Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

It is Charles Dicken's 200th birthday today.  I get a lump in my throat just thinking about the impact this man has had on my life and the lives of millions of others over the past two centuries.  No writer has done more (Shakespeare excepted, perhaps) to influence everything from the way our novels are written to how we celebrate Christmas.  And no book, aside from the Book of Mormon, thrills my whole soul like a good Dickens novel.  I remember summer library trips in my youth, where I would bee-line straight to the "D" aisle of our library.  There I would touch the spines of those beautiful old Dickens books, deciding which one to immerse myself in next.

Great Expectations was my initiation into the rich parlance of Charles Dickens.  I remember reading it just after Jane Eyre and liking it, although I'm sure I didn't understand half of it.  It has everything--mystery, humor, a dash of romance--but I believe the most important theme of the book is the impact our choices have on us.

I especially enjoyed reading it with Lydia.  She surprised me one day by looking through the bookshelves in my room (my room is my sanctum sanctorum--it houses my Victorian novels, Harry Potter, and all the Barnes & Noble Classics I've accumulated) and stating her intention to read a Dickens.  "Don't get too excited, Mom," she stipulated, "or I probably won't do it."  (I made that mistake with Anne of Green Gables, and I fear she'll never give those gems a try . . . *sigh*)  She raced ahead of me--she can read like the wind, and she comprehends everything.  I was overjoyed to hear her laugh out loud at Mr. Wopsle & Mr. Pumblechook--she got it!  She discovered Dickens's masterful humor!  I felt like she'd finally joined my personal Dickens Fan Club.  Here are her thoughts--if nothing else, she's honest!


I liked Great Expectations.  The ending was different from the way I expected, but it was good overall.  There were some pretty interesting characters.  Wemmick was one of my favorites because of his funny double-life.  It taught a good lesson about thinking about what you choose, because Pip made lots of decisions, but not all of them were good.  He was kind of hasty at making choices.


I think Charles Dickens is a great author.  Great Expectations wasn't my style, but I think that's because I am a younger girl.  The older you are, the closer you are to that time period, so I'd suggest it to older people.


Yes, thank you, Lydia.  And if you're an "older person," as I obviously am, and closer in years to the 1800's, the story of Great Expectations is probably familiar to you, with its themes of crime, broken promises, and ambition.  I have to agree with Lyd--Pip has never been my favorite character (he seems so weak!), but his choices made for some of the best discussions we have ever shared about books.  I mean, haven't we all let someone down?  Haven't we all wanted to be popular, neglecting loved ones and dear friends in the process?  I'm glad we now have this great classic to fall back on as Lyd nears the teenage years--I can refer to Pip for examples of what not to do.  And there are so many redeeming characters--Joe, Biddy, Herbert, Wemmick--who somehow help make Pip become the man he should be.  We treasure the Biddies and Joes in our lives, don't we?

Dickens is beloved to me for another reason--he offers mutual ground for Seth and I.  While Seth barely tolerates my Jane Austen "chick flick-ish" movies, he hasn't met a Dickens movie he didn't like--or at least one that didn't keep him intrigued.  He actually grew up on this version of Great Expectations, thanks to my wonderful Mother-in-Law, Elaine:

It's fantastic (although I always had issues with Estella seeming so much older than Pip), produced by Disney, and starring the great Anthony Hopkins as Magwitch.  Point of interest:  Miss Havisham is Jean Simmons, who plays Estella in the 1946 version.

I haven't been too interested in any other version, especially the risque 1998 version (Dickens must have rolled over in his grave)--however, the BBC has made a new one (2011) that looks very intriguing.  I love what Gillian Anderson, the new Miss Havisham, has to say about her role in the film, as well as the book itself:

"I can imagine that journey [reading Great Expectations] as a young kid, especially a young boy, must be unbelievably exciting.

"It was the journey pre-Harry Potter. Of course it was longer ago, but I can imagine young people having the same kind of magical response to Great Expectations that we did when Harry Potter books first started to come out.

