Fantastic Five Friday! (on Saturday)

Since yesterday I was busy getting my 100 Follower Giveaway off the ground and running I didn't have time to post my Fantastic Five Friday like normal. So here it is on Saturday, for the second week in a row. Let's see if this time Blogger actually cooperates! But if you have not entered my Giveaway, please to yesterday's post and do so because I'm super excited about it. You have until April 20 to enter.

And back to FFF! I figured I'd continue with our Bronte theme from the Giveaway AND incorporate National Poetry Month at the same time (clever, eh?). So for this FFF I'm featuring the poetry of Anne Bronte. Did you know that she was actually more known for her poetry than for her novels? In fact, I hadn't even realized she had written two books until it was pointed out to me by a friend about 6 months ago!

So here are some of her poems that I enjoy, and I hope you all will too :) *Most of her poems are all quite long so I'm only going to include 3 here but a full list can be found HERE*

A Prisoner in a Dungeon Deep
A prisoner in a dungeon deep
Sat musing silently;
His head was rested on his hand,
His elbow on his knee.
Turned he his thoughts to future times
Or are they backward cast?
For freedom is he pining now
Or mourning for the past?

No, he has lived so long enthralled
Alone in dungeon gloom
That he has lost regret and hope,
Has ceased to mourn his doom.

He pines not for the light of day
Nor sighs for freedom now;
Such weary thoughts have ceased at length
To rack his burning brow.

Lost in a maze of wandering thoughts
He sits unmoving there;
That posture and that look proclaim
The stupor of despair.

Yet not for ever did that mood
Of sullen calm prevail;
There was a something in his eye
That told another tale.

It did not speak of reason gone,
It was not madness quite;
It was a fitful flickering fire,
A strange uncertain light.

And sooth to say, these latter years
Strange fancies now and then
Had filled his cell with scenes of life
And forms of living men.

A mind that cannot cease to think
Why needs he cherish there?
Torpor may bring relief to pain
And madness to despair.

Such wildering scenes, such flitting shapes
As feverish dreams display:
What if those fancies still increase
And reason quite decay?

But hark, what sounds have struck his ear;
Voices of men they seem;
And two have entered now his cell;
Can this too be a dream?

'Orlando, hear our joyful news:
Revenge and liberty!
Your foes are dead, and we are come
At last to set you free.'

So spoke the elder of the two,
And in the captive's eyes
He looked for gleaming ecstasy
But only found surprise.

'My foes are dead! It must be then
That all mankind are gone.
For they were all my deadly foes
And friends I had not one.'

The Captive Dove
Poor restless dove, I pity thee;
And when I hear thy plaintive moan,
I mourn for thy captivity,
And in thy woes forget mine own.

To see thee stand prepared to fly,
And flap those useless wings of thine,
And gaze into the distant sky,
Would melt a harder heart than mine.

In vain-in vain! Thou canst not rise:
Thy prison roof confines thee there;
Its slender wires delude thine eyes,
And quench thy longings with despair.

Oh, thou wert made to wander free
In sunny mead and shady grove,
And, far beyond the rolling sea,
In distant climes, at will to rove!

Yet, hadst thou but one gentle mate
Thy little drooping heart to cheer,
And share with thee thy captive state,
Thou couldst be happy even there.

Yes, even there, if, listening by,
One faithful dear companion stood,
While gazing on her full bright eye,
Thou mightst forget thy native wood.

But thou, poor solitary dove,
Must make, unheard, thy joyless moan;
The heart, that Nature formed to love,
Must pine, neglected, and alone.

Confidence
Oppressed with sin and woe,
A burdened heart I bear,
Opposed by many a mighty foe:
But I will not despair.
With this polluted heart
I dare to come to Thee,
Holy and mighty as Thou art;
For Thou wilt pardon me.

I feel that I am weak,
And prone to every sin:
But Thou who giv'st to those who seek,
Wilt give me strength within.

Far as this earth may be
From yonder starry skies;
Remoter still am I from Thee:
Yet Thou wilt not despise.

I need not fear my foes,
I need not yield to care,
I need not sink beneath my woes:
For Thou wilt answer prayer.

In my Redeemer's name,
I give myself to Thee;
And all unworthy as I am
My God will cherish me.

