What I've Been Reading When I Have No Time to Read

You guys know I have started my stint as a full-time teacher and am currently completing my internship as a student teacher. Because of this, I have not had a lot of time to read my own thing. I read a lot of student writing and materials for class, and after that, I'm ready for bed. No joke, it's a win if I'm still awake at 8:00 p.m.

But, with that being said, I have manged to read a few things here and there since September. Here's a look at the types of reading material I have been reading while I've had no time to read.

• Short Stories

Short story collections are great when you don't have a lot of time to dedicate to reading. I found myself with the energy to read for about twenty minutes some nights, which was the perfect amount of time to read one or two stories from Almost Famous Women. I find it so annoying when I am reading a regular fiction novel to read in sporadic and short bursts; as I feel like I can never remember what is going on. With short story collections, you are able to finish an entire story arc in a shorter amount of time, which makes for satisfying reading. 

• Nonfiction

Nonfiction is another genre that is usually suitable for short reading bursts. I find that the pressure is lifted to remember every detail of a nonfiction piece because I know that it's not possible, and quite frankly, just not the point of nonfiction. I'm more forgiving of myself when I can't remember details from the previous chapter of a nonfiction novel than a fiction novel. 

• Audiobooks

Audiobooks couple very nicely with the above genre. I have found myself eager to listen to nonfiction audiobooks on my communicate to and from school. I really enjoyed Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and am about ready to start a new selection for my commute. I'm thinking Trevor Noah's Born a Crime will be next. 

• Throwbacks 

The final category of books I have been leaning towards are throwbacks. I recently picked up a copy of The Babysitter by R.L. Stine for a quarter at my library's book sale and sat down and read it while I was home alone for the weekend. It was the perfect combination of nostalgia and classic creepy, and it's got me in the mood for some more throwback horror and creepy quick reads. 

Happy Banned Books Week!

Artwork courtesy of the ALA

As per tradition, I'm here to share a quick post in support of Banned Books Weeks sponsored by the American Library Association. I have always been a reader of banned and challenged books, but as of this year, I am also a teacher of banned and challenged books. In our current political climate, which seems to be made up of extremes, discussing censorship and information withholding is more important than ever. 

Looking at the list of the most frequently challenged books of the past year from the ALA website, makes it clear that book challenging is not about protecting children as it is so often sited as, but about restricting reader's abilities to see themselves and others that differ from themselves in literature. Of the top ten, half were challenged because of their honest portrayal of gender and sexual orientation diversity. While this is not surprising, it is disheartening. 

As always, I encourage you to check out the American Library Association's website (linked above under the picture) and I will leave the link to report the removal or ban of a book or piece of work in your area.

Have a happy week (and life) of reading banned books! 

Banned Books Week Posts:

2016 Here and Here

2015

2014

2013

Recently Reread: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (and thoughts on comfort)

Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publication Date: 2000
Page Count: 734
Rating: 5/5

Add on Goodreads

If you read this post, you will know that I am starting a new endeavor as a student teacher and completing my internship to receive my teaching degree. Because this is a big, scary, and unpredictable experience, I have been feeling nervous lately. So, I decided to pick up one of my favorite comfort reads, Harry Potter. 

I've been rereading this series for the past year or so, picking one up every once and a while, and this was the next in line for my reread. I took this one to the beach with me when I went for a long weekend, and I loved getting back into this world. Goblet of Fire is the novel where the books start to take a dark turn, and the plot really kicks into high gear. I remember reading that one line in the novel (the one where the first death takes place) over and over when I first read this book, because I thought that I had to have read it wrong. I was shocked to read that line, and completely enthralled with this book. That was the first time I really understood the evil that was in this novel, and I think that the ending of this book is one of the best endings in the series.    

One of the reasons I think Harry Potter is such a comfort read for me, is that each time I reread one of the books, I remember reading them for the first time as a young kid. It invokes the joy of being a kid, staying up way past your bedtime, curled in bed, and reading a book that you can't put down. Each time I reread these books, they get funnier, and the genius of Rowling's character development and symbols become more apparent. I love that I loved these novels for the story as a kid, and now as an adult, I love them for the story and the literary elements that they display so well. I find new things in this story every time I read it, and they truly are timeless. 

Of course, after finishing this I was itching to pick up Order of the Phoenix but I decided to wait on it a bit since that is the largest novel in the series. But I see myself picking it up very soon! 

