The Bookshelf Project 1.0

I did it!  I finished…the first shelf.  Approximately…oh, well, I guess it was only about a month after I posted the initial Bookshelf Project low-down.  It felt longer; I'm not a very fast reader;)  AND, I now rather want to join Lois's 12 Month Classics Challenge for 2016, and if it's going to take me an average of a month per shelf, I need to get down to business to defeat the Huns hasten (because a queen never rushes, she hastens).

Let's do this, shall we?  (I'm afraid this will be one of those parenthetical, gif-filled, link-overdosed posts that might be irritating to certain constitutions.  Abject apologies and all that.)


But anyway.  Thoughts on the first shelf!  (Just so you know, I add new novels to the Bookshelf Project as I get them, so several have been added since September.)

Those I finished:

A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich.  This one was really good.  I know you've been hearing that a lot in the blogosphere recently, but there's a reason;)  5 out of 5 stars (see my Goodreads review here).  

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.  AMAZING!  I plan on re-reading it shortly, and annotating this time.  5 out of 5 stars (see my blog review here).

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.  This is one of those books that makes me smile placidly.  It doesn't really stir up a great deal of any specific emotion in me, but it was very enjoyable and very Austenite (well, duh).  Jane Austen certainly knew her satire, that's for sure!  But what I really liked was that this was a gentle parody.  It was very entertaining and very deftly and expertly written.  The thing is, uh…I didn't like it as much as the movie.  Which is fine, but I guess I went into it expecting to be as in love with book-Henry as I am with movie-Tilney, and that wasn't the case.  Certain bloggie buddies--ahem, you know who you are;)--pointed out to me that book-Tilney has a bit of an…um…superior manner of speaking with Catherine, and that did come out the more I read the novel.  It didn't bother me too much, but I was sliiiiiiightly disappointed.  I think that might be an INFJ/INTJ thing, though.  So overall, I just didn't like it as much of the movie.  It was an excellent book, but I'd just rather watch the movie;)  4 out of 5 stars.


Smith of Wooton Major/Farmer Giles of Ham by J. R. R. Tolkien.  Well, it was really cool to read a Tolkien not related to LotR (not, of course, that that's ever necessary ;)), and I did enjoy the stories!  They weren't stupendous or anything, but I don't think they were intended to be, so that's all right.  4 out of 5 stars (see my Goodreads review here).  

Pygmalion/My Fair Lady by George Bernard Shaw/Alan Jay Lerner.  I loved it:)  As you all know, 'Enry 'Iggins is one of my favorite musical theatre characters, and it was really cool to delve deeper into his character in Pygmalion.  And MFL was MFL, of course.  You can't beat that;)  I give them both 5 out of 5 stars.

Those I didn't finish:

You guys are going to be SO MAD at me XD

The Turn of the Road by Eugenia Brooks Frothingham.  I didn't really know anything about this book when I started it, and I didn't stop it due to inappropriate-ness or anything like that.  It's just that it was…well, odd.  It was almost like a very weird conglomeration of Jane Eyre and Gone with the Wind, and not in a good way.  The characters were pretty dislikable, and the plot was basically a soap opera, so eventually I, with the advice of me dear mummy, decided to pass;)



The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle.  *cringes*  I know, I know!  I'm a terrible person!  I don't even really have an explanation as to why I didn't finish it.  I just…didn't.  I will eventually, of course!  I'm not all bad!

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques.  I picked this book up because HELLO, REDWALL!, but it wasn't my kind of story.  There was nothing wrong with it, but I'm not really into time travel in stories (part of the reason I haven't started Doctor Who yet).  So…yep.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.  I'm sure it's a wonderful book, but I don't think now's the right time for me to read it, if that makes any sense (which it probably doesn't, unless you've somehow managed to get into my funny little noggin).  

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.    Yeeeeeaaaaaah.  P'raps I'm not smart enough :P  No, really, I wasn't really minding what I read, but then it hit a disturbing part, no biggie, but I decided to postpone my reading.  One of the reasons is that I've realized that I need books that will relatively quickly "grab me" for my leisure reading, since I don't have a lot of time due to school and other commitments.  You know how it is.  

There you have it!  Hope it wasn't too boring of a post;D








Comments

  1. Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh . . . we know who we are :) I'm actually really glad you had the same reaction, cause I was starting to kinda wonder/worry why nobody else noticed it, and was I just being weird? But no! Other people agree with me! I'm not just weird! *does happy dance*

    But yeah. I do think it's an INFJ/INTJ thing. Like, one of the things that really, really bugs me about Henry Tilney is that scene--I think it's when they first meet--and Henry asks Catherine "what are you thinking of?" because he's kinda guessed that she's mentally criticizing him. And then she doesn't want to tell him, and he teases her about it. Now, I hate that scene, and do you know why? Because always--ever since I was a teeny tiny tot--I've HATED to be asked what I'm thinking about. It just freaks me out, because I feel like the asker is trying to gain access to my "private world" inside my head--and I'm like, "NO! You can't do that!!" Well . . . turns out that that's a not-uncommon thing for INFJs. I found a meme online that kind of sums it up:

    "INFJ. You're not allowed in without clearance."

