Friday, December 21, 2007

A Christmas Carol

On December 19, 1843, Charles Dickens published his "little Christmas book", a book that was destined to become one of his most popular and endearing stories. Even today, over 160 years later, the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, cheerful and loving Bob Cratchit and frail and angelic Tiny Tim still continues to warm many hearts during the Christmas season. Though it is one of his shortest, this story still contains many of the wonderful characteristics that are trademarks of Dickens' style and genius.

The Plot:
Ebenezer Scrooge is a "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old sinner." He cares for nothing and no one beyond his money. He skimps any way he can. He lives in an old, musty house, does not heat his office in the dead of winter, and pays his humble clerk next to nothing. He cares nothing for the people around him from his nephew to the beggars in the street.

One Christmas Eve, the ghost of his long dead partner, Jacob Marley, appears to Scrooge. Marley had been just like Scrooge and is now suffering for it. He is bound in long iron chains and doomed to roam the earth for all eternity. Marley wishes to save Scrooge from sharing in his fate. Scrooge is now to meet with three spirits who will endeavor to save him from utter doom.

So the spirits come and each one shows him Christmases past, present and future. As Scrooge is taken through these shadows, he begins to transform and to see how much the Christmas Spirit does for the soul.

My Review (Caution-Spoilers):

More than anything, this story is a ghost story. It is not meant to be an unpleasant story, but one that delights you in its sensationalism. In his introduction to the story, Dickens said,
"I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it."

In this "Ghostly little book" Dickens once again uses his power of description to draw us in to this world he has created. When Dickens writes "The fog and frost so hung about the old black gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.", we feel the bitter cold and thick fog hanging in the air. We experience the pleasure of the Cratchit's humble yet happy Christmas, the pain and loneliness Scrooge felt as a boy left alone in the schoolhouse, and the utter terror and despair he feels when he sees his name carved on that old, forgotten tombstone. Scrooge's story becomes are own.

But Dickens didn't just write this story to thrill us, he means to teach us as well. Scrooge's wish for the poor and downtrodden is that "If they would rather die then they had better do it... and decrease the surplus population." But when he hears his own words echoed in regards to Tiny Tim Cratchit, he is heartbroken. One of my favorite and one of the most telling passages is when the Ghost of Christmas Present rebukes Scrooge for this remark:

"Man...if man you be in heart, not adamant, forbear that wicked cant until you have discovered what the surplus is and where it is. Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die. It may be, that in the sight of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child."

Ultimately, this is a story of forgiveness, redemption, and caring. Forgiving others for their offenses to you, redemption for the offenses you have given, and caring for those who live among us. We are not alone in our journey through this life, and the real spirit of Christmas is to recognize this, and to make the journey a little more comfortable for those who suffer and mourn.

The Movies:

There are a million adaptions to this classic tale and everyone has their favorite. In my case, I have two.

The Muppet Christmas Carol: This is probably a rather unorthodox choice, but this adaptation is definitely one of my favorites. The Muppets are hilarious as always, but they also manage to keep many of the lines as well as the feel from the book. And when the Cratchit family, led by Tiny Tim (Robin the frog) sing "Bless Us All", I feel myself tear up every time. It is a wonderful retelling and a favorite with my entire family.

Scrooge: This is probably another unorthodox choice in that it is a musical. In this 1970 adaptation, Scrooge is brilliantly portrayed by Albert Finney (who was only 34 at the time). This adaptation keeps the "ghostly" feel of the book. From Marley's ghost, to the phantoms floating in the night and the frightening Ghost of Christmas Future this story keeps you on your toes. Plus it has many memorable scenes that, while not in the book, give many glimpses into the world of Dickens. A scene portraying the Cratchit's buying their Christmas "feast" shows the marked differences between the classes in Victorian England. And the "Thank You Very Much" scene is so morbid, yet absolutely hilarious. Kind of like Dickens' own sense of humor. This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies and one I look forward to every year.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Future is Now!


