The Pupil

The Pupil by Henry James

Originally this was published in a magazine in the late 1800's as a short story. Pemberton has recently graduated from Oxford. He is looking for work in order to make some money. He finds the Moreen family is in need of a tutor for their 11 year old son Morgan. Morgan has a weak heart, which is one of the reasons he is schooled at home.

The Moreens are American but live in Europe. They spend all of their time, money and energy gallivanting around Europe wracking up hotel bills and trying to fit into popular society. Since all of their money is spent on extravagance, the Moreens never pay Pemberton.

Morgan, having a flaky family and spending all of his time with Pemberton, becomes quite attached. Eventually Pemberton needs some money (he and Morgan have devised a plan to run away from the Moreens) to live on. For a short time he takes another tutoring position. He returns to Morgan upon hearing that the boy's health is declining. When he reaches the newest hotel where the Moreen family has been staying, he finds the Moreens evicted and willing to hand over Morgan just to get him off of their hands. Morgan, in a state of euphoria over his good fortune..........has a heart attack and dies. Tragic!!

Rating 3 Great short read, felt for the position of Morgan against his rat fink family..........but not my favorite thing I have ever picked up.

Rating G

Animal Farm

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Manor Farm is taken over by the animals after the old pig Major has something of a prophetic dream. Farmer Jones is run out and the animals have a dream of taking over the world. They want the animals to be free. Soon enough the pigs emerge as leaders of this small budding nation, because they are the smartest. They have an anthem which they sing and try to spread as propaganda to other farms. The Seven Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall and eventually they even have their very own (somewhat suspicious) flag with a horn and hoof I believe.

The pigs, in a place of power, eventually abuse it. The animals are taught to be fearful, suspicious and many of their previous rights are gradually taken away, supplanted by the pigs power over them. The pigs even begin to erase memories and change thoughts, all the while breaking the Seven Commandments themselves and finding ways to justify their actions.

Truly a political satire easily read and understood. Puts a great spin on historical events and helps you see what to look for in the future.

I found this little gem at a book sale and thought that for 50 cents I couldn't pass up the opportunity to own such a great classic. Orwell is possibly better know for his book 1984 and having read that multiple times I knew it was time to pick this one up. Also, this is one of the only books that my dad mentions that he read while he was younger. I can't believe it took me this long to read it!

Rating 4.5

Rating PG..........the animals are pretty cruel but I don't want to spoil any surprises.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

This book takes place at the end of WWII.........1940's. A spunky, young author, Juliet comes to know the people of the Channel Islands. Historically this was the only part of Great Britain occupied by the Nazis. The book is written through letters between Juliet, her friends, her publisher, and the people of Guernsey Island. She learns so much about the people of the island that she decides to write her next book about them. As a defense against the smothering Nazi occupation some of the island people have made their own literary group........an escapism for the dreary and sometimes hellish occupation.
I think it must have been the title that first turned me off. All it brought to mind was the way potato peels turn rusty and starchy. It made we want to gag and I felt strangely depressed. Nevertheless the book came well recommended. I was able to masticate it in a day.
Juliet is spunky, witty and quite humorous in personality. She at times reminded me of ....me. The other characters are very engaging. I enjoyed that the book was written in letter form, allowing me the luxury of feeling like a bit of a voyeur. I also really liked learning so much about history in story form. I feel compelled to find out more about the Channel Islands and their occupation during WWII.
The literary society twist allowed the authors to bring in other classical authors and their stories in a meaningful and fulfilling manner. I am convinced I need to read Charles Lamb and the lesser known Brontes.
Rating 4 I enjoyed the writing style, the story and the historical information. I am not in love with this book, but it was an easy and stimulating read.
Rating G

