Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I just finished re-reading one of my favorite books of all time, and it was even better the second time around.

I first read "Pride and Prejudice" when I was in high school. It was my second classic; "Jane Eyre" was my first. I was inspired to read it because my experience with the latter was just so wonderful, that I became motivated to read more classics.

"Pride and Prejudice", however, was a totally different breed. First, and most formidable of all, the language was ten times more difficult for me to understand. I was able to zip through "Jane Eyre", but with "P & P", I needed a dictionary by my side at all times. The style was also very different. One of the main charms of "P & P" is its sharp, witty, and hilarious dialogue that just jumps at you from the pages; however, I found that it wasn't as descriptive as other books that I had read. A lot of times, you have to read between the lines to get a better grasp of what is truly going on. I also felt that many scenes were presented quite abruptly. Austen doesn't spoon-feed her readers. She is very sharp and intelligent, and she expects the reader to be just as quick as her.

When I was 16, I had never read a book like this before, and at first I was a bit lost and, quite honestly, bored. I wanted to quickly finish the book so I could watch the much talked about BBC miniseries. After seeing Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy staring and smiling at Elizabeth Bennet from across the room, I suddenly woke up to the true beauty of this story. You see, when I was reading the book, the lack of description made it difficult for me to picture the story and its characters. In order for me to truly enjoy a book, I need to be able to see it visually, and this is exactly what the miniseries (a most faithful adaptation) was able to do for me. As soon as I saw the book come to life via this medium, I began to appreciate it, and slowly but surely, I fell deeply in love.

Now almost 10 years after first picking up the book, I was able to zip through it in just a couple of days. Every page was divine. Obviously, now that I'm much older, my perspective has changed a lot, and I appreciate this book even more, especially for creating such magnificent characters in the persons of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. I am even more in love with it.

5 stars *****

FILM ADAPATATION: I Capture the Castle

Since I just did a review on the book, "I Capture the Castle", I thought I'd write about the movie as well. Film adaptations are such a great additional form of enjoying the stories of our beloved novels. Based on my experience, the books are better most of the time; however, there are those rare instances when the movie is just as good or even better. These films can add a totally refreshing perspective to the story and the characters.

I Capture the Castle is the perfect example of a film adaptation done right. Everything about this movie was simply wonderful. The cast was perfect; the script was great - the two things vital to an adaptation's success. Romola Garai, one of my favorite actresses, did an excellent job portraying Cassandra. At first, I wasn't sure if she was the best choice because I had seen some of her previous works, and physically, she didn't really match my image of Cassandra. Romola is quite tall and is a very beautiful girl. I always pictured Cassandra to be smallish and very plain looking. However, Romola completely transformed her look for the movie, and she really pulled it off. She was able to capture Cassandra's innocence, charm, naivete, sense, intelligence, and the range of emotions she experiences throughout the story.

The rest of the cast was equally superb, especially Bill Nighy who played the father, the frustrated writer. The setting, the costumes, the music, everything else was in sync with how I imagined the book to be. However, my absolute favorite thing about the movie, that I preferred over the book, was the ending. The ending in the film was just fabulous. I have to say that the ending in the novel broke my heart a little bit. It left a pang of sadness and confusion in my heart, but the one in the movie left hope and happiness. It made me smile. :)

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

This book was absolutely adorable! The story is told from the perspective of 17 year old Cassandra Mortmain who lives in a dilapidated English castle with her family - a father, a stepmother, a younger brother, and an older sister. They are quite isolated from society not only because of their location but because of their limited funds brought about by Cassandra's father's struggles as a writer - he is suffering from writer's block and hasn't written a book in a really long time.

Cassandra, an aspiring writer herself, spends a lot of her time writing on her diary. She records the minutiae of their daily life which goes on pretty uneventfully until two young men - Neil and Simon Cotton - arrive to claim the estate.

Romance ensues among the characters - Cassandra, her beautiful sister Rose, and the Cottons. Insecurity, jealousy, longing, and unrequited love arise in this beautifully told coming of age story.

I found out about this book when J.K. Rowling cited it as one of her favorite books. Rowling stated that "I Capture the Castle" has "one of the most charismatic narrators" she had ever met, and she was right. Many girls will find themselves relating to Cassandra - her dreams, her doubts, her imagination, and her longing for love. As the plain sister, compared to the enticing Rose, she is often overlooked, and the reader can't help but sympathize with her. She also writes in a way that is absolutely charming. She is witty and descriptive. She is innocent but also very sensible. This book actually reminded me a lot of a Jane Austen novel, and that is always a plus for me. :)

This book was an absolute joy to read, but was also quite sad and poignant. After I turned the last page (especially the last page!), Cassandra left such a deep impression in me. In a way, she became a friend forever.

5 stars *****

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha was the very first book I read that completely took my breath away in a way that was totally filling and satisfying. Before this novel, I had only been indulging in young adult books, the Sweet Valley series to be precise (Haha!).

I believe Memoirs was my first adult book, and, suffice it to say, I was blown away by its intricacy, the beauty of the language, the pacing of the book, and the character descriptions and development. I was transported into a completely foreign world; yet, somehow, it also felt like home.  I was so engrossed in Sayuri's rise from a village girl to one of the most successful and beautiful geishas of her time. The jealousy and rivalry between her and the villainess, Hatsumomo also heightened the overall mood of the book. Her presence in the story really raised the stakes.

There is also the love story between Sayuri and the Chairman - her driving force to become and succeed as a geisha. This is quite heartbreaking because of the juxtaposition of her pure and innocent love for him and the nature of her job.

Most of all, I loved how the book sparked my interest in a completely foreign time and culture. It opened up my eyes to the wonderful world of geishas - their beauty, their practices, their beliefs, their goals, their hearts, their dreams.   Memoirs of a Geisha is one of those books that truly makes you feel as if you've traveled to another place - you really were there and you really knew these people. It is a wonderful page turner and overall reading experience.

5 stars *****

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it when I was in high school after I saw it on sale at Barnes & Noble for only $2.99. I thought I'd simply add it to my collection without actually reading it since it was so cheap. I went home and sat down to read the first page or two thinking it would probably bore me to death since it was my first classic. Boy was I wrong.

As soon as I read the first line, I simply could not stop reading.

Jane being maltreated as an orphan, Jane being sent to Lowood school, her trials and tribulations there, and of course, Jane's life as a governess in Thornfield, the mystery surrounding that house, and the brooding, mysterious and absolutely irresistible Mr. Rochester.

I loved all of it. But most especially, I loved reading about her relationship with her employer. In every scene they had together, their chemistry was burning. I found myself holding my breath every time they had an encounter, especially their talks by the fireplace. I could just picture Mr. Rochester eyes examining her through his dark locks. I could hear his deep, baritone voice. I felt Jane's nervousness, uncertainty, insecurity, heartbreak, excitement, elation... and I too fell in love with Mr. Rochester.

5 stars *****