A Room of One's Own

In Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, she raises a question: What if Shakespeare had a sister? 

Woolf was writing in a time where women were finally coming into their own as artists, whether it be in literature, music, or art.  I liked reading this, but you have to appreciate literature and history (like a true English major :)) to enjoy this at all. 

We have started reading Swann's Way by Marcel Proust.  I won't lie; I can see why Lorelei didn't finish reading it.  I'm still working on it, but it is a different read for me.  Proust goes into so much detail about side thoughts and memories that I have a hard time keeping track of where we are.

Don't get discouraged!  We can do this!

Emma and Burned

Sorry guys!  Things have been crazy busy.

Here's an update.  I read Emma  by Jane Austen.  Love it!  This was such an enjoyable read.  I don't know what else to say about it without giving things away. 

I also read Burned by Sara Shepard.  It is book 12 in the Pretty Little Liars series.  Also a good read, but only if you love this series.  I will admit that I hope the series ends soon, but only because I don't want for it start reaching for a story.  I like it.  I look forward to reading 13 and 14.

We are currently reading A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf.  We read parts of this for a Women in Lit class several years ago, but now we are reading the whole piece.  It is pretty interesting.  Woolf discusses women in literature in a different light than a lot of people.  She takes you through her thoughts and shares some of her imaginings with you. 

We are almost finished with this short text.  I will try not to get so far behind next time :)

The Group

I finished Mary McCarthy's The Group last night.  I like this book :)  It isn't particularly happy, but I liked it.  Of course, I also loved The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. 

It was nice seeing a realistic approach to life after college during an economic depression surrounded by political turmoil throughout the world.  Sounds a little like now, doesn't it?  The girls graduated from Vassuer in 1933, but they don't feel very removed from us.  I like that you can still relate to these very real women even though the book was written over fifty years ago.  I know a lot has changed since then, but somethings about human  nature will always stay the same.

I also appreciate that this book was so taboo for it's time.  In today's culture, what made the book taboo then doesn't even make anyone blink anymore.  At all.  I wish our society had held on to some of that modesty and innocence... 

The next book we will read is Emma by Jane Austen.  I will probably start it tonight.  Please continue this literary journey with us!

Stunning

I finished reading Stunning, book eleven in the Pretty Little Liars series, this weekend.  I have one guess as to who might be A, but I don't know.  It's kind of a leap based on two clues that might not even be clues.  I will be buying book twelve, Burned, soon.

I am also reading The Group still.  I haven't gotten very far in it yet, but it seems interesting.  I'm on chapter four, so I've got a ways to go.

I just wanted to do a short check in with you all.  Keep up the reading!

Ruthless

I finished Ruthless in the Pretty Little Liars series last night.  It was good.  I'm not sure who A could be.  Of course, that's the point, but still.  I have ordered book 11, Stunning, and it should be here soon.  In the meantime, I will start reading a book from our list :). 

The Group by Mary McCarthy is on deck.  All I know about this book is what's on the cover: "This is the novel about eight Vasser graduates that is a 'shocking, witty and almost continually brilliant social document.'"  I hope this book is better than Mencken...  I imagine that pretty much every book on the list will be better than Mencken.

Happy reading!

A Mencken Chrestomathy

I finally finished A Mencken Chrestomathy this weekend.  Let me sum it up for you....  He hates everyone because he is smarter than everyone.  He hates everything except for art, music, and literature.  There you go; 627 pages summed up for you. 

Moving on!

I am currently reading Ruthless which is book #10 in the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shephard.  As soon as I finish this book, we will be reading The Group by Mary McCarthy. 

I am so glad that I never have to read Mencken again.  Ever.

Traveling Mercies and The Lying Game

I finished reading Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott last night.  It was pretty good.

I can't believe I forgot to finish this post!  I finished reading this book back in March!  It was pretty good.  If you enjoy hearing another person's spiritual journey, you will like this.  I would advise everyone to remember that she is an unconvential woman and is not afraid to be honest with her reader.  Lamott shares her ups and downs to give encouragement to others and to share an understanding with people from different walks of life.

I am still reading A Mencken Chrestomathy...  I will finish it soon. Soonish.  :) 

Also, I finished reading The Lying Game.  It is awesome!  Again, if you love Pretty Little Liars, you need to read these also.

Side reading

I am still reading A Mencken Chrestomathy, but since yesterday was my birthday I felt the need to give myself a little treat.  My husband got me the first four books in The Lying Game series and I started the first one yesterday.  This series is written by Sara Shephard who also writes the Pretty Little Liars books, which I also love. 

If you are looking for something girly and fun to read, I would recommend The Lying Game and the Pretty Little Liars books. 

Right now I am 61% through Mencken's book.  I wouldn't rate it on my love list, but it will be nice to be able to say, "Why yes, I have read Mencken." 

Done with Beauvoir

I finally finished The Second Sex yesterday.  I was so glad when I could close this book without a bookmark in it.  Beauvoir did a lot of work to compile this boring, extremely long book about women.  I personally did not like this book and did not find her to be a very encouraging feminist.  I found her insulting actually.

Now that that is over with, I can read something (anything) else.  While my friend is still finishing The Second Sex, I am reading Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott.  A friend lent it to me and I figure I could use some light reading after Simone's book.  I sat down last night thinking I could read the first few pages and then see what I think about continuing.  I ended up reading almost the first 40 pages and I will be continuing. 

The next book on our list is A Mencken Chrestomathy by HL Mencken.  We will be there soon.

February 18, 2013

I have a little over 100 pages left.  I am so ready to be done with this book!  I am glad that I can say, "Why yes, I have read The Second Sex.  Beauvoir's thoughts on ... were very enlightening."  However, I am tired of her at the moment.  She kind of makes me angry.  For a feminist writing, it irritates me how she talks about women being weak and stupid.  I look forward to a new book to carry around with me.

Please continue reading with us!  The book is worth reading; it just takes a little patience. 

January 17, 2013

I am still reading The Second Sex.  I am a little over half-way done.  Some parts seem repetitive, but it's still interesting.  I may not agree with all of it, but I can appreciate the point she is trying to make.

Please continue reading :)