It's time for heat number two! Which book will be going with House Rules to the semifinals? Well I suppose we're just going to have to get things going so we can find out.
Round 1 Winner : House Rules by Jodi Picoult
This round's contestants:
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen
3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
5. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Finished February 23. Rating : 5/5 Stars. Award : Best Bad Guy
Like Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants tells the story of a memorable period in the life of Jacob Jankowski. The story is told by Jankowski as he resides in a nursing home in his nineties.
Jacob is a rather introverted individual in his own age, so the story is told via the memories that go through his mind. No one around him knows of his colorful past.
It is the beginning of the Great Depression and Jacob is a young man attending veterinary school. He is just shy of completing his degree when he receives word that his parents have been killed in an accident. Jacob leaves the school and everything else in his life behind. Instead, he jumps onto a train operated by the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth - a second rate circus travelling through town.
Jacob is tossed into life with a pile of colorful characters and soon becomes caretaker of the animals in the menagerie. This is where he meets Marlena, the wife of the head animal trainer and the star of the equestrian act. He finds himself enthralled by her and disturbed by the violent nature of her husband, whose short and explosive temper can strike for anyone at any time.
The circus purchases an elephant at the demise of another circus and Jacob becomes responsible for Rosie, who doesn't appear to understand any instructions. Out of his frustration, Jacob soon discovers that Rosie has been trained in Polish and he begins to bond with the animal. Out of his efforts a new act develops, as does his obsession with Marlena.
This book was fantastic! It was recommended to me by Patti and read at nearly the same time by Erin. They rated it 5/5 and 4/5, respectively. This book is a very fast read that sucks you into the story line. I started the book on the evening of the 22nd and finished it the next afternoon. Every scene is detailed and the characters are well developed. I loved Jacob's cantankerous nature as an old man and the grace and poise described in Marlena.
Uncle Al, the manager of the circus, comes across as a cigar smoking Boss Tweed character and - though I have yet to see the movie - the character of Marlena's husband, August is one that I can see superbly fitting for Christoph Waltz. I find August very similar to Mr. Waltz' prior character as a Nazi in the movie Inglourious Basterds. (And FYI, it has always driven me absolutely crazy that the title of that movie is misspelled.) He is fantastically evil. The kind of character you love to hate and the kind that makes me want to reach through the pages and ring his little neck.
Water for Elephants held my attention effortlessly. This is a book that I can see myself reading over and over again.
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen.
Finished March 9. Rating 4/5 stars. Award : Best Austen Heroine.
Anne Elliot is twenty-seven and at risk of becoming a spinster (ridiculous notion). She is lovelorn and reminiscing of a man she nearly married eight years earlier. Anne was engaged to Frederick Wentworth prior to the start of the novel, but ended the relationship after family friend, Lady Russell voiced her disapproval. Wentworth has left and become a captain in the Navy. Anne lives at home with her father, heartbroken and full of regret.
Now Anne's father is in financial distress and close to losing their estate, Kellynch Hall. He gets the idea to rent out the manor for the summer in order to bring in some additional funds. The eventual renters are Admiral and Mrs. Croft. Mrs. Croft turns out to be the sister of Anne's first love, Captain Wentworth.
The novel follows the interlaced interactions of the two families, the tension of Anne's exposure to Captain Wentworth.
So far this is my favorite Jane Austen. It was easier for me to read and follow than the ones I have read thus far and the story line kept me interested the whole way through. The writing appears more relaxed, the interactions less proper. Overall, it is more of a modern novel than her other works. After the dullness and irritation I felt for Mansfield Park, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Finished March 17. Rating 3/5 stars. Award : Best Trainwreck of a Plot
April and Frank Wheeler appear to be the ideal couple, raising their two children in an upper middle class suburb in the 1950's. Frank is employed in a well paying job and April is a housewife. At first they seem very reminiscent of the families of 50's and 60's television. But things are not swell under the surface. Frank is miserable in his job. He finds it boring and unsubstantial. April is unhappy at home, often resenting her children and missing the career that she had hoped to have. Frank and April's relationship is strained and uncomfortable as they try to present a picture perfect illusion to their friends.
The Wheelers decide that they need to leave mediocrity behind. In some form of desperate rationalization, they agree that a move to France would allow them to enjoy life and each other. Their somewhat tumultuous relationship threatens to unravel their plans before they've even begun.
