Reading Through the Decades Challenge Wrap Up

With so many contemporary books lining my shelves and even more out there that I have yet to get my hands on, there are also older books that have caught my eye, some classics and others not. Stepping back through time and reading at least one book for every decade over the last century was a worthwhile challenge. My walk through the decades proved to be revealing, both historically and socially, not to mention entertaining. Not all of the books I read for this challenge were set in the time period the novel was written, nor even in this world, and yet each still carries the footprints of the era it was written.

Michelle challenged participants to read a personally set number of books falling in consecutive decades over the course of a year. I chose to begin my journey at the beginning of the 20th century and end at the beginning of the 21st century.

A Century of Books
1900's - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (1902)
1910's - The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley (1919)
1920's - Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayer (1923)
1930's - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930)
1940's - In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes (1947)
1950's - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)
1960's - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968)
1970's - Sula by Toni Morrison (1973)
1980's - Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock (1984)
1990's - Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996)
2000's - The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (2005)

Not one of the books on my list was a disappointment, although I did like some more than others. The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley and Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon were my favorites in the mystery category. Both captured the essence of time and place, touching on issues related to those time periods and yet all the while being timeless in their own right. Toni Morrison's Sula and Kim Edward's The Memory Keeper's Daughter, also favorites, spanned the lifetime of the characters and dealt with difficult issues.

I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to Michelle for hosting the Reading Through the Decades Challenge and allowing me to go on this journey through time with her and the other participants. It was an adventure that will stay with me for years to come.

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley
Grosset & Dunlap, 1919
Mystery; 289 pgs

Completed: 12/22/2007
Rating: (Very Good)


First Sentence: If you are ever in Brooklyn, that borough of superb sunsets and magnificent vistas of husband-propelled baby-carriages, it is to be hoped you may chance upon a quiet by-street where there is a very remarkable bookshop.

Reason for Reading: This book came recommended by a friend several years ago. I have an ancient copy of the book, cover tattered and falling apart, which I found on E-Bay after having no luck finding a new copy online or in the stores.

This is my 1910’s selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge and my 5th Selection for the Unread Authors Challenge.

Comments: If ever there was a book meant for booklovers, especially one who enjoys a mystery, a touch of romance and eccentric characters, this is it. Christopher Morley’s The Haunted Bookshop was a pleasure to read.

The Haunted Bookshop is actually the sequel to another of Christopher Morley’s novels, one called Parnassus on Wheels. I have yet to lay my hands on a copy of that particular book, sad to say. Having not read the previous book, I had no trouble following along or getting to know the characters. This is very much a stand-alone novel, however.

Roger Mifflin is an eccentric bookseller who owns and runs Parnassus At Home, otherwise known as the Haunted Bookshop. One day while Roger is running the shop alone, his wife off on an adventure in Boston, an advertising salesman wanders into the store and makes a pitch hoping to land a new account. Aubrey Gilbert is young and eager, but Roger is adamant that he does just fine with the word of mouth advertising his loyal customers provide him. Just the same, the two strike up a friendship.

The bookseller and his wife Helen had previously agreed to take in a nineteen-year-old girl at the request of her wealthy father. Mr. Chapman fears his daughter has taken in too many frivolous ideas, and he believes she is in need of a serious reality check. He thinks that working and living at the second hand bookshop is just what the young woman needs. Titania is a delightful and lovely young woman who turns many heads and yet is friendly and eager to begin this new enterprise.

Just before Titania’s arrival, a man comes to the shop looking for a particular book that Roger is sure he once had on his shelf. The book, however, is missing. When the book reappears later on, Roger couldn’t be more puzzled. Thus begins a mystery full of danger and intrigue. Aubrey is determined to uncover whatever nefarious plot there may be, fearing that the beautiful Titania may be at the greatest risk.

I was most taken in by Roger Mifflin and his obvious love for books as well as his job. While he is a bit of a book snob, it was hard to hold that against a man who understands the hold a book can have on a reader. Although not a prominent character, Helen is definitely a presence in the book. She is down to earth and sensible while Titania is sprightly in her youth. It is really Aubrey who carries the forward motion of the story, however, ever tenacious in his pursuits.

Christopher Morley has written a charming novel that is full of humor, while at the same time it is quite exciting. Set at the end of World War I, talk of peace and the politics of the war place this book more firmly in history as do the events that unfold with each turned page. I definitely plan to continue in my search for a copy of the prequel to this novel and perhaps venture onto some of the authors other writings. It was a pleasure to spend time with him and his characters.

Favorite Parts: I loved how Roger put together Bock’s kennel—a booklover’s haven for a dog.

The term librocubicularist, which refers to a person who is fond of reading in bed (a word completely made up by the author).