Even reading has gone wireless. Amazon.com has introduced the Kindle, a wireless reading device about the size of a paperback novel. This new device gives you access to over 90,000 books, top newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and Europe, and the top 250 blogs in business, politics, etc. Suppose you read a book review on a blog (like this one!) and decide that you want to read that book, right now. Well, you can. You simply purchase the book in the Kindle store and within 1 minute it has downloaded both to your Kindle as well as online.

Okay, so Amazon has a great spill, and it seems like it could be a wonderful thing, but I'm not sold just yet. Here are some reasons why:
  • The price. I still haven't bought a $100 iPod, let alone a $400 Kindle. Do you know how many real books I could get for that?

  • The ease of buying the books. I know this should probably be a good thing, but if I bought a book (at $9.99 each) every time I thought about one, I would be flat broke!

  • The reading selection. Even though there are over 90,000 books available, something tells me that they won't be the kind I read. I think I have only read 1 NY Times Best-Seller in my life!

  • I'm a bit of a purist. I like to hold a real book in my hands, flip through its pages and even smell it. Somehow, I don't think I would get the same pleasure out of an electronic device.

But all in all, this new device is actually a pretty good idea. I don't think that it will ever replace books, but it certainly is making reading faster and more accessible in a world that thrives on the instantaneous. And anything that can get people to read more is always a good thing!

Monday, December 17, 2007


"The grate had been removed from the wide overwhelming fireplace, to make way for a fire of wood, in the midst of which was an enormous log glowing and blazing, and sending forth a vast volume of light and heat; this I understood was the Yule-log, which the Squire was particular in having brought in and illumined on a Christmas eve, according to ancient custom."


From Old Christmas by Washington Irving

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Christmas Box


The Christmas Box wasn't written to end up #1 on the New York Time's Bestsellers list, but that is exactly where it found itself in 1995. Richard Paul Evans wrote this simple yet poignant Christmas story for his daughters and self published it for a few family friends back in 1993. Little did he imagine that his story would spread to millions of people around the world.

The Plot:

Richard Evans is a young father and entrepreneur living in Utah. He has become a partner in a new business venture and is working feverishly to get his family ahead. When the opportunity comes for Richard, his wife Keri and their three year old daughter Jenna to become a live in family with an elderly lady in her Victorian mansion, they jump at the chance. The Evanses and MaryAnne Parkin become fast friends and soon they all feel like one family.

But Richard has begun to work more and more, and with the holiday rush on he is unable to spend as much time with Keri and Jenna as they would like. Then Richard begins having dreams, dreams that lead to the discovery of a mysterious Christmas box filled with aged letters to an unknown "Beloved". And Mary has begun acting strange as well. She has periods of sullenness and is earnestly entreating Richard to answer the question "What was the first gift of Christmas?" Richard must now find for himself the answer to that question, an answer that will change his life and also that of his family's.

My Review (Caution-Spoilers):

At first, The Christmas Box can seem like just another one of those overly sweet and stifling stories that seem to fill this season. But there is a deeper meaning hidden in this simple yet profound story and it centers around the answer to the question that Mary poses to Richard. "What was the first gift of Christmas?"

At first Richard gives a flippant answer, but then he sees that Mary considers this question the most important one that he will ever answer. It isn't until Richard learns of the pain that Mary has suffered for many years that he receives his answer and is able to see the error he is making. Through Mary and the poignant letters that fill the Christmas box, Richard comes to realize that the first gift of Christmas was a child. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

The years of childhood are precious, not only to the child, but also to parents. It is an innocent time that can never be recaptured and is often too easily missed. Richard had focused on making alot of money for his family to enjoy later in life. What he had failed to realize, however, was that one of the most precious times that he had been given was slipping away right under his nose. Mary had seen it happen in her own life, and she loved the Evanses too much to see it happen in theirs. "She knew that in my quest for success in this world I had been trading diamonds for stones. She knew, and she loved me enough to help me see."

Ultimately, The Christmas Box takes us beyond what this world calls happiness and success, and instead shows us the things and the people that really matter can often be found just down the hall or across the dinner table. This is a story that reminds all of us to slow down and enjoy the time that we have with our families and loved ones and to remember that the greatest gift ever given came in the form of a baby boy, given up by his Father that we might be reconciled and saved from ourselves.