I have to admit that I was warned about this book before I even began to read it. Though it is easy to read and really quite well written, the story line is really dark. Frank is a abusive husband and a philanderer. I had no respect for him from the beginning. April is vapid and whining and doesn't appreciate her children in any way. I admit though, I will still probably watch the movie based on the book just because the story is intriguing. I rated it slightly lower simply because it did make my stomach turn slightly to keep reading. I gave it extra points for sucking me in though. It's a wreck that you just can't turn away from.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Finished April 9. Rating 5/5 stars. Award : Best Victorian Era Novel
Jane is an orphan being raised by her Aunt Reed. Jane is a spirited child who does nothing to conceal her opinions. Aunt Reed has no love for the child and treats her horribly, eventually sending her off to Lowood, a charity school for girls. Jane remains strong and true to herself though her life continues to be full of sorrow. The school is poorly run and the students are given little to eat. She becomes friends with Helen Burns - her only true friend at school, only to lose her as she has lost anyone she has ever loved.
Jane then leaves Lowood to become a governess to a young girl. She moves into Thornfield, confused as to her employer. Once she meets him, she attempts to balance between her love for him, her fear of becoming close to someone else, her frustration with his actions and her disgust with his wavering intentions.
Charlotte Bronte is a much more passionate and uninhibited writer than Jane Austen. This book is a refreshing reminder of how wonderful Victorian era British writing can be. This is one of my favorite books. In fact, adding it to my reading this year is somewhat cheating, I'll be honest. This was the fourth time I've read it...the second within the last year. It still takes me a little longer to read because of the prim and proper style and vocabulary, but the plot always keeps me interested. It's one of the best love stories of all time.
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen
3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
5. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Finished February 23. Rating : 5/5 Stars. Award : Best Bad Guy
Like Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants tells the story of a memorable period in the life of Jacob Jankowski. The story is told by Jankowski as he resides in a nursing home in his nineties.
Jacob is a rather introverted individual in his own age, so the story is told via the memories that go through his mind. No one around him knows of his colorful past.
It is the beginning of the Great Depression and Jacob is a young man attending veterinary school. He is just shy of completing his degree when he receives word that his parents have been killed in an accident. Jacob leaves the school and everything else in his life behind. Instead, he jumps onto a train operated by the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth - a second rate circus travelling through town.
Jacob is tossed into life with a pile of colorful characters and soon becomes caretaker of the animals in the menagerie. This is where he meets Marlena, the wife of the head animal trainer and the star of the equestrian act. He finds himself enthralled by her and disturbed by the violent nature of her husband, whose short and explosive temper can strike for anyone at any time.
The circus purchases an elephant at the demise of another circus and Jacob becomes responsible for Rosie, who doesn't appear to understand any instructions. Out of his frustration, Jacob soon discovers that Rosie has been trained in Polish and he begins to bond with the animal. Out of his efforts a new act develops, as does his obsession with Marlena.
This book was fantastic! It was recommended to me by Patti and read at nearly the same time by Erin. They rated it 5/5 and 4/5, respectively. This book is a very fast read that sucks you into the story line. I started the book on the evening of the 22nd and finished it the next afternoon. Every scene is detailed and the characters are well developed. I loved Jacob's cantankerous nature as an old man and the grace and poise described in Marlena.
Uncle Al, the manager of the circus, comes across as a cigar smoking Boss Tweed character and - though I have yet to see the movie - the character of Marlena's husband, August is one that I can see superbly fitting for Christoph Waltz. I find August very similar to Mr. Waltz' prior character as a Nazi in the movie Inglourious Basterds. (And FYI, it has always driven me absolutely crazy that the title of that movie is misspelled.) He is fantastically evil. The kind of character you love to hate and the kind that makes me want to reach through the pages and ring his little neck.
Water for Elephants held my attention effortlessly. This is a book that I can see myself reading over and over again.
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen.
Finished March 9. Rating 4/5 stars. Award : Best Austen Heroine.
Anne Elliot is twenty-seven and at risk of becoming a spinster (ridiculous notion). She is lovelorn and reminiscing of a man she nearly married eight years earlier. Anne was engaged to Frederick Wentworth prior to the start of the novel, but ended the relationship after family friend, Lady Russell voiced her disapproval. Wentworth has left and become a captain in the Navy. Anne lives at home with her father, heartbroken and full of regret.
Now Anne's father is in financial distress and close to losing their estate, Kellynch Hall. He gets the idea to rent out the manor for the summer in order to bring in some additional funds. The eventual renters are Admiral and Mrs. Croft. Mrs. Croft turns out to be the sister of Anne's first love, Captain Wentworth.
The novel follows the interlaced interactions of the two families, the tension of Anne's exposure to Captain Wentworth.