Cringe worthy quote: “He knew his disadvantages in literary conversation, for he had gone to an excellent college where glee clubs and theatricals had left him little time for reading. But still he was a lover of good books, though he knew them chiefly by hearsay.” [pg 16]

In response to the assumption that working in a bookstore is tranquil: “’Living in a bookshop is like living in a warehouse of explosives. Those shelves are ranked with the most furious combustibles in the world—the brains of men.’” [pg 19]

“’I tell you, books are the depositories of the human spirit, which is the only thing in the world that endures.’” [pg 50]

“’Did you ever notice how books track you down and hunt you out? They follow you like the hound in Francis Thompson’s poem. They know their quarry!’” [pg 132]
and
“’ It’s one of the uncanniest things I know to watch a real book on its career. It follows you and follows you and drives you into a corner and makes you read it.’” [pg 132]

Miscellaneous: We went to see The Kite Runner today, which was playing a little closer to home than expected. There are several other movies I am anxious still to see before the year is out. Atonement, Sweeney Todd, Juno, and Charlie Wilson's War are all on our list. I do not know if we will get to them all, but we will put in a good effort.

In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes

In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes
Femmes Fatales, 1947
Suspense/Thriller; 250 pgs

Completed: 12/21/2007
Rating: (Good +)

First Sentence: It was good standing there on the promontory overlooking the evening sea, the fog lifting itself like gauzy veils to touch his face.

Reason for Reading: I am sure this book was recommended by one of the author’s I heard speak at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in 2006, however, I forgot to write it down. I do know that I walked away from the festival that April with a copy of the book, both my husband and I interested in reading it.

This is my 11th selection for the TBR Challenge, my 1940’selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge and my 4th selection for the Unread Authors Challenge.

Comments: In A Lonely Place is purported as author Dorothy B. Hughes best novel, a hardboiled noir set in postwar Los Angeles. Dix Steele is cocky and sure of himself as the novel begins. Although written in third person, the author never strays from the main character’s point of view as the world and the events in the novel filter solely through his viewpoint. He makes for an interesting protagonist, although never a likeable one. It is obvious from the first page he does not think much of women. Instead, sharp-eyed psychologist Sylvia Nicolai and the fiery Laurel Gray, who knows exactly what she wants and goes after it without hesitation, are the two characters who stand out and demand respect from readers. Dix falls hard for the beautiful Laurel Gray, a woman unlike any other he has come across before. She may just be his match and what follows is not at all what Dix could have anticipated.

Sylvia’s husband is none other than Detective Nicolai, Dix’s best friend. His latest case is tracking down a killer known as the Strangler who has left a string of female victims in his wake. Dix takes particular interest in the investigation.

For those who do not care for reading violent scenes, the novel is not at all graphic and instead is more psychological in its approach. Dorothy B. Hughes capably builds suspense and wonder throughout her novel. I cannot say that this particular novel stands out above some of the other serial killer novels of its kind I have read. Although cold and calculated, the killer was never really frightening as a character. Perhaps that in part was because the author did paint the killer as a somewhat sympathetic person. The murderer was smart, no doubt, but overconfidence and rationalization never failed to make the killer seem less so.

In A Lonely Place was an entertaining novel and also made for interesting reading as a period piece. Dorothy B. Hughes’ novel stepped outside of the lines during its day, offering up strong willed and intelligent women and challenging the societal notion that women shared the blame in their victimization. Dorothy B. Hughes certainly earned the high praise her book has received.

Favorite Part: Sylvia’s character most intrigued me, and I almost wish the author could have shone a light on her a little more. However, the novel would not have been quite so effective otherwise.

Miscellaneous: In A Lonely Place may be better known for the 1950 movie version starring Humphrey Bogart as Dix Steele. As often happens, movies are not exact reflections of the books they are based on, and, in this case, the movie definitely takes the story in a different direction than the novel takes the reader.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Anchor Books, 1996
Nonfiction; 207 pgs

Completed: 08/25/2007
Rating: (Good)

First Sentence: Jim Gallien had driven four miles out of Fairbanks when he spotted the hitchhiker standing in the snow beside the road, thumb raised high, shivering in the gray Alaska dawn.

Reason for Reading: This is my fourth selection for the Nonfiction Five Challenge and my 1990's selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge. I had read Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven, which I found quite interesting. As a result, Into the Wild was added to my collection. It did not hurt that the book has received quite a bit of praise from fellow readers.

Comments: The idea of a young man striking out on his own, leaving behind a family that loved him with hardly a word, giving away his savings and burning what cash he had, changing his name and disappearing into the wilderness at first struck me as crazy. As the beginning chapters of Krakauer’s account of Christopher Johnson McCandless’ life unfolded, it crossed my mind several times that the man was probably suffering from some sort of mental illness.

He seemed to avoid intimacy, rebel against authority, isolated himself from family and old friends, completely broke off all his family ties, and was very reckless. That he made the dean’s list in college, was a good musician and in general had a good head on his shoulders, did not make a difference. In fact, Chis, aka Alex Supertramp as he was known on his travels, did make friends along the way and even kept in touch with many of them throughout the two years he was estranged from his family. He worked hard when he worked, was compassionate and caring. He experienced life in ways that many of us can never imagine. He seemed happy and content with his chosen path.

