It may sound like I am starting at the 6th installment of the 7 book series of Harry Potter, but I assure you I am not.
I read the 7th book first.
Where it began. Back in November my roommate hosted a Harry Potter movie catch up week leading to the premier of the 7th movie. I had never been interested in Harry Potter, although I had watched the first 2 movies back in High School. I didn't want to start here, but I also had nothing better to do so I decided to watch all 6 movies with my friends that week.
It wasn't until the 3rd movie that I decided it was clever and by the 5th movie I was hooked. Everybody kept saying I needed to read the books to fully understand claiming they were much better than the movies. So, I deciced I would read the 7th book to get a feel for J.K. Rowling's writing skills.
I must admit I loved it but was determined I wouldn't read the rest. A month later I had Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in hand. So, thanks to my dear friend Abby, I finished the first 4 books of Harry Potter in just 2 weeks! Sounds crazy but I couldn't put them down. I had also just been laid off from my job and didn't have much to do.
After reading these 4 books I decided to take a break ... You know you've had too much Harry Potter when your first instinct to everything is pulling out your wand.
Before reading The Great Gatsby I had finished the 5th book, The Order of the Phoenix, which so far has been my favorite and was my favorite movie. It is also the first movie I bought.
Having already seen the movie I know what it's all about but I am definitely loving it because it's about my favorite character ...
The Half-Blood Prince.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Great Gatsby: Finished
First book: done.
I have to admit, at many times this week I kept thinking this blog is a dumb idea. I couldn't help but think why don't I do something more interesting than read books and blog about them? I don't know. Maybe it will turn into that. But for now I'm sticking with the books.
And having said that ... book #1 is finished. The Great Gatsby.
The first chapter was hard to get into. It wasn't until the last couple paragraphs that I was hooked. I decided not to read the synopsis of this book so I had absolutley no idea what was going to happen at all. I think that made this book a little more interesting.
What do I have to say about it? Well, for one I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in the 1920's and not written in modern day about the 1920's. Girls had names like Jordan in the 20's. I had no idea. It was comforting to me that people haven't changed: corruption, adultery, greed, the worship of money. Let me explain myself. For some reason I keep thinking people have only gotten worse in the past 15 years (make sense since the world seemed safe and innocent until I was about 12). And I always think what a tragedy it is. I know it sounds weird, but I take comfort in the fact that people have always been this way.
I am going to a Great Gatsby themed dinner party this weekend and I look forward to it. I am excited to find some 20's garb and do my hair and find a dish that was popular back then. I will definitely post pics!
Stay tuned! Tomorrow I will reveal the book I will read next!
I have to admit, at many times this week I kept thinking this blog is a dumb idea. I couldn't help but think why don't I do something more interesting than read books and blog about them? I don't know. Maybe it will turn into that. But for now I'm sticking with the books.
And having said that ... book #1 is finished. The Great Gatsby.
The first chapter was hard to get into. It wasn't until the last couple paragraphs that I was hooked. I decided not to read the synopsis of this book so I had absolutley no idea what was going to happen at all. I think that made this book a little more interesting.
What do I have to say about it? Well, for one I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written in the 1920's and not written in modern day about the 1920's. Girls had names like Jordan in the 20's. I had no idea. It was comforting to me that people haven't changed: corruption, adultery, greed, the worship of money. Let me explain myself. For some reason I keep thinking people have only gotten worse in the past 15 years (make sense since the world seemed safe and innocent until I was about 12). And I always think what a tragedy it is. I know it sounds weird, but I take comfort in the fact that people have always been this way.
I am going to a Great Gatsby themed dinner party this weekend and I look forward to it. I am excited to find some 20's garb and do my hair and find a dish that was popular back then. I will definitely post pics!
Stay tuned! Tomorrow I will reveal the book I will read next!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby
Somehow I got out of reading The Great Gatsby in High School but no matter! It is perfect timing now that I am going to a Gatsby themed dinner party in 2 weeks.
All I know is that it was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in the 1920's and written about the 1920's during prohibition. It is considered a literary classic.
Monday, February 28, 2011
I Have to Start Somewhere ...
I haven't done this (blogging) for a long time and maybe it is silly. Where did the inspiration come from? Amanda Keene: a friend and former roommate. She started a blog, Seize the Week, and each week she does something new and blogs about it. I love it and I love the idea. Thank you Amanda!
So I decided I would do something: Read. Sounds boring, but I hardly read anything anymore and I think this will be a GREAT way for me to get back in the habit. So, each week ... or two ... I will read a new book and blog about it - my findings, challenges, joys and criticism.
I don't know if anyone will follow this blog or not, really, I don't care. Well, maybe I do a little bit. In any case it will be a good challenge for me to read, to journal while working on my writing skills and to stay committed to something. I'm horrible at self-discipline.
What will I be reading?
I've got my first one figured out ... The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm starting tomorrow. The rest? I don't know yet but I would like your help. Spiritual, biographies, fiction, classic novels ... I ask for your suggestions. I'd like to get a running start on this.
In the next 12 months my goal is to read 35 books. That's pretty intense considering I haven't read 35 books in the past 10 years!
So .... here it goes! Stay tuned!
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