School and Life Update (I'm a student teacher)

If you guys have been around for a little while, you will know that I have been in college studying to become a high school English teacher for the entirety of my time on the blog. This has meant that my posting and reading schedule has never been steady, but I have loved my time (for the most part) as a student of education and literature. This week, I start my student teaching assignment, which is sixteen weeks of (unpaid) full-time teaching under a mentor teacher. I'll be working with two teachers and teaching two sections of freshman literature and composition, a section of sophomore literature and composition, and two section of advanced placement English. I'm super excited for this experience, (and a little nervous of course) but I'm not sure what it will mean for the blog and my reading. Of course I would love to continue reading in my time outside of the classroom, but I'm not sure if I will have the time and energy for it; the same goes for blogging. Along with full time teaching, I have other assignments and classes I must attend through my university, so I know my days will be full.

I have a few posts completed already, and will be working before this one goes up to hopefully complete a few more, but just know if I disappear, that's why. After completing my student teaching, I will be able to apply for my teaching license and get hired as a full-time teacher! I'm almost there, and I'm very excited about it!

Hopefully I will be popping in semi-frequently to update you on what I'm reading and loving! 

1 A.M. Post-- When Reading is Fun (And When it's Not)

It's currently the third day of the new semester for me and I have spent all day (from noon-four) reading for the two history classes I have this semester. Now, I love reading. I have a blog and a couple hundred books to prove it, but I did not love spending four hours reading from history textbooks. (Just a little bit of info for those about to start college: all of my history classes have required about four times more reading than any literature class I have ever taken). So this got me thinking about when reading is fun and when it's not, and how it can be both to someone whom normally loves doing it. Do you find this to be true in your life? Does this happen with other hobbies and interests in your life besides reading? I would love to hear your thoughts.

For me, reading is fun when I am choosing when and what I am reading, and when what I'm reading has a voice, or maybe even a personality. Therefore, text books are not fun. I would gladly read twenty well-written nonfiction novels over one chapter of a history textbook. I can't stand the information overload, and I feel like I come away from the chapter with no new knowledge because I was zoned out for half of that chapter, or there was too much information so I didn't retain any of it. Do I find all times and subjects in history absolutely riveting? Absolutely not! Would I love to pick a few era or events in history and dig into them really deeply instead of mashing together 1,00 years of world history into fifteen weeks? You betcha.

Of course I can still enjoy a required piece of reading just as much as I would enjoy one that I picked out myself, but these are of course always novels or short stories of some sort. Some of my favorite pieces of literature were introduced to me by the beast that is required reading.

So even though I love both history and reading, reading history textbooks and in some cases primary sources is absolutely tortuous at times, and I totally understand why some people absolutely hate the subject of history. If I ever get the chance to teach a history class, I would love to add an independent study element to my class where students pick a time period and subject within that time period and just go to town researching and reading non-fiction about it.

I would love to hear your thoughts and your experiences with history classes, and fun and not fun reading. I'd also love to hear some tips you have for getting through tortuous required reading and retaining information from it.

Which Adaptation is Right for You?-- Jane Eyre

It's always exciting to finish a book you've been meaning to read forever just so you can watch the adaptations! But sometimes the adaptation options can be overwhelming. So, with this series I'm hoping I will be able to assist in finding the right adaptation for you, whether you have read the book or not. 

Previous Posts:
Pride and Prejudice
Romeo and Juliet

Will humankind ever get an adaptation of Jane Eyre right? It's not looking that way, at least not in film form. Today I've got two film versions of Jane's story to discuss, but I'm not really happy with either honestly. Film versions tend to minimize Jane's character and resilience and focus solely on the romance between her and Mr. Rochester.

Now, there are a lot of adaptions that I have not watched yet, so please let me know which is your favorite so I can check it out. Is there any good mini-series adaptations of  Jane Eyre? Let me know!

Jane Eyre- 1996

Staring: 
William Hurt as Mr. Rochester
Charlotte Gainsbourg as Jane Eyre
Anna Paquin as child Jane Eyre
Release Date: 1996
Running Time: 112 minutes
Trailer 

This film was just okay. It has the look of a film made in the 90's, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for me, but I know some people can be bothered by it.

One thing that I did like about this film was the casting. The characters were not romanticized in this version. Jane is rather plain and timid. Mr. Rochester is obviously much older than Jane and is not what would typically be considered handsome. His ruggedness and rudeness comes across in this version more so than the next version.

Because the film is so short, a lot of Jane's life without Rochester is rushed. Her girlhood is a little rushed, but the time in between her leaving Mr. Rochester and the events at the end of the of the novel is almost non-existent. St. John Rivers and Jane Eyre are bffs when they live together after she flees Thornfield and Jane and Mr. Rochester's separation lasts about five minutes in the movie.

Jane Eyre

Mr. Rochester

Young Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre- 2011 

    

Staring: Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre
Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester
Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfox
Jamie Bell as St. John Rivers
Release Date: 2011
Running Time: 2 hours and 1 minute
Trailer 

This film is very visually stunning. The scenery is very typical of a period drama, and there is a lot of wide angle shots. This one has a more modern feel in the way it is shot and looks.

