Second Chances

Some of you may have noticed that yesterday I shared a post someone had written about how they felt that the books they'd read and hated actually had a huge impact on them as a reader. This is the sort of person that can't stop reading a book even if they find it lacking.

I'm not that sort of person...usually.

There are multiple books that I describe thus, "Oh, yeah! I started that book once! Never did finish it..." That's not the majority of the books I pick up, but it happens. There are various reasons why that scenario takes place, not just because it was less than enjoyable, but that's the aspect we're going to focus on. In most cases when I'm not thrilled with a booked if I don't stop reading it it's because a) it's for a class assignment or b) a friend suggested it or let me borrow it and I don't have the heart to tell them I don't quite love it as much as they do.

But here's the thing--sometimes books need second chances. I'm not saying ALL books need second chances. Your reading instincts will let you know when you really should maybe look elsewhere for your reading fulfillment instead of retrying that one book you tried to read that one time. Our tastes change over time. Also, there are some books that we might not have been ready for the first time we were introduced to them.

There are two books in particular of which I feel very differently about now than I did when I first read them (in a good way, not a "how did I ever enjoy this" way). I'm pretty sure I've even mentioned them before in previous posts. They are The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I often say they are two of my favorite books, but it wasn't always that way.

In both cases I had to read the books for school. I was in middle school when I first read them, and I thought they were awful! And it wasn't even the older style of language or writing that bothered me. There were certain aspects of the story or the storytelling itself that drove me nuts. The major complaints I remember having were Tolkien's multiple allusions to things that would happen in the future and Darcy's uncanny, yet convenient, way of showing up ALL THE TIME! The funny thing is that those things don't bug me at all now. In fact, I actually love that particular detail of The Hobbit. 

Another funny thing about this scenario is that the whole reason I gave them a second chance was because they were once again assigned to me as school assignments. And on the second reading, I loved them! (Actually, it took me a third reading of The Hobbit to realize how much I loved it. Apparently I had multiple Tolkien fans for teachers.)

The point is this:

Maybe you gave up on a certain book too soon.

Maybe you weren't in the right place to enjoy a potential favorite book.

Or maybe you'll still hate it no matter how many times you read it...

So, have any of you had similar experiences? Are there books you'd like to give a second chance? Or are you like Mr. Darcy in that "[your] good opinion once lost is lost forever?"

The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Title: The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre

Rating: 4/5

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Pages: 385

Genre: Children’s Fantasy

Synopsis:

Peregrine has always strived to make her parents proud by being the best Lakti she can be. She trains hard, is one of the fastest runners around, and is full of bravery—the complete opposite of the Bamarre servants in the castle who everyone knows are weak and cowardly. But there’s only one problem with all of her efforts—Peregrine isn’t a Lakti but a Bamarre. With this new knowledge, Peregrine has a difficult choice to make—she can keep it all a secret and let things continue as normal, or she can complete a daunting task given to her by the fairy Halina to free her people from oppression.

My Reaction:

If you’ve ever read and enjoyed any other of Gail Carson’s Levine’s books, you’ll enjoy this one as well. If you haven’t read anything by Gail Carson Levine, you should!

On the back cover, the book is described as “a compelling and thought-provoking fantasy,” and I think I have to agree with that statement. It’s thought provoking in that it deals a lot with prejudice and overcoming certain mindsets. I kept thinking as I read this story that this is such a good book for some of the things you can see in the world right now.

Peregrine is an amazing heroine. She’s strong, bold, speaks her mind, can get herself out of tricky situations, but it takes a major eye opening moment—the revelation that she’s actually a Bamarre and not a Lakti—for her to recognize her own prejudice and the prejudices of others. What gives this story a bit of a heart-wrenching element is that she also has to come face to face with the mindsets and prejudices of her own parents, both adopted and biological. The stark contrast between her adoptive father’s reactions versus her adoptive mother’s reactions are fascinating in that we can see two possible outcomes from people with similar backgrounds and beliefs. Through her parents we can see two sides of the coin—the ill effects of prejudice versus the benefits of overcoming prejudice.

The other thing that is so great about Peregrine is that even she has her weaknesses to overcome. She gains wisdom through her experiences and can then be hugely influential in aiding an oppressed people.

Reader’s Guidance:

There are elements of war and oppression in this story. There are a couple of deaths mentioned, mostly by way of stabbing. There’s some slapping of inferiors that happens. There’s also one scene where a man is flogged.