The Movie:
In 1995, The Christmas Box was released as a television movie and eventually on to video. It stars Richard Thomas, Annette O'Toole and the wonderful Maureen O'Hara. The first time I ever saw it, I was about 10 and was having a Christmas slumber party with a few of my friends. The movie gripped us from the very beginning and we stayed up until 1 am just to find out how it ended. It is a great family film and has become one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time.

Friday, December 7, 2007


"Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches, and gaily-colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop-windows, looked down upon her. The little maiden stretched out her hands towards them when--the match went out. The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher, she saw them now as stars in heaven . . ."


From The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

My Winter Reading List

Winter is definitely one of the best seasons for reading. There are few things on this earth as delightful as curling up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea and a good book. And this winter, my reading list is rather long. I won't bore you with the entire thing (mainly because I can't remember them all) but I will give you the highlights.


New Books:

When Knighthood was in Flower by Charles Major:
Set during the Tudor period of English history, When Knighthood Was in Flower tells the tribulations of Mary Tudor, a younger sister of Henry VIII of England who has fallen in love with a commoner named Charles Brandon. However, for political reasons, King Henry has arranged for her to wed the King Louis XII of France and demands his sister put the House of Tudor first.


The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro:
Tells the story of Stevens the butler who dedicated his life to the service of Lord Darlington. Stevens' new employer, a wealthy American, Mr. Farraday, encourages Stevens to borrow a car to take a well-earned break, a "motoring trip." As he sets out, Stevens has the opportunity to reflect on his unmoving loyalty to Lord Darlington, the meaning of the term "dignity, and his lost relationship with Miss Kenton, an ex-coworker. Stevens muses over lost opportunities, both with Miss Kenton and with his long-time employer, Lord Darlington.


The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle:
Pyle's distillation of many Robin Hood legends and ballads, modified to make them suitable for the child audience he sought to appeal to.

Ashenden, or the British Agent by William Somerset Maugham:
Inspired by Maughams's own experiences as a British secret agent in World War I, this series of stories features a fictional spy, John Ashenden, whose dangerous assignments entangle him with traitors, assassins and beautiful but treacherous women.

Father Brown Mysteries by G. K. Chesterton:
Father Brown is a fictional detective created by English novelist G. K. Chesterton, who stars in 52 short stories, later compiled in five books. Unlike the more famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown's methods tend to be intuitive rather than deductive

Re-reads:
Ishmael by E. D. E. N. Southworth:
Ishmael Worth enters life motherless and poor, and despite the wishes of everyone around, he survives and flourishes in his paltry environment. His commitment to character and integrity and his singular focus on preserving his mother’s name give his life focus and purpose. His perseverance and determination to educate himself in law give him the opportunity to influence the highest levels of government. E.D.E.N. Southworth captures the rich panorama of sights and sounds in rural Maryland in the decades prior to the Civil War.
The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott:
Written at the tender age of 17, Alcott's first novel tells the story of the Italian orphan Edith Adelon and her life with the Hamilton family in England. Her gentleness, kindness and loving spirit help her to overcome the evil plots of the jealous Lady Ida and win the love and respect of the dashing Lord Percy.


The weather outside might be frightful, but the fire and my book will be utterly delightful! So take this season to enjoy a great book on a frosty winter's day!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Quote


Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before,
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?
From The Pumpkin by John Greenleaf Whittier
Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 16, 2007



No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, like one who cannot.

Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend





Friday, November 9, 2007

Lessons From a Bear of Very Little Brain


For as long as I can remember, I have loved Winnie-the-Pooh. Perhaps it's because when I was two, we were snowed in for a few days and the only movies we had were four, 30 minute episodes of that bear of very little brain. Whatever the reason, it is a love that I have never outgrown. I do have friends that laugh at the fact that this no-longer a teenager still has a room with Pooh curtains, a Pooh blanket and a bed covered in Pooh stuffed animals. But I am not ashamed. There is something so sweet and simple, yet so deep and moving in these humble stories of a stuffed bear and his friends living in the Hundred Acre Wood. And, what is more, I know that I am not alone. I think that too many times, we forget about the simple truths hidden in a children's book. Here is a great essay on the subject of Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature. Maybe we should all take a moment and lay down our Shakespeare, our Dante and our Milton and instead trade it for the cleansing power of a simple children's story. All of us could use a day at Pooh Corner.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Der Bücherwurm


