A Post: Readathon Wrap-Up

I did it! I participated in my first readathon and I'm already looking forward to the next one! Sometimes, and I'm ashamed to admit this, I feel really guilty if I read instead of doing other things, like focusing on my photography business, for example. Since I spend pretty much every night after my 8-to-5 editing, talking and/or meeting with new clients, marketing, and blogging for bethpriddy.com, reading has fallen by the wayside. The readathon gave me an excuse to dedicate every hour that I wasn't working to relax and READ to my heart's content. It was just what I needed.

I didn't finish the entire 24 hours because I did have to photograph an event and my sister-in-law was visiting, but I did complete 9 hours, one book, and a little over three quarters of another. I should note that I finished the second about 30 minutes after my 48 was up, so maybe I can count it? Anyway..

Thoughts

I mentioned that I loved Jane Harris's Gillespie and I (like top 10 books in my life love) and had tried reading this one before without success. Nope, not this time around. Summary: Poor Bessy is wandering the countryside of Edinburgh looking for work when's she suddenly hired on as a house maid to a Mrs. Arabella Reid, an English lady, she takes to be rather eccentric and out of place. Arabella, however, is quite brilliant, but suffers from secrets she keeps closely guarded. In an attempt to understand her mistress, Bessy begins snooping and ultimately uncovers information that leads her to play tricks that don't quite go to plan.

First, I should note that the rough dialogue is a little hard to get past in the beginning, but the authentic voice of a mostly uneducated woman working in the world of service in the 1860s is pretty incredible. Also, Bessy, the lead, is hilarious! I laughed out loud more times than I can count. A lot of reviewers expressed disappointment with the ending, and while it does lack the bang the reader expects, I still gave it five stars on Goodreads because I just really enjoyed being apart of the story. The rural atmosphere and townspeople came alive in the pages, and Bessy entertained me to no end. I recommend this to anyone, but especially those who love historical fiction or Jane Harris. Do it!!

Ranjit Singh is an ex-military Captain trying to make it in his new home in Martha's Vineyard after leaving India disgraced. Working multiple jobs to keep his wife and young daughter fed and housed, Ranjit is offered a position as caretaker to a well-loved senator's summer home on the island. When the Singh family loses heat during the winter, they decide to set up temporary camp in the Senator's home, a decision that will ultimately change their lives forever. Uncovering secrets about the Senator's shady international dealings and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Ranjit is on a race around the city to save his family and the world.

Let me first say that I read this because NPR said the second in this series was a must-read this summer. I thought that I'd need to read the first in order to read the second and here we are. It was a fast one. Typical thriller material. Would I call it a literary thriller like every review I read before? Absolutely not. It's basically cheesy romance-part- thriller. And then there's the fact that Ranjit's whole family winds up in a detention center with the risk of being deported and all the while he's having sexy time with the Senator's wife. He blabs on and on and on about how he misses his daughter and his wife, but then as the date for deportation looms, he's literally banging this other lady while mentioning his guilt. And when the book concludes... he's flabbergasted that his wife doesn't want to return to America and doesn't want him back (btw, she doesn't even know about the banging activities). So yeah. It just didn't fit the character. At all. It was like forced, uncomfortable sex scenes to mix it up a bit. These issues aside, I did think it was awesome to see a cast of non-white leads in a new thriller. Ranjit is a Punjabi Sikh, the senator and his wife African Americans, with a Caucasian rounding out the cast as a corrupt secretary to the Senator. All and all, I'd say that if you've read other reviews and think you might like it, go for it. It's a quick read and won't break the bank. I gave this a 2.5 on Goodreads.

So.. what are you reading?? 

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

A Review: The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

Before I borrowed this title from the library, I'll admit I was drawn into a storyline set in Scotland. A cover description, that, in a hurried examination, seemed slightly similar to the story of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Slightly is not even the word.

Yes, those things kind of got me. And so I read.

