Umar Abdulmajeed > Recent Status Updates

Poor Mr. Lowborough. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

Consider who you're marrying before you marry them, folks. Anne Brontë knows "ball", as the kids say.

In my opinion, Mr. Huntingdon is the most thoroughly unlikeable male character I've seen in a Brontë novel. And that's really saying something considering how adept the Brontës were at writing men with less than ideal personality traits. But Mr. Rochester is Clark Kent compared to this guy.

So far, this novel is a manual on what NOT to do when looking for someone to marry. I suppose that is the point, though.

Finally made some progress with this! It's not half-bad so far but, as of right now, it still doesn't hold a candle to the other two Brontës. And what could be called the actual plot and purpose of the novel doesn't start until page 130 which, upon reflection, is a little insane.

Here's hoping it holds a candle to the other Brontë books.

Only five pages and her poetry is already breathtaking, my goodness. Very excited for this one!

This is apparently said to be one of the most influential Gothic novels ever, and it caused an immense and morally outraged uproar when it was first published.

The first Walter Scott novel I read, Guy Mannering, was a 3-star read, but the pros of that reading experience were notable enough for me to give him another try.

Finally had the opportunity to pick this up from the library and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Never thought I'd see the day when I would be actively reading and enjoying a book by Hemingway but here we are. And he's managed to do the impossible: make me want to go to Paris.

Very excited for this one.

Things are getting hella interesting! That's all I can say.

I'm confused. But in a good way. Beautifully, wonderfully, enchantingly confused.

Ah yes, one of those classic brother against brother stories. Those always end well.

I DNF'd this novel some years back because I wanted to focus on other books. I might give it another try.

Here we go then. I'm reading the translation by Constantance Garnett.

Apparently, Chapter 11 is the weakest chapter and the hardest to get through. Let's see how true that ends up being.

Just found out this beautiful collection existed and I had a heart attack of happiness.

Cautiously looking forward to this one.

Only halfway through, but if this novella sticks sticks the landing, it will be one of the easiest five star-ratings I've ever given. So far, it's a beautifully written slice of Gothic goodness.

So far, it feels more like a collection of interesting scenes and reflections on academia culture instead of a fully engaging, well-paced novel.