So far this is my favorite Jane Austen. It was easier for me to read and follow than the ones I have read thus far and the story line kept me interested the whole way through. The writing appears more relaxed, the interactions less proper. Overall, it is more of a modern novel than her other works. After the dullness and irritation I felt for Mansfield Park, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.
3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Finished March 17. Rating 3/5 stars. Award : Best Trainwreck of a Plot
April and Frank Wheeler appear to be the ideal couple, raising their two children in an upper middle class suburb in the 1950's. Frank is employed in a well paying job and April is a housewife. At first they seem very reminiscent of the families of 50's and 60's television. But things are not swell under the surface. Frank is miserable in his job. He finds it boring and unsubstantial. April is unhappy at home, often resenting her children and missing the career that she had hoped to have. Frank and April's relationship is strained and uncomfortable as they try to present a picture perfect illusion to their friends.
The Wheelers decide that they need to leave mediocrity behind. In some form of desperate rationalization, they agree that a move to France would allow them to enjoy life and each other. Their somewhat tumultuous relationship threatens to unravel their plans before they've even begun.
I have to admit that I was warned about this book before I even began to read it. Though it is easy to read and really quite well written, the story line is really dark. Frank is a abusive husband and a philanderer. I had no respect for him from the beginning. April is vapid and whining and doesn't appreciate her children in any way. I admit though, I will still probably watch the movie based on the book just because the story is intriguing. I rated it slightly lower simply because it did make my stomach turn slightly to keep reading. I gave it extra points for sucking me in though. It's a wreck that you just can't turn away from.
4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Finished April 9. Rating 5/5 stars. Award : Best Victorian Era Novel
Jane is an orphan being raised by her Aunt Reed. Jane is a spirited child who does nothing to conceal her opinions. Aunt Reed has no love for the child and treats her horribly, eventually sending her off to Lowood, a charity school for girls. Jane remains strong and true to herself though her life continues to be full of sorrow. The school is poorly run and the students are given little to eat. She becomes friends with Helen Burns - her only true friend at school, only to lose her as she has lost anyone she has ever loved.
Jane then leaves Lowood to become a governess to a young girl. She moves into Thornfield, confused as to her employer. Once she meets him, she attempts to balance between her love for him, her fear of becoming close to someone else, her frustration with his actions and her disgust with his wavering intentions.
Charlotte Bronte is a much more passionate and uninhibited writer than Jane Austen. This book is a refreshing reminder of how wonderful Victorian era British writing can be. This is one of my favorite books. In fact, adding it to my reading this year is somewhat cheating, I'll be honest. This was the fourth time I've read it...the second within the last year. It still takes me a little longer to read because of the prim and proper style and vocabulary, but the plot always keeps me interested. It's one of the best love stories of all time.
5. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Finished April 14. Rating 4/5 stars. Award : Most Confusing Character List
Philippa Gregory has written multiple novels about historical England. In The White Queen, she tells one side of the story of The Cousins' War (also known as the War of the Roses). This half of her series represents the story from the point of view of the Plantagenets.
Elizabeth Woodville (who later becomes the White Queen) is a widow as a result of the warring. Her husband died fighting for the House of Lancaster. Her mother, Jacquetta, is rumored to be a witch and plots to seat Elizabeth on the throne. Elizabeth catches the eye of King Edward IV by waving to him on a roadside. He becomes entranced by her, secretly marries her. This secret marriage later results in accusations and scandal that threaten to void her right to the throne.
Brother fights against brother and threatens to tear an entire country apart. Elizabeth is held in exile more than once, and bears King Edward's children, including her two sons who become the missing princes in the Tower of London, a historical mystery that remains unsolved to this day.
I really love Philippa Gregory's books. She is absolutely wonderful at mixing historical fact and interesting fiction. She certainly takes liberty with historical accuracy, as is to be expected, but she does it in a manner which is absolutely intriguing. It is because of her writing that I have become a fan of historical fiction, particularly that which centers around the history of the British crown.
The only issue I had with this book is that I frequently found myself confused at the characters. Not that it's really any of Ms. Gregory's fault, but at this time everyone in England appears to have the names George, Richard, Edward, Elizabeth or Anne. It makes things all very confusing.
And the winner is...
I really should have cheated and stacked the deck, so to speak. By reviewing these books in the order I've read them in, I've just made this difficult for myself. Pitting Jane Eyre against Water for Elephants is just mean. It's taken me a little while to debate this one. But...in the end I remain true to my favorite. Jane Eyre advances as the second book to make it to the semifinals.
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