O make me wholly Thine!
Thy love to me impart,
And let Thy holy spirit shine
For ever on my heart!

So there you are. I hope you go to that website and look at more of her stuff. I'm not religious and I know a lot of it, like that last poem, is about God, but I take it my own way and as such I read it as very pro-woman and even feminist. My favorite is The Captive Dove.

And don't forget to enter my Giveaway! I won't stop harping on you all until you do ;)

Fantastic Five Friday!

Welcome back for another exciting addition of Fantastic Five Friday! I say exciting because this week I'm dealing with the always intriguing topic of literary villains. Oooo! Ahhh! Villains can be horrible indeed and love 'em or hate 'em they certainly do make for a more exciting read.


So let's talk about my Fantastic Five Literary Villains!


Humbert Humbert
in Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

I've seen this book listed in other lists of famously intriguing and awesome villains in literature, but to my surprise they have the character of Quilty listed as the awful villain. Now, I'm not going to say that Quilty was a good guy, he wasn't. He was just as despicable as Humbert. But one of the whole points of the novel is that Humbert is trying to convince the reader and himself that he's a good guy, that he always loved Lolita. Well, he's the one that took her from her home. He's the one that prayed upon her when she was just a child. He's a pedophile. Quilty was horrible as well but it's as though he felt that by the end if he got rid of Quilty he had somehow absolved himself of all the horrible things HE had done. Sorry, no dice. You sir, Humbert, are the villain of this tale because you don't even realize that you're the scum.


Mrs. Danvers
in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

If you haven't read this book then I have one thing to say to you: read it. Now. It's just fantastic. And Mrs. Danvers is one of the main reasons. She is a remarkable villain indeed. The new Mrs. de Winter comes to live with her husband at Manderlay and the head of the staff, Mrs. Danvers, cannot let go of her old employer, Rebecca. She constantly haunts Mrs. de Winter with images of Rebecca and her perfection, how nobody could ever replace her, how nobody wants a new Mrs. de Winter, etc. At one point she basically almost goads her into jumping out of a window and KILLING HERSELF! Now that's a villain!


Alec d'Urberville
in Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

I just finished this book the other week and posted my review yesterday, so if you haven't read that you can check it out HERE. But this character is a real S.O.B. I explained the horrible stuff he does in my review so I don't want to rehash it here, but what makes him a great villain in my opinion is that he is so charming. Smarmy is another word for it. He seems to charm almost every woman he comes across in the novel. And after he happens across Tess again much later in her life, after the dreadful incident in The Chase, one can't help but feel drawn to him. Therein lies his power. The jerk!


General Woundwort
in Watership Down by Richard Adams

I don't know how many of you have read this book but it is a lovely tale of survival told by...rabbits. It's a classic and one that I just read a little less than a year ago. And I was so glad I did. They're journeying to find a new warren and on their way the find the warren known as Efrafa led by the horrible General Woundwort. He's a tyrannical beast of a rabbit and they basically battle like...well the animals that they are. I've never been so afraid of a rabbit in all my life.


Iago
in Othello by William Shakespeare

This play is all about the evilness that is Iago in my opinion. I mean, the character of Iago whispering and spreading hateful lies in another person's ear has been copied over so many times it's ridiculous. That's because the character is just so wonderful. Nobody writes them like Shakespeare. Iago plays ALL sides and does it to such a masterous level it's astounding. And he thinks nothing of the consequences of his actions as long as the end result is that he gets more power. He gets people KILLED in the process and doesn't bat an eye. Best villain ever.


So what about the rest of you? Who are your favorite villains in literature?

Fantastic Five Friday!

Last Friday I did a post about five great feminist books in the non-fiction realm. Then in my comments I was asked about some FICTION titles so I figured that would make a good post today. Now, in all honesty, I just started to get into my fiction literature craze about a year ago, so I don't have too many titles to even look at and pull from here. But I still think the selection I've chosen is a good one to start. I can't revisit after I've read more and make a new list of course, nothing is set in stone...yet. Please, if you have any good ones I need to get to reading, TELL ME! I love reading a good feminist fiction book. But there is something to be said for having no idea that said book you're reading is going to have a feminist theme and then being utterly surprised. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :) So here you are: five fantastic feminist fiction novels!