Where is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?
~Henry Ward Beecher

Monday, October 29, 2007

Beautiful News

Jane Austen fans rejoice! This coming January, Masterpiece Theatre will be presenting "The Complete Jane Austen", television adaptations of all six of her novels. Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice are all coming to a public television station near you. So check your local listings, brush up on your favorite stories, and prepare to see all of your favorite characters, some as they have never been seen before. And don't forget to tune in to the rest of this season of Masterpiece Theatre. Last year's adaptation of Jane Eyre will be airing again at the end of the year.

And speaking of Jane Austen, I have taken two tests recently and they are both saying the same thing....

I am Elinor Dashwood!


Take the Quiz here!


Now, this should come as no surprise to people who know me. I have always identified with Elinor. In fact, when my mother first saw the part in the Emma Thompson version where Elinor is sitting quietly on the stairs, drinking her tea while everyone else is locked in their bedroom sobbing, she looked at me and said "That is you all over."

So what does it mean to be Elinor Dashwood? Here is what the two different quizzes told me:

"You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see. "

"You are Elinor from Sense and Sensibility! Wise beyond your years, you are all too aware of the folly of those around you. You are "sense" personified, and without you, things would certainly fall apart. "

So which Jane Austen Character are you? Go ahead and take the test and let me know and join me in January to discuss the Masterpiece Theatre adaptations. The link to the first test is under the above picture. This test is pretty simple, but be honest because it is a little too easy to pick out which character is which. The second test requires a little more thinking and the results may be somewhat surprising for some of you.

Friday, October 26, 2007

"Reader, I Married Him."

And so begins the final chapter of one of my favorite books of all time. To me, Jane Eyre has become as familiar as a friend and as comfortable as a worn pair of jeans. It's one of those books that I can curl up with on any given day and know that I won't be disappointed. It is a story of love and passion, betrayal and redemption, joy and suffering, and a nice dose of Gothic mystery. While Jane Eyre is not as sparkling as Pride and Prejudice, nor quite as warm and cozy as, say, Anne of Green Gables, it is still a wonderful love story that smolders like a pile of glowing embers, warming its readers on a cold winter's day.




The Plot:

This book describes about twenty years in the life of its heroine Jane Eyre, an orphan who for about the first ten years of her life is raised in the home of an indifferent aunt and horrible cousins, all of whom make her life miserable. She is then sent to a charitable boarding school where living conditions are horrible and life drags on in a terrible monotony. After eight years, she has become a teacher and decides to seek a position as a governess. Her advertisement is answered and she journeys to Thornfield Hall where she finds that her pupil is a little french girl named Adele and the ward of Thornfield's owner, Edward Rochester. A few months after Jane begins, Mr. Rochester arrives. He is gruff, rude and haughty, but Jane likes him anyway and a friendship soon grows between them. It is also at this time that Jane becomes aware that not all is right at Thornfield Hall. She hears a menacing laugh in the night and many other accidents occur that leads Jane to suspect a recluse servant as the culprit. As time passes, Jane's love for Mr. Rochester grows, and she then discovers that he feels the same towards her. They become engaged and preparations are made for them to leave England as soon as they are married. But as they approach the alter to take their vows, a disastrous secret comes to light and in order to keep her purity, Jane is forced to run away from Thornfield.

After wandering for a few days, she is taken in by the two Rivers sisters and their clergyman brother St. John. She takes a position as a teacher in a local school for the lower class. A year passes and Jane suddenly becomes an independent women thanks to an unknown uncle. Then, St. John asks her to marry him and to accompany him to India as a missionary. Now Jane must choose whether to become the wife of a man that she knows does not really love her but will open up a life of purpose; or to seek out her old master, learn of his fate, and discover if she can recapture the happiness that had once seemed so close.


My Review (Caution: Spoilers)

I guess that since I have already told you how much I LOVE this book, I shouldn't continue to gush. Instead I'll look at some of the things that I like (and dislike) about the three principle characters. As in A Room With a View our heroine must decide between two fates, one based on passion (life with Mr. Rochester), the other on reason (life with St. John Rivers).