    Yeah. So now I know. THAT'S why I hate that question so much. And that's why I don't like Henry Tilney. Because he just doesn't respect the boundaries, ya know what I mean? Well, that and the fact that he likes to tease people so much. I HAAAAAAAAAAAATE to be teased. And now that I think of it, it's the same kind of reason--I feel like someone who's teasing me is trying to mess with my emotions, trying to "get a reaction," and that's just not okay with me. Hands off, people. See above. "You're not allowed in without clearance."

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    1. Oh we know who we are all right :P

      I didn't put a comment because I would say like exaacctttllllly what Jessica would say it wouldn't even be funny. But I wanted to say I agree with everything she said :)

      YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED IN WITHOUT CLEARANCE. That is such an accurate description of my sister it's almost scary :) She really needs personal space, both physically and mentally. Oh she's quiet, but when there's something she believes in, then *watch out peoples* because she lets everybody knows where she stands. People get really surprised, because they think she's quiet, mousy, shy - and then - man. They get STARTLED, they do :D

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    2. Jessica, I definitely did! I don't know for sure if I would have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out, BUT if I hadn't I'm fairly sure it would have been because I was just picturing movie-Tilney while reading. He does have a distinctively--though mildly--condescending air, doesn't he?

      Ohhhh, that makes so much sense! "You're not allowed in without clearance" is SO accurate. Wow. I so understand; I guess you could call them 'walls,' but I have certain boundary lines that you just Are Not Allowed to cross until I let you, but people don't always understand that, do they? It's so nice to have someone else who so fully understands what it's like being an INFJ!:D

      Rosie, YES! That is such an accurate description of me, too! "Needing lots of personal space, physically and mentally"? Yes. So me! And the startling people with strong opinions--that, too. It can almost be amusing sometimes, can't it?;)

      Thanks, you two, for understanding the weird aspects of my personality so well!

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    3. Hey, thank YOU for understanding! Like you said, it's great to know somebody else who feels the same way about this stuff. Otherwise I would end up feeling like the "odd one out" a lot more than I already do ;)

      "Walls"--yep :) Know all about THAT, I do.

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    4. Aye, thank YOU for understanding as well! Let us all be different together :)

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    5. Exactly, Jessica! We understand;)

      Hear hear, Rosie!:D

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  2. Hahahahaha!! Well I won't kill you that you don't like the book Tilney that much. I personally adore him (he is my favorite hero currently, but then I come out as Catherine on JA Heroine tests), but also I have never seen the movie......I know I really need to see it and I know that I will love it. I have seen JJ Fields in a version of 'The Railway Chilrden' as Jim and I really liked him. Plus it has Sylvestra Le Touzel as Mrs. Allen and I ADORE Sylvestra Le Touzel!!!

    Well I understand why you didn't finish the Howard Pyle's 'Robin Hood'. But yes, you do need to!

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    1. Haha, thank you, Bailey!:D I still really like Tilney--he's probably my favorite, too:) (Though then of course there's also Brandon and Wentworth to think about...)

      Oh, you WILL love it! T'is darling. And yes, Sylvestra le Touzel! We've talked about her, haven't we? I really like her too:D

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  3. Oh and I forgot......LOVED the 'Mulan' reference!!! I am OBSESSED with that movie right now!! I can sing all of 'I'll Make A Man Out Of You' and I "Mushu" (quote/behave like, etc.) HOURLY!!!

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    1. Heehee, thanks! Mushu is awesome! "Oh, I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover."

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  4. Oh, I don't blame you at all for not finishing Pyle's the Merry Adventures. MUCH as I love Pyle, that one can be a bit... um, yes. ;D And not Huckleberry Finn, either. I read that one for the first and only time ever years ago and (not to speak negatively) consider it one of (if not the) most infuriating books I've ever read. And you're right. It's unsettling, so I understand exactly what you're saying. It's hard to pinpoint the reason why, but it is.

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    1. Yay! I'm so glad you understand, Heidi! Huckleberry was...somethin'. Of course I hadn't read all of it yet, but it was definitely unsettling.

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  5. Congrats! I love your first gif. :D

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    1. Thank you, Meredith!:D Heehee, isn't it great? I stole it from Evie's blog:)

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    2. Heeeheee! I knew I'd seen these Gifs before :D

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    3. Hehe xD I'm a bit of a kleptomaniac when it comes to gifs/pictures, and you always have the best reaction gifs :D

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  6. A Lantern in Her Hand is an incredible book! I don't think I've ever known someone not to give it 5 out of 5.