"That's if it does get introduced at an early age, in school or through a parent or whatever and the child is able to crack the density of it." http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2011/12/great-expectations-gillian-anderson.shtml

I may shy away from the even newer version (2012) with Helena Bonham Carter, bless her creepy heart, as Miss Havisham.  We'll have to see.

Seth marvels that I can enjoy new versions of shows I have seen so many times before, but I'd like to think Dickens would be proud that his stories are so timeless.  So go ahead--celebrate his birthday with a wonderful book or movie, and I guarantee you'll thank me.

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis

My good friend Jera brought this book over--somehow she ended up with two copies.  I can't think of the last time (if ever) I have read a whole book about our Founding Fathers, although I always have the best of intentions--I have a few of them on my "to-read" list on Goodreads . . . Since this one wasn't too thick (which is what usually scares me away from historical books or biographies), I decided to give it a try.  So glad I did--this one really got me thinking about our founding fathers and their contributions to the life we live today, as well as how far we have strayed as a nation from some of their original ideals.

Taking sort of a back-door approach, Ellis looks at some less-written-about episodes or aspects in the lives of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, and Burr (i.e. unlikely friendships, Washington's farewell address, the duel between Hamilton & Burr) and uses them to paint a picture of what things must have really been like for these amazing men.  He does make a lot of assumptions, which troubled me at times, but he is a beautiful narrator; never once did I feel bored with it.  There were several moments during my reading when I was disenchanted with these great men, but just as I thought Ellis was going to knock them off my personal pedestal, he came full circle and restored my faith in their inspiration.  Well, maybe not Aaron Burr so much . . .

So yes, I would highly recommend it as a springboard to heftier historical or political reading. It has inspired me to attack John Adams by David McCullough.  Do you think I can handle it?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I have read Jane Eyre probably more than any book aside from the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. I love it so much, I worry that I won't do it justice!  It is definitely one of my top five all-time favorites.  It has been made into I don't know how many films, and even a Broadway play with a beautiful soundtrack.

I'm sure almost everyone is familiar with the story of Jane Eyre--plain, ordinary young lady becomes a governess and falls in love with her gruff employer . . . the plot seems fairly boring, but I LOVE IT!  And I know I'm not alone.  What exactly makes it so universally appealing?  


Well, here's what I love about Jane Eyre:
1. Jane herself tells the story, and she addresses you directly as "dear reader" several times, which pulls you in and makes you sympathize with her all the more.  You feel like you're a friend she's confiding in.
2. The love story is perhaps the most beautiful ever written--especially because it's between two such unlikely characters.  Neither is very alluring, per se, but their romance manifests a "marriage of true minds," as Shakespeare would say.
3. Mr. Rochester--he is just the perfect hero!  Actually not perfect--he has his flaws, but they make him that much more likeable.
4. It is just so well-written!  The dialogue is anything but dry or forced, and the narration flows so beautifully!
5.  Each character you become closely acquainted with is deep and passionate.
6. Perhaps what I like the most is that Jane isn't perfect.  She has a bit of a temper and is also tempted--but she has a firm conviction in what she knows is right.


There is so much food for discussion!  Jane's moral courage; Mr. Rochester's desire to begin a new life, yet falling into the same old habits; Jane's ability to rise above her surroundings and make the most of things--they just don't make books this cut and dried anymore!


Jane Eyre was even worthy of mention on this last General Conference--I was thrilled to hear Sister Ann M. Dibb say the following:  


One of my favorite books is the British classic Jane Eyre, (Hooray--we can be friends!) written by Charlotte Brontë and published in 1847. The main character, Jane Eyre, is a penniless, teenage orphan who exemplifies what it means to be true. In this fictional account, a man, Mr. Rochester, loves Miss Eyre but is unable to marry her. Instead, he begs Miss Eyre to live with him without the benefit of marriage. Miss Eyre loves Mr. Rochester as well, and for a moment she is tempted, asking herself, “Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?”

Quickly Jane’s conscience answers: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God. … Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this. … If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed. … Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.”

In a desperate moment of temptation, Jane Eyre was true to her beliefs, she trusted in the law given by God, and she planted her foot in resistance to temptation.

