tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post5999996905863512800..comments2023-10-29T00:45:59.199-07:00Comments on Meditative Meanderings: Summer ReadingSusanne Barretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773089562677921118noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-83254917900055948882010-07-10T14:59:42.047-07:002010-07-10T14:59:42.047-07:00Oh, I know, Sarah--just because a book is a "...Oh, I know, Sarah--just because a book is a "classic" doesn't mean that it's necessarily a great book. I have torn Lord of the Flies in half and handed it back to my British Lit professor in college because I hated it so much. That book sickens me--makes my physically ill. Ugh! <br /><br />I love Jane Eyre for the characters and themes, but the "deus ex machina" at the end annoys me. Have you read The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde? It's hilarious--and "explains" the "new ending" of Jane Eyre. Fforde's Thursday Next series is brilliant, filled with inside jokes that literature lovers will find absolutely LOL-funny. :) I prefer Villette and The Professor in some ways over Jane Eyre. <br /><br />The conversation in Eclipse about Wuthering Heights is really quite funny. I posted it on a discussion forum recently, so I'll copy it here for you, just for fun:<br /><br />"I'm glad Charlie has decided to let you out--you're sadly in need of a visit to the bookstore. I can't believe you're reading Wuthering Heights again. Don't you know it by heart yet?"<br /> <br />"Not all of us have photographic memories," I said curtly.<br /> <br />"Photographic memory or not, I don't understand why you like it. The characters are ghastly people who ruin each others' lives. I don't know how Heathcliff and Cathy ended up being ranked with couples like Romeo and Juliet or Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It isn't a love story, it's a hate story."<br /> <br />"You have some serious issues with the classics," I snapped.<br /> <br />"Perhaps it's because I'm not impressed by antiquity." He smiled, evidently satisfied that he'd distracted me. "Honestly, though, why do you read it over and over?" His eyes were vivid with real interest now, trying--again--to unravel the convoluted workings of my mind. He reached across the table to cradle my face in his hand. "What is it that appeals to you?"<br /> <br />His sincere curiosity disarmed me. "I'm not sure," I said, scrambling for coherency while his gaze unintentionally scattered my thoughts. "I think it's something about the inevitability. How nothing can keep them apart--not her selfishness, or his evil, or even death, in the end...."<br /> <br />His face was thoughtful as he considered my words. After a moment he smiled a teasing smile. "I still think it would be a better story if either of them had one redeeming quality."<br /> <br />"I think that may be the point," I disagreed. "Their love is their only redeeming quality." <br /><br />***** <br />Well, I guess I'll see if I can find *any* redeeeming qualities" in Wuthering Heights after all. :)Susanne Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773089562677921118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-34353830555616996082010-07-10T14:17:38.371-07:002010-07-10T14:17:38.371-07:00Susanne, I'll tell you the same thing someone ...Susanne, I'll tell you the same thing someone told me - just because it is by Bronte (or insert other classic author) doesn't mean it's good. For example, I think Jane Eyre is not a particularly well-written book. Value is in the eye of the reader. <br /><br />I've read all the Twilight books, but didn't remember that connection. To be honest, there isn't much I remember from them (except some awfully graphic scenes that will probably be with me forever, lol!) <br /><br />Thank you for explaining it to me :-)sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818420999930644450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-32120801549726525582010-07-10T10:17:30.367-07:002010-07-10T10:17:30.367-07:00Sarah-
The connection between Meyer and Bronte is...Sarah-<br /><br />The connection between Meyer and Bronte is something that Meyer develops in Eclipse. Edward and Bella have a conversation about Wuthering Heights when he can't understand why Bella keeps reading and rereading it. Quotes from WH are used multiple times in Eclipse, and it made me want to reread WH to see if there was ANYTHING of redeeming value in it. I've read it twice, hated it twice, and keep blocking it from my memory. So I guess I'll try to read it, again....Susanne Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773089562677921118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-25969047989043347922010-07-10T10:14:45.818-07:002010-07-10T10:14:45.818-07:00Thanks for posting, HFF. I'm so sorry: I acci...Thanks for posting, HFF. I'm so sorry: I accidentally deleted your comment in deleting another comment that was not appropriate. I can't wait to see the movie, although I understand that the ending is different from the book. We shall see. :)Susanne Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773089562677921118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-18260424460867452932010-07-10T10:12:39.123-07:002010-07-10T10:12:39.123-07:00Posted by HisFireFly and accidentally deleted:
My...Posted by HisFireFly and accidentally deleted:<br /><br />My husband and I just watched the movie My Sister's Keeper last week. Quite unusual and intense.. will be interesting to hear what you think of the book.Susanne Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773089562677921118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5299773562524402730.post-12847412832707066952010-07-09T23:39:42.166-07:002010-07-09T23:39:42.166-07:00Twilight and Wuthering Heights? Um? I find that ha...Twilight and Wuthering Heights? Um? I find that hard to understand. Wuthering Heights is about an obsessive, incestuous relationship between two extraordinarily selfish people who really only care about their own feelings, not those of their beloved. Its profoundly well written, Emily was definitely the most talented of the three sisters, but it isn't everyone's taste that's for sure! But my mind boggles how a book like Twilight could be connected to it. Please do tell! :-)<br /><br />I'm glad you are okay despite your recent earthquakes :-)sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818420999930644450noreply@blogger.com