The casting is romanticized. Michael Fassbender is incredibly attractive and not nearly old enough to be Mr. Rochester, but he gets away with it. Wasikowska is great as Jane, but she has a very distinct look, where Jane is meant to be more plain.

I watched this one with my mom who had not read the book, and she had some questions regarding the plot and characters because it leaves a lot out of the plot. Of course the romance is the focus again in this one. But I found this one to be my favorite of the two. Jane seems a little more like her feisty self in this one. If I were to rewatch one of the two, I would pick this one, it's not perfect, but it is quite enjoyable.

Jane and Thornfield Hall

Mr. Rochester

Jane and Mr. Rochester

Recap:

Overall, I would give both of these films a 3/5 rating, but they are still worth watching if you are in the mood for the story of Jane Eyre but don't want to commit to rereading the book.

Those who haven't read the book: Jane Eyre- 1996

Jane Eyre Pros: Jane Eyre- 2011 

And please, leave me your recommendations for adaptations of this novel in the comments so I can continue my search for a satisfying adaptation.  

1 A.M. Post-- What's in a Name?

So, a long time ago (as in a couple of months) I read Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman which I loved, and a particular quote from that novel really got me thinking, Here's the quote:

" "To name her is to sink her" he told me. "That which we name takes greater weight than the sea it displaces. Ask any Shipwreck" "

Now, if you don't know, this book is about mental illness and the main character Caden has created a sort of alternate world/extended metaphor that he is the passenger on a ship in the middle of the ocean and here he is speaking to the Captain about the ship they are on. But, what this quote really got me thinking about the idea it introduces separate from the novel.

The Captain is telling us that words have power but particularly when they are used as names. We, the human race, name things that we have a strong reaction to, either positive or negative. Think of the things we name, and I don't mean saying an apple is an apple, I mean the things that we ourselves assign a separate name other than their label.
We name:
children,
pets,
paintings,
songs,
books,
hurricanes.
groups we fear,
our first car or other prized possession,
etc.

All of these things generally create some kind of reaction from us and so we give them a tittle. I have always found it interesting that we give hurricanes and other natural storms human names. We spend hours laboring over a piece of art, of any kind, and then we name it, just as we would a child or pet.

Another interesting connection I made with this quote and something that immediately came to my mind was, "He-who-must-not-be-named." People fear Voldemort so much, they cannot say his name, because to say his name is to acknowledge his power. Harry and co. begin to say his name in the series when they begin to fear him less-and-less, and therefore, some of his power is taken away because the saying of his name, his real name and not his second name that fear has given him, lessens the fear.

Just a quick little post on some thoughts that have been rolling around in my head recently! Let me know your thoughts on names, and please check out Challenger Deep it was really great. 
  

Poetry Spotlight (5): Emily Bronte

In my second year of college I took an Introduction to Poetry class and I fell in love with reading poetry. Before then, poetry was always a little intimidating and a medium that I didn't have much experience with. But after that class, I became addicted to reading poetry, and during the class I actually found myself thinking in and expressing myself in poetry- which I never would have guessed would happen in a million years. So, with this series I'm here to share some of my favorite poems in a way that I'm sure will turn out rambley and unorganized.

Previous Poetry Spotlights:
Howl by Allen Ginsberg
The Wasteland by T.S. Elliot
Two War Poems
Ariel and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath

The poems I am going to talk about today are all from Penguin's Little Black Classic edition, which is a collection of some of Bronte's poems. I had not read any of her poetry so I was excited to see that penguin had this small collection of it. Of course this is just a small sampling of her poetry, but I did quite like what I read. 

If you are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe's or Emily Dickinson's poetry, than I think you will enjoy Bronte's poetry. All three poets have a very similar style and word choice, and tackle many similar themes. 

About Emily Bronte:

Emily was the third eldest of the Bronte siblings and is best known for her only novel, Wuthering Heights. Her two sisters, Anne and Charlotte, were also writers, and her brother, Bramwell was a painter. All three sisters wrote under pseudonyms, but choose names that preserved their original initials and their family connection. Emily wrote under Ellis Bell, Charlotte under Currer Bell, and Anne under Acton Bell. Emily's poetry was first published in a collection that contained poetry from her two sisters as well. 

(left to right) Anne, Emily and Charlotte

painted by their brother Bramwell who

painted himself out of the picture. He was

originally between Emily and Charlotte.

Not much is known about Emily Bronte's personality beyond her shy and reclusive nature. Her sister Charlotte wrote some biographical information on Emily after her death, but that is pretty much all we have. Bronte died a year after the publication of Wuthering Heights and three months after the death of her brother at the age of thirty. She had been showing signs of consumption for many weeks and refused to be seen by a doctor, therefore, she died in December of 1848. Her name would not appear with her novel until 1850.   