Being true to our beliefs—even when doing so isn’t popular, easy, or fun—keeps us safely on the path that leads to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. ... Being true also allows us to have a positive effect on the lives of others. 

And that, I think, is what I like the most about Jane Eyre--the way her righteous choices influence the lives of others.

Now, I am quite partial to the movie versions of this wonderful classic, my favorites being the one starring Timothy Dalton

and the 2006 version starring Toby Stephens & Ruth Wilson.  I never get tired of watching this one--it is so well-done!

And, if you're as big a fan as I am, you will probably be eager to see the newly released 2011 version!  It looks good--a little dark and probably condensed to fit the typical 2-hour Hollywood length, but you really can't go too far wrong with Jane Eyre, can you?  

(Also, J.E. fans will enjoy this interesting comparison between the many movie-version Mr. Rochester's.)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Jessica:  Having grown up watching Disney's cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland and now watching it with my own children, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for these stories.  I loved reading them as a pre-teen.  However, after watching the new Disney version by Tim Burton (it was very . . . interesting, to say the least), I had to re-read them to make sure they weren't more bizarre than I recalled.  They may be a bit off-the-wall, but not so outlandish as the movie would lead you to believe; in fact, both books were quite comical and had me laughing out loud.

Carroll was a master at language and logic--he actually worked as a mathematics tutor at Oxford, and you can tell that he had a brilliant mind.  He uses word play frequently in his stories, which makes them all the more amusing.  Both books are very clever and entertaining and well-deserving of the title "classics."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has the stories of the Mad Hatter & March Hare and the Queen of Hearts.  Through the Looking-Glass deals more with the chess pieces--the white and red queens--and traveling from one "square" of a giant chessboard to another. It includes the characters of Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee and the talking flowers.

Alice with Tweedle-Dum & Tweedle-Dee before their battle

Lydia:  I loved the royal subjects and how they acted. For example, how the Red Queen is running with Alice and they get absolutely nowhere. Then there is the White Queen who starts crying because she will get hurt in the future. I loved these books in every way!

Alice talking with the White Queen

(I suppose I am biased, but I love Lydia's drawing style!  I made her sketch a couple of her favorite scenes so I could show her off a bit . . . :)

Clarice Bean, the Utterly Complete Collection by Lauren Child

Lydia:  I thought this was a good book. It was about a little girl who wanted to be a mystery solver like the girl in her book--until she solves a mystery of her own. I really liked it because it was written by the same person who wrote Charlie & Lola. I also like the pictures. There are lots of them.  I love the way she describes things.

Jessica:  Lydia talked me into reading these books, and it didn't take much effort, since our entire family is in love with Lauren Child's Charlie & Lola series.  They were so entertaining!


Clarice Bean is a pre-teen girl growing up in England who deals with some very normal problems--a mean teacher, a pesky younger brother, and homework she doesn't want to do.  The whole series reminded me of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, which I loved when I was little.  These are for a slightly more mature audience than those, strictly for comprehension reasons.  Any pre-teens would really enjoy them.  They are clean, clever, and perfectly darling!  I found myself wanting to talk like Clarice, who is the author of these "diaries."  Listen to how delightful she is--for example, in describing the neighborhood organic grocery store:


It's all about selling things that haven't been sprayed with chemically things.
I am not sure what that word organic exactly stands for really.  Who does know?  They should call it "with bugs" or something so people know what they are in for.  You might find a caterpillar in your broccoli but that's the point.
Mom says, "There's nothing wrong with eating a caterpillar."
I say, "There is if you are vegetarian."


On the irritating boy who sits behind her in class:
And I can hear Robert Granger breathing.  That's what he does.  He sits behind me and breathes.  It drives me utterly crazy.
And I turn around and go, "Stop breathing, will you!"

And he says, "Clarice Bean, of course I cannot stop breathing because then I would be dead and how would you like that?"
I decide not to answer his question because Mom has taught me if you can't think of anything nice to say, then sometimes it is better to say nothing at all.  You see, I am trying really hard to keep it zipped in class.