Jon Krakauer maps out Chris’ journey across America, into Mexico and Canada, and touches on moments in the man’s past that led him to be the man he became. Chris lived off the land, the generosity of others, worked for his food when he could, and, for the most part, shed the skin of materialism that he had grown up with. He set his own rules, traveled at his own pace, and answered to no one but himself. He was not completely selfish, however. It is quite clear that Chris had a big heart and even bigger ideals, realistic or not. He was intensely passionate and once he set his mind to do something, he did it. Was he someone to be admired? I came away from the book believing that he was in some respects. Mostly though, he was just your average early twenty-something year old questioning the establishment, testing himself, and searching for answers to questions that he probably did not even fully understand. Like many his age, he felt somewhat immortal and was overconfident. He was more adventuresome then most, perhaps even more driven. What happened to him was a tragedy.

Critics call him crazy, ill prepared, and reckless. Certainly to some extent he was ill prepared and reckless. Maybe even crazy. Had he survived and made it home again, his actions would be admired and he would be applauded for his strength and fortitude. Here would stand a guy who went after his dream and made it come true. Many would see that as success and something to admire. Because he died, however, it is easy to find fault and condemn him for his actions and to pick holes in his behavior and philosophy. The qualities we would admire in him if he had lived, he is criticized for in death. He was a risk taker, a dreamer, and definitely full of passion. For better or worse. Christopher lived his life according as he believed it should be lived.

Chris’ path is not one I would take nor is it one I necessarily agree with. I will not deny that at times I thought he was pretty careless and oblivious for a guy who supposedly was so smart. By the end of the book, I felt great sadness. Sadness for his family and his friends, especially those whose lives he touched. And sadness for Chris and the contributions to society he could have made if he lived.

Jon Krakauer’s account of Christopher Johnson McCandless’s life is painted in a kinder brush than certainly some of Chris’ critics would like. The author admits to relating to the subject of his book on a personal level, and even touches upon an experience of his own similar to the journey Chris set out on. I do think that Mr. Krakauer does a fair job of bringing up the viewpoints that do not match is own, countering them in turn.

Into the Wild is not the usual type of nonfiction book I am attracted to, and I cannot say I am eager to run out and read a copy of Into Thin Air. I’m sure it’s a fine book, but extreme sports like mountain climbing holds little interest for me. Maybe someday. After reading Into the Wild, my interest in visiting Alaska someday has intensified, I will give it that.

Miscellaneous: I was thumbing through Entertainment Weekly recently, soon after finishing this book, and came across mention of a movie based on the book. After Sean Penn read the book (multiple times, I might add), he was eager to bring it to the big screen. His dream has finally come true. Check out the movie trailer for Into the Wild. The movie is scheduled for US release on September 21st.

Read what Jeane had to say about this book:
Dog Ear Diary

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Ballantine Books, 1901, 1902
Mystery; 173 pgs

Completed: 07/09/2007
Rating: (Very Good)


First Sentence: Mr. Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings, save upon those not infrequent occasions when he was up all night, was seated at the breakfast table.

Reason for Reading: I initially came upon this particular title while searching for a book to fit into the 1900 category for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge. It sounded like it might be interesting, and knowing how I enjoy a good mystery, I figured it was about time I read something by the famous Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock Holmes after all is a mystery icon.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is my 8th selection for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge (or By the Decades Challenge), my 3rd selection for the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge, and my 1st for the Classics Challenge.

From the Publisher: Perhaps the most popular of all Sherlock Holmes stories, The Hound of the Baskervilles combines the traditional detective tale with elements of horror. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on the wild Devon moorland with the footprints of a giant hound nearby, the blame is placed on a family curse-and it is up to Holmes and Watson to solve the mystery of the legend. Rationalism is pitted against the supernatural and good against evil, as Sherlock Holmes tries to defeat a foe almost his equal.

Comments: Sherlock Holmes is well known throughout the world as one of the finest literary detectives. His intelligence and skills in logic and observation surpass most, and he knows it. In fact, there was one part in the book where Holmes took offense to one of the characters referring to him as second best. Arrogance and a superiority complex are not qualities I tolerate well in significant characters in books, I'm afraid. Fortunately for Mr. Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle saw fit to have Dr. Watson as the narrator, therefore taking care of that little problem. Somewhat. My poor husband was worried as I read the first chapter that he was going to have to listen to my haranguing of the famous detective, which I had already begun to do. With a quick reminder to myself that if Watson, who was an intelligent man himself, was not insulted, I should not be. Hadn't I been forewarned that Sherlock Holmes thought a lot of himself? Of course, I had been. I had also been advised to take it with some humor, and so I did. Too, there was the consideration that the novel was written at the turn of the last century, over one hundred years ago.

