Summer Reading

I'm straying from my usual format for this post because I recently read the Summer Books section of the Chicago Tribune, and it inspired me to make a summer reading list for myself. So I've decided to post my summer reading list as a way of keeping me accountable to it. (If I post it for all the world wide web to see, I may be more inclined to stick to it.) Plus, I always like to hear about what other people are reading or plan to read, so I thought I might return the favor and share a little.

Here goes:
1. A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really Matter, by William Deresiewicz
2. The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared, by Alice Azma
3. The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory, and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School, by Alexandra Robbins
4. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas
5. In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, by Erik Larson
6. Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See
7. You Shall Know Our Velocity, by Dave Eggers

8. Tender is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I don't know if I will read them in that particular order. I might mix the fiction in with the non to break things up a little. I actually surprised myself when I was finished with this list because there is an awful lot of nonfiction on it. I've never been much of a nonfiction reader. I usually tend to stick with novels, but it seems as though this year has produced a lot of nonfiction books on topics I'm very interested in. It should be an interesting and educational summer and I can't wait to get started!

(If you have the time, let me know what you plan to read this summer!)

Any Human Heart

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I am a huge fan of Masterpiece Theatre on PBS. I'm especially impressed with the work they've been turning out in the last 5-10 years. I recently had the opportunity to watch the Masterpiece adaptation of Any Human Heart, by William Boyd.

Any Human Heart is the story of the 20th Century told through the eyes of Logan Mountstuart. The story begins with Logan as a young man at Oxford in the 1930s. You discover early on that the character of Logan Mountstuart has more than his share of flaws, but you find yourself on his side despite his shortcomings.

Logan is a novelist struggling to find his next great book, but finds himself living a rather full life instead working on his novel. It isn't until the end of his life when he sorts through his many journals that he discovers he'd been recording his masterpiece all along.

Any Human Heart turns out to be a beautiful story about growing up, growing old, and the adventures and heartaches we face along the way.

The cast of this mini-series is phenomenal. I truly believe the British have cornered the market on bringing books to life. And it all begins with their actors. Sam Claflin, Matthew MacFadyen and Jim Broadbent did such an excellent job portraying young, middle aged and elderly Logan Mountstuart that the transition between actors was so smooth it was hardly noticable.

And being a huge fan of Matthew MacFadyen's, I always have to give a little extra praise for his performances. I haven't seen him in any role that wasn't wonderfully performed. He is indeed one of the greatest actors of his generation. I have and will continue to follow his career as long as he continues to act.

I also love that Masterpiece Theatre is moving forward in film technology. This was not only well acted and eloquently adapted to a screenplay, it was also very beautifully filmed and visually interesting. I loved everything about this film adaptation - the acting, the costumes, and the excellent cinematography.

But I will warn you - there are some pretty scandelous sex scenes for a Masterpiece Drama, so don't watch it with the kiddies. They are, however, an important part of the unveiling of Logan's character. He is a man with an addictive personality, and one of his addictions just so happens to be sex. It's an important flaw that shapes his life and teaches him a lot, in the end.

We all learn the greatest lessons in life from our mistakes and weaknesses, and I think that's what makes this particular story so relatable. So that's why this is my next recommendation: Any Human Heart, the Masterpiece adaptation of William Boyd's novel of the same title.

Water for Elephants

When I first saw the book Water for Elephants was being turned into a movie, I got pretty excited. That is until I saw who was cast in the lead male role. (It's been difficult for me to forgive R-Pats since he forever ruined the role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies.) As I was on my way to see this movie, I was half hopeful and half skeptical. It turns out I was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed this movie! And since I hadn't read the book in more than two years, I didn't have any of those that's-not-how-it-was-in-the-book moments. I thought it stayed pretty true to the spirit of the original story, and it was beautifully filmed. The costumes and the soundtrack were also pretty amazing. And Robert Pattinson redeemed himself. (I am now convinced that it's the Twilight movie franchise that is terrible and I shouldn't judge the actors too harshly.) All in all, it was a wonderful film-going experience for me. It made me want to run off with the circus myself.

So that's my recommendation for the day: Water for Elephants, the movie. It opened in theaters recently, so you still have a chance to catch it. And if you haven't read the book, you should read that, too! It's a riveting story about the circus in the 1930s. And there is a little bit of something for everyone: suspense, drama, romance... it even makes you laugh out loud at times. I hope you enjoy it!

Lark Rise to Candleford

If you're reading this blog, something you should know about me before you commit yourself is that I love the BBC. So many of my recommendations may be BBC related or some other kind of British drama or comedy. Today, I want to talk about the book Lark Rise to Candleford, by Flora Thompson, and the TV series that is based on the book.

The Book

The book was originally written as three short novels called Lark Rise, Over to Candleford and Candleford Green. Later it was compiled into one volume. This is a book that I would recommend reading slowly. It is beautifully written, and you'll want to take in each word. It's a book about a different time when people moved at a slower pace and didn't let the clock rule their lives. So I would recommend picking it up and taking it one story at a time. Read it outside in a park or under a tree. Take a quiet moment to let each story take you back to a simpler place and time.

The TV Show

The TV Show, on the other hand, I did not take at a slow pace. I could not stop watching this show. It had me hooked from the very beginning. It does not follow the book exactly, but it definitely captures the spirit. I just fell in love with each character from Thomas Brown, the cowardly postman, to Dorcas Lane the meddling postmistress.

The story on the television show revolves around the Candleford Post Office, run by Dorcas Lane. The Post Office draws in both the wealthier townspeople of Candleford, and the poorer hamlet dwellers of Lark Rise. The show is filled with colorful characters, and wonderful costumes & set design. The word that keeps coming to mind when I tell my patrons or friends about the show is lovely. It's a lovely show that makes you feel good about life and good about being human.

So that's my latest recommendation: Lark Rise to Candleford - the book and TV show.

A Patron Recommends...

Because I work at a small public library, I have the opportunity to get to know some of my patrons really well. One of the best things about my job is talking with patrons about what they are reading, or TV show and movies they are watching. The other day, I was engaged in a conversation with one of my favorite patrons, Mollie, who just happens to share my appreciation for Jane Austen, BBC Drama, and Masterpiece Theatre.

So I was telling her all about Lark Rise to Candleford, a BBC TV show that I've recently been devouring episode by episode every evening. Finally she stopped me and said, "You should write a blog." Later on, our conversation came to mind again, and I thought, why not? It could be kind of fun. Mollie might be the only person who ever reads it, but I'm okay with that.

The Long Surrender
I'm not, however, going to write about books, movies, or TV in this entry. Since I just went to a spectacular concert last weekend, I'd rather write about the new Over the Rhine record The Long Surrender. First of all, I have to say WOW! They are AMAZING live! If you ever get a chance to see them in concert, I'd highly recommend it!

In anticipation of the show, I listened to almost nothing but The Long Surrender in the two weeks leading up to it. It is, in my opinion, their best album to date. (Of course, I think that about all their albums when they first come out because they just keep getting better!) This new record uses the best parts of country, jazz and blues in a perfect combination. They've created incredibly soulful, beautiful songs that make you want to turn up the volume and sing along at the top of your lungs. I adore everything about every song on this record.

The friends I went to the concert with were teasing me because at the beginning of every song they played, I'd say, "Oh! I love this song!" "We know. You don't have to say it every time," was their response. But there is something about their music that moves me, and I just couldn't help getting excited. So that's my recommendation for today: Over the Rhine's The Long Surrender. Check out their website, when you get a chance: http://www.overtherhine.com/