Describing tofu:
. . . .[It] looks a bit like a very palish cheese but tastes of nothing.


The diary-like feel ("epistolary" form--am I not so smart?) keeps you reading just a bit more to see what Clarice will talk about next.  I don't know what to call it, but I love that she uses different font sizes and styles to emphasize words (reminds me of my wonderful sis-in-law, Chelsea, who does the same on her blog).  It's such a cute way of writing! 


Utterly Me, Clarice Bean is cute as can be, Clarice Bean Spells Trouble was my very favorite and had the best story line--very laughable throughout, and Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now was still great, although it dealt with more serious issues of divorce and moving, etc.  They are such quick reads--I think I read each one in a day.  I wish there were more of them!

Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

I've decided that I am a tentative fan of Thomas Hardy, which thing I had never before supposed. . . .  I enjoyed Tess of the D'Urbervilles much more than I thought I would, it being a tragedy and all.  Although Under the Greenwood Tree is one of Hardy's earliest novels (written when he was 32--like me!), there is much to like in it as well.

For one, the topic is much more perspicuous (yes, I found that using a thesaurus in an attempt to sound more intelligent and lofty . . .)--it is not as dark as Tess, nor as moralistic.  This story takes place not twenty miles from the fictional setting of Tess in "Wessex," based on Dorset, England.
In the 1800's, church music was performed or accompanied by the choir, or "quire," consisting of male singers and instrumentalists.  Under the Greenwood Tree is a love story between a young member of this choir and the local school teacher, an educated young lady who, unfortunately, also plays the organ, which is scheduled to replace the quire.

To be honest, not much happens in this story as far as action is concerned.  The whole thing takes place in a few brief scenes scattered over the course of a year or so, and the love story itself is very subdued and ordinary.  But Hardy's descriptions of people are reminiscent of Charles Dickens':

"Mr. Robert Penny, boot- and shoe-maker--a little man who, though rather round-shouldered, walked as if that fact had not come to his own knowledge, moving on . . . so that his lower waist-coat-buttons came first--and then the remainder of his figure."
In every scene, Hardy describes the characters' actions and expressions so succinctly--you can picture exactly how things would happen--like a movie in your mind.  I think that is a rare quality in an author--you feel as if you're reading a screenplay.

So is this book for you? Well, if you have wanted to try Thomas Hardy, but have been frightened off by his weightier novels, then yes.  Or if you're looking for a light-hearted piece of Victorian Literature.  But if you want something very exciting--a real page-turner . . . perhaps not.  You can pick up the movie instead--

which starts out by following the book, but then takes a lot of liberties . . .  It's a bit low-budget with obviously-fake snow, etc.,  but it has Keely Hawes as Fancy Day (she plays Lizzie Hexam in Our Mutual Friend--have you seen that?  Oh, you must--you must!) and I really like her.

Emma by Jane Austen

Before she began Emma, Jane Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like."

My husband completely agrees with that assessment of Emma Woodhouse--"She messes up everyone's life, but she still gets the guy in the end."  Still, I have to admit that I like Emma--not that I would want her as a best friend (poor Harriet Smith!).  I like that she has faults and weaknesses, but is determined to always make the best of things.  And she is a regular homebody, much like myself.

I have often wondered why I love Jane Austen as much as I do.  The plots of her novels are in no way thrilling, and there is, as Charlotte Bronte complained, "nothing vehement" in them.  Still she has a way of showing the weaknesses and strengths of her characters--they are so real.  Don't you know people like Mrs. Elton, always bragging and speaking of themselves?  Or someone cute and clueless like Harriet Smith?  And I'm not trying to brag, but I think I'm married to a definite Mr. Knightley (although Seth would cringe if I made that comparison out loud), who grounds me when I'm unreasonably upset or when I forget to think things through.  Just as with Dickens' characters, by reading about them, we can discover similar traits (both good and bad) in ourselves.


