This is the next to last book that we read in the class on Narratives on Adultery in 19th century fiction. Interestingly it is the only one named for a male character. This novel is a true heart breaker in which there are tragedies too numerous to mention. Jude, orphaned young, and living with his aunt in Hardy’s fictional Wessex, has dreams beyond his social class. Inspired by a teacher, Jude dreams of going to Christminster, a stand in for Oxford. He dreams of an education and feels that he will find it in this city of learning. Jude is determined but also led astray by his desires for sex and alcohol. He marries unwisely, loves a cousin (perhaps also unwisely), and the novel ends in tragedy. Some of the people in my class talked of having to take breaks when reading Jude. No spoilers but one tragedy just is of epic proportions. I kept wanting to intervene with Jude as if he were a real person. “Stop,” I wanted to say, “consider what you are doing, what you said you wanted and what you are choosing.” This is one of those novels that I believe forms a part of a good education. It is a tough one though. It is Hardy’s indictment of marriage without love and a statement of the boundaries of social class that cannot be transcended. Has anyone reading the blog read Jude? Your thoughts?
Carolyn Haines has been writing her Sarah Booth Delaney series for years. I am pretty sure that this is book number 18. The first novel in the series, Them Bones, was original and charming. Part of the charm has to do with the presence of Sarah Booth’s “haint” Jitty. She is a ghost from plantation days. Don’t let that put you off the book; Jitty is a fun character and somewhat of a truth teller/foil for Sarah Booth. The many residents of Zinnia, MS also come to life in the series. There is Sarah Booth’s partner, Tinkie, along with many love interests for Sarah Booth over the course of the novels. These are character with whom I love to catch up.
Ruth Rendell aka Barbara Vine writes two kinds of books. The Ruth Rendell/Inspector Wexford books are in a series and are typical British mysteries/police procedurals. The Barbara Vine books are generally spooky and darker. I prefer Inspector Wexford. The first book in the series is From Doon with Death and there are at least fifteen altogether. I read these novels a while ago but remember starting with one and just keeping on going. You can read the series in order or try this one that is on sale today. If you like traditional British mysteries, you may have already read these. If not you have a treat in store.
I blogged this one just last month and today it could be yours for just ninety-nine cents! Review reprinted below:
This is the first book that I have read by Maria Shriver; I felt that it was worth my time. This short volume is for dipping into as well as reading straight through, whichever you prefer. Many topics of daily and spiritual life are written about in entries a few pages long. Each ends with a short prayer that Ms. Shriver has written. This is a book that is easy to relate to and offers the reader a pause for reflection in the midst of a busy daily life.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I LOVED THIS BOOK!
This is such an appealing book! Children who love their pets, and animals in general, will enjoy the short entries that explain why animals do the things that they do. There are entries about cats, dogs, horses, pigs, ferret…snakes. You get the idea. The illustrations are bright and appealing. This is a book that a child can read alone but that adults will also enjoy. I kept shouting out facts to my husband as I read this and I am about as adult as I ever will be!
Jill Mansell’s books are the best kind of women’s fiction. Both funny and heartwarming, this story of mismatched and eventually sorted out relationships is modern and entertaining. Clemency meets Sam but he is married. Clemency’s sister meets Sam when he is free. Clemency makes believe that she is dating Ronan to make her sister jealous…but Ronan loves Kate..and these are only some of the stories in the book. You know that all will be sorted by book’s end but the fun is in getting there. In addition to romantic love, there are stories of parental love and an adoption story in this novel. I have been reading Jill Mansell’s books for years, ordering them from England before they were available here. They are among the best of their kind!
Macaroni the Great and the Sea Beast is a read aloud for a young child. This picture book with appealing illustrations, is told from the point of view of Macaroni, the cat. It is a gentle tale about how he and his owner, Sammy, spend time together; they share routines, eat and go out fishing. What happens to their biggest catch? Read this cute story to find out!