Emily Bronte portrait painted by 

her brother Bramwell 

Poems I Wish to Spotlight: 

This collection of poems highlighted Bronte's poems on death and the passage of time, so many of the poems are very similar thematically. I have picked a few of my favorites from the collection to share my thoughts on and to link you to. All of Bronte's poems have a similar rhythm and rhyme scheme (ABABAB), that is typical of this era in poetry.  

Poem tittles link to the poem itself. 

Remembrance- The speaker in this poem has lost a loved one, and is pondering death's affect on the strength of love. This poem is quite practical and non-dramatic in dealing with the death of a loved one as compared to Bronte's novel, and I was a little surprised (but pleasantly so) by the logical and slightly optimistic tone of the speaker. The speaker realizes that their, "Tears of useless passion" will not bring their loved one back, or help them move on with their own life, so the speaker checks them and refuses to give up their own life by joining their loved one in death. 

Song- This poem examines a pretty common question that Bronte raises in many of the poems in this collection: what happens to the living that are left behind by the dead? This poem also raises another question that is worth equal amounts of thought: What good does it do to mourn the dead when they are not aware of it? 

Honour's Martyr- This poem is one of the longer ones in this collection (though it is still relatively short as it is composed of sixteen quatrains.) This poem caught my attention because I was a little puzzled by the meaning and had to give it a few reads before I could see the full meaning. There is a lot going on in this poem, and it seems to be a little bit different from the other poems in this collection thematically. This poem speaks of following one's own heart even if it will hurt others, and has quite a bit of war imagery and language. 

The Night is Darkening Round Me- For some reason I can't find the version of this poem that is in my book, anywhere online. It just seems to be the first three verses, which is very frustrating. Let me know if you come across the full seven stanza version. The tittle poem in this collection is one of my favorites. This poem (like many others) has such a great Gothic atmosphere. This poem also caught my eye because of its lack of punctuation. The rhyme and rhythm are so smooth and the last line really delivers a punch. This poem puzzles me a little bit too, and each time I read it, the poem takes on a new meaning or an evolved meaning. 

Let me know your thoughts on the Brontes, poetry, or anything related below! 

Are Book Boys Dangerous?

So, I was reading A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas  (which I loved by the way) the other day, and it got me thinking about book boys. Then, I started reading some not so positive reviews about the relationship in the novel and then I was really thinking.

Why do readers tend to be drawn to book boys

that they would never date in real life?

Now, Tamlin, the love interest in ACOTAR has all of the qualities of a sexy and intriguing book boy; he's attractive, mysterious, physically strong, powerful, protective, and he makes that "low growl in the back of his throat" when he kisses the heroine. Now I'm a fan of that growl just as much as the next girl, but there is no way I would enjoy dating someone who is as protective and overbearing as some of the most popular book boyfriends out there. So, why are they appealing in book form? What does that say about readers and women as a whole that we are drawn to characters like this? 

Here's a list of book boys (and men) who fit this description, I would be interested to know if you were drawn to any of them (because I know I was)

• Tamlin from A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas- He's actually the least over-bearing and protective on this list in my opinion. 

• Edward Cullen from Twlight (duh!) 

• Matthew from A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness- This is THE most over-bearing and protective book boyfriend I have come across so far, but I still enjoyed this novel.

• Jace from The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare- I'm not a fan of Jace.

• Damion Black from The Lux Series by Jenifer L. Armentrout- So much time spent protecting Katy from every possible element the world could throw at her.  

These bad book boyfriends are even present in classics! The moody, brooding, over-protective love interest has been around (and popular) for many years. 

• Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- Nothing about Heathcliff makes me think he would be a good real-life boyfriend

• Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- So many left-handed compliments and he doubts Jane quite a bit. 

• Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen- While he isn't over-protective, he is rather unpleasant for a good majority of the novel. 

I think it's a case of fiction vs. reality. While I would never enjoy dating a man who lives to protect me and always throws himself in danger to save me, it is Fun to read about them. I really don't think that these boys are making any real statement about what women subconsciously look for in men, or what culture has done to us blah blah. As long as you can separate fictional romance from real-life romance, your preference in fictional men doesn't reveal the type of romance you will look for in real life.

There's also a lot of book boys that would make great real-life boyfriends! Here are a few of my favorites.

• Peeta from The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzane Collins- He is sweet, soft-spoken and more emotional and vocal about his emotions than the more "manly and tough" Gale.

• Mal from The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo- Mal understands Alina's power and allows her to use her power and endanger herself for her cause. I had such a sweet spot for Mal while reading the series! He works with her, instead of always trying to stand in front of her and shelter her. 

• Ron Weasley from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- Ron is my ultimate book boyfriend! He is funny, sweet, has so much respect for Hermonie, and most importantly,he is a red head. 