I love how George Henry Lewes ("friend" of George Eliot) describes Jane Austen:
"First and foremost let Austen be named, the greatest artist that has ever written, using the term to signify the most perfect mastery over the means to her end. There are heights and depths in human nature Miss Austen has never scaled nor fathomed, there are worlds of passionate existence into which she has never set foot; but although this is obvious to every reader, it is equally obvious that she has risked no failures by attempting to delineate that which she has not seen. Her circle may be restricted, but it is complete. Her world is a perfect orb, and vital. Life, as it presents itself to an English gentlewoman peacefully yet actively engaged in her quiet village, is mirrored in her works with a purity and fidelity that must endow them with interest for all time."

I won't bore you with plot details--doubtless most of you are familiar with the story of Emma.  If you choose to read it (and I strongly suggest you do!), I think you'll find it very entertaining.  I love the way the characters develop, particularly Emma.  By the end of the book you grow to--if not love her, at least to overlook her faults and to give her credit for trying hard to be good.

If you are too busy/lazy/unmotivated to read the book, then you must watch the movie.  My two favorite versions:

the 1996 adaptation featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam.  This version is short, more "Hollywood-ized," but also much more full of comedy.  It isn't as realistic, but I do love it--"I shall call you my Mr. Knightley."  When it came out I was in high school, and we all wanted to wear empire waists and do our hair like Emma's . . .


And much as I love that version, I might like this 2009 version slightly more . . . Romola Garai plays Emma, with Tommy Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley.  It follows the book very closely, and the characters seem less perfect and polished, but more like real people.  It's so good!  I think it's about 4 hours, so be prepared with a lot of time and a good bowl of popcorn.

Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

You have to prepare yourself if you're going to read this one.  I'm going to spoil everything for you and tell you that yes, it is a tragedy, and no, it doesn't end well (which is, I suppose, the definition of tragedy . . . ).  But somehow knowing that at the outset helped me, because I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen and how much worse it could get.   I could hardly put it down--and I'm afraid I ended up absolutely loving it!  And of course being completely frustrated with half the characters . . . I could actually sympathize with my husband's complaints of the lack of communication skills in my British movies.  I don't think I'll be showing him this one.

Like Dickens, I can see why Hardy felt compelled to write about the social ills of his day.  And like Dickens, I have to admit that Thomas Hardy is a wonderful author.  He gets into the minds of the characters so thoroughly--the hardest thing for me was that he kept saying, "Had he said such-and-such, she never would have etc. etc. etc."  All the more tragic!  I admit that I wept for Tess more than once (and once at the gym--why do I always hit the sad parts while I'm exercising?).  Although this book was originally met with outrage, I thought it taught a very poignant lesson about purity, chastity, and respect for women--one that at the time was much-needed and is probably needed even more today.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I'm on a classics kick, as you'll begin to notice.  My amazing mother is teaching English for an England study-abroad program this spring, and has enlisted my voracious reading appetite in tackling her long list of required books.  It's a fun excuse to read my head off!

I started with The Picture of Dorian Gray because I bought a copy at the grocery store for $1--and because it was fairly short.  Years ago I saw the black & white version, but the book is much, much better.

This is Oscar Wilde's sole novel--I didn't realize it, but his other writings were only plays or essays.  And you can tell--his dialogue reads very much like a play, the characters playing verbal tennis as they toss their comments back and forth.  These are followed by long (some of them quite long) descriptions.  But still, it is a book that keeps you reading, and Wilde is quite good at invoking reflection.

His play The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favorites.  One of the main characters in the novel (Lord Henry Wotton) reminded me quite a bit of Algernon Moncrieff--both characters say things they don't mean--things to shock "society."  Often then say the opposite of what is reasonable, but the great difference is that Algy says them in jest, while Lord Wotton says them specifically to tempt Dorian Gray into wrongdoing.  While Wilde never comes straight out with a moral--in fact, at times he seems to be agreeing with the villains--the book teaches a definite lesson.  I think it would be a great book for teens to read with parents and discuss (have I pushed that enough?).

