The Woman in Black - Susan Hill

the woman in black
susan hill
c. 1989
144 pages
completed 7/28/2009

read for: themed reading challenge

*may contain spoilers*

As a young attorney, Arthur Kipps travels to the north of England following the death of a Mrs. Drablaw. As a representative of his firm, he attends Mrs. Drablaw's funeral and moves into her old house for a few days to go through her papers and attend to any outstanding legal affairs. The other inhabitants of Mrs. Drablaw's town refuse to go near her house and even to speak much of her. And Arthur soon discovers why.

I saw the play that was based on the novella when my family took a Christmas trip to London in 2002. We managed to squeeze in five shows during our week long trip. In case anyone cares, the other four were Les Miserables, HMS Pinafore, 125th Street, and The Lion King. So this was the only non musical. And I have to say, the play was much scarier than the book. I had nightmares for months which, at 17 years old, was somewhat embarrassing.

This is not to say the book was bad, far from it in fact. Even though I'd seen the play, it was years ago and I remembered next to nothing about the actual mystery. So I was just as intrigued as poor Arthur. Just the emotion the book was able to elicit was more one of sadness than of terror. The book was definitely creepy, old house and rising mists and ghosts in the graveyard and all that, but I never felt the terror I think I was supposed to feel.

3/5

An honorable defeat...

It's highly possible I've bit off more than I can chew. The Themed Reading Challenge will be the second challenge this year that I didn't complete in time. How sad for me. I blame my move (from Mexico to Canada basically, except I never left the US). Though I suppose there's not point in blame. I will just put it behind and move onto what's next...I have a LOT of catching up to do.

The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber

the crimson petal and the white
michel faber
c. 2002
848 pages (253 read)

stopped reading 7/8/2009

read for: themed reading challenge

*may contain spoilers*

The story of Sugar as she rises in society in 19th century England.

There's your very brief plot description, as I didn't finish the book. I wanted to. I wanted to like this book so much. But I just couldn't. I couldn't connect with the story, the characters, anything. I had to win an argument with myself every time I tried to convince myself to keep reading. So I've given up. I will say, the thing that kept me going so long and makes me want to look into other Faber novels was the writing style. It was written as if someone was talking to you, as if you and he are standing in the street following these people. And that I really liked. Unfortunately it wasn't enough.

1/5

Why am I so sad?

Apparently my library does not yet have a copy of the book Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold (apparently I've been spelling his name wrong for some time on my blog...I don't know where I got the wrong spelling Gaijnor...I think there is some sort of conspiracy). They ordered it in May, but they don't have it yet. So I'm going to have to take it off my Themed Reading Challenge (see sidebar) list. I'm replacing it with The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy which bums me out a little since I wanted all my titles to have different colors. But I am SUPER CRAZY WAY behind in most of my challenges and The Black Dahlia is already on my list so I'm just gonna go with it.

Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

purple hibiscus
chimamanda ngozi adichie
c. 2003
307 pages
completed 3/27/2009

read for: themed reading challenge, orbis terrarum challenge

*may contain spoilers*

I am forever indebted to this book for pulling me out of my reading slump AND for letting me say I actually did read something all the way through in the month of March. Yea me!

Purple Hibiscus is the story of Kambili and Jaja, two Nigerian teenagers who live with their fanatical Catholic parents. After spending time away from their parents on vacation with their aunt and cousins, Kambili and Jaja realize that life should be different. They learn to think for themselves and make their own decisions about life, love, family, and religion. And so, upon their return home, trouble ensues.

I have to say that while I did enjoy this book, I liked Adichie's other novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, better. This story has been told before. And while the Nigerian culture and politics made it seem fresh, a lot of the novel was predictable. That being said, I am definitely looking forward to more by Adichie.

3/5

There are so many colors in the rainbow...

Another new challenge: the 2009 Themed Reading Challenge...

There are a few different versions of this challenge, and I have chosen the first version. Between February 1 and July 31, read four books off my TBR pile that are connected through a common theme. My theme? Colors in the title...not too original, but I've got lots to choose from. My books will be...

1. The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber

2. Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

3. The Woman in Black - Susan Hill

4. Girl in a Blue Dress - Gaijnor Arnold

It's good to be trimming down my out of control TBR pile...