Currently reading: Pride and Prejudice (reread, of course), Journey out of Darkness by Karen Lemonds, and The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory (unabridged audio).
I've had a decent start to my reading year, although if I hadn't gottten slack toward the end of the month I'd be done my bicentenary reread of P&P by now. I haven't included an abridged audiobook (of Philippa Gregory's historical fiction) in the list. Nor do I have anything interesting to say about first reading Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market". (Sorry, Caroline, I'm often very stupid on a first reading of a long-ish poem.)
Dr. Carson is a shining example that hard work and determination really do pay off, no matter what one's circumstances. The 1990 edition I read appears to have been written before Dr. Carson had performed separations of Siamese twins joined at the head multiple times. But already he was a wonderful example of going from the inner-city boy who answered "none" when asked to report his correct answers on a math test, to becoming one of the world's foremost neurosurgeons.
One of the little things that especially impressed me toward the end of the book was that Dr. Carson does not allow his demanding schedule to keep him from participation in his church and community. If anyone has an excuse to sit back and relax on Sabbath (Dr. Carson is a Seventh-day Adventist) it's him. But at the time of writing he held three positions of responsibility within his local congregation. He also has devoted countless hours to traveling the country speaking to youth about achieving goals.
He's one of my biggest role models demonstrating how to succeed, but even more importantly, he truly is humble, saying "Ben Carson is only part of [the] team."
Learning to Live by Lora E. Clement
I can best describe this book as conversational essays - full of memorable anecdotes - on character for youth. Despite being from the 1940s or 50s, it maintained a charming, non-didactic tone, which I enjoyed reading each morning for devotions.
Undoubtedly this was the most deep and memorable read of the month. It resisted my efforts to race through it, but gave me much to think about. While there are profound and poetic passages that I treasure, it's not a book I love. And yet I'd certainly recommend it to almost everyone... everyone with the requisite emotional reserves, that is. For (without giving spoilers) that's why I can't love the novel: some novels restore your faith in humanity, this one sears it. Some novels present fairy tales of individual empowerment, this one shows a slimy slope of human degeneration. The endings of some novels make me tingle with satisfaction, this one left me numb and resentful. And, yet for all that, I'm glad I read it; it's a Must Read book for those interested in classics, in words, in power, and in what-could-be.
As a thriller, this is an entertaining work. As an exposition of Adventist eschatology, it left somewhat to be desired. While its portrayal of the fearful persecutions of "Remnant Believers" and the diabolical schemes of an evil confederacy were chilling, it left out or skimmed key parts of the Adventist Last Days timeline (such as the impersonation of Christ or "the time of Jacob's trouble"). Also, I must confess that I found the romantic plot-line a futile dead-end, as the engaged characters are translated to heaven, where there is no marriage.
I'm under the impression this book (and its prequel, which I finished in December) may have been published as a response to the Left Behind craze, and may have originally accompanied a Bible study plan. However, unless used with such a plan, I would instead recommend "The Edge of Eternity" by Elaine Egbert for those wanting a fictionalized account of SDA eschatology. (Actually, let's be honest, most such novels aren't that good.)
I reverted to my childish habit of reading with a flashlight under the covers to finish this novel. I think that speaks to how gripping it is. This is the first full-length mystery I've ever completed, so I can't really compare it to others. I did have my intuition aroused by the very fact that I (at first) liked the criminal. We'll see if my first-time-detective's luck holds through as I read more Sayers mysteries.
When I was half-way through this, I was thrilled to find six other Lord Peter mysteries for as many dollars at the second-hand store. However, I think I'll be jumping from this (the first one) to Strong Poison which introduces Harriet Vane. I understand that Sayers recreated Lord Peter to be worthy of Harriet's complex character, so I can't wait to see how their relationship plays out.
February Reading Plans (Always Subject to Radical Revision):
I have so many books I'd like to read in February that I'm doomed for disappointment. Of course I'll finish up the current reads (listed at the top of the page). Three that I'm sure I'll get through are:
1. Young Romantics: The Tangled Lives of English Poetry's Greatest Generation by Daisy Hay
2. Mightier Than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America by David S. Reynolds
3. Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers
Other possibilities include:
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (reread to participate in an Austen group)
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
or Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (for Classics Club-related Dickens and Social Justice group reads)
Since the four above are all pretty dense books, it's unlikely I'll complete more than one in February. O! the struggle of choosing what to read next! Any thoughts or suggestions, readers?
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