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

     I was excited to learn that our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, and I have similar taste in books!  He addressed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints last Sunday:

     "My Christmas reading each year helps bring to me the spirit of the season.  I always . . . read the timeless Dickens' classic; A Christmas Carol.  Who could fail to be inspired and taught by the changes which came to Ebeneezer Scrooge as he's instructed by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future?"  I know of no better way to kick off the Christmas season than with a reading of this beautiful story.  And I know you've probably seen all the movie versions a million times, but there is something so inspiring, so refreshing about this story that I strongly urge you to give the book a try.
     "Marley was dead, to begin with. . . . as dead as a doornail."  Beginning with a pun on doornails and coffin nails, Dickens perfectly mixes the spiritual with the macabre.  I read this every year to begin my holidays, and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye and make me resolve to be a little better.  I truly believe Dickens was inspired when he wrote it.
     The copy of A Christmas Carol I read this year had a fascinating introduction by a guy named Elliot Engel.  Do you have just a second?  You might find this interesting--we owe so much to Dickens' representation of Christmas:
     " . . . Dickens links snow and Christmas together for the first time in popular literature . . . before Dickens's story, the snow was merely mentioned by an author, never utilized to create that uniquely warm atmosphere which has become practically synonymous with our Christmas celebration today . . ."  
     What makes his description of a crisp, bright, snowy Christmas morning more surprising is that according to meteorologic records for England in the 1800's, "it snowed on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in England on the average of only one time every thirty-two years."  However, Dickens' own childhood was unusual in that it was peppered with snowy white Christmases, due to a volcanic eruption in Indonesia (reminiscent of the Icelandic volcano eruption this year!) that changed weather patterns for a few years; he actually enjoyed a white Christmas at the impressionable ages of four, six, seven, and nine.
     I'm reading it to my little kids this year, and since they've watched the Muppet Christmas Carol and Mickey's Christmas Carol about fifty times already, they're quite interested (as long as I only read the "fun parts" and sing "There Goes Mr. Humbug" with them . . .).  It has given birth to some good discussions.

     So to quote Scrooge's nephew, Fred:

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say . . . Christmas among the rest.  But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.  And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay by Cornelia Otis Skinner

Light-hearted, hilarious, old-fashioned yet witty, this book is so much fun!  My grandma gave me her copy when I was in high school, and I have read it a few times whenever I needed a "'tweener"--something to read between hefty or intense novels.  More a travelogue than a story, it's the cheery tale of two 19-year-old girls on their first "independent" tour of Europe.  They encounter one mishap after another, from a shipwreck to spending a night (unwittingly) in a brothel--and it's all true!  I think it's the way Skinner puts things that makes it so entertaining.  (It reminds me of The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald, another delightful autobiography of sorts.) There is no underlying plot or "the moral of the story is . . ." but everyone once in a while it's nice to have a book like that, you know?

My copy looks like this (c. 1942):

. . . but apparently the newest version on Amazon (used for $7.50) is more like this.  Worth looking into!

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I don't know if it's because I watched this movie a few years back and loved it or whether it's because I'm so in love with Victorian novels, but I couldn't put this down.  Literally.  At 11:30 one evening Seth turned to me (he was watching the news while I was sitting by him, engrossed in the romance between Mr. Thornton and Margaret . . .) and he said, "Honey, I just need you to really be with me for a minute.  Do you think you could put the book away?"

What Seth failed to appreciate is that in contrast with the Jane Austen books (I am NOT dissing them, by the way--they are my favorites!), the hero has an actual job (Seth's biggest issue with my "British movies").  John Thornton, a working-class, self-made man falls in love with Margaret Hale--not your typical beauty, but a strong personality and very interesting character from Southern England.

What makes this book so beautiful and intriguing is the Elizabeth Bennett/Mr. Darcy nature of their relationship.  I enjoyed watching the characters unfold and grew to like them more as I read.  It's not quite a Jane Austen, but on the whole I think you'll enjoy it if you like her romances.  Elizabeth Gaskell has such an approachable style to her writing--it's not intimidating or overly verbose, and she paints only the picture she needs to without leaving out details, but also without cramming them down your throat.

