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I did mean to get a new post up sooner… As my fourth book in last Summer’s European Literature reading, I read Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.

The Author:

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England on February 7, 1812. He and his wife Catherine, whom he married in 1836, had ten children. His first novel appears to have been “The Pickwick Papers” published in monthly installments in the year 1836. He was a prolific writer and wrote many novels including, “Bleak House”, “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Martin Chuzzlewit”. Besides his novels he also wrote short stories, poetry and plays. He died on June 9, 1870 at the very young age of 58.

Technical Details:
Nicholas Nickleby was originally published in monthly installments between the years of 1838 and 1839. It was his third of many novels. The version I read was published in 2005 by Barnes and Noble Classics, given to me by my little sister. The book was 64 chapters long and had 802 pages, including the short preface and the table of contents, which I confess, I did not read at all. The beginning holds an Introduction written by Jill Muller and a timeline of Mr. Dickens life which I skimmed part of, but really didn’t read either. (It contained many spoilers!) The back of the book has a selection of comments and questions written about the book, by several people. (And, no, if you are wondering – I didn’t read these either!) The alternate title for this book, (and as far as I understand it, the original title) is The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

The Story:
Nicholas Nickleby, a young man of nineteen, has recently lost his father. He has an education and a much loved mother and sister to support. Nicholas is ready and willing to do whatever work is required to provide for himself and his family, but having never been required to work a day in his life, he has no idea how to do it. This book follows young Nicholas as he with his equally young and easily trusting sister Kate are thrown into the realities of the “real world”. A greedy uncle, filled with contempt for his extended relations, and near hatred for his nephew, separates the young man from his family, sending Nicholas to Yorkshire. Working at a miserable little school for a malicious man, Nicholas despises most of what goes on around him. When he saves another young man from a cruel and unjust beating, Nicholas decides that he must leave, and sets out alone and on foot. Alone, that is, until Smike, the poor boy that he rescued finds him and joins Nicholas in his travels. The reader follows the two travelers as they encounter trials, enemies and new friends. Kate Nickleby, living alone with a silly, easily led, though kind and affectionate mother, is ready prey for her Uncle’s avaricious schemes. Various side plots and minor characters fill out this interesting tale from the kindly Cheeryble Brothers to the iniquitous Arthur Gride to sweet Madeline Bray.

The Writing Style:
I have read several of Mr. Dicken’s works and his style truly does vary, depending on the book. Nicholas Nickleby is written in his “lighter” style. Satire is used prolifically, especially where it describes hypocritical or common, predictable words or behavior. The book is written in third person, like many, though not all of Mr. Dickens books. For the most part, the story flows well, with few descriptive interruptions. He does get a little longwinded at times, but not often in this particular book.

The Characters:
All the main characters were strong and well written. The Cheeryble brothers were as kindly and generous as Ralph Nickleby was self-centered and avaricious. The cast of minor characters ranged with how well you got to know them. In true Dickens style, most of the minor characters had their own side-plots that really had very little to do with the story surrounding Nicholas and his family. Usually the side stories only took up a chapter or two, giving to the reader a deeper knowledge of these minor characters, as well as letting us see the main characters interact with them in insignificant ways. While some people might find the seeming rabbit trails annoying or dull, I found them intriguing and insightful.

As to my favorite character, Nicholas was on the top of my list. Though certainly not perfect, Nicholas was characterized by being fiercely protective of his mother and sister, a hard, diligent worker and a brave man, who was always ready to do the right thing. Though he is my favorite, any one of the three Cheerybles or Kate Nickleby, are very close. I liked Kate’s sweet, longsuffering disposition and the Cheerybles were among the most cheerful, generous characters in the book.

Caution:
There is some mild language to watch for, almost, if not always, coming from the antagonists.

Conclusion:
I really enjoyed Nicholas Nickleby, even more than I thought I would. The only drawback would be that it took me close to a month to read the entire thing. Even with that, I will probably read it again sometime and I would certainly recommend it.

 

To the KING be all the glory!

