any science fiction. Upon reading The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, however, I started to get a bit uncomfortable with this fact. So, I decided that it's about time to have my first sci-fi experience. As this series got very good reviews even from other romantic hearts like mine, it has been chosen...


10. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
I know, I know. Shame on me. But, please understand that I am a nonconformist at heart; hence, I rarely read books surrounded by hype. But Hannah convinced me that this series worth reading anyway. (And yes, I know, I am cheating again, as these are 7 books.)