And if you don't get around to reading the book, you ought to at least give the BBC movie version a try.  It is absolutely beautifully done--almost better than the book--and the casting couldn't be better.  And I love the theme music!  I think I've just talked myself into watching it again . . . anyone up for a girls' night?

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

"What connexion can there have been between many people in the innumerable histories of this world, who, from opposite sides of great gulfs, have, nevertheless, been very curiously brought together!" (p. 220)

I have been reading Charles Dickens' books since long before I could fully appreciate them. Even though I didn't grasp the social commentary at a younger age, I have always loved the webs he weaves between and around his characters. By the end of each novel, everyone has had some influence on everyone else. The world seems a much smaller, more significant place after reading one of his works.

"His novels are full of energy and are teaming with life," says Andrew Davies, one of my favorite screenwriters (who incidentally did an incredible screen adaptation of this book) "I love the way he makes such a rich mixture of humour, tragedy, sentiment and social indignation. You get so many different things rolled up into one great book. He had such a vivid imagination and some of his characters are just extraordinary. Bleak House combines a terrific mystery with a series of love stores."

Dickens had a huge influence for good on society of the 1800's through his writing, and in this novel he focuses a great deal on the British Court of Chancery. Yet to me, the most interesting characters were those not directly involved with the "infamous" Chancery suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce: I loved (and despised) Mrs. Jellyby, a woman intent on helping children a thousand miles away in Boorioboola-Gha, Africa, with several latch-key, unkempt children of her own. The married life of the sweet Bagnets, the "deportment" or Mr. Turveydrop, the awkward, muddling, good-hearted Mr. Guppy, and the poor street-sweep, Jo, were more interesting even than the main characters. This story is told from two completely different perspectives: chapters told by an all-knowing narrator who can see the end from the beginning (and drops several hints of it along the way), and the autobiographical chapters of Esther Summerson, the sweet and kind orphan girl who ends up blessing countless lives. His jumping back and forth between these two voices keeps the story interesting.

If you don't think you can handle the book (although you really should try!), you must at least watch the BBC version. Even those skeptical husbands out there (like my own) will like it for its mystery and suspense.

"The vast majority of the fastidious critics [of Dickens] have . . . never read Dickens at all; hence their opposition is due to and inspired by a hearty innocence which will certainly make them enthusiastic Dickensians if they ever, by some accident, happen to read him." -G. K. Chesterton

Jane Austen Mystery Series by Stephanie Barron

Jane Austen--I love all of her books, each one more than the one I previously read, because each improves upon reading.  But sometimes I'm a little disappointed that she didn't live just a tiny bit longer . . .

So for someone who loves Jane Austen as much as I do, this series is a perfect goldmine.  It has been a while since I read them, (and there are two I haven't read yet) but I was completely enchanted by them.  Stephanie Barron has studied and perfected the voice of Jane Austen.  Based on a fictional "diary" found in a manor house years after her death, these books are a sort of record of her life in between her novel writing and letters to her sister and other family members.  Each one centers around some kind of mystery, some involving murder.  Barron includes a lot of actual instances and facts from Austen's life, and you travel with her on her real-life journeys, so you feel like the mysteries could actually have happened . . .

As I recall, these books are clean enough for older teenage readers and definitely recommended for any and all Jane Austen-fan grown-ups like myself!

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

"All books are judged by their covers until they are read."

Such is the claim of Agatha Swanburn, founder of the Swanburn Academy for Poor Bright Females. The prize student from this school, Miss Penelope Lumley, is the governess and heroine of the story, and often refers to such "pithy kernels of truth," another being, "If it were easy to resist, it would not be called chocolate cake."