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Who hasn't read this one? My mother read it to me when I was a little girl. Ah memories! And of course I identified with writer and tomboy Jo.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

My favorite novel of all time. There have been debates on the feminist aspects of this book but I believe it is definitely in the feminist camp. Jane is a woman that follows her own voice and makes her own way, even when it goes against her heart. Read it for yourself and decide.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

The only Austen novel I have read thus far but it won't be the last. I was very pleasantly surprised at the feminist themes throughout the book and I have discussed in particular a very interesting quote about men being in control of the written word that I found enlightening!


Washington Square by Henry James

I did not know what to expect when I opened this, being my first James novel. And what a treat! The protagonist evolves throughout the novel into a shining feminist role model in my opinion.


The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

This is probably THE feminist dystopian novel. Not a full-on classic yet, but it surely will be in time. I've discussed this book before so I'll refrain from getting carried away again, but really...you should read it! 


What are yours? Please share!

Fantastic Five Friday!

Well this Fantastic Five is going to be short and sweet. I'm just going to list off some high quality feminist texts that I think everybody should read (or should already have read, either way). Now I've already read all of these myself, so don't worry, I wouldn't steer you wrong ;) Also, these are all strictly non-fiction. Maybe some other Friday I'll do a post of fantastic feminist fiction work? I guess you'll have to stick around and see!

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

It's a tough one to read (even in it's original language apparently) because it's very theoretical but I think everyone should read it at some point.

Slut! Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation by Leora Tanenbaum

It was the first book I read in my Women's Studies class in college and it really opened my eyes. I mean, I knew I was a feminist before this but still.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

This is good because it's not a "Western" book. And it incorporates some great literature along the way, win win!

The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti

Not sure if I've talked about this on here in the past but it's about the virgin/whore dictomy and how ridiculous it all is. Great quick read.

Women's Studies: Essential Readings edited by Stevi Jackson

This was basically one of my text books in college and it was super helpful. It's a compilation of essays by many different authors regarding feminism. And they're from different countries and ideologies. Good to have around for any student of feminism. And we're all just students of feminism really. Continuously learning.

P.S. - I was trying to post pics of the books but for some reason blogger didn't feel like cooperating today. Alas!  

Fantastic Five Friday!

Well, I know the month is almost over, but I couldn't let it pass by without mentioning that it's Black History Month. But it's gone by so quickly (where has the time gone?). So this Fantastic Five Friday is going to be dedicated to those awesome African-American female writers that we should recognize even more this month than usual, but let's face it, we should be recognizing them every month. Now I haven't read stuff by all of these women yet but I sure do plan on it. Regardless, their influence and greatness cannot be denied.

So here it is: Fantastic Five Friday: African-American Female Writers!


Toni Morrison

Now this is an author I actually have had a chance to read. And boy oh boy, it was a doozy! Not for the faint at heart, lemme tell ya.
Morrison was the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. The theme of her novels usually focus on black women facing unjust circumstances (like I said, not light reading). And she's written some really famous ones, including: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Beloved (the one I've read), Tar Baby, Jazz and Love.

Alice Walker

Most of you will probably know her name from her ultra-famous novel, The Color Purple, that was adapted in the ultra-famous movie of the same name. Unfortunately I have yet to read this one but it's on my TBR. For that novel Walker won a Pulitzer Prize. She was also the one that worked to uncover the basically lost work of another famous African-American female author: Zora Neale Hurston. And she's a great advocate in the fight against female circumcision.


Maya Angelou

Known around the world for one of the most famous works ever: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she has been called "America's most visible female black autobiographer." She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her work and has tons of poetry and other works since. Huge in the Civil Rights Movement she has also been friends/colleagues with basically every poltician since the 70s.


Phillis Wheatley

This one is an oldie but a goodie. She was a poet way back before America even declared independence from the British. Well, WHILE they were in the middle of declaring independence more like. She was actually the first African-American woman who had her stuff published. George Washington was a fan! Not surprisingly for the times, a lot of her stuff revolved around religious themes. She gained fame with a collection of work called Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. But most didn't at first believe that a slave could possess the literary skills to write poetry and she had to prove that the poems were, in fact, her own works.