    Don''t feel bad about not reading the Idiot. I give you credit that you even starting to read it. I haven't read any of Dostoevsky's, and I feel kind of daunted by them. With so much schoolwork and life happening around me, I feel like I should spend time really enjoying one of his books when I get to them. (I feel the same toward Gone With the Wind.)

    Based on a comment you made in the post, I was wondering are you and INTJ/INFJ?

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    1. It certainly is! Yep--I feel like even if it's not your favorite, you can't just NOT give it five stars. It's just that good.

      Thank you! I really appreciate that:) You haven't read GwtW either? Yay! Somebody else!:D Exactly--it's my leisure reading, so I don't really have the time to spend it on books that I'm not fully enjoying at the moment.

      Yes, I am! I'm an INFJ. Which one are you, Ekaterina?:)

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    2. I'm glad to find out that that I'm not the only one who hasn't read GwtW too! I've seen the movie hundreds of times, but I still haven't read it. Have you seen the movie?

      I'm actually a mixture of INTJ and INFJ. I lean slightly more to the INFJ side, but I still have some very INTJ traits in my personality that I can't ignore because they are so prominent. It's rare to find a INTJ or INFJ, so that's exciting to know that we have similar personalites!

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    3. Yes!!! I've seen the movie at least once, maybe twice...I go back and forth on it;)

      That's so cool, you're a mixture of INFJ and INTJ! I know, it's so nice to find other people who think like you do :D

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  7. Castaways is such fun as I recall. It's been awhile since I read it though. It's not like the Redwall series though.

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    1. I'm sure it is! I think it just "wasn't my thing" :-/

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  8. Don't feel bad about not finishing books, I do it all the time! :) But Robin Hood, m'dear. Please, for me, finish it sometime... Thank you. ;)

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    1. Thanks, Abby! Yes. I will finish it, if only for you;D

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  9. This was definitely not a boring post, Olivia. I really enjoyed it. It was fun to hear about the progress you're making on your reading list. And as to not finishing books...who cares? I do that all the time, even with books I really like. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood for a certain story. And you're right, when you have so many other things to do it's pointless to waste your leisure reading on something you don't enjoy.

    Okay. I'm going to have to reread Northanger Abbey and see if I can understand the whole thing about Henry having a superior manner towards Catherine. Personally, I never noticed it...but that's probably because, as you said, it sort of depends on one's personality. Reading Jessica Prescott's comment, I can totally understand why he wouldn't sit well with some people. (By the way, Jessica, thanks for sharing. It was really nice to hear your reasoning. I can't relate totally, but I can understand why you wouldn't want someone infringing on your personal space and trying to evoke a certain kind of reaction from you. What you wrote makes a lot of sense.)

    Heehee. Liked your comment about your "funny little noggin," Olivia. It made me smile. :)

    ~Miss March

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    1. Oh, good! I'm really glad you enjoyed it, Miss March! Yes, yes, exactly that: This is my leisure reading, so I want to savor it, not feel like it's more school, "required" type of reading, y'know?

      I don't know that I would have noticed it had Jessica not pointed it out to me, but I have a feeling I would have. I got a similar sort of feeling when I read Wives and Daughters, regarding Roger. Not enough to make me dislike either of them as characters, but enough to irk me just a bit;)

      Haha, thank ya. I try;)

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  10. I'm so happy that you liked ALiHH!!
    I liked NA the first time I read it, but I need to read it again and refresh my opinion. ;)

    You horrible girl! You didn't finish the book about Our Favorite Hero? For shame! Badly done, Olivia!

    Hee. It's all right. I know how it is to "set aside" a book for a while...even if it's a spectacular one. (cough I've done that with The Fellowship and The Two Towers, hopefully I can break that habit in ROTK)

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    1. Yes, I did!!!

      That sounds like a plan! By the by, which Austen novels have you read, Natalie?

      I know! Shame on ME, shame on my COW…

      Haha! Yes, I, um, I did that with Fellowship and Towers myself *ahem* But I don't think I ever had to set aside Return, so yes! Hopefully! :D

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    2. I've read all of her 6 novels except for S&S and Persuasion.
      HAHA, you used that quote!! -hugs you-
      Oh good! Hopefully my experience will be the same. :)

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    3. That's awesome! I've only read two :P But I'm about to read Persuasion, too, so that's something.

      Haha of course! *hugs you back*

      And yes, indeed!:)

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  11. I had this slight problem with The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood where I was bouncily in love with it whenever I was actually reading it, but as soon as I put it down, it left my head and I forgot all about how wonderful it was. So I had to Make Myself Remember to read it, and my brain can only remember a certain number of things at a time, so it took me a while to get through it. And I absolutely loved it. I just had to keep reminding myself that I did. Was that your experience, at all?

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