The Turn of the Screw

The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James

An unnamed narrator listens to a male friend reading a manuscript written by a former governess whom the latter claims to have known and who is now dead. The manuscript tells the story of how the young governess is hired by a man who has found himself responsible for his niece and nephew after the death of their parents. He lives in London and has no interest in raising the children. The boy, Miles, is attending a boarding school whilst his sister, Flora, is living at the country home in Essex. She is currently being cared for by the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. The governess' new employer gives her full charge of the children and explicitly states that she is not to bother him with communications of any sort. The governess travels to her new employer's country house and begins her duties.
Miles soon returns from school for the summer with a letter from the headmaster stating that he has been expelled. Miles never speaks of the matter, and the governess is hesitant to raise the issue. She fears that there is some horrid secret behind the expulsion, but is too charmed by the adorable young boy to want to press the issue. Shortly thereafter, the governess begins to see around the grounds of the estate the figures of a man and woman whom she does not recognize. These figures come and go at will without ever being seen or challenged by other members of the household, and they seem to the governess to be supernatural in nature. She learns from Mrs. Grose that her predecessor, Miss Jessel, and Miss Jessel's illicit lover Peter Quint both died under curious circumstances. Prior to their death, they spent most of their time with Flora and Miles, and this fact takes on grim significance for the governess when she becomes convinced that the two children are secretly aware of the presence of the ghosts. (Plot taken from Wikepedia. Sorry for the copycatting........I wanted to have a clearer recollection when I come back and read this later.)
At first I was convinced of the realness of the ghosts and the danger of the children. As time went on I began to think the governess was a bit hysterical. I never thought she was completely bonkers, but by the end I did think she was at the least, the only one seeing the beings. The story went from scary to weird. By the end I was ready for it to be over.
Henry James has an elaborate writing manner. He is very wordy and tends to digress and use copious amounts of synoymns in just about every sentence. It is beautiful writing, but at times I felt like it began to detract from the story. Nevertheless I will press on..........and continue to read the rest of the collection that I just bought.
Rating 3.5 Scary to weird depending on how you take the story.......do you believe the governess or do you think she is bonkers? I would like to see it on stage. I bet it would be much more thirilling.
Rating G

The Mermaid Chair

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Jessie is a fortyish woman going back to her hometown (small island) after her mother purposefully severs her finger. While she is there caring for her mother and uncovering the truth to her father's death when she was nine, Jessie falls in love (I use that term loosely) with a monk. Unfortunately for Jessie's family, she is still married to her husband Hugh.

I liked Brother Thomas the monk. He seemed genuine. I find cloistering yourself away from the world for your whole life unfathomable, so I was glad that he had reactions that I felt were normal and real. Jessies mother was intriguing. Understanding why she would cut off her own finger and what that had to do with the death of her husband so many years ago was a wonderful part of the story.

Like Sue Monk Kidd's other book The Secret Life of Bees, this had a group of women as main characters, Jessie's mother's friends. I'm not sure what really turns me off about books that are about sisterhood. Maybe because I don't have sisters myself. But I find them exclusionary and unbalanced. So that was one large part of what I didn't like about this book.

The biggest thing that I really didn't like about the book is Jessie's moaning and waahing about boredome, losing herself, and needing to rediscover herself. Of course like so many people that means leaving your life and everything important behind and having an affair. Lust somehow makes you true to yourself. In the end all she did was commit a grievous sin and tear out the hearts of loved ones, including the unassuming monk, just to discover that wasn't what she really wanted after all.

I did enjoy the journey of the book and it was an entertaining read.

Rating 3.5

Rating PG 13 sexual content and swearing

Garden Spells

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

This book sounded intriguing.............many people have likened it to Practical Magic. The writing reminded me a lot of Alice Hoffman.

This book is about the Waverly sisters. Waverly family members often have magical gifts. Sydney has a way with styling hair and understanding what the styles mean. Claire uses food to evoke feelings. Their Aunt knows items that people will need in the future, but not what they will need them for. Bay, Sydney's little girl has the gift of knowing where things or people belong. The Waverlys' also have an enchanted apple tree. Eating an apple from the tree will show you the most important event of your life.

Each sister is hiding from something in their life and trying to build a life where they are comfortable with themselves and their past. The characters were truly enjoyable and the touch of magic added depth.

Rating 4 Quick, happy read with some romance.

Rating PG 13, sexual content