 

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For our family’s Summer of European Literature, the third book I read was Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

The Author:
Jules Verne was born in February in the year 1828 to French parents Pierre and Sophie Verne. The oldest of five children, Mr. Verne began writing plays as a young man instead of studying to become a lawyer like his father. He married a widow who had two daughters, and the couple had a son in 1861. Known as “the father of science fiction”, Mr. Verne’s first book Five Weeks in a Balloon was published in 1863. Other works by Jules Verne include: Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island. Mr. Verne died in March of 1905.

Technical Details:
Around the World in Eighty Days was published in 1873. This book has 37 somewhat short chapters and contains 210 pages. The edition that I read, was published by Dalmatian Press in 2004, a part of a currently unavailable series called Great Reads.

The Story:
Phileas Fogg, a highly predictable and rather eccentric bachelor living in London in 1872, believes that a man can travel completely around the world in 80 days. His friends disagree, saying that such an enterprise is impossible to accomplish. Intent on proving the validity of his assertion, Phileas Fogg suggests a wager with his friends – a bet of twenty thousand pounds, that he can make a journey around the world in 80 days. After some hesitation, his friends agree and Mr. Fogg sets out immediately, accompanied by his man-servant, Passepartout. Traveling by nearly every available means including by train, boat and riding on an elephant, Mr. Fogg tries to prove the possibility his theory. Picking up other travelers on the way, separations and a heroic rescue make the trip more adventurous than the two men expected. In addition, unknown to them, a detective is bent upon arresting Mr. Fogg, believing that he is responsible for a large theft committed in London. Will Mr. Fogg make it home in time to win his wager or will the weather, the detective or one of his adventures make him lose? Will he find something that is even more important than the wager during his trip around the world?

The Writing Style:
The writing style of this book, seems a little stiff and is very focused on descriptions of people, places and things. The descriptions were, in some places, very detailed and I enjoyed “seeing” the world as it was in the second half of the nineteenth century. Dialog, while not at a bare minimum, did have a lesser part in this book than in most fiction that I have read. I did, however, enjoy the style. There were a few minor points that I found tiresome, but not enough to deter me from reading other works by Jules Verne.

The Characters:
The part of the servant, I enjoyed. Though perhaps a little simple minded and a bit silly, his character was well developed and enjoyable to read. Phileas Fogg on the other hand, was not your typical hero. His character, though honest and upright in nearly every way, comes off as too stiff and rigid to truly claim the reader’s sympathy. I found it difficult to maintain the affectionate opinion of his closest friends. The other two main characters were well written and fairly well developed.

I’m not sure I had a favorite character in this book. Mr. Fogg was, by far, the most intelligent, and always ready to do what he believed was right. I may perhaps have preferred Aouda though… she was a pretty picture of womanhood.

Conclusion:
I enjoyed Around the World in Eighty Days. I might even read it again sometime. While perhaps not the best book I ever read, it was clean, well written, and full of information about the different countries visited by Phileas Fogg and his servant.

Interesting note:
While I have yet to watch any film adaptations based upon this book, I have been told that Mr. Fogg uses a hot air balloon as a means of transportation in at least two versions. In the book, Phileas Fogg considers the use of a balloon, but says it is not a feasible way to reach his destination.

To the KING be all the glory!

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I read Princess Paisley by Chautona Havig in February and March I believe it was. My sister, Bethany and I were reading it at the same time, keeping pace with each other.

The Author:
Chautona Havig is a contemporary author, living in California. She is married and the mother of nine children and grandmother of two. Princess Paisley is one of her eight published books. Others include: Ready or Not and Shadows and Secrets. To learn more about Mrs. Havig and her books, visit her website: chautona.com

Technical Details:
Princess Paisley was published in 2010. The book contains 29 chapters and is 336 pages long. Princess Paisley is the first and only published book in Mrs. Havig’s Not-So-Fairy Tales series.

