Twenty-one: Tess of 'd Ubervilles

Interesting Factoid?

The book was made into a movie by Roman Polanski.  He decided to make this into a movie because he was given a copy of the novel by his late wife the last time he saw her.

Impressions?

The whole time I was reading it, the only thing I can think about is how tragic the story is.  It tells of the loss of innocence, the loss of love and faith.  Tess is a compelling character and you can’t help but be haunted by her plight.

Most Memorable?

"Thus, the thing began. Had she perceived this meeting's import she might have asked why she was doomed to be seen and coveted that day by the wrong man, and not by some other man, the right and desired one in all respects..."

"You, and those like you, take your fill of pleasure on earth by making the life of such as me bitter and black with sorrow; and then it is a fine thing, when you have had enough of that, to think of securing your pleasure in heaven by becoming converted!"

Twenty-one: Sense and Sensibility

Interesting Factoid?

This is the first novel of Jane Austen and underwent several revisions before finally being published in 1811.  The first draft was finished in 1795 when Jane was only 19.

Impressions?

My first Jane Austen (I’m not proud).  This is the only book in this list with a happy ending.  Compared to the other books, this is actually light reading.  When I say light reading, I am in no way pertaining to the content but to the effect it has on me as a reader.  It was actually a welcome change from all the “heavy” reading I have been doing so far.

Most Memorable Lines?

“There is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions.”

“Elinor had not needed ... to be assured of the injustice to which her sister was often led in her opinion of others, by the irritable refinement of her own mind, and the too great importance placed by her on the delicacies of a strong sensibility and the graces of a polished manner. Like half the rest of the world, if more than half there be that are clever and good, Marianne, with excellent abilities and an excellent disposition, was neither reasonable nor candid. She expected from other people the same opinions and feelings as her own, and she judged of their motives by the immediate effect of their actions on herself.”

Catching Up: The Island of Dr. Moreau

The Island of Dr. Moreau holds the distinction as being one of the few science fiction novels in my list.  This story vividly describes the experiences of Edward Prendick and his observations of another man's quest to "humanize" animals by performing vivisections on them. Although Moreau succeeds in making them walk upright and gives them a grasp of human language and comprehension, they revert back to their animalistic tendencies.

When Prendick finally returns to human society, he had a hard time assimilating himself with other people. "I could not persuade myself that men and women I met were not also another Beast People, animals half wrought into the outward image of human souls, and that they would presently begin to revert..."  I cannot help but wonder, are we not all beast people inside, capable of reverting at any moment?

Catching Up: Silas Marner

I thought I have been fairly conscientious in updating this blog on my progress on the books I have finished so far but, lo and behold, when I did a quick check, there were 3 books that I haven't posted here.  Well, actually, only 2 since I only finished Silas Marner last night.

Reading Silas Marner immediately after finishing The Crying Lot of 49 can be quite jarring.  I would even consider saying that they are different as night is to day as an understatement.  George Elliot is a perfect example of a realist novel.

It is a story about the redemption of a man; how he lost his gold, only to find something more precious. "As the child's mind was growing into knowledge, his mind was growing into memory: as her life unfolded, his soul, long stupefied in a cold narrow prison, was unfolding too, and trembling gradually into full consciousness."  This is one of the most heartwarming stories that I have read in a while and the happy ending goes to prove that good things happen to good people.

Perusal of Notes from Underground

I finished Notes from Underground yesterday morning and I can't help but compare the experience with the one I had for other works of Dostoevsky.  His works draw you in.  I found myself struggling to stay with the book for the first 3-5 chapters.  Then I just found myself immersed in the whole experience.  Even after I put the book down for a breather, there is still a part of my brain that stays absorbed in the story.  When I reached the end of the book, I found myself feeling strangely cut off.  I find myself so involved with the characters that I can't let go that easily.    

Notes from Underground is stark and existentialist in essence.  It deals with the darker side of a person and what we as individuals, fail to admit to ourselves. 

 One of the things that struck me was the argument of the narrator on why people do the thing that seems to be against all common sense and defies rational thought. "...reason is an excellent thing, there's no disputing that, but reason is nothing but reason and satisfies only the rational side of man's nature, while will is a manifestation of the whole life, that is, of the whole human life including reason and all the impulses."  He argues that one of the things that people fail to consider is the presence of choice and that individuals will sometimes go as far as doing the thing that is most harmful to himself just to prove that he has a freedom of choice.

"And who knows (there is no saying with certainty), perhaps the only goal on earth to which mankind is striving lies in this incessant process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained, which must always be expressed as a formula, as postive as twice two makes four, and such postiveness is not life, but is the beginning of death."

As always, reading Dostoevsky is a heady experience and although Notes from Underground is not at par with The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment, I still find the experience well worth it.