• Mr. Knightly from Emma by Jane Austen- I loved Mr. Knightly as he is so different from the typical brooding love interest of classic novels. He's sweet, considerate, shy, and calls Emma out when she is being unreasonable.   

Now I would love to hear your thoughts on book boys (in any genre) who do you love? Who do you hate? Do you fall for the bad boys in fiction? Let me know! 

Is Taylor Swift Our Generation's Confessional Poet?

I love Taylor Swift. She's funny, sweet, a great writer, and so stinkin' adorable. But the other day while listening to 1989, I had a thought, "Is Taylor Swift the new breed of confessional poet?" I think she is.

Ah, Yes! A perfect spokeswomen for our generation.

So, some examples of poets who have been labeled as confessional poets that you are probably familiar with are Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. Both women were labeled as confessional poets and each had a impossible time shedding that label, Sexton was not a fan of the label at all. 

What is a confessional poet? A poet who makes confessions in their poetry, or writes autobiographical poetry. Are you starting to see where I'm coming from? A lot of  Plath's poetry deals with images or themes relating to death so people love to read her poetry as one long suicide note or proof of Plath's instability or obsession with death, blah blah blah. And while Plath did write some poems from a place of personal experience, it doesn't necessarily mean every poem was autobiographical. Taylor Swift has often talked about writing her songs from personal experience and the public loves to guess which hot Hollywood hunk each of her songs is about. 

Another shared trait Swift shares with confessional poets is how they are viewed. People read Plath's poetry and judged her as a person based on the poetry because they assumed every single thing she wrote was something she had experienced. People tend to label Swift based on her music as well, and I love that she tackles that issue on 1989 with Shake it Off and Blank Space. 

Because is that really fair to believe that an artist has to have a first hand encounter with everything they write about? Because an author writes a poem about two men in love, they are stating that they themselves are gay? No that's silly. And that is what some people are doing to Taylor Swift, each song she writes has to correlate to a specific relationship she has had, and then because we feel this way, we decide she dates to many boys. 

So, I guess the point to this post, besides the fact that Taylor Swift is the new Sylvia Plath, is be careful when reading an author's work, or listening to music or whatever, not to try and apply the author and the author's life to the work. Separate the art from the artist and don't limit yourself to one interpretation. 

What do you guys think? Is T-Swift our generation's confessional poet? Do you love her? Hate her? Let me know your thoughts! 

Versatile Blogger Award!

I was nominated by Emma @ Emma Likes Books for the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks, Emma.

How it works;

1. Nominate 15 other bloggers relatively new to blogging.

2. Let the bloggers know that you've nominated them.

3. Share 10 random facts about yourself.

4. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.

5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your post.

I Nominate:

Jess @ Curiouser and Curiouser

Becky @ Becky's Babble

Alex @ Blethering About Books

Belinda @ Bookarahma 

Ten Facts About Me

1. Avocados are among my favorite foods. 

2. Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite literary characters that has ever been written. He is so compelling.

3. When I was a kid I was obsessed with Walt's Disney's 101 Dalmatians, both the cartoon and live action version, and I would love to own a dalmatian.

4. My feet are always cold, regardless of the season. 

5. I can't fall asleep if I haven't brushed my teeth.
6. A few of my favorite bands include: The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol, x ambassadors and Glass Animals.
7. I really want to go to more concerts this year. Let me know which ones you guys have been too and enjoyed.
8. I'm really itching to reread Harry Potter this year.
9. I'm way too obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio.
10. I don't have any tattoos, but I'm thinking that will change soon.

Thanks for stopping by today guys! And don't forget to tell me which concerts you have been to and enjoyed. 

   

Reflections Upon My Twenty-First Birthday-- 1 A.M. Post

On Saturday, I tuned twenty-one years old. Which if you aren't from America, you might not know that this is meant to be your best, and "most fun", birthday because you can legally drink. Parties and bars aren't really my thing, so I just wanted to go home for a long weekend to see my family and have some dessert. As the week before my birthday progressed I started to feel more and more blahhhh (great and poignant adjective use, I know) about things in my life (I know, I hate when people are so vague about this stuff too, but we don't have time for long stories).

So, instead of getting hammered on my twenty-first birthday, I made a pretty important decision. Right now I don't have time to really worry about anyone else but myself. I've done that for a lot of years and now I'm over it.

I like me, I like spending time by myself and I'm not in the mood to worry about what other people think or feel about me or if they see me as desirable, smart, blah blah, you name it. I had just gotten to feel this way and then something happened that put me back to square one; I just needed to write this as a reminder to myself.  

This line from Plath's poem Lesbos captures my thoughts perfectly:

"Every day you fill him with soul-stuff, like a pitcher.

