Riddle > Recent Status Updates

I recently bought the Oxford World's Classics edition of this text, which has improved the reading experience even more! This book will definitely go into my top 10 favorite books of all time; not an easy feat.

This story makes me feel things I just can't put into words. Has anyone else had that happen?

So far, color me charmed and amused.

3.5 so far. I am liking it, but I do have one fairly large grievance: why do I know more about secondary characters (Julia and Maria ex.) than the main character (Fanny)? Is she the MC or not? I think I know more about pretty much every other character than her. I did not buy this book to read about another abhorrent love triangle or about cheating, which seems to be so inexplicably pervasive in the romance genre.

Loving it! I enjoy the subtle observations Fanny has in her social settings.

This pains me. 2.5 stars. I am in a bit of a rush, so I will give it another chance at a later date. To me, Radcliffe is second to none with setting; unfortunately, to me in the case of this narrative, the same can't be said for the dialogue, pacing, and writing style. The monk escapes like four times, in the same unbelievable way. The MC has no emotional regulation and doesn't think. The pacing is extremely slow.

3.5. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

There were several things that I enjoyed about this book: Volume 5 was incredible, and seeing Anna's unraveling psychology was fascinating. There were also several that I disliked; more than two characters could have been cut that does not affect the plot or lessons, and probably 150+ pages as well, though I'm going to assume that had to do with when it was written.

I wasn't too sure of my thoughts at the beginning, because of how much more the author was describing the buildings than talking about Austen's life, but I have really gotten into it and am loving it. I have learned a few new things, such as her education and hobbies. I adore her so much!

This is my intro to Tolstoy, and even to Russian literature. It took a while to get into it. Maybe it's just me, but it felt like a really slow start. Despite the slow start, I am starting to like it; he is doing a good job of showing psychological realism, and I am getting more curious to see where he takes it from here!

It's interesting seeing the progress Tolkien made in the Two Towers, in almost real time, though I remain curious on what led him to take the story in different directions. (SPOILER) It's fascinating seeing him come up with the idea of the Palantirs, and how at what point he didn't fully understand what this thing was. I'm enjoying this one more than the previous two, and it's been a good read.

Tolkien seemed to have an interesting and simple writing process, though when I say simple, I mean how he creates and adds to the story, not in the story itself, which is by no means simple. Create a part of the story and then add to it, changing names, order, and adding more details to it, piece by piece, rewriting whole parts of it to fit the expanding narrative. It must have been crazy keeping track of everything!

I will have to read the book again at a later date because of how inflamed my emotions are right now. It was a complete five star for the longest time, one of my favorite books of all time, until I got to Book VII; I hate that relationship dynamic more than the English language will allow me to convey. It's only because I loved the rest of the book so much, and that I adore the author, that I will try it again.

I am glad she found a friend in both Miss Belfield and Mrs. Delvile, though I was tempted to put the book down after her last interaction with Mr. Harrel. I also haven't had an author make me laugh this much since Austen.

"Ah," said Cecilia to Mr. Gosport," but for your explanatory observations, how much would the sudden loquacity of this supercilious lady, whom I had imagined all but dumb, have perplext me!" p. 323

I am glad she found a friend in both Miss Belfield and Mrs. Duvile, though I was tempted to put the book down after her last interaction with Mr. Harrel. I also haven't had an author make me laugh this much since Austen.

"Ah," said Cecilia to Mr. Gosport," but for your explanatory observations, how much would the sudden loquacity of this supercilious lady, whom I had imagined all but dumb, have perplext me!" p. 323

Mr. Harrel and Sir Robert are some of the most annoying characters I have read about recently. It's also interesting to see the complexities Burney has given to her characters, such as the revelations Cecilia has discovered about her best friend and the effect time and displacement can have. I am loving both the story and her writing so far; I just love the 18th century English she uses.

I can't help but chuckling every time I read the word white domino.

Some possible light spoilers. Not too far, but I love it already. The characters, especially Cecilia, but also Harrel and Monckton, have me interested. The plot sounds fascinating: an intelligent, but socially naive lady, will have to learn to navigate a new and complex social environment after the death of, what I can discern, her last living relative. This is the first novel I have read from her and I love it!