[Reading the Classics] Animal Farm by George Orwell

[Rearranged from cover © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2003]

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Author: George Orwell

Publication Year: 1945

Pages: 84 (my edition)

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

My thoughts

"Four legs good, two legs bad"

I have decided that I love stories that utilise anthropomorphism to convey its ideas and themes. George Orwell builds an allegorical story based on the Russian Revolution: The Farm's ownership is overrun by its livestock (Battle of the Cowshed), and the pigs are the thinkers, the leaders, while all other animals do the labour and are quite content to do so under the new ruling.

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

[Reading the Classics] A Tree Grows in Brooklyn // Betty Smith

[Source: Deconstructed from 9780060736262; © Harper Perennial 2005]

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Author: Betty Smith

Publication Year: 1943

Pages: 500

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

Verdict: A poignant reflection on the coming-of-age of a girl whose future is as fragile as it is hopeful. The discord among social classes is explored with startling realism. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is now forever in my heart, stealing a place among my top 10 favourites of all time. The sensibility of this young girl, Francie, will astound you. Her quiet unnerving strength is inspirational as well as heart-breaking.

My thoughts

It is a magnificent coming of age story.

I have always had a personal love for coming-of-age stories, which A Tree Grows in Brooklyn most definitely is. This novel is not short, and maybe you're wondering what the story is about. If I could summarise the story it would be something like: the situation in which an impoverished family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has been placed, the circumstances that have led to the situation, and a young girl's enduring will to change things.

MBiC (11): More classics book haul~

MBiC is a fortnightly (*ahem*) post book haul feature inspired by Kristi (The Story Siren) and Alea (Pop Culture Junkie). I love looking at book covers, and especially their colours, and that is where the idea to feature my new arrivals by their spines in accordance to their shade comes from.

~~~~~

9th of March 2013 ~ Notes

I think I overdid it with the book buying. I'm not buying any books this month, I think. But I got so many great books, I'm not sure if any of you will be as excited as I am because there's not much YA coming to my doorstep these days. (I'm waiting for a preorder, one YA title that I'm EXTREMELY excited for!) This haul is mostly red spines (*hint hint*).

Note: All release dates are in the format (dd/mm/yyyy); click on images to zoom in; all book links go to Goodreads.

* = Up for swap

For Review

Thanks to...

Bloomsbury!

• Hostage Three - Nick Lake - 01/04/2013 - unsolicited

I was also sent In Darkness by Nick Lake, which I STILL have not read. Though I really want to, eventually. This one sounds pretty interesting--and hello? Pirates! I also like the cover of this one, though I think it could have done without the girl.

Bought

So shiny... I actually colour-organised this time!

• Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
• A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
• Mr Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• The Easter Parade by Richard Yates

It's partly Booktopia's fault that I bought so many books in February. Too many good deals plus the free shipping. I owe my acquisiton of Yates' novel to Lesley (WordsOfAReader ~ one of my favourite booktubers!). I want to read that one the most, but coming at a close second is Anna Karenina. Also, Chris Isherwood is classic GBLT and I like his writing style--from what I read in the online previews.

• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
• The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
• Possession by A.S. Byatt

The Pickwick Papers (Penguin English Library) & Possession (Vintage 21) have this nice velvet-y feel to the covers. (And yes, I have rubbed my face on both. *sigh*)

I finally have a copy of The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate - can you believe I first ordered it in October last year? I already know I'm going to love Nancy Mitford's style.  I can't wait to eventually familiarise myself with the lives of the famed Mitfords. Also, Possession is one of those books about books; it sounds sort of The Book Thief-ish or Dash & Lily's Book of Dares-ish. And Life of Pi and The Handmaid's Tale - yay!

Task:
 Have a look at the Goodreads page for every single one of these books
and let me know if there are any new ones that caught your attention.

Happy reading! Comment below.

Share with me your own book hauls! :)

[Reading the Classics] Of Mice and Men // John Steinbeck

[Source: Deconstructed from 9780241952481; ©Penguin 2012]

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Author: John Steinbeck

Publication Year: 1937

Pages: 107

Violence | Sexual Content | Profanity

Verdict: Simply unforgettable. Short but packed with atmosphere and emotion. A story about two men who fall prey to the promise of The American Dream (and many other characters). The importance of companionship is pronounced time and time again, the consequences of loneliness too high a price for instant gratification. One of Steinbeck's most famous novels, and for good reason.

My thoughts

OF MICE AND MEN is one of the few books I was required to read in high school that I actually loved and intended to revisit in the future. I will admit I had a few doubts. I worried that it wouldn't be as good as I'd remembered. I worried that I'd built it up too much in my head and that I'd just end up disappointing myself. Luckily, or maybe by my sheer force of will, I had nothing to worry about because it felt like I had just come back to something uniquely special.

[Review] Matilda by Roald Dahl

I know that this is a definite childrens book, but I never claimed by blog would focus entirely on YA reads, since I do have a handful of general fiction and have even posted a few reviews of them up here.

Title: Matilda

Author: Roald Dahl

Publication: 1988 (Puffin, 1989)

Publisher: Puffin Books

Review Copy: Paperback

Pages: 240~

Goodreads description:   

Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.

My thoughts: I have a feeling that my rating may be based on bias, however I really enjoyed re-living the joy that is Matilda. This was the first time I read the book version of what I remember "Matilda" as is the movie. There were some extra details, like thoughts and further insight which hadn't, couldn't have been portrayed as clearly in the movie. However, there were some moments that weren't in the book that appeared in the movie, and that obviously was bound to happen.

Roald Dahl is a wonderful storyteller, and I loved how he focused on Matilda as more of an intelligible genius, rather than someone who was frustrated with her family matters. (the supposed source of her power as is conveyed in the movie) I enjoyed the whimsical, messy style of the illustrator's pictures that went along with the story. Definitely a trademark Dahl feature. :)

I am a huge Dahl fan, and though he is gone, and was a predominantly childrens book author, his books and storytelling will forever remain in my mind and heart. I know I'm not the only one.

Rating: 

4.5/5

I found this image on Google while I was looking for the image of Matilda. I think that's fabulous! I love how it's also in colour! :D Props to the person who promised never to let go of the joys that Mailda and more importantly, Roald Dahl, brought. It also looks like it hurt.

If you have shown any love for Matilda, or found any funky pics/videos celebrating Matilda or Roald Dahl, please DO share! :D