You are so exhausted." 

And as a reminder to you, don't let anyone else define you, and don't feel like you have to put all of your energy into someone else. You don't. Put your "Soul stuff" into yourself; it's where it belongs.

Previous 1 A.M. Post-- What Does Literature Mean to Me?

Thursday Thought: How Do you Measure Your Life?

For I have known them all already, known them all:
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,

I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume? - T.S. Elliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock  Read the whole poem here

Poetry Spotlight (1): Ariel and Other Poems by Sylvia Plath

In my second year of college I took an Introduction to Poetry class and I fell in love with reading poetry. Before then, poetry was always a little intimidating and a medium that I didn't have much experience with. But after that class, I became addicted to reading poetry, and during the class I actually found myself thinking in and expressing myself in poetry- which I never would have guessed would happen in a million years. So, with this series I'm here to share some of my favorite poems in a way that I'm sure will turn out rambley and unorganized.  

This is a post I have been meaning to write up for a very long time, but I've been hesitant to attempt to put all of my thoughts down on this collection. So, to take some of the pressure off  I decided instead of the traditional review format, I would share some of my thoughts and favorite poems from this collection as part of my new series.

Thoughts on the Collection as a Whole:

My love for Plath started when I read The Bell Jar in 2013; before I was even half-way through the novel I knew that it was one I would reread continuously for the rest of my life. After reading that, I was eager to pick up some of Plath's poetry and decided to start with Ariel as it was her best known collection. 

This is not a collection that I would sit down and read straight through in one of two sittings. I would read a couple poems at a time, put the book down for a few days and let them stew in my head, and then pick it up again and reread them really closely. Sometimes I would pick out one poem I really wanted to concentrate on and read it many times, annotate it, and work with it really closely. I think this is the best way to read Plath's work as there is so much going on; it really deserves to have a chunk of time dedicated to each poem. 

As a whole, this collection is amazing. Plath creates images that stick in your head like the disturbing image of last night's nightmare. The imagery and the themes work together so beautifully, and each poem in this collection shares a common theme or tone to the others, making the collection interconnected and very powerful. I enjoy the fact that Plath works with the same themes in multiple pieces of her work, and that the same ideas are presented multiple times, but in different ways in her poetry and prose. Some motifs from this collection include: bees, motherhood, childbirth, the idea of the housewife, relationships with men and WWII imagery. This particular Restored Edition also has an interview with Plath's daughter and an amazing poem she wrote about people's obsession with her mother's tragic end, and some commentary Plath has made on some of the poems in this collection.    

Poems I Wish to Spotlight:

One of my favorite things about reading this collection was that I had the opportunity to hear Plath read many of the poems herself via Youtube. I highly recommend listening to poems out loud after you have read them once or twice, especially if you can hear the author read their own poetry. 

The Rabbit Catcher- Read it here 

This became one of my favorite poems in the collection when I set aside about twenty minutes to read and work with it. As I reread and annotated it, I began to see the complexity and layers of meaning in this poem. This poem has many of the motifs I mentioned above (references to childbirth, relationships with men, and clear, powerful images) and creates a beautiful extended metaphor.  

Daddy- Listen to Plath read it here

This is possibly Plath's best known poem, and for good reasons. This poem is so powerful, I literally think my jaw dropped after I finished reading it for the first time. The imagery is so jarring and the tone is so brutal and honest. The Nazi and Jew imagery mixes in with the perfect sound pattern to make this poem comforting to listen to but uncomfortable to think about the themes and tone. In order to truly appreciate this poem, it should be heard, Plath's reading of this poem leaves me speechless, and I really recommend the video I have linked above.   

Lady Lazarus- Listen to Plath read it here

This is another poem that Palth's reading of is really great. This poem has great imagery and speaks on suicide attempts and what it's like to die and and come back to life. Plus this poem has the best closing line of a poem I have ever read. 

Lesbos- Read it here 

This poem really interests me because I'm still baffled by it, and quite frankly, it scares me. I have read it many times and each time I reread it, I find something new or think of a new possible meaning. This poem provides some very powerful images of domesticity. I would love to hear your thoughts on this one, and specifically who you think the speaker of the poem is addressing. 

Tulips- Read it here  

This is another well known and often studied poem from Plath. This one too is brutally honest and examines the struggle to stay alive when one wishes to die.   

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Problems I Have (but will totally deny)

Guys, I've got book problems- like lots of them. Here's my top ten. Let's support each other's problems and tell each other they're not really problems in the comments below!

Hosted by: The Broke and Bookish

1. Books are covering every flat surface of my living spaces and I need more room!- My room at my apartment and my parents house are both full of books! Every book shelf I own is stuffed with way too many books to be safe, and the overflow has landed on any surface that will hold books. This isn't a problem for me until I buy a new book and struggle to find it a home. 