Edward Fairfax Rochester is one of those complicated characters that your mind says you should loathe, but your emotions say you should love. He is rather rude to the people around him, has had way too many mistresses, and he even implores Jane to be the next one. In his self-pity, he has decided that he deserves the happiness that life with Jane would bring him and is willing to sacrifice Jane's morality for his own pleasure. Life has cheated him out of many years of happiness, so why shouldn't he try to attain some, even if it means breaking not only man's laws but also God's. But let's not write him off as a complete cad just yet. I believe that the real Rochester can be seen in his relationship with his wife Bertha. Though he bad-mouths her and certainly does not love her, he obviously has some pity for her. When she attacks him, he never strikes her, but rather he simply overpowers her. He decides not to keep her at the dark and dank Ferndeen Manor where she would likely be slowly killed by the dampness. And finally, he rushes up through the flames as Thornfield Hall burns, and tries to save her, even when her death would have freed him. In the end, Rochester is brought, like all sinners, to repentance a crippled and blind man. It is only then that God restores him and gives him the joy and happiness that he had spent years trying to gain on his own. "I thank my maker, that, in the midst of judgement, he has remembered mercy. I humbly entreat my Redeemer to give me strength to lead henceforth a purer life than I have done hitherto."

St. John Rivers is unlike Mr. Rochester in every single way. He is handsome, cool and cultured. He is completely governed by his reason and what he believes his calling to be. He is bent on going to the mission field of India, and he spends the majority of his time in the study of Hindustani. He helps the poor and procures for Jane the employment of teacher at the girls school. On the surface, he seems to be wonderful. Perhaps, a bit too wonderful. While he is certainly a likable man, he has tempered his passion to the point of which it is virtually non-existent. While he does "love" the daughter of a local factory owner, he will not allow himself to pursue her because he does not believe that she would be suitable for the mission field. Jane, however, would suit it excellently. While he does have a certain friendship for Jane (especially after they discover their kinship), he has none of the feeling and passion that Rochester had for her or her for him. While in the end it would seem reasonable, even from the Christian standpoint, for Jane to accept St. John, one would hope that marriage would not be based solely on reason. "He prizes me as a solider would a good weapon; and that is all. Unmarried to him, this would never grieve me; but can I let him complete his calculations-coolly put into practice his plans-go through the wedding ceremony? Can I receive from him the bridal ring, endure all the forms of love...and know that the spirit was quite absent? Can I bear the consciousness that every endearment he bestows is a sacrifice made on principle? No: such a martyrdom would be monstrous."

It is Jane herself who seems to be the balance between passion and reason. While she does have an independent and passionate nature, she learns to use her reason to control it without really quenching it. It is only once in her adult life that she lets her reason go and allows her passion to overcome, and this is when she faces the threat of leaving Thornfield for Ireland and claims her place as Mr. Rochester's equal and love. When she again faces leaving Thornfield, she lets her reason and morality guide her. I have read reviews from people who a) think she was crazy and should have stayed on as Rochester's mistress or b) think that Jane is a feminist and will not stay with Rochester unless she is the dominant partner. I don't believe that either of these are true. Jane is not crazy, because the social and moral laws of the time would definitely forbid her from being a mistress. Neither is Jane a feminist; if she had wanted to be the dominant partner, why would she have agreed to marry Rochester in the first place? Jane knows that staying on as Rochester's mistress is wrong and she cares too much for herself and her eternal future to gamble her purity on fleeting happiness. She also knows that once Rochester has her, she will soon become as distasteful to him as every other mistress and would not have the security that marriage would bring. "Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they will be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth...Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot."


Jane Eyre is such a wonderful story filled with immortal characters, but it is Jane herself who stands out of all of them as an independent spirit, a loving heart, and a strong character. So grab a blanket, curl up on the couch, and immerse yourself into her world. You won't want to leave!

The Movie:


There are TONS of versions of this story ranging from the movie screen to the television screen and the stage. Unfortunately, I have only seen one version and that is the most recent; the 2007 Masterpiece Theatre version starring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. It stuck pretty close to the story, however it did gloss over Jane's childhood and her time at Moor House. This version focuses mainly on Jane and Rochester's relationship rather than Jane herself.

