Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I recently read this novel for the Read Your Own Books Read-A-Thon. Although I have read several short stories by Bradbury, I had never read this novel. It was a quick read and very enjoyable! Before reading the novel, I knew the basic story line, but never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did!

Fahrenheit 451 is a futuristic dystopian novel in which people are no longer allowed to read books. Guy Montag, the protagonist, is a firefighter, which means that he burns books. Rather than reading, people live a scripted lifestyle that is closely monitored and fulfilled through interacting with their tv families.

However, people are not  satisfied living this sort of life. Suicide became so prevalent that doctors did not even have to see the patients; instead, teams traveled from home to home pumping stomachs of those who had overdosed.

With a little prompting from Clarisse, Montag's rebellious neighbor, he too begins the realize the crime he is committing by burning books and the importance of slowing down to observe nature. I will let you read the novel for yourself because, if you haven't read the novel yet, you are probably aching to know what happens to Clarisse and Montag, aren't you?!

Also, if you enjoy short stories, I highly recommend Bradbury's "The Pedestrian." I actually read this story about a year ago, but as I was reading Fahrenheit 451 I immediately saw the connection between the two and had to reread it!

Read Your Own Books Read-A-Thon

Bibliophilic Book Blog is hosting a Read Your Own Books Read-A-Thon.

As indicated by my lack of posts, I have not been able to read much (for pleasure) lately. With school starting, it has been textbooks - blah! But seeing that this read-a-thon is  Thursday through Sunday, it's perfect for me (my weekend begins on Thursdays -- oh the joys of being a full-time student again!)

Details:
Read your OWN books! (what a great way to trim down the TBR list!)
Starts - 9pm, Thursday, September 15th; Ends 9pm, Sunday, September 18th

Goals: In order to "catch-up" in some of my other challenges, I hope to read at least one gothic novel, one Shakespearean play, and possibly something with a "color" in the title (if I have one. . .)

Dracula Group Read

I am so excited to see that A Literary Odyssey is hosting an October Group Read of this novel. It has been on my list for years! This is also a grand excuse for unpacking more of my books. . . my husband will be thrilled! : )

Details:
1. Read the Book
2.  Post anywhere from October 16-22 & Link back to host page

The Radleys by Matt Haig

Wow, it has been toooo long since I've posted. However, I have been reading -- Surprise!! Many readers are so over the vampire novels, but I'm still checkin' 'em out from the library. There are many that I could not finish; however, I recently came across one that I thoroughly enjoyed. 


I was first attracted to this novel because of the title. I felt sure this would be a spin off of To Kill a Mockingbird and enlighten readers on the mysterious Boo and his family. Although it had nothing to do with Harper's novel per say, it was indeed about a mysterious family with a big, juicy secret. 

Meet the Radleys 

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret 

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites - from goodreads


More posts coming sooooonnnnn!!!!!

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

I came across this novel on the list for the Gothic Reading Challenge and have been itching to read it since. Here is a summary from Goodreads (I promise to get back to writing my own summaries soon. . .I feel like I am cheating y'all with these stolen summaries :) )

Working as a lady's companion, the heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Life begins to look very bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. She accepts, but whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to the ominous and brooding Manderley, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding Mrs Danvers. 

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman.*


There are so many elements in this novel that reminded me of Jane Eyre, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much. I have to say Mrs. Danvers is the most despicable woman I have ever encountered in my reading. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading gothic romance novels; I rate it a 4/5.

I am currently reading The Radley's by Matt Haig and look forward to providing y'all with more fulfilling posts in the near future!

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier

Oh, friends, I am so thankful that I have finally gotten somewhat motivated to update on my recent readings. Between being extremely homesick and experiencing morning sickness, I have not gotten very much done these last few weeks. . .No, not even reading :(. I think all that is about to change though!

On July 10th I participated in a summer readathon and felt lucky to have finished one short book. I read The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier; she also wrote  Girl with the Pearl Earring. Here is a summary from Goodreads:


A tour de force of history and imagination, The Lady and the Unicorn is Tracy Chevalier’s answer to the mystery behind one of the art world’s great masterpieces—a set of bewitching medieval tapestries that hangs today in the Cluny Museum in Paris. They appear to portray the seduction of a unicorn, but the story behind their making is unknown—until now.

Paris, 1490. A shrewd French nobleman commissions six lavish tapestries celebrating his rising status at Court. He hires the charismatic, arrogant, sublimely talented Nicolas des Innocents to design them. Nicolas creates havoc among the women in the house—mother and daughter, servant, and lady-in-waiting—before taking his designs north to the Brussels workshop where the tapestries are to be woven. There, master weaver Georges de la Chapelle risks everything he has to finish the tapestries—his finest, most intricate work—on time for his exacting French client. The results change all their lives—lives that have been captured in the tapestries, for those who know where to look.

In The Lady and the Unicorn, Tracy Chevalier weaves fact and fiction into a beautiful, timeless, and intriguing literary tapestry—an extraordinary story exquisitely told.*


I was attracted to this novel because I usually like to read fiction based on a mysterious piece of history, such as the tapestries in this novel. There was also plenty of scandal to keep me interested. 


I am currently trying to create a rating system for my blog. . .But for now, I would rate this novel a 3/5. I probably would not read it again although it held my interest during the readathon. 


Here is an image of one of the mentioned tapestries ( there are 7 in all): 

Summer Mini-Readathon hosted by Sarah Says

1. Tell everyone three random things about yourself:
-I wish I was still teaching!
-I am pregnant and cannot think of a baby name!
-Today is my one year anniversary!

2. Is this your first readathon?
I attempted a readathon once before, but it was a fail! So, I am giving this 12 hour one a try!

3. Do you have any specific goals for today? (# of books or pages to read?)
I just hope to read at least one book. . .trying to not set myself up for failure again! ha

4. Do you have any specific snacks, drinks, or books planned?
crackers and gatorade 

5. What hours do you plan on reading during? (For example, I'm aiming for 10 AM to 10 PM Eastern time).
1:15 PM -1:15 AM