Ben

Needed a bit of light-hearted reading this evening so I decided to rattle through Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan, the first book in the series. I've read all the books before a couple of times, but it's been a while since I've read them, and they're just right for a bit of a light-hearted escape. They're not the most challenging books in the world, but are perfect to break up some of the classics and trickier reads I have to read for university. In any case, it was an enjoyable read; vampires, bearded ladies, performing poisonous spiders. What more could one want. 3/5. Anyway, I'm currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for my bildungsroman course, and although I haven't read much yet I'm enjoying it so far. Synopsis: Orphaned Jane Eyre grows up in the home of her heartless aunt, where she endures loneliness and cruelty, and at a charity school with a harsh regime. This troubled childhood strengthens Jane's natural independence and spirit - which prove necessary when she finds a position as governess at Thornfield Hall. But when she finds love with her sardonic employer, Rochester, the discovery of his terrible secret forces her to make a choice. Should she stay with him and live with the consequences, or follow her convictions, even if it means leaving the man she loves? One of the books I've wanted to read for a while, so glad to be finally getting around to it.

Oh no not you. You know I'm kidding, it's great to see you back!

Ooh, sorry, I misread what you had written and thought you'd said you had heard that his books were hit and miss - my apologies. Human Traces sounds fascinating, and I think I'd enjoy it. I'm going to add it to my wishlist, so thanks.

Ah it was wonderful - I was so disappointed that I'd left it for so long once I realised it was so good. I haven't read anything else he's written, have you? I've also heard that he can be a bit hit-and-miss, so I might have to check some reviews of his other stuff before I give them a try. I think I will have a go at one of his other books at some point though; he has earned it.

Ah, I know that feeling. I too have always wanted to read Birdsong but what with one reason and another, always seemed to just put it off. I did find it fantastic, and I really do think you'd enjoy it, but with high expectations things can sometimes be a let down, I suppose. I'd still recommend it wholeheartedly, though. I'll get a proper review up some time tomorrow. I was going to write it today but my sudden strange feeling of exhaustion (see member thread), I really haven't been in the mood for it. It's coming soon, though; I'll see if I can do my best to persuade you to pick it up.

Well I'm not going to attempt to try draft up my thoughts right now as the hour appears too late, but I have just finished Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks and I just want to say it was absolutely incredible. It's certainly one of the best books I've read in a long time.

It's tempting.. I think I'll definitely take advantage of the free trial to see first, and then just go from there.

Okay, so as you've all seen from my other film-related thread (Educating Ben), my film knowledge is lacking, and I've been wondering recently about signing up to something like LoveFilm or Netflix. Now, Netflix sounds appealing because it's relatively cheep (£5.99 a month), but I'm not sure. Does anyone else use it, and is it worth it? How 'new' are the options for the films you can see? Nnot that I'll be watching all new films with so many classics to catch up on, but I just wondered. Also, if you watch on a computer or games console do you need to have fast internet to 'stream' the movies/tv series', or do you not have to worry about streaming once they're downloaded? Just wanted a couple of opinions from people that use this kind of service, really. Thanks guys.

Okay this is going to make me sound quite lame, but I thought I'd share it. Now, usually, when I read a novel, I'm never emotionally affected enough to show it physically (although, don't get me wrong, I have been moved by books). However, I was reading Birdsong last night and (don't read if you're intending to read Birdsong): It actually made me tear-up. I was shocked at first, but I guess it just proves how poignant the writing is, if I was that emotionally affected.

Thank you VF. Leeds Met, actually. Well that definitely sounds like it's something worth checking out - even at £5 or thereabouts, that's a bargain! I had a look about at what was on when you mentioned Love's Labour's Lost. I studied Waiting for Godot last year, and found it fascinating - I imagine the play will be fantastic. The Mary Shelley performance looks great - I might have to see if my grandma wants to come see one or two with me.

I really want to start going to more productions in the near future, as I've always had good experiences of the theatre. I saw Frankenstein streamed from the National Theatre Live in London, starring Johnny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, and it was sensational. I've been living in Leeds from September and the West Yorkshire Playhouse is only about a good hour's walk from where I live. Perhaps I'll even book tickets for Love's Labour Lost. I bet it'll be fantastic; you'll have a great time. Even if I don't go to that I'll definitely make an effort to get to see more theatre soon. Oh yes, definitely. I wasn't suggesting that having a knowledge of the plot ever compensates for a proper reading/viewing. In fact a lot of the time, when people people 'think' they understand a novel's plot, or that of a play, without ever seeing it, half the time they take for granted things that aren't true - there's a lot of common misconceptions. It'll always be the case that a proper understanding comes from an actual reading or viewing.

Oh now common, that's just not fair at all.