2. It literally stresses me out and makes me anxious thinking about all of the books I want to read- It keeps me up at night thinking about all the books I want to read and how I will never get to read them all! 

3. Life gets in the way of reading- Mainly school reading, I just want to lay in bed all day and read for fun! But I do love when my school reading and my fun reading overlap with my literature classes.

4. Money- Ahhh! So many books, so little money. 

5. I'm very defensive of the books I love- Every time I hear or read someone say something bad about The Great Gatsby I have to bite my tongue and take a deep breath. I totally agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and reading tastes, but I would go to war to defend the genuineness of the books I love.  

6. I just want to talk about literature all day- Seriously, I'm sorry to my friends and family who have to listen to me talk about a piece of literature from one hundred years ago that they have never even heard of, or rant about the lack of women in the literary cannon.  

7. I sometimes struggle to separate the art from the artist- If the author was a jerk, or misogynistic, or any other negative trait (I'm looking at you, Hemingway) it's so hard for me to separate their lives and views from their works so I can appreciate them and study them. 

8. Amazon- Cheap books + free fast shipping = no self-control  

9. Beautiful editions-  It's not crazy to buy four copies of the same book, just because they're all so beautiful is it? Yeah, I don't think so either. 

10. Old books are so beautiful- I can't control myself (reoccurring theme of this post) around old books! the older, and smellier the better. I own countless books that are over one hundred years old, and I love every single one of them. I especially love old textbooks, and someday when I have all of my books in one place, they will look so beautiful. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Thoughts on Romances

I'm really critical of romance, in real life and in book life. I decided to split my list up into five things I like in a romance and five things I don't like in a romance. This is going to be totally scattered and based purely on my personal preference, so hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen. 

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

Romance Loves 

1.Awkwardness! Real- life romance is awkward as all get out- and book romance should be too!   

2. Tragedy- I love, love a good tragic love story (I know, I'm so romantic right?)

3.Diversity- I love romances that have something different about them- if it's the characters, the setting, the plot, whatever, if there is a unique aspect to the romance, I'm in! 

4.Forbidden Love- This one goes with number two- I like my romances to be entertaining I guess, and elements of conflict within the romance help to add that entertainment value. Also, maybe why I love Romeo and Juliet so much?

5. Any Romance Plot Written by Jane Austen- Austen is the Queen of marriage-plots with independent and fierce nineteenth century female characters. The romances in her novels do not feel outdated to me one bit, they are timeless and about the only romances that make me swoon!

Romances I love

Romeo and Juliet

Pride and Prejudice

Persuasion

The Summer Trilogy

These Broken Stars

To All the Boys I Loved Before

Romance Hates

1. Insta-love- Duh!

2. Left Handed Compliments- I really, really hate these, both in real life and in book romances. 

3. Too Much Sexy Times- If the plot gets laid to the way side for the sexy times- it's too much. I'm not a fan of romance novels or novels where the romance is the plot. There needs to be something bigger than the romance driving the book forward.  

4. The All-Encompassing Romance- If the world is ending, please don't stress over the last thing a boy said to you! Survival first ladies, then romance.

5. Romantic Interests Who Are All Brawn and No Brain- Mmmmm, no thanks, I'm not impressed by your feats of physical strength. 

So there you go, there are my scattered and totally biased thoughts on book romances! Leave me your link to your list so I can see what you love or hate about book romances. 

Books Every Woman (Including Myself) Should Read

Monday, I shared my list of Books Every Woman Should Read that I had read myself. Today, I have a list of books that every woman, including myself, should read. If you have read any of these, let me know what you thought of them, and as usual leave me some recommendations for books you think everyone should read.

Herland, Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A Utopian society with only women? This sound like such an interesting read, and I trust Gilman with a plot and concept like this. 

The Color Purple, Alice Walker

This one sounds heart-wrenching but so beautiful and worth while. I have heard great things about the relationships between women in this novel, and that really interests me.  

Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

Another one that sounds heart-wrenching but absolutely necessary to read. The cover of this book is beautiful, and I think the story will be too.  

A Vindication of the Right's of Women, Mary Wollstonecraft 

I'm so interested in reading this piece from 1792! Plus Wollstonecraft is the mother of Mary Shelley. This nonfiction early feminist essay is a staple of women's literature. 

The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood

I loved The Handmaid's Tale by Atwood (in fact it made my list on Monday) and I really need to read more works from her. This one sounds really bizarre and scary like The Handmaid's Tale, so of course I'm excited to read it. Atwood is so great at poignancy.

The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan  

Another feminist classic, this one published in 1963, this one is often attributed to sparking the second large wave of feminism in the U.S. I believe this one is nonfiction, and highly researched based? I don't know a lot about it, but I really want to find out more. 

