Have you ever stopped to wonder how much impact fiction authors have on society — their effect on current events and policy, for instance?
I can’t help but wonder how indebted we are to authors like Anne Brontë for exposing the plight of Victorian women, and perhaps in so doing, propelling women’s rights forward. I finally read this one as my last book of 2019, and not only was I impressed by how skillfully the youngest Bronte sister weaves a story (couldn’t put it down!), I was awed by how thoroughly it exposes the evils of a society in which only husbands can possess property, and thus, power — which was indeed the state of things in England until 1870. Sometimes, in today’s society, it feels like we’re taking two steps back for each one forward, but at least in some areas, we’ve made real progress.
As for the book, I won’t spoil any more of the content, but if you’ve read any Brontë work and liked it, chances are good you’ll also like The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Like every other Bronte work I’ve read, the setting tells the story just as much as the characters do, and I felt like I was almost part of the story myself — the writing just completely drew me in. It’s the sort of book to try if you want a classic that keeps you turning the pages, or if you’re eager to see what an early feminist novel looks like.
In other news, Seattle weather has been all over the place this week. I snapped this photo yesterday when snow was still on the ground, but it was sunny with blue skies (caught the reflection just barely on the table’s glass top) — but it’s back to grey, and I just braved quite the snow shower while leaving school!
———
#bookstagram #thetenantofwildfellhall #annebronte #bronte #booksandflowers
On my last afternoon in London, I went on a bookstore binge. I hadn’t been able to fit much book-shopping into the trip, and I had just one afternoon to attempt to do justice to the London bookstore scene. A heat wave had just begun, and it was nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit out — but I sweltered through it.
Persephone Books was my first, and most anticipated stop — mostly thanks to posts about it from @beth.bonini @bagfullofbooks @thenobbylife and other Anglophile friends. Dedicated to reprinting formerly out-of-print female authors, often from hundreds of years ago, you’re almost sure to find something unique here. I let the friendly staff guide me to a whole stack of titles, and it was just so pleasant to tell them what I liked, and get custom recommendations in return.
I’d love to hear about your favorite bookstore, and why you like it so much. ———
#bookstagram #bookstore #books @persephonebooks #bookshop #london
Happy New Year, my dear bookish friends.
I’ve been away from most social media—including Instagram—for months. I have multiple reasons for this, but the main one is I’m still trying to figure out how social platforms should fit into my life. I’ve been reading about and researching information overload while in grad school, and it’s really been forcing me to think through my information consumption and use, especially online, and I haven’t always liked what I’ve found when it comes to my own habits. To be honest, finding the right balance between connection and enjoyment versus addiction and overwhelm is difficult for me. I sway between overuse and abstinence, but I’m working on finding somewhere in between.
I still love reading, and books, and taking pictures of books. And most of all, I love connecting with all of you who also love those things. So: while I know I don’t want to give up that part, I also know I’ve spent way too much time overthinking Instagram—everything from aesthetic to all of Instagram’s changes to whether I’m reading the “right” books.
So here’s to trying to get back to some balance. As I’ll finally graduate from grad school this summer, it seems like a good year to try to establish some new habits.
If you made it this far, tell me if you’ve got any new focuses or goals, reading or otherwise, for 2020 — and know that I’m wishing you a wonderful year of balance and joy. 😊
Also, a little PSA: I logged back into Instagram a few days ago to find my messages all gone. If you messaged me and I didn’t respond, I’m so sorry! 😔
#bookstagram #newyear #2020 #booksoutofdoors #openbook
“When we were children we lived in a story that we made up. But when I grew up the story wasn’t enough. I had to have something else, because the story wasn’t true any more… [Aron] wanted the story and he wanted it to come out his way. He couldn’t stand to have it come out any other way.”
"How about you?”
“I don’t want to know how it all comes out. I only want to be there while it’s going on.”
—Abra & Cal, Ch. 52
Even though this reread experience was pretty different for me than the first time, East of Eden still impressed me with multigenerational storylines and incredibly complex characters. Few of these characters are easy to love. Some events that unfold are violent and disturbing; others are emotionally traumatic. But Steinbeck, all the while, seems to be driving home the point that we all struggle between the best and worst parts of ourselves—and unfortunately, the best parts are not always winning out. Still, we can always choose to be better. And for most of us, that can only happen when we stop letting rejection rule our lives, and instead start carving out our own paths.
One thing I do want to say, now that we’re at the end. On this reading, I was really struck by how strongly American values (both good and bad) shape this novel. Everything from blatant racism, to warmongering, to an independent, endlessly optimistic spirit. On the one hand, I think this novel is considered a classic because of how American it is. On the other hand, I’m not so sure how much I identify with this version of America in 2019. I really wrestled with that tension this time around. I know I will continue to respect this novel as a masterpiece of plotting and characterization, but I suspect I will continue to find its values challenging if ever I undertake another reread. Anyone else feel this?
All in all, though, thanks to all of you #EastofEden2019 ‘ers for reading along with @booksbythecup and me. I’ve loved seeing your photos, thoughts, reactions. (Still catching up on some of your posts—promise!) As always, I learn so much more by experiencing a book with a community.
Without further ado, onto our final round of questions, in comments below!
