Book Quote of the Day

“Tis because we be on a blighted star, and not a sound one, isn’t it Tess?”

- Abraham, Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Book review: Tess of the d’Urbervilles

I have just read “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” by Thomas Hardy. I have never read it before now, and not even studied it at school like some people have, so i thought it was time to give it a go!

Tess of the d’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy (via Amazon)

I felt sad for Tess because, as the oldest daughter, she was inevitably going to be forced to make a good marriage to help support her big family. The issue of finding out that she was probably a descendant of the once rich and noble d’Urbervilles turns out to be a blessing and a curse. This poor girl is forced to beg for help from her distant relations with the d’Urberville and starts working for an old blind woman and her son. The son is a little creepy and doesn’t leave Tess alone, and this inevitably leads to him raping her. She returns to her family and home after this, but her life has changed so hugely that it will never be the same again.

She suffers many hardships, but becomes very independent, earning her way by any means necessary in the countryside where she is comfortable. She makes friends and enemies but manages to keep herself going. She gains much attention from men, despite her efforts to keep a distance. She meets one charming young man who wants her for his wife but she refuses again and again, knowing that her secret will destroy her and those near her.

The ending of the book was a bit disappointing, after all the events which happen through it, and i was annoyed that it finished so abruptly.

Tess goes from being a figure of beauty and innocence, to a figure of pity and hardship, to a figure of pathetic, self-pitying, glutton for punishment, and finally to a figure of revenge and (short-lived) happiness.

I give this book 7/10 for being a classic tale, with a fascinating protagonist who covers so much ground, and deals with many issues. Worth reading at least once!

Note: I read this on my Kindle (as it is a free ebook).

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge – The End!

I have finally completed my June challenge, despite thinking i wouldn’t be able to finish in time!

My tasks for June were as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Read “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play. - Re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet. - Read “Delicacy” by David Foenkinos
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years. – Re-read “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” (A novelization from the hit TV series of the same title)
7. Read a non-fiction title. - Reading “The Queen’s English” by Bernard C. Lamb
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I have finished all of the books, except for Task7, the non-fiction title “The Queen’s English” because it is fairly heavy going as a textbook (although the book says it is a “light” textbook, which it really isn’t!), but i will keep reading it inbits at a time because i won’t absorb it otherwise!

It has been an interesting challenge though, as you can’t deny that i’ve covered a wide range of books!

My favourite book was “Z for Zachariah” because it was easy to read, yet it was interesting to re-read it after so many years have passed since i studied it at school!

There isn’t a book i didn’t like, although i found myself getting a little irritated by “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” with Tess being a bit pathetic at times and the ending being a bit rubbish. I thought it was worth reading though, but i’m glad i didn’t have to study it at school/university!

That’s the end of my Mixing It Up Reading Challenge, and i will now have a little break from challenges because i want to just read without worrying about a deadline!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#5

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, with just under 2 days left to go!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play. - Re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years. – Re-read “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” (A novelization from the hit TV series of the same title)
7. Read a non-fiction title. – Started reading “The Queen’s English” by Bernard C. Lamb
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

Deliberately chose a short book for Task6 as i’m running out of time, but it’s good to read about Buffy’s early days again!

My non-fiction choice has been sitting on my shelf for a while and is really interesting! (Doesn’t count for Task5 as well though, because i’d already started it a while ago!) A bit heavy going though, taking a while to read it!

Decided to re-read “The Changeling” by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley for Task4, which i read during my A Level English and actually quite enjoyed. We went to see it performed at the Barbican in London and it was a great show! It is also fairly easy and quick to read (especially if you’ve read or studied it before like i have!) which is good as i’m running out of days in June to finish this challenge!

Can i finish 3 books by tomorrow night? We’ll see!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#4

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, 25 days in!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play.
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years.
7. Read a non-fiction title.
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Read “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I managed to finish “New Finnish Grammar” although it took a while! Wasn’t the best book i’ve ever read, but was interesting enough that i wanted to finish it.

Otherwise doing badly, 5 days left of the month and i have to finish “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” and read 4 other books!

Books on my to-read list

Yeah, i know, who doesn’t have a huge pile of books to read!?

Somehow i have ended up with a pile of books waiting! I keep buying them and take ages to get round to reading them!

My latest collection:

I ended up buying three books in my local Oxfam bookshop last week – i only meant to drop off some old clothes but left with the following books:

Oxfam books

• “Losing You” by Nicci French
• “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• “A Dictionary of the English Language: An Anthology” by Samuel Johnson

The first was picked because i’ve read a few other books by the authors and enjoyed them. The second i have been wanting to read for a while. The last book is purely for my geeky side and my love of reading about the English language!

Other books on my pile include:

• “Delicacy” by David Foenkinos – had this sitting on my bedside table since i went to the London Book Fair (so about 2 months!)
  

  Delicacy – David Foenkinos (via Amazon)

• “The Language of Others” by Clare Morrall – another Oxfam find from a few weeks ago
  

  The Language of Others – Clare Morrall (via Amazon)

• “Tickling the English” by Dara O’Briain – a book i bought over a year ago and returned when i realised my mum had a copy already. I forgot about it until i saw it on her shelf the other day and nabbed it!

Tickling the English – Dara O’Briain (via Amazon)

And that’s just the physical books! I have even more on my Kindle!

A short selection includes:

• “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” by Thomas Hardy – i have just started reading this, having meant to for a while. Never studied it at school so thought i’d give it a whirl!
• “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani – another one i’ve started. A translated title which was a runner-up in the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2012. I was intrigued by the plot and wanted to try another translated title!
• “Ulysses” by James Joyce – because i fancied a challenge!
• “The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life” by William Nicholson – because it sounded interesting (and was free!)

I better get reading!

Mixing It Up Reading Challenge Update#3

Here is an update of my latest Challenge, 9 days in!

My tasks for June are as follows:

1. Read a brand new book. - Read “Peaches for Monsieur le Curé” by Joanne Harris.
2. Read a classic you’ve never tried before. – Started reading “Tess of the D’Urberviles” by Thomas Hardy
3. Re-read a book you studied at school/college/university. - Re-read “Z for Zachariah” by Robert C. O’Brien.
4. Read a play.
5. Read a book that you have owned for a while but haven’t started yet.
6. Re-read a favourite book from your younger years.
7. Read a non-fiction title.
8. Read a book that is totally different to the sort you usually read. - Started reading “New Finnish Grammar” by Diego Marani

I have a selection of books ready for the other challenges, but i need to finish the three i have on the go at the moment!