I agree entirely with everything you have to say here. In our first Shakespeare seminar of the semester we all had to say a little about our first - and subsequent - experiences of Shakespeare and his works, and it was fascinating to hear everyone's different anecdotes. Some, like me, first saw or acted in a play of his; others watched adaptations - one girl even went on a school trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. You're right though: I admittedly haven't read a lot of Shakespeare but it would be undoubtedly beneficial for children growing up to learn about a different range of his works than just A Midsummer Night's Dream or Romeo and Juliet. I guess schools just like to play it safe with the curriculum most of the time. I've never been a big fan of Romeo and Juliet either, but I think that's partly because the story is one which nearly everyone seems to know - and perhaps I always felt that, like we talked about above, this is a bit limited. I suppose I always wanted to know something about his other plays; not those so recognisable to everyone, if that makes sense. The only theatre productions I've seen of his works, were Macbeth and Othello - both of which I had the pleasure of seeing at The Globe. They were fantastic, and I always feel that to truly appreciate Shakespeare you need to see his work performed. After all, that's what they were written for.

Thanks Poppyshake, it's always hard to properly review Shakespeare's work because I tend to feel that whatever I say is inadequate in explaining how much of a genius he was. I really did enjoy the Poe stories, and I too have them all waiting for me on my Kindle - so some day I'll read them all. Aha, some of the dialogue in A Midsummer Night's Dream is just brilliant - I have to laugh when they're insulting one another! That is a great phrase, I hope you find an occasion to use it. Aha, perhaps not cute - but I sure as hell enjoyed myself. Ah I know what you mean, sometimes in class when we come across a writer that had not very nice notions of women, most of the girls turn up their noses and immediately become annoyed at them. However, it's impossible to ignore context when you're reading a novel, and this is especially brought to our attention when we're writing analysis' of novels for university; if we ignore the background at the time of publication, more often we're presenting an incomplete argument. As for being paid by the word, that isn't too much of an issue for me either; I too love it when he describes in detail with his wonderful metaphors and vivid imagery. I can guess why some people would criticise him for it, but for us logophiles it certainly isn't an issue. As for that passage you posted, that's just excellent - utterly excellent! Thanks for the comments willoyd, I've heard of its differences to his other work, and of course how it was his first novel - I think that's why I didn't start with it, as I wanted to read a novel that painted a picture of what his writing was more regularly like, if you know what I mean. However, now I've been introduced to that I'm certainly interested in getting around to reading The Pickwick Papers. Thank you, I'm never exactly sure what to write about Shakespeare's works as I don't think I'm expressing my thoughts properly, and I suppose I went off a little on tangent with my anecdote, but hey ho! I think a lot of schools use A Midsummer Night's Dream as a starting point for Shakespeare as they feel that's the most accessible to kids. It's the same with Romeo & Juliet I suppose. I also guess that having kids acting it out as a play, or indeed seeing a film version, is a better way of getting them interested. Rather than labouring over close-text analysis which definitely at a younger age wouldn't hold anyone's attention. I've never seen an adaptation of it on-screen, but at some stage I'd love to see one or two just to see how the transformation from play to film has been done.

Hopefully! I've went to the cinema to see Up - it's great!

Okay now I've successfully caught up a little with my reviews (see my blog at www.renegade-reviews.blogspot.com for the posts better spread out) - aside from those of Great Expectations and Dracula that is - I can now crack on with Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. What can I say? I've only read fifty or so pages but this book is absolutely fantastic. I'm gripped - utterly gripped. It's fortunate that I'm ahead with my university reading, because I really want to crack on with this excellent novel. I've been missing out by not reading this; it's brilliant.