With that behind me, I quickly lost myself in the mystery of The Hound of the Baskervilles, which I enjoyed immensely. The author laid out his story, leaving hardly a stone unturned. Sherlock Holmes is a whiz at putting the pieces of a puzzle together, even the little facts that may seem inconsequential at first. Dr. Watson himself is no slouch. He takes the lead throughout the book, even if the series is not named for him. It is he whom readers follow from London to Dartmoor to investigate the events at Baskerville Hall. It is from Dr. Watson's point of view that the story is told. While he may not be the one who figures everything out in the end, his findings and observations play a large part in Sherlock Holmes’ final wrap up of events.

The Hound of the Baskervilles is my first Sherlock Holmes novel and will not likely be my last. Even with my initial eye rolling at the character of Sherlock Holmes, I could not help but like him. He is not only smart and gifted, but there is some compassion beneath his rather logical and focused character. He is also a man of action, not just of thought. Dr. Watson provides good balance for the detective, being the more compassionate of the two. He takes notice of the beauty around him even when it does not have anything to do with the task at hand.

I cannot say I was surprised by much that occurred in the novel or by the outcome. The author left footprints all along the way so that the facts and details are all there for almost anyone who cannot help but add them up. The story itself was quite intriguing, just the same.

Favorite Part: I cannot tell you. It would ruin the effect.

Aside from that, I liked the setting of the novel. The author was able to give the moors a dark and foreboding feeling which was necessary for the story while at the same time capturing its beauty.

Note about the Author: If you would like to know more about the author, you can find a detailed biography here. The man led an extraordinary life. That alone makes me want to read some of his lesser known works.

Miscellaneous: Today is my dog’s anniversary with us. Six years ago today we brought him home from a local animal shelter. He had been a bit shy back then, taking his new surroundings in, unsure of what to expect. He settled in very quickly and soon gained his confidence. His initial shyness certainly wasn’t his natural state! He is actually very people-friendly and is a ball of energy that never rests. Except for now. He’s lying beside me, chewing a new rawhide bone at the moment.

Sula by Toni Morrison

Sula by Toni Morrison
Plume, 1973
Fiction; 174 pgs

Completed: 06/26/2007
Rating: (Very Good)


First Sentence: In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patches from their roots to make room for the Medallion City Golf Course, there was once a neighborhood.

Reason for Reading: It has been years since I read my first Toni Morrison book, The Bluest Eye. Sula was a gift from my parents, and although I had every intention of getting to it, it sat on my TBR shelf for 2 ½ years. It became one of my choices for the TBR Challenge because I felt it was time I got to it. This is my 6th selection for the TBR Challenge and my 7th for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge.

Comments: The novel Sula paints a vivid picture of a black neighborhood known as Bottom even though it is set high in the hills of Medallion, Ohio. Toni Morrison's writing is beautiful. She captures a moment, a person, and a mood so eloquently, sometimes with imagery and at other times quite bluntly. Sula is rich in complexity, satire and all the while tragic.

Sula is one of those novels that inspires analysis and discussion, and it is no wonder it is a favorite as required reading for literature courses in the United States. The novel weaves several different themes throughout the story, including that of racism, motherhood, friendship, and values.

Racism was rampant during the time period the book is set, beginning in 1919 and ending in 1965. As Nel travels by train with her mother, Helene Wright, from Ohio to New Orleans to visit Helene's dying grandmother, I was struck by the contrast between the train stations the further south the two traveled. Although segregated, the train stations at the beginning of their journey had restroom facilities for everyone. By the time Nel and Helene drew closer to their destination, the facilities for blacks were non-existent. Instead, they were expected to go out in a field. Other hints of racism were sprinkled throughout the novel, impossible to ignore.

The contrast between the lifestyles of the two friends, Nel and Sula, is extreme. Nel comes from a strict and proper upbringing, raised by a mother who was traditional. Sula had a much different childhood, living with her matriarchal grandmother who was strong and eccentric. Sula's own mother was loose with her child just as she was with the men. Nel and Sula's attraction to each other seemed natural, despite their differences. They had similar natures, both seeking escape from their own realities and finding in each other the part of themselves that they desired most to be like.

Even with the years of separation after Sula disappeared from Medallion, upon her return the two women picked up their friendship where they had left off. They settled into each other’s lives and hearts as if nothing had changed. And yet it had. Nel was married with children. She had adopted a similar life to that of her mother, a more traditional lifestyle. Sula wanted no part of that kind of life, enjoying her independence, and not wanting to have to rely on anyone or have anyone rely on her, a lesson she learned early in life. This would ultimately cause a rift between the two friends and tear their friendship apart.

I am in awe at how gifted a writer Toni Morrison is. She captured the essence of the era, the town, the neighborhood and her characters in all their complexity. Sula is the most complex of all of the characters. She fights against tradition, setting her own path. Unlike her grandmother who was a respected woman in the community and her mother who, while a free spirit herself, had a complacency about her that endeared people to her, Sula instead earned their wrath. Her confidence and arrogance seemed to spurn others in the community. Yet there is a naivety in Sula, buried deep down and difficult to see.