Similar Books:

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Next Book:

One book I’ve been meaning to read for awhile now is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I know some people who are a fan of the TV miniseries from the 80’s. I’ve never seen it myself, but it’s gotten me interested in the story itself. I know there’s quite a few books in the series, but for now we’ll just worry about book one.

Happy reading!

Jane Eyre

Guess who finally finished reading Jane Eyre? That’s right! I did! Before you get to reading this post, riddle me this. I know some of you absolutely adore Jane Eyre. What is it that you love most about the story? Feel free to leave a comment :)

Title: Jane Eyre

Rating: 3/5

Author: Charlotte Bronte

Genre: Classic/Gothic/Romance

Synopsis:

Jane Eyre is an orphan left in the unwilling care of her aunt. Anxious to be rid of a burden, her aunt sends Jane off to school with the intention of never seeing her again. After 8 years there, 6 as a student and 2 as a teacher, she’s ready for a new adventure and becomes a governess to a young French girl at Thornfield Hall. For once in her life, Jane truly feels like she has a home, but even an estate like Thornfield can be filled with dark and dangerous secrets.

My Reaction:

Jane Eyre is listed amongst the classics, and as such, some of you out there may be a bit wary of it. One of the things that can be tricky about classics is a sort of language barrier. For instance, I was confused briefly when Jane Eyre used the term “fagging” or “fagged” which means “to work hard” or “to tire by strenuous activity.” (Thanks, Webster). The style and old vernacular of the classics make it difficult for some people to get into.

I didn’t feel like that was a huge issue with Jane Eyre. It wasn’t difficult to follow or understand. Even those few words that threw me briefly for a loop could be deciphered based on context or the dictionary function on the kindle. The style of the book is almost like reading a diary or sitting down with a friend who just happens to tell you their life story. Jane addresses us, “dear reader,” which establishes a bit of a connection between us and the protagonist.

I will admit, I did space out a couple of times when she was describing scenery or someone’s features. Sometimes lengthy descriptions can be annoying and detract from the story, but even though I spaced out briefly in some of those segments, I still didn’t see it as a major issue because, as I said, it was like reading a diary or like listening to a friend’s adventures where I would want a description of the scenery since I had never seen it before myself.

Perhaps I should mention that there are phrases in French strewn throughout the book with no obvious explanation as to their meaning. Just warning you in case that will bother you, but it doesn’t take away from the main points of the book.

On initial completion of the book, I wasn’t exactly sure how I would rate it. It didn’t necessarily wow me, but it definitely doesn’t fit on a list of classics NOT worth reading. As I’ve collected my thoughts, it’s safe to say that Jane Eyre is a well crafted story with a couple of good plot twists and a great ending. In fact, the ending was my favorite part of the whole thing (not because the story was finally over…).

Let’s see if I can explain why I liked how everything wrapped up without spoiling things for you. Jane Eyre is a gothic romance (see side note below). I went into the book knowing this and not much else. In fact, I wasn’t sure what little information I knew was about Jane Eyre and which one was Wuthering Heights. Anyway, the moment her love interest appeared, I knew even before she did that he was going to be the love interest. One thing bothered me though—I couldn’t understand why she would love him. Tolerate him, sure, but love him? There wasn’t much about his character that made him seem all that loveable. Then again, Mr. Darcy wasn’t all that loveable in the beginning of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was he?

Jane’s love definitely has his faults, but it all seemed redeemed by the way things ended. I really don’t want to give too much away, but the trial of love and how that trial is overcome is what makes the wrapping up of the book so great. Also, I would have been really mad if Jane had made another decision despite her better judgment which I will not reveal. Basically, you’ve got to read the book yourself! And if you still aren’t keen on reading a classic, there are multiple movie renditions you could try.

Even now, I’m having a little difficulty deciding the score I want to give it. For now, I’m giving it a 3/5 because I did like the story and think it has merit, but at this moment I can’t say it’s one of my favorites. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea, so I think it may be one of those times that if I read it again I would enjoy it even more and thus bump up the score.

Side note: The whole time I was reading this book, all I could think about is how Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey was a satire of such gothic works as this, which were apparently quite popular at the time.

Reader’s Guidance:

There is a moment where a man is attacked, stabbed, and bitten on the arm. Jane enters the room after the fact and helps apply pressure and such until a doctor can arrive.

Similar Books:

Any of the other books written by the Bronte sisters, or perhaps Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.

Next Book:

I recently was gifted a Barnes and Noble gift card (Thank you for supporting my book addiction). One of the books on display was one I’ve been interested in reading for awhile--The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. You may recall another book a talked about awhile back called The Two Princesses of Bamarre. This story takes place in the same universe, and I’m looking forward to reading it!