2010 Summer Reading
"Linking Books"
"Linking Books"
This reading challenge has kind of developed on it's own, and is loosely associated with a "game" my sisters and I played with choosing what movie to watch one night. (A little like the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but having nothing to do with Kevin Bacon). While watching the one we finally picked we recognized a secondary actor who played in another movie we had. So from then on we tried to see if we could find a link between our movies. We did pretty good, I'm not sure how far we got, but it was interesting while it lasted. I'll have to check with my sisters to see if we made it to 6 movies or not.
As is often the case, it was the 2nd & third book that showed me I had a good start to my "Six Degrees of Links" ;)
1 - The Beginning
"Our Path of Duty" Keith B. McMullin May 2010 Ensign
While listening to this talk, I was reminded of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim Progress" and wondered how it described "a path of duty".
2 - The Pilgrim's Progress
by: John Bunyan
(New Read)
An excellent read, although taken slow if you look up all the scripture references he gives. Which I recommend you do. I even found a couple of typos where the printer got the reference backwards. (The verse was really the chapter & the chapter was really the verse). I even added a few of my own references in the margins.
3 - Little Women
by: Louisa May Alcott
(Re-read)
The Pilgrim's Progress plays a significant role with the March girls. The preface to the book is a quote from "The Pilgrim's Progress". I've read this book a number of times and dearly love reading about Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. My mom must of loved this book to cause guess which sister I was named after. Really truly! This reading was so much more wonderful, cause I know had the background of reading Bunyan's book and could understand more clearly the reference to his book. (ie. see the previous post)
4 - The Vicar of Wakefield
byOliver Goldsmith
(New Read)
While looking for some books at the library that was on a reading list I had, I came across "the Vicar" and decided to give it a try. I started and finished it in a day, but not because I couldn't put it down. Mainly because I was afraid if I did put it down, I wouldn't pick it up again. (Don't box my ears yet, Jo) This is the first book I can say I'm very thankful for the Introduction cause it did give me a heads up and let me know all would come out right in the end, if I would just be patient.
"To the modern reader, whose ear is attuned to very different kind of fiction, The Vicar may present difficulties. The pace is slow, the events melodramatic, the denouncement outrageous. The extravagant praise which the book has received ... may be puzzling. ...." page IIIV Frederick W. Hilles 1950Yale University
Which it was! but in the end, I did have some good laughs and did enjoy telling a passerby "What I was reading" although she may wish she hadn't asked ;) I can also understand why Jo March liked it so much and plan on putting it on my "re-read" list.
"Our Path of Duty" Keith B. McMullin May 2010 Ensign
While listening to this talk, I was reminded of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim Progress" and wondered how it described "a path of duty".
2 - The Pilgrim's Progress
by: John Bunyan
(New Read)
An excellent read, although taken slow if you look up all the scripture references he gives. Which I recommend you do. I even found a couple of typos where the printer got the reference backwards. (The verse was really the chapter & the chapter was really the verse). I even added a few of my own references in the margins.
3 - Little Women
by: Louisa May Alcott
(Re-read)
The Pilgrim's Progress plays a significant role with the March girls. The preface to the book is a quote from "The Pilgrim's Progress". I've read this book a number of times and dearly love reading about Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. My mom must of loved this book to cause guess which sister I was named after. Really truly! This reading was so much more wonderful, cause I know had the background of reading Bunyan's book and could understand more clearly the reference to his book. (ie. see the previous post)
Link:
Jo is a companion to her grouchy Aunt March and must sit and read to her. Jo, an avid reader doesn't care too much for her Aunt's choices so whenever the aunt falls asleep, Jo begins reading one of her choices. The following passage is from Jo telling her sisters about how their Aunt caught her:"I whipped the 'Vicar of Wakefield' out of my pocket, and read away, with one eye on him, and one on aunt. I'd just got to where they all tumbled into the water, when I forgot, and laughed out loud. Aunt woke up; and, being more good-natured after her nap told me to read a bit, and show what frivolous work I preferred ... I did my very best, and she liked it, though she only said -
"I don't understand what it's all about. Go back and begin it, child'
"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place and say meekly, 'I'm afraid it tires you, ma'am; sha'nt I stop now?"
She caught up her knitting, which she had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, - "Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss. "
"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg.
"Oh, bless you, no! but she let old Belsham rest; and, when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall, ..."
"I don't understand what it's all about. Go back and begin it, child'
"Back I went, and made the Primroses as interesting as ever I could. Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place and say meekly, 'I'm afraid it tires you, ma'am; sha'nt I stop now?"
She caught up her knitting, which she had dropped out of her hands, gave me a sharp look through her specs, and said, in her short way, - "Finish the chapter, and don't be impertinent, miss. "
"Did she own she liked it?" asked Meg.
"Oh, bless you, no! but she let old Belsham rest; and, when I ran back after my gloves this afternoon, there she was, so hard at the Vicar that she didn't hear me laugh as I danced a jig in the hall, ..."
4 - The Vicar of Wakefield
by
(New Read)
While looking for some books at the library that was on a reading list I had, I came across "the Vicar" and decided to give it a try. I started and finished it in a day, but not because I couldn't put it down. Mainly because I was afraid if I did put it down, I wouldn't pick it up again. (Don't box my ears yet, Jo) This is the first book I can say I'm very thankful for the Introduction cause it did give me a heads up and let me know all would come out right in the end, if I would just be patient.
"To the modern reader, whose ear is attuned to very different kind of fiction, The Vicar may present difficulties. The pace is slow, the events melodramatic, the denouncement outrageous. The extravagant praise which the book has received ... may be puzzling. ...." page IIIV Frederick W. Hilles 1950
Which it was! but in the end, I did have some good laughs and did enjoy telling a passerby "What I was reading" although she may wish she hadn't asked ;) I can also understand why Jo March liked it so much and plan on putting it on my "re-read" list.
Even though this is already too long, I can't end without one of my favorite quotes from The Vicar :
"As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady myself, for she has taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the recompense I can make is to give you her fortune; and you can call upon my steward to-morrow for five hundred pounds." pg. 222
"As I cannot, Sir, part with this young lady myself, for she has taken a fancy to the cut of my face, all the recompense I can make is to give you her fortune; and you can call upon my steward to-morrow for five hundred pounds." pg. 222
Yep, I'm a sucker for a good romantic ending.
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