Sula is not a novel that should be rushed through (which is unfortunately what I did); there is a deeper meaning behind so many of the events that take place within the novel. The imagery and symbolism make this book a literature course gold mine. I read this novel for the sheer pleasure of it, not as a scholarly endeavor, and as you can see, my thoughts about the book reflect that. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and perhaps will one day reread it and appreciate it even more.

Favorite Part: The writing itself is one of the best parts of this novel. I cannot stress that enough.

Aside from that, one of my favorite characters was Shadrack, who readers are introduced to almost immediately. He is a war veteran who had been greatly affected by the war, watching those around him die. He is an eccentric character, not one that ignites warm and fuzzy feelings, but is an enigma. He walks through town with a cowbell every January 3rd, the day he has designated as National Suicide Day. While the townsfolk shake their heads in disgust and wonder, the day takes on a special significance even to them, although perhaps not with the same intent that Shadrack had in mind.

The story of how the 3 Deweys came about is another favorite part for me. The three boys were orphans that Eva Peace, Sula’s grandmother, took in, each unrelated and looking nothing alike and yet no one could tell them apart. They were an interesting set of characters, although relatively minor.

Note about the Author: Although not a personal website for the author, Anniina has set up a website that includes a bibliography of all of Toni Morrison’s work as well as links to interviews with the author and biographies. Take a look!

Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock

Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
ORB, 1984
Fantasy; 332 pgs.

Started: 04/29/2007
Completed: 05/04/2007
Rating: (Good)

First Sentence: Edward - You must come back to the Lodge.

Reason for Reading: This author came recommended to me by a Finnish friend. I decided the Once Upon a Time Challenge would be the perfect time to pull it off my shelf and give it a read. This is also one of my picks for the Reading Through the Decades Challenge.

From the Publisher: The mystery of Ryhope Wood, Britain's last fragment of primeval forest, consumed George Huxley's entire long life. Now, after his death, his sons have taken up his work. But what they discover is numinous and perilous beyond all expectation.

For the Wood, larger inside than out, is a labyrinth full of myths come to life, "mythagos" that can change you forever. A labyrinth where love and beauty haunt your dreams and may drive you insane.

Comments: This novel was not quite what I expected. I thought it would be more along the lines of traditional fantasy. Set in the early 1940’s in Britain, the novel has a very realistic feel to it. Steven is a war veteran who had settled in France after his release; the novel begins with his returning home after the death of his father, only to find his brother, Christian, is not quite who he once was. The woods near their life long home are not what they appear and their father’s life long obsession at what lay inside quickly lays claim to the two brothers.

I was reminded of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods to some extent. In the one novel, the belief in the gods—or lack their of—playing a large part in how they materialized and came to America, whereas in Mythago Wood, the mythagos were very much a creation of man’s belief, shaping and creating the very real life forms. Both very different and yet, somehow, very similar in their evolution.

Admittingly, I felt a bit lost in the beginning of the book as Steven begins to unravel the mysteries that fascinated his father and later his brother so much. I soon became comfortable with it, recognizing that I was on the same learning curve as the narrator and main character, Steven.

Mythago Wood held a certain intensity within each page, an underlying suspense that never let up. Robert Holdstock is an author whose work I hope to read more of in the future.

Favorite Part: Although I enjoyed the entire book, I most enjoyed my time spent in the woods in search of Christian, Steven’s brother and Guiwenneth. So much of the story was revealed during that time in the novel and the people Steven and his friend met along the way were fascinating.

Sorthalan intrigued me. There was mystery and magic about him like no other character, and I would have loved to explore more of his character. Guiwenneth’s origin story was also one that enchanted me. She was an interesting character—innocent and tough rolled into one.

Note about the Author: Visit the author's website.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Bantam Spectra, 1968
Fantasy; 198 pgs

Started: 04/01/2007
Completed: 04/07/2007
Rating: (Good)

First Sentence: The island of Gont, a single mountain that lifts its peak a mile above the storm-racked Northeast Sea, is a land famous for wizards.

Where Book Came From: My husband’s collection of books.

Reason for Reading: I selected this little book to read for the Once Upon a Time Challenge as well as the Reading Through the Decades Challenge.

Comments: A Wizard of Earthsea is a story of a boy who comes into great power, desires more and is a fool to his pride. As a result, he tampers with magic he does not fully understand and unleashes a terrible darkness with unknown powers. The wizard Ged must undo what he created somehow in order to save himself and the world he knows.

In the first book of Ursula K. Le Guin’s series, magic is not something to be trifled with lightly. There is a balance, an equilibrium that must be maintained in order to avoid chaos or evil to come into the world. Ged is a flawed character from the start, his pride and anger his ultimate downfalls. I liked the simplicity of the story. It is not a novel that delves deeply into character development, but is more about the plot and Ged’s journey from boy to man. A Wizard of Earthsea was a nice break from my more serious reading of late, and I definitely plan to read further into the series.

Favorite Part: My favorite part of the book is when Ged is traveling towards the Court of Terrenon up through his flight from there. The pull of the stone and the behavior of the occupants of the keep, including Ged’s, made for good reading.

