WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN - 'A FORTUNATE LIFE'

'A Fortunate Life' by AB Facey
June 28 - July 2, 323 pages

I've mentioned before that I love reading Australian books. This was no exception.

It's a pretty amazing story. This guy has endless talent. It seemed as though everything he had a go at, he succeeded at. A very inspiring story.

I also found it very interesting. I have has little experience with farming, especially in the early twentieth century. It sounds like hard work, but very important to the national economy. It was an insightful read.

I recommend this book. I can definitely see why 'A million Australians already love the story of Bert Facey - an ordinary bloke.'

WEEK TWENTY-SIX - 'WUTHERING HEIGHTS'

'Wuthering Heights' by Emily Brontë
June 24 - 27, 245 pages

I did it. I finally did it. Over the past two and a half years I have had three failed attempts at reading this book. I just could not get into it and eventually tossed it aside each time.

But I couldn't let it beat me.

I did start to get interested in the plot after one hundred or so pages but in no way was I hooked. I guess it just came down to the fact that deep down I didn't really care what happened to the characters. I didn't like any of them. Except maybe Nelly.

I am glad I read it, though. I can see why it's a classic. It is well-written and insightful. Complex and thorough.

I might have to take a break before embarking on more Brontë sisters' books though.

And at week twenty-six I am halfway through the year without missing a week yet!

WEEK TWENTY-FIVE - 'THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST' & 'THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS'

'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' by Stieg Larsson
June 14 - 17, 599 pages

I finished the Millennium trilogy! I really enjoyed this last book - it tied together all the loose ends from the previous book. It was frustrating at times, though. I just wanted everyone to work it out already!

I loved the scene where Gianni annihilates Teleborian in court. So funny. Yes. The series ended very well.

'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne
June 19, 216 pages

The first book this year that I read in just one day.

This is a lovely book. It is powerful in its innocence. It lingers in your mind. The ending is very sad. It's awful to think that those things happened.

WEEK TWENTY-FOUR - 'LIFE OF PI' & 'HENRY IV, PART ONE'

'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel
June 7 - 11, 401 pages

I enjoyed this book. It's just a great story that is told very well. It was interesting - I learnt lots of fascinating things about animals. Like 'prusten,' the sound a tiger makes 'to express friendliness and harmless intentions.'

The only parts of this novel that I struggled to pay much attention to were those about religion, but that's just me. It redeemed itself with some excellent ideas: 'To be a castaway is to be caught in a harrowing ballet of circles.' And Richard Parker is a brilliant name for a tiger.

'Henry IV, Part One' by William Shakespeare
June 12 - 13, 116 pages

Another diverting Shakespeare

Yes, I did like 'Life of Pi'. It reminded me of 'Robinson Crusoe' and, as with that novel, I was most impressed with Pi's survival techniques.

'Henry IV, Part One' was good. It took me a little while to get into it and really want to know how what was going to happen. But I did eventually get into it. I should read Part Two.

WEEK TWENTY-THREE - 'THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE'

'The Girl Who Played with Fire' by Stieg Larsson
June 2 - 5, 569 pages

This is the second book in the Millennium trilogy that I started a few weeks ago.

The second is just as gripping as the first. As it got close to the end where everything would be reveled I needed to stop myself; I was not actually reading, but instead skimming the pages in search of new revelations. I don't often read crime novels like this but when I do they absorb me completely, I swallowed this up because I just needed to know what happened. 

This novel features the same main characters while introducing many more. I liked the way the web got so tangled as more information was discovered. Can't wait for the third. 

I actually felt that at times this book moved slower than the first. Perhaps it was just me being too greedy for answers, but  in the middle of the book I was frustrated that it was moving slowly. Still an excellent read.

WEEK TWENTY-TWO - 'KING LEAR'

'King Lear' by William Shakespeare
May 24 - 27, 145 pages

Yes, another Shakespeare. I just can't get enough.

This play is intense. And complicated. At times I struggled to keep up with everything that was happening. But it's worth it. What I like about the Bard (well, one of the many things) is that, despite being written centuries ago, we can still take something from his plays and relate to them. 'We that are young / Shall never see so much, nor live so long.'

It was also exciting to read the line, 'I am a man / More sinned against than sinning.'

A real Shakespearean tragedy. Everyone dies.

I can't help but mention this brilliant exchange:
Oswald   What dost thou know me for?
Kent        A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats, a base proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy-worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking, whoreson glass-gazing super-serviceable finical rogue, one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into clamorous whining if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition.
Oh, how perfect.

Also:

'tis a naughty night to swim in'

'Was this a face / To be opposed against the warring winds?'

'if it be man's work, I'll do 't'

'The younger rises when the old doth fall'

I'm going to see this play in the theatre next week. I am ridiculously excited.

WEEK TWENTY-ONE - 'NOT UNTRUE & NOT UNKIND'

'Not Untrue & Not Unkind' by Ed O'Loughlin
May 20 - 23, 276 pages

Any book with an ampersand in its title scores automatic points with me for starters.

Punctuation aside (I do go on about it a lot, just reading the previous entry), I enjoyed this novel. It's a story that is well told. I liked how it didn't stay in one place. And it was intense when it needed to be and calm when it didn't. I felt like I was there with them - either when they were out in the field amidst the African wars, or having a smoke and telling jokes over whisky. Oh, to be a reporter.

I can't believe this is O'Loughlin's first novel. It is a fine work of fiction. A very interesting read. I want more.

This novel was written just as I imagine a reporter would write it. It was very good. I must admit that I was a bit over my head with the politics and wars in Africa, but I got the general gist.