Dracula by Bram Stoker

I honour of Hallowe'en I have chosen a spooky book. I always thought that the Dracula character was invented more recently just for Hallowe'en, not that he was a historic literary character. Here is the summary:

Jonathan Harker is travelling to Castle Dracula to see the Transylvanian noble, Count Dracula. He is begged by locals not to go there, because on the eve of St George's Day, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will come full sway. But business must be done, so Jonathan makes his way to the Castle - and then his nightmare begins. His beloved wife Meena and other lost souls have fallen under the Count's horrifying spell. Dracula must be destroyed . . .

I get scared so easily so I am nervous about this one getting the best of me. I guess its time to toughen up though because looking through the list again, I see that there are many other books that look like they are terrifying.

A High Wind in Jamaica - Finished!

I loved this book right through to the very end. I thought that the adventure and plot were really exciting and that it really showed the resilience of a child. Especially in the end when the writer said that there would be no way or telling Emily apart from any of her schoolmates despite what she had been through.

More words I didn't know:

ALACRITY:

1. Cheerful willingness; eagerness.

2. Speed or quickness; celerity.

ENNUI: Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom

TIMOROUS: Full of apprehensiveness; timid.

IMPUDENCE:

1. The quality of being offensively bold.

2. Offensively bold behavior.

Such a great book, easy to read and a cute story. I wish I could celebrate finishing it with a trip to
Jamaica but that is out of the question!

A High Wind in Jamaica - Halfway Point

So far a beautiful and whimsically written book. I love the way that Hughes writes about the children, I feel like he really understands how the mind of a child works.

I was so happy to find out that the original Captains letter to their parents was a lie. I was confused when I read it and then looked at how many pages I had left to read. That would have made for a weird book if what he was saying was the truth. I strongly dislike the original captain. He is weak and self centered and a liar. Its weird that I like the pirate captain much more than the original one.

I was disappointed that the children were not more upset about John's death. I don't this it matters how old you are, if your brother were to die I think that you would have a much stronger reaction than they did. I feel like I, the reader was more upset than his siblings and friends. I also find it weird that the kids don't realize that something is very wrong and that they have been abducted by pirates. I guess that they are in their own little world and without their parents there to tell them they are in danger, they are completely unaware.

This book reminds me a lot of Life of Pi so far. It is mainly about the world of a child, much like Life of Pi and also the writer uses beautiful vocabulary just like Yann Martel. Here are a few words I didn't know, that I hope to remember:

EMANCIPATION: To free from bondage, oppression, or restraint; liberate.

JALOUSIES: A blind or shutter having adjustable horizontal slats for regulating the passage of air and light.

INFERNAL: Of or relating to a lower world of the dead.

APOPLEXY: Sudden impairment of neurological function, especially that resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage; a stroke.

MADEIRA:  A fortified dessert wine, especially from the island of Madeira. (mmm.. I want to try this!)

BILIOUS:

a. Characterized by an excess secretion of bile.

b. Relating to, characterized by, or experiencing gastric distress caused by a disorder of the liver or gallbladder.

c. Appearing as if affected by such a disorder; sickly.

Can't wait to see what happens!

A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes

It's about time I read something off the list that I've never heard of before so I have chosen A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. I'm excited because I've never head anything about this one by the cover looks kinda cute. Here is the summary:

A High Wind in Jamaica - the classic novel of childhood in which Richard Hughes describes with perfect insight not only the adventures of a family of children caught up in the company of pirates but also, with magical clarity, the tropical landscape the children leave behind them and the endless ocean which they must cross.

Sounds like a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Swiss Family Robinson. Time to get reading!

A Farewell to Arms - Finished!

Just finished reading A Farewell to Arms and I am so unbelievably sad. I did not have any clue that Catherine was going to die. I am not happy about it. Mr. Henry and her were so happy and their life together was so romantic.

A part of the book that I loved is when Mr Henry was playing billiards with the old man, Count Greffi, and they were discussing the issue of wisdom. Count Greffi said, "That is the great fallacy; the wisdom of old men. They do not grow wise. They grow careful". This really made me think.

It seems like all of the great loves that I've been reading about end in tragedy. I am super excited to finally read a love story in which the couple gets to live happily ever after.

It seems like in order for that to happen, I'm going to go to a whole other set of classics that include Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Thank goodness for Disney!

I love the way that Hemingway writes and I am thrilled that there are three other Hemingway books on the list!

A Farewell to Arms - Book 1 and 2

I am completely obsessed with this book! I have not been able to put it down ever since I started reading. I can even feel myself reading slower now because I don't want the love between the Lieutenant and Miss. Barkley to end. Even the first chapter had me hooked with Hemingway's beautiful and descriptive way of writing. It is almost like reading poetry.

I'm really surprised that I have enjoyed this book so much because I usually hate most stories that have anything to do with war times. However, I love that the war brought these together and yet at the same time is an obstacle for their love to continue. The intense way that she describes how much she loves him reminds me of the love affair between Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights. I just am addicted to that passionate can't-live-without-you love. Even though the book was set back in the first world war, I can relate to their relationship and the way they sneak around to hide it.

As of now Catherine is pregnant and I'm a little worried about her drinking alcohol. I guess they didn't know any better then, but still I am concerned for her baby.

Now he is of to the front and my heart aches for Catherine. She must be so lonely and I hope there is a way that she and their baby can join him shortly.

This book is also making me want to go to Italy so badly. Every time he mentions a new town I am Googling it and then checking out hotels. Most places look gorgeous but I am always slightly disappointed that the actual photos don't measure up the Hemingway's descriptions.

I know I'm not writing my thoughts as thoroughly as I did with my first few books, but I find that I get so swept away that I forget to write my little sticky notes. Afterwards all I remember is how I felt while I was reading. I'll try for the next parts to write my notes but at the same time I'm not going to be severe about it because the whole idea of this project was to enjoy myself!

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Next in my project is A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. I chose this one because the guy that owns the used book shop where I buy all of my books said that this one doesn't come along very often. All I know about this book is that it is a war novel. I've never read one like this but I do know that I am not a fan of war movies. Hopefully this is different. Here's the summary:

The best American novel to emerge out of World War 1, A Farewell to Arms is the unforgettable story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and his love for a beautiful English nurse. Hemingway's frank portrayal of the love between Lieutenant Henry and Catherine Barkley. caught in the inexorable sweep of war, glows with an intensity unrivaled in modern literature, while his description of the German attack of Caporetto - of lines of tired men marching in the rain, hungry, weary, and demoralized - bears comparison to Stendhal's depiction of the retreat from Waterloo. A story of love and pain, of loyalty and desertion, of serene beauty amidst a world of chaos, A Farewell to Arms represents a new romanticism for Hemingway. Richer in language, more subtle in expression, and emotionally astute, it also symbolizes Hemingway's farewell, as Malcolm Cowley remarked, to an attitude, a time, and a literary method.

I'm excited about this one because reading an Ernest Hemingway sounds very smart.