I also enjoyed the short time spent with the old dragon and hope that I see more of him or his kind in future books.

Check out the author's website.

Miscellaneous: Anjin and I drove into Redlands today to visit one of his favorite comic books stores. We stopped for lunch at Claim Jumper on our way home. Anjin was quick to say no when asked if we wanted dessert despite that being one of the highlights of eating at a restaurant like that. It was probably for the best. Ho hum. Still, I can't get that chocolate cream cheese pie out of my mind though.

Reading Through the Decades: A Century of Books

Image created by Joy from Thoughts of Joy.

Carrie K was kind enough to point out that I completely overlooked 3M's Reading Through the Decades Challenge, which spans over the course of the year. The participant choses the number of books he or she will read, and the only catch is that the books selected fall within consecutive decades. The order the books are read in is completely up to the participant. For the rules and details, visit 3M's 15 Books/15 Decades blog.

A Century of Books

1900's - The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (1902) [completed 07/09/2007]
1910's - The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley (1919) [completed 12/22/2007]
1920's - Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayer (1923) [completed: 02/02/2007]
1930's - The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930) [completed: 02/18/2007]
1940's - In A Lonely Place by Dorothy B. Hughes (1947) [completed: 12/21/2007]
1950's - Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953) [completed: 01/13/2007]
1960's - A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968) [completed: 04/07/2007]
1970's - Sula by Toni Morrison (1973) [completed: 06/26/2007]
1980's - Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock (1984) [completed: 05/04/2007]
1990's - Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996) [completed: 08/25/2007]
2000's - The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (2005) [completed: 03/10/2007]

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Penguin, 2005
Fiction; 401 pgs

Started: 03/04/2007
Completed: 03/10/2007
Rating: (Very Good)

First Sentence: The snow started to fall several hours before her labor began.

Where Book Came From: My TBR collection (where it’s sat since 10/2006)

Reason for Reading: I have wanted to read this book for quite some time, but other books always seemed to take priority. The upcoming discussion at On the Porch Swing seemed like the perfect excuse to fit this fine novel in.

Comments: Kim Edwards has written a masterpiece. The author sweeps the reader into the story immediately as a blizzard rages outside and Norah Henry goes into labor. It is winter in 1964, and Dr. David Henry is forced to deliver his own baby. He could not be more proud to discover he has a healthy baby boy. He was not prepared for what came next: the birth of his daughter, who showed signs of having Downs Syndrome. David makes the momentous decision to turn his daughter over to his nurse, Caroline Gill, instructing her to take the baby to a nearby institution, where he believes she will receive the best care. Caroline follows David’s instructions only to decide at the last minute to keep the baby and raise her on her own. What follows is the story of these two families and how their lives are impacted by that one decision. It is a heart wrenching story, and yet also one of hope.

Each of the characters found a place in my heart. Their struggles became my own each time I lost myself in the pages of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I could see the bad decisions before they were made, felt the disappointment and loss, and shared in the hope or improvement and change: Norah in her grief, Paul in his need for approval, Caroline in her struggle to do what is right, Phoebe for her innocence, and even David, with his guilt and heavy burden of maintaining a secret heavier than he could bear. To some degree, each character felt disconnected from each other and at times themselves. As much as I disapproved of David’s decision, Kim Edwards was still able to craft his character in such a way to make him sympathetic.

This novel reminded me of the value of open communication and honesty in a relationship. Dark secrets drive wedges between people, keeping them a part and slowly eroding the family. Although the biggest secret came with the birth of Paul and Phoebe, David’s character was always secretive, not wanting to share too much of a past he was ashamed of. His secrecy created a natural barrier between him and others, making it impossible for anyone to get too close to him.

The topic of developmental delay and retardation, specifically Downs Syndrome, was a major point in Kim Edward’s book. The author deftly wove the details into the story without being heavy handed. The prejudice and recommended care options of the time period being less than sympathetic. Institutionalization was perceived to be one of the best options for children and adults with these conditions. Education and career options were extremely limited. It took parent activism to spearhead the movement in correcting those harmful views. While things are better today than they were back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, they are not completely resolved.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter deserves the high praise it has received. Kim Edwards carefully spins her tale, dropping a stone in the pond and following the ripples to where ever they lead. The novel is beautifully written and the characters well developed. I liked the pace of the story, the breakdown and shifting of the time, which moved to story along and captured the feel and important details of the story. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a thought-provoking novel that will stay with me for a long time to come.

Favorite Part: Two scenes most stand out in my mind: Norah’s tackling of the wasps’ nest, which was comical while at the same time a very telling and life-changing moment in the story; and the meeting with the Board of Education when Caroline stands up to the board, arguing why Phoebe deserves an education like every other child.

I liked the character of Al, the truck driver, who seemed a stable force throughout the book. He was not perfect, of course, but his loyalty and supportiveness touched me.