Octavia Butler

An African-American female science-fiction writer! Oh my! No seriously, it's true. I have one of her books on my TBR too and I can't wait to buy and it start reading: Kindred. It's about black woman that is transported back to the days of slavery, specifically the early 19th century. Though she technically cateogized this particular novel of hers as not as a sci-fi, it kind of sounds like a mix between that and regular literature. Intriguing! Butler was also the first sci-fi writer to win the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.


So there you have it. Enjoy the rest of your Black History Month. Go out and learn something!

Fantastic Five Friday!

Welcome back to my Fantastic Five Friday! For this week’s meme I thought it would be fun to talk about our normal reading lives (I know, I’m such a hoot!). I mean, we can talk about great authors and poems and stories all day long, but at the end of the day, we actually have to find the time and energy and space to read them, right? And sometimes that in and of itself can be a challenge! Especially with my lovely kitty trying to cram her little behind right in front of my face every time there’s a book in front of me (“no Mommy, pay attention to me!”).

So this week we have: Fantastic Five Friday: Five Great Places to Read! And yes, I’d like to say sitting atop a lovely mountain in the quiet fog or in zen garden or on a quiet private beach, but these are REALISTIC places that I can get to in my everyday life.

On the bus going to and from work – okay it sounds not fun I’m sure (what with all those people around stepping on your toes) but this is really a great way for me to start my day. It’s only a 10-15 minute trip, depending on traffic, but just to get in that little bit of “me” time is really necessary. And after work is done it’s a great unwind as well. A nice breather.

Wherever I’m eating lunch – I get an hour break for lunch at my job and I use that time to read (and eat, obviously). I pick places that have good tables where you can sit down and aren’t too loud. That way when I’m done eating (and while I’m eating, I multi-task) I can stay and read my book. Breaking up my work day with reading helps me not dislike my job QUITE so much ;)

The dog park – this is for warmer weather but it can be the perfect place. It’s right down the street from my apartment and helps me not be a shut-in even though I have my nose in my books! I don’t own a dog but it’s nice to feel the fresh air and it’s not too loud.

While taking a nice bubble bath – this is as close to heaven as it comes to me living in a noisy city and cramped apartment. Almost every night in the winter before I go to bed I run myself a nice warm bubble bath and get in and read. Ahh…

Under the covers right before bed – I have a nice set up in my bed with comfy pillows and a good nightstand light, everything to make just before bedtime the perfect time to read a bit. My cat jumps up, puts her butt in my face until I push aside and then she’ll lay next to me and we’ll read together until we drift off towards slumberland. Sometimes her purring does get in the way of the reading though.

So there you have it, my 5 great places. What are yours?

And SheWriters that are still coming over from the blog hop, be sure to check out my Welcome post from yesterday!

Fantastic Five Friday!

It’s that time again: Fantastic Five Friday!! Who was bubbling with anticipation all week long? This week my Fantastic Fives are inspired by my post yesterday on the “New Classics.” A few of those books are on my to-be-read list and I really cannot wait to get to reading them, it’s simply a matter of going to the bookstore/downloading them on my Kindle and getting cracking! So that got me thinking, what are the books I’m most looking forward to reading next (I seem to talk to myself a lot)?

So without further ado, I give you Fantastic Five Friday: Five Books I Can’t Wait to Read (in no particular order)


The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

I’ve already read one of Ishiguro’s books (Never Let Me Go) and I thought it was very very good. I’ve been wanting to pick another one up for some time and my mother recommended this to me. It’s about an English butler during World War II who is oblivious to the world around him and the fact that his employer is apparently a Nazi sympathizer. Sounds fascinating!

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer

Well the title really explains the whole book. This is a non-fiction one. I’ve been waiting to read this one for a while now and it’s been “in-transit” at the Chicago Public Library for about 6 weeks now. But they finally e-mailed me saying it’s ready for pick-up. Hooray! I’ve heard nothing but great things about it so I cannot wait to physically get my hands on it.