The Story:
Princess Paisley follows the story of the young Princess of Jackalopany, Paisley by name. She loves to tend her flock of sheep, talk with the neighboring shepherd, and play her harp. She does have a problem though: Paisley has to get married and fairly soon, because the Jackalopian throne depends on it. If she marries someone beneath her in the social scale, then she is the heiress of the kingdom. On the other hand, if Paisley were to marry a Crown Prince of another kingdom, the throne would go to her younger brother Jackson. Each would need time to prepare for such a duty. Thus, Paisley’s Majority Ball is planned, and all the eligible young men in the surrounding area are invited in the hopes that one of them will turn out to be the future husband of the young princess. In the midst of the celebratory activities though, danger lurks in the shadows and when Paisley disappears, the Kingdom is left to fear the worst. Is Paisley alright? Is treachery afoot in the peaceful kingdom of Jackalopany?

The Writing Style:
I really enjoyed Mrs. Havig’s style in this book. Fairly easy to read, the narrator felt like she was sitting in the same room with the reader. She could be funny or serious as the story required.

The Characters:
The characters were well developed and realistic. There were a few who I wished I could see more of, such Paisley’s brother Jackson, but that was more of a personal opinion, than an requirement for the story. The antagonist was more than unpleasant and the protagonists were lovable.

As to my favorite character… Hmm… I think it would be Rupert, the Prince of Froggilandria who wants to win the hand of the princess. Or Henry, the young shepherd whom Paisley had known all her life. I’m not sure which. I liked them both for different reasons, which, if I gave them, would give away too many “spoilers”.

Conclusion:
Over all, I enjoyed Princess Paisley. A mixture of serious and amusing, I enjoyed the characters and was laughing most of the way through the book. Well written and a good satire on “typical” fairy-tales.

To the KING be all the glory!

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I read The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy as my second European book this Summer.

The Author:
Baroness Emmuska Orczy was born in Hungary in 1865. Her name at birth was Emmuska Magdalena Rosalia Maria Josefa Barbara Orczy. The daughter of a composer/conductor, her family eventually settled in London in 1880, where Baroness Orczy met and married Montague Maclean Barstow in 1884. The couple had one son, John. The author of several novels, Baroness Orczy’s first book was published in 1905. A few of her works include: Eldorado, The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Sir Percy Hits Back. She died in 1947.

Technical Details:
The Scarlet Pimpernel was first successful as a play opening in 1903, after the author was unable to get the novel published. The play was received very well and the novel was finally published in 1905. The edition that I read was a part of Dalmatian Press’s “Great Reads” collection, published in 2004. The book contains 31 chapters and is 273 pages long.

The Story:
The French Revolution is in full sway. The nobles are fleeing or hiding, the guillotine is ever in use and the English tremble as they read the reports from the country across the channel. As the people of the former upper class of France are being led to their deaths, a hero, known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel, plunges into the depths of danger to rescue the men, women and children doomed to face the guillotine. Meanwhile, in England, Lady Marguerite Blakney is forced to make a terrible decision; either she works with the French government official Monsieur Chauvelin to discover and capture the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, or she allows the same official to condemn her beloved brother to death on the guillotine. Whom should she choose? The hero or her brother? How could she live with herself, knowing she is responsible for the death of either? Or is there, perhaps, another alternative that she hasn’t thought of?

The Writing Style:
I found the writing style easy to read. The descriptions were colorful and well executed. My only complaint was the drama. The author seemed to be a little melodramatic, mostly in the writing of the dialog, though also, occasionally, in the actions of her characters.

The Characters:
The characters were well done, though some of the things they did seemed a little too dramatic to be realistic. They were well developed and otherwise, portrayed very well. None seemed to be lacking in any way. The villain was sufficiently villainous and the hero was… well… very heroic!

My favorite character… Sir Percy or Sir Andrew. I confess that it was a draw between the two. While I (of course!) really liked Sir Percy, there was something about the integrity and willingness to serve that Sir Andrew had, that made me really like him.

Warnings:
There is some minor offensive language in this book.

Conclusion:
Over all, I did enjoy “The Scarlet Pimpernel”. It had an excellent story, enjoyable characters and a good ending.

“We seek him here, we seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere…”

To the KING be all the glory!