When you commandeer your friends’ books for your photo. #bookstagrammer #whatchagonnado
It has been an exceptionally pretty weekend here in Seattle—one of the first to really feel like summer in a while. Perfectly clear blue skies and temperatures right around 80 degrees. While it’s been amazing for my vitamin D levels, it’s been less great for actually getting many hours in for #24in48. So far, I’ve only read for about 7 hours, but I am pleased that I finally wrapped up The Winter of Our Discontent and Great Expectations, got a nice start on Sherwood, read a little more of Mistborn, and made it to Part 4 in our East of Eden readalong. AND, I got out to Lake Washington and Puget Sound, and read on this beach today. All in all, a really lovely weekend!
Hope you’ve had a beautiful weekend, too!
•
•
#weekend #booksbythebeach #beachreads #summer #bookstagram #24in48 #readathon #beach #summerinseattle #booksbooksbooks #unitedbookstagram #booksoutofdoors #booksoutside #getoutside
It’s time to share my #24in48 TBR! The @24in48 readathon is this weekend, and it’s not too late to sign up!
While I don’t expect to hit the full twenty-four hours (lots of non-reading activities going on for me this weekend), I’m looking forward to devoting my free time to reading (and hopefully completing) a few books.
My TBR breakdown:
• SHERWOOD — This one came out a few months ago and I was so excited to start it, and then school got too dang busy and I never got to. So this one’s at the top of the list.
• THE KISS QUOTIENT — Borrowed this one from @booksandthebigcities a little while ago and it seems like the perfect summer read. Plus, I’ve heard a lot of glowing reviews from many other #bookstagrammers.
• WIDE SARGASSO SEA — Been wanting to read this one forever, about the madwoman from Jane Eyre. It’s relatively short, too, which makes it perfect for a readathon.
• SHOUT — An ARC I’ve been meaning to get to, and verse novels have worked well for me in readathons past, so on the list it goes.
• SMELLS LIKE STARS — An intriguing book I picked up at @massybooks with @paperbackpatronus back in January. It’s short and sounds fast-paced, so it’s another solid readathon pick.
I’ll also be continuing with some in-progress reads:
• EAST OF EDEN — for #EastOfEden19, of course. On audio and a reread for me, so this will be my take-a-walk/clean/make food read that I listen to.
• MISTBORN (not pictured) — I’ll likely pick this one up over the weekend, too, as I’m about halfway done.
•
•
Q: Do you participate in read-a-thons?
•
•
#readathon #myweekendisbooked #24in48readathon #tbr #bookstack #weekendreads #summerreads #sherwood #thekissquotient #eastofeden #widesargassosea #shout #smellslikestars #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #booksandlavender #floralfriday
#throwbackthursday to this perfect moment on vacation a few weeks ago, when I was lying in a hammock, staring out at the most beautiful view of the Mallorcan coast, sipping coffee, and starting Mistborn.
I’m well over halfway through it now and enjoying it a good bit. The magic is pretty awesome, I’m just waiting for things to pick up—but I am starting to see why people have been recommending this one to me for a long time now.
•
•
Q: What’s a book that’s been recommended to you a lot, but you haven’t read yet?
•
•
#mistborn #brandonsanderson #fantasy #bookstagram #travelgram #unitedbookstagram #hammock #summer #hammockreading #vacation #booksbooksbooks #reading
“I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt—and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people.” — Lee, East of Eden
In many parts, East of Eden is a brutal, painful story. But Steinbeck seems to keep insisting that it isn’t a mindless violence; no, this arc follows the trajectory that humankind has been tracing since the dawn of time. Rejection, hurt, familial strife—all are familiar to us. Maybe that’s why this story continues to move us, nearly seventy years after it was written. It feels like one we’ve all heard before, perhaps one we’ve experienced ourselves.
Anyway, on to Part II discussion for #EastOfEden19!
1. Do you think rejection can be amputated—as Lee proposes—from the human experience? If so, how? And if not, how can we cope with it in less destructive ways?
2. In Chapter 17, Steinbeck partially retracts the title of monster as applied to Cathy. Do you think this is justified in light of what we learn about her in Part II?
3. What do you make of some of the women in this section, such as Liza and Olive Hamilton? Why do you think they’re so different from other women we’ve met in the book so far?
4. Why do you think Samuel Hamilton and Lee have such different immigrant experiences in the U.S.? What do you think of Lee’s habit of speaking pidgin to those he knows expect it of him?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!! Sorry this post is going up a bit late today. It’s still Sunday on the West coast of the U.S., but I apologize if it no longer is wherever you are. 😊
•
•
#eastofeden #johninjuly19 #steinbeck #johnsteinbeck #classics #hydrangea #booksandflowers #readalong #summer #summerreads #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram
Greenglass House has been a cozy, easy read in the midst of a crazy week. It’s a middle-grade mystery novel and it has just the right amount of intrigue to keep me interested, while its charming characters and relatively simple story are just what I need when I haven’t been working, or listening to the much heavier East of Eden.
Sometimes, you just need to read something that doesn’t require you to think much, and this little mystery does the trick.
•
•
Q: What do you like to read when your brain needs a break and you want to read something relaxing?
•
•
#greenglasshouse #katemilford #middlegrade #middlegradefiction #mysterynovel #greenglass #read #reading #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #unitedbookstagram