Note about the Author: Kim Edwards got the idea for this novel from her pastor. She dismissed the idea at first, but as the years passed found herself coming back to it. Thank goodness for that!

Upcoming novels: The author is working on her next novel called The Dream Master. I definitely will plan on checking it out when it is released.

Read what others had to say about The Memory Keeper's Daughter:
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Melody's Reading Corner

"Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice." - from The Maltese Falcon

I've been as bad an influence on American literature as anyone I can think of. –Dashiell Hammett

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Vintage, 1930
Mystery; 217 pgs

Started: 02/18/2007
Completed: 02/18/2007
Rating: (Very Good)

First Sentence: Samuel Spade’s jaw was long and bony, his chin a jutting v under the more flexible v of his mouth.

Where Book Came From: The book is actually one of my husband's collection.

Reason for Reading: I wanted to read something fun and light for my final book in the Winter Classics Challenge.

Comments: While some may want to argue my choice of considering The Maltese Falcon a classic, I would argue that it is a novel that has stood the test of time and has influenced other authors and works within the same and similar genres. Dashiell Hammett is considered one of the forefather’s of the hardboiled detective novel, The Maltese Falcon being the most well known of his novels. Dashiell Hammett’s name often comes up as a favorite and influencer to many of my favorite mystery writers. It seemed appropriate that I should eventually find my way to one of his books.

Perhaps the most famous medium of the story The Maltese Falcon was the 1941 movie starring Humphrey Bogart, which the Library of Congress classified as being “culturally significant.” The movie is a classic all its own.

What better setting for a mystery involving a jeweled bird, a beautiful woman, hired gunmen, and greedy thieves than the city by the bay, San Francisco? In Dashiell Hammett’s classic hardboiled mystery, private detective Samuel Spade pulls out all the stops. When the lovely Miss Wonderly walks into his office one day offering up two hundred dollars on the spot, both Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, agree to take the case to follow a man in hopes of locating her sister. With the deaths of Spade’s partner and the man who allegedly had run off with Miss Wonderly’s sister, it becomes clear that Miss Wonderly is not who she says she is, and the story she fed the private detectives was far from the truth. The cynical and confident Spade is determined to uncover the truth, no matter how tight lipped his client may be or how much danger he will face.

Sam Spade is the quintessential hardboiled private investigator. He has a talent for getting at the truth and smooth talking his way out of trouble. It’s no wonder he steals the hearts of women. Although I had seen the movie before and knew the story, there is nothing like reading it in print. Dashiell Hammett proved to be a talented writer, taking readers back into the late 1920’s and putting them right into the story. It is no wonder so many mystery authors of today look to Dashiell Hammett as their inspiration.

Favorite Part: I loved reading about Sam Spade in action. He is quite the smooth talker! His confrontations with Lieutenant Dundy were quite amusing. My favorite character, however, would have to be his secretary, Effie Perine, who always came through in a pinch.

For the dish on the author, check out: MysteryNet.com

Read what Pussreboots had to say about The Maltese Falcon.

Miscellaneous: It is a terrfic feeling to have completed the Winter Classics Challenge. Many thanks to Booklogged at A Reader's Journal for hosting the challenge. She motivated me to crack open a handful of classics that I had been meaning to get to for a long while now.

Headline Story: Body Discovered In Bathtub

Books...are like lobster shells, we surround ourselves with 'em, then we grow out of 'em and leave 'em behind, as evidence of our earlier stages of development. - Dorothy L. Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club, 1928 (although this quote didn't come from Whose Body?, I couldn't resist posting it here.)

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
Harper Mystery, 1923
Mystery; 212 pgs

Started: 01/29/2007
Completed: 02/02/2007
Rating: (Good)

First Sentence: “Oh damn!” said Lord Peter Wimsey at Piccadilly Circus.

Reason for Reading: The monthly reading challenge in the Yahoo book group Mostly Books was to read a book by Dorothy L. Sayers. Why several others chose to read Gaudy Nights, I couldn’t in good conscience begin a series in the middle, and so I decided on the first Lord Peter Wimsey novel.

From the Publisher: A naked body is found lying in the tub, a gold pince-nez perched before the sightless eyes. Telltale signs indicate that the face was shaved after death. Despite evidence to the contrary, the police are certain that the victim was a prominent financier. Lord Peter Wimsey knows better, but can he prove it? First published in 1923, Whose Body? established the disarmingly debonair, and somewhat foppish, Wimsey as one of the most enduring characters in English literature. It remains one of the most significant — and most charming — of the Golden Age mysteries.

Comments: I am always up for a good mystery, one that catches me in its hook and reels me in. While I enjoyed Dorothy L. Sayer’s mystery novel, Whose Body?, it did not pull me in as much as I would have liked. The story itself was sound, however, several of the characters seemed underdeveloped. Fortunately, however, the author wastes no time in setting out the puzzle pieces and then unraveling the mystery, which was quite compelling. She often used dialogue to imply action throughout the novel, which is not something I come across very often.

