by Elizabeth Gaskell
My ibook app on my iphone is revolutionizing my reading. I received a Nook for Christmas, but kindly returned it as I didn't really want to spend that much money on something I could technically access on my iphone. That was the motivator though to have me download some reading apps. All of the Elizabeth Gaskell books are free on these apps, so expect more of them and the other classics.
This book was frankly boring! It's written in first person by someone decribing the town of Cranford and it's inhabitants and their lives. It is readable, but not something you can't put down. This is good with three kids as I'm in no way neglecting them or my household duties to finish it, but this created a feeling of wasting my time (which is limited) by reading something not so worth reading.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Book # 10: North and South
by Elizabeth Gaskell
I decided to try her other books since I enjoyed Wives and Daughters. This book was okay. It took me until the end to figure out what it was missing, and then it hit me. In this book and in Wives and Daughters the female protagonists spend the largest part of their story without the man that they fall in love with. They think about the man, and the man might think about them, but largely their stories play out separately. North and South was hugely that way. They banter in the beginning; he declares his love, then they separate until the last two chapters of the book. While Pride and Prejudice had a similar hate to love relationship, the main characters were forced to interact. This interaction is what I enjoy, thus this book was only okay. Just as they were on speaking terms again, the book ends.
I decided to try her other books since I enjoyed Wives and Daughters. This book was okay. It took me until the end to figure out what it was missing, and then it hit me. In this book and in Wives and Daughters the female protagonists spend the largest part of their story without the man that they fall in love with. They think about the man, and the man might think about them, but largely their stories play out separately. North and South was hugely that way. They banter in the beginning; he declares his love, then they separate until the last two chapters of the book. While Pride and Prejudice had a similar hate to love relationship, the main characters were forced to interact. This interaction is what I enjoy, thus this book was only okay. Just as they were on speaking terms again, the book ends.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Book # 9: Treating Epilepsy Naturally
by Patricia A. Murphy
I skipped a chapter or two because they weren't relevant to my son's condition. Overall, it was an okay book to supplement my knowledge of other options when treating epilepsy. Not a book I would stress for someone to read who will only read one or two books about epilepsy. The author took a very different perspective from others I have read, which was nice to get another view. It was definitely an overview of treatments, as nothing was gone over with a lot of detail. And frankly, I'm in that detail stage, so it was not the most useful to me at the time. I could definitely see an adult struggling with epilepsy benefiting from reading this book as it gives things they would be more readily able to control.
I skipped a chapter or two because they weren't relevant to my son's condition. Overall, it was an okay book to supplement my knowledge of other options when treating epilepsy. Not a book I would stress for someone to read who will only read one or two books about epilepsy. The author took a very different perspective from others I have read, which was nice to get another view. It was definitely an overview of treatments, as nothing was gone over with a lot of detail. And frankly, I'm in that detail stage, so it was not the most useful to me at the time. I could definitely see an adult struggling with epilepsy benefiting from reading this book as it gives things they would be more readily able to control.
Book # 8: Wives and Daughters
by Elizabeth Gaskell
If you like Jane Austen, then pick up this book. While it is unfinished (the author passed away before completing it), you can see where the story is going. My copy had an article at the end describing what the author had told others she was planning to write. It is very well written, and has a similar feel to the lesser read books by Jane Austen. It is no "Pride and Prejudice" as only Darcy and Elizabeth can duel it out with words, but the characters are intriguing and worth discussion. There is a movie version on Netflix (instant) as well, and I actually watched the movie before reading the book. Obviously the movie has an ending, so if you can't imagine the book's ending, you could always watch the movie afterwards.
And might I say that this book has hooked me on reading again. I want to read again, and have been leaving the TV off to do so. :)
If you like Jane Austen, then pick up this book. While it is unfinished (the author passed away before completing it), you can see where the story is going. My copy had an article at the end describing what the author had told others she was planning to write. It is very well written, and has a similar feel to the lesser read books by Jane Austen. It is no "Pride and Prejudice" as only Darcy and Elizabeth can duel it out with words, but the characters are intriguing and worth discussion. There is a movie version on Netflix (instant) as well, and I actually watched the movie before reading the book. Obviously the movie has an ending, so if you can't imagine the book's ending, you could always watch the movie afterwards.
And might I say that this book has hooked me on reading again. I want to read again, and have been leaving the TV off to do so. :)
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