Going to put down my thoughts on the two Edgar Allan Poe stories, and Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream here, and I'll post in a separate post some thoughts or a review of Dracula as soon as I get chance. Okay, let's start with talking about William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Thoughts: Shakespeare's comedic play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, was in fact my earliest introduction to the world of the great Bard, William Shakespeare, although at the time, when I was around nine or ten, I imagine that his greatness was far from understood by me, or indeed any of my class-mates, when we were told we would be performing in a school production of it. This mysterious 'Shakespeare' was far from known to us, and I was worlds away from understanding his reputation and genius. In essence then, the girls were excited about getting dressed up, and the boys were mainly content with the competitiveness of securing the 'best' parts. Well, I say this - but it's quite possible that in some early display of geekery, it was simply I who became anxious over who should get what. In the end, I got the part I wanted - that of Puck, or Robin Goodfellow - and with my best friend procuring the part or Oberon, the stage was set. Eight or so years later, re-reading the play, I can't imagine that the language we used was the original, but nevertheless I do believe it's great that school's attempt to offer at least some sort of Shakespearian education to kids growing up. The play itself is an enjoyable one, as we follow the events surrounding the marriage between the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta; the adventures of four young lovers, and the antics of an amateur group of actors. The fairies that inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set, meddle and manipulate all those around them, causing havoc. Shakespeare weaves a wonderful plot of love and betrayal, magic and marriage, set mainly in the depths of the night - where Oberon and his obedient, mischievous servant Puck, rule and roam at will. The lovers are merely puppets upon a string, as they argue, love, and trade blows, unaware of what's hidden in the night. In the end, the fairies will decide if normality shall be restored. 5/5. Next I want to discuss 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'The Purloined Letter' by Egar Allan Poe; short stories containing the detective C. Auguste Dupin. Thoughts: After studying 'The Black Cat' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Poe last year, I was looking forward to reading some more of his short stories, and I wasn't disappointed. The first tale, 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' is the the first appearance of the reclusive intellectual Auguste Dupin, and his side-kick, the unnamed man who narrates the tale. Much in the same vein as Holmes and Watson, these two spend time in each others' company, mediating on the issues of the day. After hearing about the murders in the Rue morgue, Dupin becomes intensely interested in the case which according to the papers, appears to be unsolvable and offers no clues. Not convinced, Dupin and his side-kick set about investigating the scene of the murder themselves. For the narrator, things are entirely unclear, but as the mystery unfolds and Dupin's marvellous mind works to form its own conclusions, it becomes apparent that he has unravelled the mystery. With a clever, unexpected ending, I found 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' to be a fascinating and enjoyable read. 3/5. Thoughts: 'The Purloined Letter' sets about its narrative in a completely different manner: from the outset the thief is known to us, and it is not the 'whodunnit' of traditional UK crime fiction, but instead the importance is placed on how Dupin sets about his work. A letter has been stolen from an important aristocrat, and despite the police's best efforts to turn-over every last inch of the thief's rooms, they can not find what they seek. Somewhat reluctantly, they call in the help of Dupin, and the tale from then on is a story of narrow-mindedness and how the police have struggled because they can not see anything aside from ordinary procedure. Dupin's thinking is different to that of the police, and as a result he is able to out-think the thief. In this tale, then, we see the idea of the detective having an 'intellectual counterpart' as such; an adversary that in some ways is Dupin's 'match.' Once again this indeed can draw parallels to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, with the famous adversary Professor Moriarty. Poe's detective stories then, are often attributed with being the forerunners for today's modern 'detective novel', and we can see why; it is clear that his ideas of the detective and of the investigative techniques he uses, influenced others, and are still present in crime fiction to this day. 4/5.

I give up, I'm definitely facing a losing battle in my pursuit of a reasonable film knowledge.

No problem. I haven't actually looked into it, and it's probably just a myth, but my tutor dropped it into conversation and I reasoned that it would make sense. Oh, I don't know about that, you're an interesting and funny person so I don't see why not. I haven't read The Pickwick Papers but a friend of mine has, and she really enjoyed it, so when I do get around to reading more Dickens it'll certainly be high up my list. He definitely has a talent for characterisation - that was one of the main things I enjoyed about Great Expectations. His different range of characters are what made the book so enjoyable for me.

I've been lucky that I've had such a good start to the reading year - my mojo has kicked off in full force it seems. I don't normally start so well, so at this rate I'm well on track to read way more than I've ever managed to do read in a previous year. I suppose university helps; the amount of books we get through on my course in such a short space of time surprises me sometimes. It's funny you should mention this - I was thinking it during the celebrations for his bi-centenary the other day. He looks like such a plain fella', but his writing says so much more for him. I guess the old cliché that appearances can be deceiving is true here. There's a rumour that he was paid by the word with his instalments, which would account for his great, detailed descriptions. Yet to have that word-smithery in the first place is marvellous. It reminds me of something Stephen Fry once said about himself: that if something that could be said in one word, could be instead said in ten, then he would happily oblige. Seems Dickens was of the same opinion. For the moment, no doubt the pace will slide off eventually, I can't be consistent for a long period of time! Ah, I haven't really read much Shakespeare before, so I can't compare it to his other works, but I did enjoy A Midsummer Night's Dream. My thoughts on everything will be up tonight, I should imagine. Oh also, before I forget, I am definitely reading Catch-22 in the next couple of months!

Busy reading day today, and I must say I am a little behind on my reviews. I want to put something down this weekend - at some stage - about all the books and stories I've finished, and I also want to write-up some of my thoughts into a couple of proper reviews - first for Great Expectations, and now for Dracula which I have finished just this moment. Today I've also read two Edgar Allan Poe tales, 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', and 'The Purloined Letter' which were both enjoyable. I also read, a few days ago, Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream which I thought was fantastic. In any case, on with Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong for the moment, and you can expect my other reviews and thoughts soon enough.