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Such clever words and sentences. Fun to read but there is a whiff of sarcasm and sadness underneath. In the meantime it feels like a critique of commercialism, the mall, the TV, and the self-publicity based on fictitious claims. I wonder what the author says about the advent of social media. There’s plenty contemplation of death and the meaningless of life, but the narrative also saturates with tremendous love.

As much as I respect Dr. Strong’s noble character and kind heart, the narrative which describes him as his wife’s father, teacher, friend, husband who taught her everything and formed her mind is disturbing. In a Pygmalion manner, he practically educated her to be his ideal wife since her childhood. Stories like this serve as precedent and moral justifications for self-righteous criminals (i.e. Humbert Humbert).

I like Traddles so much even when Copperfield/Dickens makes fun of his hair to no end. Doctor Strong is another great character, can’t think of anyone who could be kinder at heart and more respectable. I so hope nothing bad happens to either of them. Dora seems to be a mirror image of Copperfield’s mother, young, beautiful, naive, childlike, tender, and loving—what would Freud say about their marriage?

Can’t say I am enjoying this but it is very well written. Dickens is such an observant, thoughtful, sensitive, and kind soul. He never makes fun of people even when he is making fun of them. When he criticizes, he really makes your blood boil and tears burst without seemingly doing much. I’m in awe.

Funny that Steerforth keeps feminizing David Copperfield, asking him to tell stories like Scheherazade and calling him Daisy because he looks young and innocent. I wonder whether this is how Fitzgerald got the inspiration to name his character in the great Gatsby?

Cried when David’s mother Clara died 😭 she was literally emotional abused to death 😭 I was so infuriated. This opening really reminds me a lot of the first book of Harry Potter…

First few chapters remind me of Jane eyre and the scenes in which aunt Marge visits the Dursleys and humiliates Harry Potter.

A bit exhausting to follow so many different people’s train of thought…

Hmmmm...beautiful, but not quite the arcadia I imagined, which is something like the summer in Brideshead

So far this seems to be a collection of horror stories for women. Goddesses are often turned into trees and birds while trying to escape a man(mighty gods apparently)’s advances. And the god of all Gods Jove (who is married btw) would metamorphose into a bull to trick and carry a girl he likes back to his home. Not to mention his jealousy wife likes to turn his lover into a bear. These gods are past fathoming.

This is going to take a while…

Only a very observant person could have written this. She notices and describes very refined details, both real and emotional.

After reading this, I realized that the so-called classic novels are actually very easy to read, even though they look intimidating. This book is not easy at all. It demands all your attention and focus as if you are manning the hawk yourself. 

Making very slow progress. Too many unfamiliar words to refer to different kinds of hawks (sparrowhawk, goshawk, merlin, peregrine falcon), birds (chaffinches, brambling, partridge, grouse, pheasant), and plants (mahonia), and new terms specifically about falconry (i.e., making jesses).

So much anguish. It's a story about many things, but mostly how social constraints grind people down and violently destroys anyone attempts to make the slightest gesture that defies conformity.

This book is like a breath of fresh air in the spring. I feel like I am not reading but inhaling it, and it smells like mixed scents of rain, wet soil, grass, trees, and wildflowers. Love it!

I cannot believe I finished this! It's such a long and winding journey. The writing is absolutely brilliant. Initially, I found the characters either not interesting or unlikeable , but I grew so attached to them that I felt we were on more intimate terms than anyone in real life. The only thing I hate is that Natasha became a jealous wife who dropped her singing to focus on serving Pierre and raising their children.

Completed volume 3. Brutal...Moscow is given up by Serene highness Kutuzov, vacated by its royal inhabitants, occupied and looted by the French army, and burnt. Before leaving town, to appease the wrath of the people gathered in front of his mansion, the governor threw them a political prisoner, declaring that he was a spy who caused all these agony and loss--they should kill him. They proceeded to beat him to death.

Completed volume 3. Brutal...Moscow is given up by Serene highness Kutuzov, vacated by its royal inhabitants, occupied and looted by the French army, and burnt. Before leaving town, to appease the wrath of the people gathered in front of his mansion, the governor threw them a political prisoner, declaring that he was a spy who caused all these agony and loss--they should kill him. They proceed to beat him to death.

Completed volume 3. Brutal...Moscow is given up by Serene highness Kutuzov, vacated by its royal inhabitants, occupied and looted by the French army, and burnt. Before leaving town, to satiate the wrath of the people gathered in front of his mansion, the governor threw them a political prisoner, declaring that he was a spy who caused all these agony and loss--they should kill him. They proceed to beat him to death.

Currently with Pierre at the center of the battlefield as a bystander. Terrified. Added several new words to my vocabulary though: plenipotentiary, redoubt, shako, flèches, grapeshot, bayonet, scruff.

Currently with Pierre at the center of the battlefield as a bystander. Terrified. Added several new words to my vocabulary though: plenipotentiary, redoubt, shako, flèches, grapeshot, bayonet, scruff.