Monday, July 12, 2010

If you can't say something good about someone, sit right here by me. - Alice Roosevelt Longworth

Ha! I have to find a good biography on this woman.

I'm almost done with Pride and Prejudice. It's excellent. Austen is so witty. What really surprised me is that she wrote it when she was just 21. It was published years later and I'm sure there was some editing, but I'm amazed that a 21 year old could write this! Of course, I will read more Austen. I have no idea how I missed her. I've read many classics, but no Austen until now.

In the last two weeks, I also read The Brutal Telling, a mystery by Louise Penny and Prayers for Sale, a novel by Sandra Dallas. I recommend both books. Prayers for Sale is about the friendship between two women in 1936. One of the women is 17 and the other is 86. It is an uplifting book. I don't want to give too much away about it. I don't want to spoil the ending for you if you decide to read it. Both books are quick reads, but they're not fluff.

11 comments:

Autumn Leaves said...

The last two books sound amazing. With the wonderful classics, I just never enjoy them as I should. The old-fashioned syntax just becomes boring for me quickly. A shame because the story itself is always fabulous. I still haven't finished Jane Eyre and I've started it again and again. I've also started War and Peace and Anna Karenina and just lose all interest once the war strategizing begins. A shame really. I'm so superficial, apparently, when it comes to my choice of reading.

Candy said...

Yikes, Sherry! I've never even attempted War and Peace or Anna Karenina. I seriously doubt that there is anything superficial about you. When I said I had read a lot of classics, I was thinking of novels like The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo - action, friendship and romance. I would also include modern classics like To Kill a Mockingbird.

Autumn Leaves said...

Ooh, I so love To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, I bought it yet again a couple of years ago. I think I've read it at least three times. I've also read Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" a couple of times (love it!) and recently read Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and also the Bram Stoker "Dracula." Admittedly, I was surprised how far from the book the original Frankenstein movie actually was. Dracula too, for that matter. I have three Hemingway books on my shelf that I bought years ago; I've yet to get through any of them. I have the Bronte sisters collected works in one huge volume. Can't even finish Jane Eyre. Same with a collection of Poe works (and I love Poe stories, but just don't have the energy to wade through the heavy syntax, it seems, though I do pull it off the shelf for a read now and then)...

I should really shut up...I could go on and on and on about books. One of my favorite newer books that I've read...and that you might enjoy...is called The Devil in the White City. I loved it!

Deb Harvey said...

Hi Candy!

I think my 22 yr old read Pride and Prejudice, but I haven't. I need to do that!

I just finished two books by Sharon Owens, which I loved, and now I'm working on Julia, again. I don't know why I haven't finished it...it is good.

Thank you for your recommendations!

Randi@SowderingAbout said...

I emailed you some links on Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

I would be super interested in the books you mentioned too.

I have a cutesy one if you want to borrow it sometime, it's a really quick read. It's called the Truth about Forever, I just blogged about it this week. I kinda super love it.

Anyway, we should pick a book together and buddy read it sometime :)

Candy said...

Sherry, you feel free to talk as much as you want. I enjoy reading what you have to say about books, art and whatever. I think my friend Charlotte said her book club was reading The Devil in the White City. It looks like my summer reading list is going to get some new additions.

Hi, Deb! You will love Pride and Prejudice. Sharon Owens is a new author to me, so I'll have to check her out. Julia is also new to me. I'm heading for Google next.

Thanks, Randi. I just took a look and I think I'm going to order the one by Stacy A. Cordery. I love the idea of "buddy reading" a book. I'll start coming up with some ideas and you think of some, too. We can put the titles in a hat to make life easier in the decision making department.

Candy said...

Good night, Deb! I just realized you were talking about Julia Child! Am I slow, or what?

Cobalt Violet said...

My friend Rachel has been reading Jane Austen books lately ... now you posting this ... maybe it's a sign! I need to go to the library because I am embarrassed to admit I have never read her!

Love that quote. Cracks me up.

Candy said...

Lucinda, I'm glad you got a kick out of that quote. It makes me laugh every time I think of it.

I'm going to read some more Austen. I'm glad you're going to try her work, too. I think you'll like her.

Kennedy said...

I have the Stacy Cordery book, but haven't read it yet.

My favorite Jane Austen book is Persuasion.

Candy said...

Hi, Kenpen! Thank you for the tip. I've seen Persuasion on the shelf at the library, but I hadn't heard anyone's opinion on it. That will be my next Jane Austen selection.

Please comment after you've read the book on Alice. If I beat you to it, I'll let you know. I loved one of the quotes I read that her dad said. It was something like, "I can run the country or I can attend to Alice, but I can't do both."