Literary Lunacy

In 2012 alone I have read:

Villette: Charlotte Bronte

Far from the Madding Crowd: Thomas Hardy

The Return of the Native: Thomas Hardy

Tess of the D'Urdervilles: Thomas Hardy

Desperate Remedies: Thomas Hardy

Jude the Obscure: Thomas Hardy

Anne of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery

The Thirteenth Tale: Diane Setterfield

Fifity Shades Series: E.L. James

The Wind Through the Kehole: Stephen King

House of Leaves: Mark Z. Danielewski

and my latest literary endeavour...

Cloud Atlas: David Mitchell

This week I finished 'Cloud Atlas' by David Mitchell. I can't say enough about this book. It consists of 6 stories that start in the 19th century Pacific Northwest seas and ends up in a post-apocalyptic Hawaiian tribal wasteland. The 6 stories have a 1-2-3-4-5 *6* 5-4-3-2-1 Sequence where the first 6 stories end mid-way through with the 6th story (Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After) becoming a full story median that locks the stories in place with correlations and deja vu similarities when they pick up the second time through.

The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing
Pacific Ocean, circa 1850. Adam Ewing

Letters from Zedelghem
Zedelgem, Belgium, 1931. Robert Frobisher

Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery
Buenas Yerbas, California, 1975. Luisa Rey

The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish
United Kingdom, early 21st century. Timothy Cavendish,

An Orison of Sonmi~451
Nea So Copros (Korea), dystopian near future. Sonmi~451

Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After
Hawaii, post-apocalyptic distant future. Zachry

This novel was definitely what I needed after a year long delve into 19th century british literature. David Mitchell's style is exacting and precise and every word kind of melts into your subconscious. The book as a whole has stayed with me this week.

The next David Mitchell book I plan to read is definitely Ghostwritten. But I currently have 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet' checked out from the library.

I got sidetracked with 'Shirley' by Charlotte Bronte, which I have become entranced with after 50 pages. I've missed Bronte's words and it's so refreshing to come back to her voice and familiar style.

30 Things Every Woman Should Have And Should Know

By 30, you should have ...

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age -- and some money set aside to help fund it.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account -- all of which nobody has access to but you.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

13. The belief that you deserve it.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.

By 30, you should know ...

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.

2. How you feel about having kids.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.

8. Where to go -- be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat -- when your soul needs soothing.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15. Why they say life begins at 30

List excerpted from Glamour's "Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know By The Time She's 30."

Mexico 2012: Puerto Morelos

Fifty Shades

In reading Book 3, 'Fifty Shades Freed' at the moment. Aside from all the kinky imagery, I really love the story of Christian and Ana.

Ana literally falls into Christian's office and thus into the clutches of Christian Grey, an abused orphan who has become a ridiculously successful billionaire, who has a profinity for BDSM.

To woo Ana, Christian sends her a first edition of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' by Thomas Hardy 1891.

That may not sound like a gift that would make a girl swoon. Unless you're a girl who has ever read 'Tess' of any of Hardy's work...then you would know that this is an extremely precious piece of literary history.

Christian buys Ana many expensive gifts in their relationship, as if the first edition Hardy wasn't enough, but one in particular really got to me.

For her birthday, Christian gives Ana a Cartier Charm Bracelet. The charms were: Eiffel Tower, helicopter, bed, ice cream cone, London Black Cab, letter C, a glider, a catamaran, a heart locket, and a key.

I can't wait to finish this series!