Tuesday 28 January 2014

A Reflection: Brideshead Revisisted


 
This novel was an unexpected delight. If I had to classify this novel I would say that it is a British-American novel. What I mean by this is that it has the feeling and mood of American novels, two of which came to mind while reading this: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott. Fitzgerald, and The Mysteries of Pittsbugh by Michael Chabon, while remaining true to its British setting and culture with the background of changing times.

Through our narrator, Charles Ryder, it is easy to see the relationship between The Great Gatsby narrated by the male character Nick Carraway, and The Mysteries of Pittsburgh narrated by the male character Art Bechstein. Ryder, Carraway and Bechstein are all charmed by other Male characters (Sebstian in Brideshead, Gatsby in Gatsby, and Arthur in Pittsbugh). Each of these novels is narrated through the eyes of male characters whose own life revolves around another protagonist. In other words, our narrator is the side character in his own life. Because of this, each novel has an air of sadness and tragedy.
 
Brideshead Revisisted was a fast-paced novel with the era of the 20’s written into the language and words, while the characters mirror a world that is changing. We have the base of tradition through the grand estate of Brideshead Castle, and the religion which holds captive each member of Sebastion’s family, juxtaposed with the new world, the war, and the beginning of women’s liberation.

If you enjoy reading about this era—pick up this novel, you won’t regret it!

Up Next: Moby Dick...for real this time!

Thursday 16 January 2014

A Reflection: Bridget Jone's Diary

 
 I think it is safe to say that a good majority of us have seen this movie on T.V a variety of times. Nontheless, it still brings me great joy to curl up and watch Hugh Grant and Colin Firth duke it out over Rene Zelwigger. There were a few things I had assumed about this book before reading it:


1) I thought that this would be an entertaining chick flick
2) I thought it would be fluffy
3) I thought it would be a fast-read

Was it an entertaining chick flick? That it was. I would label a Chick Click as a novel (or film), whose plot revolves around a female protagonist on their quest to find love and, more accutely, focuses on their emotions and feelings about the happenings (often driving men out of the room if watched on the T.V). However, in terms of this "chick flick" I would have to say that it was far less "fluffy" then I anticipated-- actually I think it is a very clever account of how single woman live (pre-cell phone); the heart-break, the occasional self-loathing, and the struggle to remain independent throughout it all. The novel, also, has a few suprises of its own! While this novel could be deemed as a fast-read, I still thought that many of its enteries held alot of merit.
Bridget-Jones-Diary
This was a fun novel that I would recomend for any flirty reader out there who has yet to read it!








Up Next: Brideshead Revisited