Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

 #12 of 54 of BBC Big Read

Do I love Hardy? How do I love Hardy? Why haven’t I read this book before? Why?

Hardy is one of my favourite authors and reading this made me remember why. Bathsheba Everdene, a beauty like no other. She isn’t shy, demure, she is fiercely independent. She knows her mind. She knows what she wants. She also knows what she doesn’t want. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to understand what you need. 

Bathsheba reminded me a bit of Scarlett O’Hara both fiercely independent taking things into their hands. Not damsels in distress. 

Small prank Bathsheba plays puts things into motion and causes pain  to many. What if she had played the prank on Sergeant Troy. How would the story had gone? Why didnt Oak reveal who Sergeant was to Bathsheba. I think even Bathsheba knew who he was. She was just blinded by his charm and uniform. Wickham’s of the world do have a charm that hides their villainous nature. Was Troy a villain? Or was he just blinded by her beauty. When I could have her and her wealth, why should I settle for something less? 

Farmer Boldwood living his own life. She didnt exist for him. Why did she have to disturb him and lead to the way things are? She didn’t mean them to happen. 

I really enjoyed this one. Savoured every bit. Took my own sweet time to read this, didn’t hurry. Just enjoyed strolling in the countryside far from the madding crowd.

The Remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro

 This has been in my reading list, ever since I read ‘Never let me go’ many many years ago. Some books stay with you for a very long time and leaves its fragrance with you.

This is beautifully written. Its about the ‘stiff upper lip Jeeves’, about a person who lives below stairs, he is not a caricature, he is not the ‘Butler did it’. He is a person bound by loyalty and dignity. What is dignity? Who is a butler? 

This is not the story of powerful Lord Darlington who dallied with the Prime Ministers and powerful foreign ministers, who had influence on World politics. This is the story of Mr.Stevens the Butler, who made possible for all these powerful people make decisions with comfort, without thinking about food and other daily comfort.

It was heartbreaking when after his discourse on dignity, Mr.Stevens narrates an incident where these Lords and powerful people try to strip him of his dignity. The ending was also heartbreaking, he couldn’t knock and ask. He was too dignified. If he had asked, would he have been able to bear the truth. 

Mr Stevens Seniors last days and how he deteriorates, just make me ask would that be the future of Mr. Stevens. Always duty to Lord comes first, even if your very own are dying. Another book the lingers. 

This is the quintessential English book. Why is it not in the BBC Big Read!

On My nighstand

 

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

 #99 in BBC Big Read

Yep. It was 99 on the list. No, I havent read 99 books in the list already. 

Another quick read. I have seen the movie. I would say I like the book better. Mia is just another girl who could be right out of Jacquline Wilson's book. She is 14 and her main worries in life are Algebra and her maths teacher is dating her mom and the guy she has crush on doesnt even know she exists. Could life get worse? At least Mia believes it has turned terrible. Why? She learnt that she is a princess. How does she take this. What happens next? Does she have a chance with the boy of her dreams. 

Did the movie release around the BBC Big read voting? Did a whole lot of young girls get besotted by it and went on to read the book and became one of Britains most loved books. 

Maybe I am reading from the wrong list. As of now, going to stick with it. Lets see where it takes me.

I got no one to blame. 

What’s in a Name 2023 Sign Up

 This challenge is hosted by Andrea @ Carolina Book Nook.

The rules:

• The challenge runs from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates.
• Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.
• Don’t use the same book for more than one category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
• You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.

In 2023, choose 6 books that have titles that contain a:
(Click on the links for more examples and info)

• Punctuation - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling(read)
  
• 7 Deadly Sins - The Thursday Murder Club 
• You or Me - I will find you by Harlan Coben (read)
• Chess Piece -I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
• Celebration - Parade by Suichi Yoshida
• Q, X, Z- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (read)

2023 Alphabet Soup Author Edition

 

While I am at it, I also signed up for the author edition. If you want to join, sign up here

Challenge Complete

Dogulas Adams - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy 

Linwood Barclay -Noise Downstairs 

Meg Cabot -Princess Diaries

Roald Dahl -Charlie and the chocolate Factory

Eric Jorgenson- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Hans Fallada- Alone in Berlin 

Kenneth Grahame-The Wind in the Willows

Matt Haig - Reasons to stay Alive

Ingrid Persaud -Love after Love 

Jacqueline Wilson -Double Act

Kazuo Ishiguro - The Remains of the day

CS Lewis - The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe 

Malorie Blackman- Noughts and Crosses

Caleb Azumah Nelson -Open Water

Richard Osman- The Thursday Murder Club

Philip Pullman Northern Lights

Ellery Queen - Tragedy of X

J K Rowling -Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Salman Rushdie- The Midnight’s Children