I tend to judge books by their covers. Even more so, I judge them by their "opening act"--the first page usually has to grab my attention and delight me, and this book was a winner on both counts. The cover has a macabre look to it, and the story was delightful. A young governess is sent to instruct three "incorrigible" children (which incidentally becomes their last name) on how to behave--but unfortunately they appear to have been raised by wolves, making her task difficult and hilarious. It was a sort of Jane Eyre for kids--minus Mr. Rochester and the romance--written with a voice not unlike a modern Jane Austen:

"As you may have already had cause to discover, a statement can be both completely true and completely misleading at the same time. This is called 'selective truth telling,' and it is frequently used in political campaigns, toy advertisements, and other forms of propaganda." (p. 166)

"If you have ever opened a can of worms, boxed yourself into a corner, ended up in hot water, or found yourself in a pretty pickle, you already know that life is rarely (if ever) just a bowl of cherries. It is far more likely to be a bowl of problems, worries, and difficulties. This is normal and you should not be alarmed." (p. 119)

Clean, fun, witty (and even mildly instructive about literature and poetry), this book makes a good read for young adults and adults alike. It has a cliffhanger ending, which luckily means there are more to come!

Nick of Time by Ted Bell

This book was a lot of fun because it had a sort of taste of Treasure Island to it--there were a lot of fun parallels to that book, which I also enjoyed, but that's another story. Literally.

Anyway, I loved the fun adventures going on throughout the book and the mysteries involved. And the history. I thought it would be a perfect book for my boys when they get older. My only complaints were that there were a some unanswered questions (there's time travel in the story, which always presents a few), but then again, they could be resolved in the sequel, which I haven't read. Also, the author seemed to jump inside of anyone's brain he wanted to. That's not necessarily a bad thing--I just prefer first person or third person from one or two points of view. Other than that--really fun, perfectly enjoyable, and a light, quick read.

The Missing: Found & Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitely a fast, exciting read, I have had a lot of fun reading these books. Written at about a 6th grade level (give or take a grade . . .), they involve everything from time travel to history. I would highly recommend them for kids. They are clean and entertaining, and the second book even has a fair bit of English history in it. And Haddix--could you have a cooler last name as an author?

How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn

From the very first page of this book, I was gripped by the beautiful Welsh voice of the narrator--you find yourself thinking with a lilt.  The whole book just felt green.  I don't mean eco-friendly green--just lush and beautiful, like the fields of England I miss so much.


The narrator, Huw Morgan (never quite sure how to pronounce that . . . Hugh? How? . . .), reflects on his life, beginning with his childhood.  Even though they go through trial after trial, their simple faith and strength are inspiring.   I almost felt it could be the tale of my own ancestors.

***Disclaimer: I hate how some of the best books have to have these!  In the "coming-of-age" portion of Huw's life, he gets way too involved with a young lady.  I skipped several paragraphs, so I honestly don't know exactly how graphic it was, but what I read was too much for me.  The only dog poop in the cinnamon roll, as my mother would say . . . still, I think the rest of the book is well worth reading if you are forewarned, and now you have been.

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

This is a book that is perhaps not for everyone, but I found it incredibly fascinating. I don't agree with George Eliot's personal life, but her books are suprisingly moralistic. She delves deeply into human character and portrays all walks of life--well, of English life, but then that's my favorite . . .

Eliot (whose real name was Mary Anne Evans) wrote this as her final novel. She touches on some pretty serious issues prevalent in late 1800's England: the treatment of Jews in society, the position of women, and the social standing of illigitimate children. It takes a while to read, and if you don't have the time, then can I beg you to watch the excellent movie version? It is very well-done by my favorite screenwriter, Andrew Davies (who has the 6-hour Pride & Prejudice, Little Dorrit, and many other beautiful movies to his credit), and stars a talented cast. Davies always follows the books closely, so it's almost as good as reading it. Almost . . .

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

This is a very fun, entertaining, clean book. Sometimes it's nice to have a book like that--a "'tweener" to read in between heftier books. I found it very refreshing and hard to put down. It's an epistolary novel (aren't you proud of me for knowing that word?), which means it's written in letter form. Usually I'm not too keen on that type of book (Anne of Windy Poplars was the hardest of the Anne of Green Gables series for me to get through), but this one doesn't drag on like some.

Set in a little-known chunk of World War II history--the German occupation of Guernsey Island, off the coast of France--it contains a bit of mystery and romance--just enough to keep you turning pages. There is so much about World War II that is difficult to swallow, but this book focused on making the most of a difficult time, and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it so much. After all, isn't that what we are all aiming for?