Gemma Hardy, daughter of an Icelandic fisherman and a Scottish mother, is left in the care of her doting uncle and witch-of-an-aunt, after accidents claim the lives of both her parents.  When Gemma's uncle drowns by falling through a crack in the ice one winter, her poor life is turned upside down.  Forced to relocate to a boarding school, hired on as a working girl to earn her keep, Gemma quickly learns to perform her chores quickly and quietly, without an attachment in the world.  Years later, Gemma finds an au pair position on a small estate and farm in the Orkneys. Affections are explored with a Mr. Sinclair, family mysteries unveiled, urging Gemma to flee without a penny. One hindrance after another leaves Gemma broken and desperate for work, unable to locate a single soul of charitable reputation, the author unearths questions of what it is to be good and Christian in the world. The audience travels distant shores, meets many interesting characters and roots for Gemma until the end.

When I initially finished the novel, I was pleased.  It was a simple and entertaining read. I had loved Jane Eyre, and felt that the author managed to retell the story in a manner that was fitting and tasteful.  Gemma is a likeable character, with a good (for the most part) head on her shoulders, determined to do things for herself (her largest goal being a pupil at university).  Unlike Jane, Gemma is much more independent, and rightly so, as Livesey's sets her story up throughout the late 50s and early 1960s. The author manages to capture a changing landscape. We hear stories of families recovering after substantial losses in two world wars, women going to work outside of the home and brief encounters with topics like lesbianism and sex that would have had lady Jane blushing something crimson - if not falling over completely. I really enjoyed the novel because of this spin on the adaptation. Even after she falls for Mr. Sinclair, a man 20 years her senior, she manages to break free and seek the answers she's always wanted, those of her family and origins and what her life might have offered if things had worked out differently. Even in the end, we see Gemma pursuing the plans she's mapped out for herself despite the turn of events.

While the characters were well drawn out and captivating, there was no one, in particular, that I was drawn to as much as Gemma. The landscapes of the two countries seemed to offer boundless possibilities on behalf of the writer, but was lacking, in my opinion.  While there were a few moments of beautiful description, this language was generally saved for details of the avian life that thrived around her (Gemma is fascinated by winged creatures).  I wanted the story to come alive a little more than it did. Furthermore, just like Jane's adoration for Rochester always dumbfounded me, I'll admit that Gemma and Mr. Sinclair didn't do it for me either. I'm hard to please.

To be fair, I did enjoy it and highly recommend it to any fan of the famous Jane Eyre.  I'll  also note that this is an exact retelling of Jane's story, but think mostly modern.. 60s modern, that is. This, for me, was a bit of a let down as I expected it to be a little more loosely based, but can't deny that I really did enjoy it.

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest

The Wanderlust Weekend Edition- Scottish Highland Festival

Happy Sunday, bookworms!  Sundays have unofficially been dedicated to posts that offer insight into the world of nature, life and accomplishing the things you most desire from life. The 8 to 5 can no doubt leave you tired, cranky and a little lost.  I use my weekends to do all the things that provide motivation through the just-outta-college, entry-level grind.  Perhaps my endeavors will motivate you, too.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the annual Scottish Highland Games festival at Stone Mountain Park.  Stone Mountain Park is already one of my favorite places to relax and unwind, given that it's a relatively short distance from the city, and will no doubt illicit warm childhood memories of summer days spent there with my three younger brothers.

I've been to the Games before as my Grandmother is a staunch proponent of understanding and seeking one's ancient family heritage, and has carted my brothers and I, rain or shine, to participate in the activities.  My Mother and Grandmother are detectives in the field of genealogy and refuse to accept a dead end, traveling great distances to accrue another piece of the puzzle in the long line of people that existed before us.  That being said, I, too, have developed an interest in the generations of my ancestral family that appear as characters in a folk tale at this point.  

The festival was quite enjoyable.  Seeing my Mother smile is no doubt reward enough.  I realize that there is much about the Scottish Highland culture I am ignorant of, and I understand that it does encompass more than bagpipes, games and traditional dancing; all and all, it was a real treat and ecourages me to learn more about the culture. Piping and drumming bands from around the country came to compete against one another with difficult musical compositions and synchronized performances.  I've always loved the sounds of a bagpipe so perhaps I'm a bit partial, but it was very entertaining and inspirational to see individuals who work so hard to perfect their skill performing for such a large, appreciative audience.  

Share on Facebook| Share on Twitter| Share on Pinterest