Thomas Hardy- Far from the Madding Crowd

Lisa Unger- Under my Skin

Cecily Von Ziegesar- You know you love me

PG Wodehouse - The code of the Woosters

Xiran Jay Zhao -Zhachary Jhin and the Dragon Empire 

Suichi Yoshida- Parade

Stefan Zweig -Journey into the past

2023 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

I signed up for the Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge. Looks like I would be reading most of the Alphabet anyway. So why not sign up. If you want to join in sign up here 

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks 

Charlie and the chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson 

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Girls in love  by Jacqueline Wilson 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling 

I will find you by Harlan Coben

Journey into the past by Stefan Zweig

Katherine by Anya Seton

Love after Love by Ingrid Presaud 

Midnight’s Children 

Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Question of Proof by Nicolas Blake

The Remains of the Day

The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson

The Twits by Rolad Dahl

Under my skin by Lisa Unger

Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Tragedy of X by Ellery Queen

You know you love me by Cecily von Ziegesar

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Empire by Xiran Jay Zhao

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

 #10 of 54 of BBC Big Read

I read this book long back, but don’t remember anything about it except the solution to the universe and everything. Anyway what more should I know. 

So decided to reread it. This is another wacky, crazy ride. Your home is about to be demolished as a bypass is being built, but then entire Earth gets demolished for the intergalactic bypass. Its funny and bizarre. Improbability drive and whole lot of stuff that just goes over your head. How could someone think of such a story. What state of mind one needs to be to come up with something funny and satiric.

Noise Downstairs by Linwood Barclay

 This could easily be the book that I read the longest. No, book is not bad. It was actually good.

I started it a couple of years back on a holiday as a bedtime read. But after a few pages nodded off as was too tired. Never got back to it, until on another holiday. Reread the first few pages and dropped off again.

Finally picked it up again and finished it. It was one crazy ride as could be.

The story starts with a car chase and two dead bodies. At one point thought I had figured it all and was bit disappointed. Where is my twist? But then there was a twist unexpected as usual. 

Vicky Angel by Jaqueline Wilson

 # 9 of 54 BBC Big Read

This is the 4th Jaqueline Wilson book I have read in May. This was a difficult topic and much difficult to read then all the other 3. 

While death, abadonment has been a constant topic in all 4. Here it looms big. While the book is written in a lighter vein, we could feel for Jade and her loss and how terribly Jade is coping with this loss.

Jade loses her bestie in an accident in front of her eyes. What follows is the trauma and how Jade copes with the loss. Parents seem to be clueless and are emcompassed in their own struggles. Jade is haunted by her Bestie, who turns her to a monster. Her loyalty to her best friend stops her from getting help or moving on. 

Reminded me a bit of Ackley Bridge. I stopped watching Ackley Bridge after one of the main characters dies. But this story starts with the death. Very painful, but could be soothing to those in similar situations.

Charlie and the chocolate factory & The Twits by Roald Dahl

#7 & #8 of 54 BBC Big Read

I may have said this before or maybe not. Dont mimd repeating. My introduction to Roald Dahl was as a grown up and through his short story collection for adults. Roald Dahl has a wicked sense of humour and loved the twist in the tale.

It was many many years later, I read Matilda, followed by Witches. Dont remember if I read the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory before. I may have read it or I probably saw the movie and thought I read it. Anyway, I decided to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think the best about Roald Dahl is he doesnt dumb down the humor for kids. Its all in there and you enjoy as much as you get it. 

Twits is another crazy story with wicked sense of humor. Mr and Mrs Twits trying to get at each other and but then in their wickedness collobarate together trying to get at everybody else.

What you sow, so you reap. At least most of the time. Twits sow meaness, what do they get back.

Wonderful as these books are not sure why they are in the BBC Big read. Maybe too many kids voted in here. Couldnt help wondering why did Roald Dahl write Twits? 

Look both Ways by Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay always takes something ordinary and then its turns into one crazy bizzare journey. We are in the world of self-driving cars. What happens if they turn rogue? Not much different from what happens when Robots or AI turn rogue. But this is crazy as it goes.

Barclay always picks on contemperary trending topics. Not just the technology but also about the Me too movement here. What would you do when someone accuses your most valuable enployee of sexual harrassment? This shouldnt be a question and it shouldnt be debatable. Yet we are in that world, where what should a fundamental right needs to be debated. And decisions are not made on decency but profits.