4. The Great Gatsby

I’ve read The Great Gatsby before. I think it’s a great book and worth reading, but it’s not one of my favorites. I wish I had more to say about the book. I finished about a week ago and it’s not as fresh in my mind. I should really start writing about the book right after I finish it. I do most of my reading at night and then forget to post.

I just started Brave New World last night. I don’t really know what the book is about. So far it’s pretty strange and a lot different than the other books I have on the list.

3. Howards End

For about the first 100 pages, I didn’t think I was going to like Howard’s End. It started off slow and I couldn’t figure out where the story was going. But, all of a sudden, the book just took off and I couldn’t put it down. It was so good that I read for most of the day and didn’t put it down until I finished it.

2. The Portrait of a Lady

I don’t really have much to say about The Portrait of a Lady, except that I’m not a fan of the book. I found the first half of the book very slow and I couldn’t relate to the characters. I actually felt annoyed with the main character, Isabel Archer, for most of the book. I did however like Ralph Touchett. It is one of those books I would have just stopped reading, but because of my 501 Project I finished the book.

The movie was on tv shortly after I finished the book. It was a bit more entertaining than the book, but I still didn't like it very much.

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This is about the second or third time I’ve read this book and it’s one of my favorites. The first 100 pages are a bit slow, but not hard to read. After that, it really picks up and it’s hard to put down. I really enjoy Bronte’s writing style and I can relate to her characters.

This was one of my favorite moments in the book. I was reading it in bed one night and it actually made me cry. I felt a little silly crying over the book, but it really touched me.

“Thence a narrow passage led into the hall: in crossing it, I perceived my sandal was loose; I stopped to tie it, kneeling down for that purpose on the mat at the foot of the staircase. I heard the dining-room door unclose; a gentleman came out; rising hastily, I stood face to face with him: it was Mr. Rochester.
            ‘How do you do?’ he asked.
            ‘I am very well, sir.’
            ‘Why did you not come and speak to me in the room?’
            I thought I might have retorted the question on him who put it: but I would not take that freedom. I answered-
            ‘I did not wish to disturb you, as you seemed engaged, sir.’
            ‘What have you been doing during my absence?’
            ‘Nothing particular; teaching Adele as usual.’
            ‘And getting a good deal paler than you were – as I saw at first sight. What is the matter?’
            ‘Nothing at all, sir.’
            ‘Did you take any cold that night you half drowned me?’
            ‘Not the least.’
            ‘Return to the drawing-room: you are deserting too early.’
            ‘I am tired, sir.’
            He looked at me for a minute.
            ‘And a little depressed,’ he said. ‘What about? Tell me.’
            ‘Nothing-nothing, sir. I am not depressed.’
            ‘But I affirm that you are: so much depressed that a few more words would bring tears to your eyes-indeed, they are there now, shining and swimming; and a bead has slipped from the lash and fallen on the flag. If I had time, and was not in mortal dread of some prating prig of a servant passing, I would know what all this means. Well, tonight I excuse you; but understand that so long as my visitors stay, I expect you to appear in the drawing-room every evening; it is my wish; don’t neglect it. Now go, and send Sophie for Adele. Goodnight, my-“ He stopped, bit his lip, and abruptly left me.

Find out more about the book: http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Readable-Classics-Charlotte-Bronte/dp/0615324444/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1294520462&sr=1-6

I really love watching the movies that are based upon the books I have read. There’s a new Jane Eyre movie coming out in March that I can’t wait to see. I don’t know if I can wait that long, so I’ll probably end up watching the Masterpiece Theatre version.

http://www.focusfeatures.com/focusfeatures/film/jane_eyre/

501 Must-Read Books

My husband bought me the book 501 Must-Read Books last Christmas. While cleaning up the house this year, well actually last year, I found it with a stack of other books just hiding out on a shelf in the dining room. While flipping through it I got really excited about all the books I could read. You see, I love books and I love to read, the problem is I never know what to read so I love recommendations. So here it was in front of me, 501 recommendations. Perfect.

A couple of days after I decided to read all 501 books, I got the great idea to document my progress in a blog. I was super excited about my “original” idea and did a search to find out if someone else had done the same thing. Of course someone had. Several someone’s. Oh well, nothings original anymore anyway, right?

So here I am, documenting my way through 501 Must-Read Books. I don’t really have a plan of attack. I’m starting with the books I already own, there aren’t very many. I’ve read several of the books on the list already, but the perfectionist in me has come out and I must re-read those books in order to complete the project.

I plan to check out most of the books from my local library or borrow them from friends and family when I can. But I know I will buy several of the books to add to my collection. There are just certain books or authors that I want to have. Jane Austin is a favorite of mine and I already have many of her books. Sense and Sensibility is on the list and I don’t have that one in my collection yet.

Here I go.

Here are the books I already own and will be reading first (in no particular order):

Jane Eyre
The Portrait of a Lady
Wuthering Heights
The Scarlett Letter
Howards End
Little Women
The Catcher in the Rye
Brave New World
Walden
Treasure Island
The Great Gatsby
The Old Man and the Sea