Of the characters, Lord Peter Wimsey is a charming character, his eccentricities, wit and intelligence making him even more so. His mother is quite an entertaining woman herself. I would like to have known more about Parker. Perhaps his character is more ferreted out in later books. My favorite character, however, is Bunter, Lord Peter’s valet. He is sort of the Watson to Lord Peter’s Sherlock Holmes.

Whose Body? made for an enjoyable light and witty mystery overall, but I have no plans to rush out and read more by this author any time soon.

Favorite Part: My favorite part was probably the flashback scene. It shed unexpected light on the characters of Lord Peter and Bunter and their relationship.

Another scene that caught my fancy and had me chuckling out loud is when Lord Peter speaks with the Appledores. To give away much more than that would be a sure spoiler, and so you will have to read the novel for yourself to see what I mean.

Note about the Author: Dorothy L. Sayers said of her character Lord Peter once that he was a mixture of Bertie Wooster and Fred Astaire.

Miscellaneous: This past weekend Anjin and I went to see A View From The Bridge, a play by Arthur Miller, put on by our city’s local theater group. My cousin had extra tickets and invited us along for an evening of entertainment and culture. I had never read or seen the play before—much less heard of it, sad to say. It was an interesting and tragic story and the performances were very well done.

“Monday burn Millay, Wednesday Whitman, Friday Faulkner, burn ‘em to ashes, then burn the ashes." - from Fahrenheit 451

“My stories run up and bite me on the leg-I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish, the idea lets go and runs off.” – Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Del Rey, 1950
Science Fiction (Classic); 179 pgs

Started: 01/12/2007
Completed: 01/13/2007 (1:18 p.m.)
Rating: (Good)


First Sentence: It was a pleasure to burn.

Where Book Came From: TBR Room (since 07/2005 - on the shelf at the local Barnes and Noble before that)

Reason for Reading: This was my second pick for the Winter Classics Challenge.

Comments: Unlike the fireman of today who put out fires for a living, the firemen of Ray Bradbury’s world in Fahrenheit 451 start them. More specifically, when their alarms go off in the middle of the night, they rush to the home of individuals who are harboring and reading books. As the books burn (at 451 degrees Fahrenheit), the owners are arrested. The reading of books is considered a threat to the greater good and is a subversion against society.

Although on the surface books are targeted as the source of evil, it is not the books themselves that the government fears, but the knowledge that people can acquire from reading those books. In fact, all forms of media have been watered down and controlled in an effort to keep the people at peace and without worry or fear. All to the extreme. The society in Bradbury’s world values conformity and to be different, an individual, is considered dangerous.

Guy Montag is a fireman, one who has enjoyed his job for many years, but suddenly he finds himself in doubt. It begins with a girl, “I’m seventeen and I’m crazy” Clarisse McClellan, who he meets one night on his walk home. Clarisse is a curious girl whose questions make Montag question his own life, his own happiness. What Montag finds disturbs him. And from there, his life as he knows it begins to unravel and change. He doubts everything he once valued and held dear; and with these thoughts, he knows that nothing can ever be the same.

It is Clarisse, a horrific tragedy at the house of an older woman whose books must be burnt, and the memories of an elderly professor in a park, that spur Guy Montag into action. He seeks out the old professor, hoping to find answers to his questions. In a world where asking questions and seeking the answers can be fatal, Montag places himself in a very dangerous position.

Fahrenheit 451 is a powerful novel that forces readers to face the extreme of where censorship of not only books, but especially of thought and knowledge, can lead if unchecked. And yet it is also a novel of hope, of the possibility for change, if only a person is willing to remember and learn.

I came away from this novel feeling a little ashamed at my recent thoughts of wanting to keep the world out and only focus on my own life. The stressors of watching and reading the news and keeping those events at arms length, seemed less stressful, less worrisome. It’s easier not to think of that which we can’t control—a way to avoid the fear and worry that can creep in. While these thoughts of mine come and go and are not to the extreme preached about in the novel, it’s a thought worth pondering all the same.

Favorite Parts: I really enjoyed the moments with Clarisse McClellan. Her curiosity and openness, however simple it may have seemed at the time, helped spark Guy Montag into taking a closer look at his life and society around him.

Beatty was an interesting character who made me grateful my copy of the novel included an afterward by the author which explained some of the character’s past. Beatty, although spouting the company line all the while, intrigued me. His knowledge of history and literature seemed counter to the denial and ignorance that society was encouraged to live in.

Note about the Author: Ray Bradbury spent most of his time writing the first draft of Fahrenheit 451 in the basement of the UCLA library, typing away on a typewriter that cost him a dime every half hour. He said that in all, it cost him nine dollars and eighty cents in dimes to complete that first draft.

Read what others had to say:
Melody's Reading Corner
Hello, My Name is Alice

Miscellaneous: Anjin reported that there was snow not too far from his office Friday, an unusual sighting since this part of the state doesn’t often see snow. The animals and I are staying out of the cold as much as I can. Luckily we've got a big stock of hot chocolate in the house.