author & ghostwriter
Before I had the opportunity to visit Paris with my wonderful mom and brother last year, I had a theory. I told myself that, if I found and read enough books set in Paris, I could pretend I had been there before. With each book that I read set in Paris, I believed that the … Continue reading 5 Books Set In Paris (Part 1)
My third book in this year’s classic novel challenge, Russian Magic Tales, was a delight. I wandered dark forests, met evil stepmothers, learned riddles, and—happily—found the Russian mermaid, who draws travelers to death with her weeping. More interesting than the stories were the biographies of each featured author. Many lived dank lives, suffering illness and … Continue reading Russian Magic Tales from Pushkin to Platonov by Robert Chandler
The second book in my 2019 classic novel challenge was The Story of King Arthur and His Knights. These stories were released in serial form for a children’s publication; they are characterized by their bold protagonists, as well as their focus on virtue and morality. It is not a novel, but a compilation of tales … Continue reading The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle
This is my first Hemingway novel. It's a quick read and struck me for being so detached. The writing style seems indifferent by nature, focusing little on the main character's emotions and more on dialogue. I don't know if Hemingway's writing is like this in other novels. It isn't bad: the way the main character … Continue reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
In my final reflection on David Copperfield (for now), I want to muse on a paragraph which appears to me as a living, direct link to the author and what he stood for. It is a reflection on the homeless of his time--and ours. In context: still a child, David Copperfield has escaped horrific months … Continue reading David Copperfield: The Call to Action
Paragraphs can be so telling. Here, I'm going to compare two passages from David Copperfield that made their way into my reading journal because of their devastating depth. Here is the first: When my mother is out of breath and rests herself in an elbow-chair, I watch her winding her bright curls round her fingers … Continue reading David Copperfield: Contrast of Summer and Winter
The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, and Observation of David Copperfield the Younger of Blunderstone Rookery. This is the original title of Charles Dickens' eighth novel, published in serial form in the year 1850. Now sold as a 700-page book, it was originally released in 19 monthly one-shilling installments. This makes for a delightfully long story … Continue reading David Copperfield: Intro
The Belly of Paris is a unique, fast-paced novel about justice, revolution, and hunger. It is the third book in a 20-part series titled Les Rougon-Macqyart. The series examines two branches of a family: the respectable (legitimate) side, and the disreputable (illegitimate.) The third installment follows Florent Quenu, a French convict who escaped exile in … Continue reading The Belly of Paris by Emile Zola
Occasionally we find books so beautifully written that it seems the style, not the plot, keeps us turning pages. Though translated from its original French, Swann's Way did not lose its beauty in the process: every sentence reads like a verse from an old, nostalgic poem. As an example: Meanwhile the scenery of his dream-stage … Continue reading Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
Mariella Hunt 