So, what do you ladies think? Anything else I need to add to this TBR?    

Books Every Woman (man, child, and dog) Should Read

As I have gotten older and become a more alert reader, I have been really interested in reading pieces that deal with feminist themes, classics especially because women authors were kept out of the literary cannon for so long. So today, I am here with a list of literary pieces that I have read and think that every woman should read as well. But these pieces are so great, that I think every reader should read them, not just women readers, but women readers will connect to them more easily. Later in the week I will be making a list of books that I think every woman should read that I have not yet read myself.

If you have any recommendations, please let me know. All book tittles link to my review of the piece if there is one.

A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf

This is a nonfiction essay by Woolf that started out as a lecture she gave to women students. I would have loved to hear this lecture. Woolf's writing is powerful and full of sass and authority in this essay and I love every minute of it. This essay looks at the troubles faced by women artists and scholars and the attitudes that men have towards the mind of women and anything they create. This essay is relatively short and highly worth the read. 

The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood

This book blew me away. I still think about it quite often and really want to reread it very soon. Atwood is such a powerful writer, and this book is so scary but so important. It's realistic, it's possible and plausible, and it's scary. This is the only work by Atwood that I have read so far, but I think that a lot of her works will make future lists similar to this one. This is a very important book.    

The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

This is one of my all-time favorite novels and one that I will never tire of rereading. I love everything Plath writes, and I highly recommend her poetry as well. I love how themes cross over from one piece to another of hers. This novel is perfect for any girl feeling the pressures and uncertainty of being a student or what comes after being a student. Plath's writing is so honest and blunt and Esther is so relatiable, her fears and problems are our fears and problems.  

The Awakening, Kate Chopin

I love Kate Chopin! Her short stories are great- some of the best I have ever read- and her novella The Awakening is amazing too. Everything she writes is packed with powerful ideas of gender expectations and equality, and her heroines are so fierce! She's an author who really struggled to get into the cannon and get the respect she deserved, so I love to share how amazing her work is and urge people to read her. If you are just starting to become more aware of gender expectations and issues as a woman, than I highly recommend The Awakening, you will be nodding your head in agreement with and in encouragement for Edna the entire time. 

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Or any book by Jane Austen for that matter. Her heroines defy their time period, tradition, and societies and never settle for a life that is anything less than they deserve. The love interests in her novels are romantic, and respectable. If I could give young female readers one book to read, I would pick an Austen because her books are such great examples of healthy, well-matched romances. If you're not a big fan of romance or contemporary novels, but you need something a little swoon worthy and sweet, I highly recommend Austen. I've also read, reviewed, and loved, Persuasion.   

Trifles, Susan Glaspell 

This is a one act play which was adapted from a short story in 1916. I haven't wrote anything about my thoughts on this play yet, so I thought this was a perfect time to share them. I really enjoyed this play. It is so quick to read, and the plot is so simple, yet it provokes so much conversation and thought. The irony is so biting, and the women characters are so clever. I highly recommend checking this one out, even drama isn't usually your cup of tea. This one is quick and so very good. 

You can also check out my list of Women Authors if you want some more girl power in your reading line up, and of course, let me know what you thought about these if you have read them and leave me your recommendations.

I also made a list of Books Every Woman (including myself) Should Read

What Does Literature Mean to Me?-- 1 A.M. Post

I didn't plan on having a post up today because it was already midnight when I realized I hadn't scheduled anything, and I didn't have any quick posts in mind. After a rather stressful day, I decided to just get in bed and start next week's readings for my American Literature class. I was just flipping through my anthology when I happened upon 'pity this busy monster, manunkind' by e.e. Cummings, and something in me just clicked.

In the two minutes it took me to read this poem one time, I was a different person. I read someone else's words and got inside their head and out of my own. I felt something very huge, from just a fifteen line poem. I was calmed, and confused, intrigued and enlightened, I saw both the beauty of the world and the ugliness of the world- all in two minutes.
And as I read the poem again, these feelings shifted and intensified.

That's why I love literature. Because it makes me feel and it makes me think. It makes me get out of bed at one o'clock in the morning to write a post dedicated to it, and it helps me fall asleep at three o'clock in the morning when something is running through my brain over and over. It makes me nod my head in agreement to the thoughts someone had a hundred years before I was born, and it gives me the ability to emphasize with situations I have never been in and never will be in.

Literature is such a huge part of my identity, and who would I be without the words and thoughts of all of these other men and women floating around in my head? Who would any of us be without the words and thoughts of others running through our heads? Who would we be if there was no one to tell our story, or no one who understood our story?

Literature is so powerful- in all forms. Story telling is essential to human existence, and we sure have found beautiful ways of doing it.

"--listen: there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go"

- e.e. Cummings