Zeitoun by David Eggers

Another non-fiction. Now this one I already do own, but since I was so busy reading other things when I bought it I lent it to my mom to read first. But I’ve heard so much about it (and since it has to do with Hurricane Katrina) I’m very excited to read it. I’ve never read Eggers’ stuff before and I’ve heard he’s fantastic. This is the story of Zeitoun, a Muslim man who chose to stay behind during Katrina to help those in need and protect his house. Then he disappeared…

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

I stole (that's such a horrible word) acquired through certain clever mean this book from my parents’ house last weekend so hopefully I’ll get to it sometime soon…ish. It’ll be my second McCarthy (already read and loved The Road). And honestly I don’t know much about it. It takes place around the Mexico border in the 1850s…and that’s about it. It’s violent…um, I’m still very on the edge of my seat to read it That’s how much I enjoyed The Road.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

I feel I simply must read this before too long considering that Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time. It is ridiculous that I haven’t read this one yet, in my opinion. I’ve heard mixed things. Some say it’s great and others a let down. Maybe that’s why I’ve put it off. I don’t want to be disappointed. It is about Lucy Snowe who goes to the city of Villette to teach at an all girls’ school. It’s apparently very psychological, which does intrigue me greatly so I’m hoping it doesn’t disappoint!

So that’s it. What do you think of my choices? What are your Fantastic Fives today?

Fantastic Five Friday!

Okay so I guess it’s time to introduce a meme of sorts into this blogging thing, huh? Everyone’s got one, why don’t I? Well I’ve seen a lot of people do Top Ten Tuesdays but I’m not going to do that for a couple reasons. Number one because thinking of ten new things every week is a bit daunting at this point in time, and number two because I don’t like to rank things. I know what you’re saying “but you don’t have to rank them in order Llevinso!” I know, I know. So I came up with a compromise meme. Introducing: Fantastic Five Fridays!

Basically each Friday I’m going to list five new fantastic things (Fantastic Five Fridays means listing 5 things? Get out of town!). Maybe they’ll be, like today, five fantastic female authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading in my lifetime. Or my five favorite books of all time…or of the year…five fantastic events in literary history…the possibilities are endless (I know you’re obviously all as excited as I am, right?)!

So, to kick off this awesome meme, please get ready for: Fantastic Five Friday: Fantastic Female Authors I’ve Read.

So now I’m going back over the many many books I’ve read over the years to compile this list and I have to say, I’ve read some great stuff. This list is in no particular order but here goes:

TANA FRENCH

So far she has only written three novels and I’ve read each of them: In the Woods, The Likeness and Faithful Place (in order of publication). Let me tell you that Tana French is just getting better and better. Faithful Place was my favorite yet and I cannot wait for what she has in store for her next novel. The way she is able to fully develop such complex, sympathetic and yet still aggravatingly real characters is beyond me. I wish I had such a talent. I rarely buy new books, but when I see her next one out in hardcover, I’ll be first in line at the bookstore.

CHARLOTTE BRONTE

 

Now, I have only read one book of hers so far, this is true, but it moved me so much and I loved it so dearly that I have come to call it my favorite book of all time. That is Jane Eyre. A heroine that is complex, intelligent, determined, thoughtful and feminist? Back in those days? Love it. And she writes in such in an interesting gothic romantic mixture. It’s gripping. Villette is next…

HARPER LEE



She only wrote one book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and yet it had such an impact on American history and literature that her impact cannot be overlooked nor forgotten. Her style was beautiful and so simple: written through the eyes of a child. I would have loved to see her other works but at the same time it’s nice to see her legacy as this one story.

ALICE SEBOLD



The two books that I have read of Sebold were very difficult to read, but well worth the effort. Lucky was a personal memoir of her own rape and recovery. Gosh, was that grim at times, but at the same time hopeful and redeeming. The Lovely Bones had a similar idea behind it. Recovering from something horrible. It was incredibly moving and I think in a way helped Sebold herself by writing it. Now, I have not read her third book, Almost Moon, and I heard not-too-great reviews of the same, but from the stuff I’ve read of her I’m more than impressed.

JUDY BLUME



It has been a long long time since I’ve read any Blume books, seeing as how I’m no where near a child anymore and I have no children of my own. But I have to give credit where credit is due. This woman helped me grow up. I can’t even remember all the books I read of hers when I was younger, but there were lots! And they were amazing! She really could relate to young girls. I felt like she was in my head sometimes. And (bonus!) she’s also a great advocate of women’s rights!

So there it is, my first meme (by the way, posting today has been EXTREMELY difficult, so if I throw my computer out the window today and you never hear from me again you know why). Why'd you think? Who are your Fantastic Five Female Authors? Which ones should I pick up and read right away? Also, if you have any idea for future Fantastic Five topics, send them my way!