Pros:
  • Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephen's chemistry. His side glances and smiles! Her looks and playfulness! There was such a great vibe in every scene they did together.
  • St. John Rivers is not played as a horrible character. He is likable and somewhat charming, if a little distant.
  • The cinematography. Shot in the lovely, but still foreboding British countryside, each scene (indoor and out) is shot with beauty and simplicity.
  • The costumes. Absolutely gorgeous dresses for the British upper class and simple yet sweet dresses for Jane.
  • A sweet and wrapped up ending. All smiles and sunshine!
  • Made me remember my love for this great book.

Cons:
  • A Ouija board instead of charades. Where did that come from?
  • A short but still a little graphic scene where Rochester discovers that Bertha wasn't quite faithful to him.
  • The scene were Rochester tries to convince Jane to stay with him is a little bit more spicy than the book. Nothing graphic, but a little on the sensual side.
  • No reason is given for Jane's leaving, she just leaves.
  • There isn't exactly a redemption for Rochester in the Christian sense. He is sorry he tried to make Jane his mistress, but not really for the right reason.
  • I think I would have shot Rochester's proposal scene a bit differently. Probably at night like the book describes.
  • Okay, maybe this should be a pro but Toby Stephens is a little too good looking to be playing Rochester. While he does bring a certain feeling to his character, he doesn't really give a sense of danger.
Overall, this was a good and passionate retelling of a classic tale. Probably a good first introduction for those who don't know the story. But don't take it as the gospel, read the book!



Tuesday, October 23, 2007

A Quote for Autumn




"He lowered the window, and looked out at the rising sun. There was a ridge of ploughed land, with a plough upon it where it had been left last night when the horses were unyoked; beyond, a quiet coppice-wood, in which many leaves of burning red and golden yellow still remained upon the trees. Though the earth was cold and wet, the sky was clear, and the sun rose bright, placid, and beautiful." - Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities


Tuesday, October 16, 2007

An Obstructed View

"I taught him," he quavered, "to trust in love. I said: 'When love comes that is reality.' I said: 'Passion does not blind. No. Passion is sanity, and the woman you love, she is the only person you will ever really understand." -Mr. Emerson

In "A Room With a View" E. M. Forester pleas for liberation, not only for his characters, but for himself. Liberation from the "oppressing" expectations of society. His characters do receive that liberation, but did they merely trade one type of slavery for another?

The Plot
The first half of "A Room With a View" takes place in Florence, Italy at the start of the 20th century. Lucy Honeychurch, like most young people of that time, is on a tour of Italy to see all the important sights and to "experience" another culture. It is here that she meets Mr. Emerson and his son George. Both of these men have very unconventional (almost socialistic) views on life. While they are by no means rude and uncouth, they have a general disregard for the expectations of society. They frankly express their feelings, place passion above propriety, and have unorthodox opinions concerning religion. Most of the English people who meet them are either shocked and avoid them, or patronize them as if they were children. Lucy, however, has an uncanny liking for them, especially George. When Lucy faints in a market square after witnessing a murder, she wakes up in George's arms and her life changes forever. She constantly tries to avoid the thoughts and feelings that are developing in her. In the end, she tries to escape them by fleeing to Rome and then back home to England.

The second half of the book takes place back in England. Lucy is now engaged to Cecile Vyse, a young man who despises most of the people around Lucy and sees her as a work of art for him to admire, interpret and think for. Then, to Lucy's horror, the Emersons move into a house just down the road from her family, bringing with them all of the feelings for George that she thought she had left behind in Italy. Now she must choose between the man society says she should marry, and the man her heart desires.


Florence, Italy


My Review (Caution: Spoilers)

Forester uses two distinctly different cultures to represent the two forces that his characters use to make their decisions. England represents reason and propriety, where every decision made is based on what is most reasonable and socially acceptable. Italy represents passion and desire, where decisions are made based on emotion and feeling. Lucy is forced to choose between the conventional Cecil and the passionate George, and we as readers are forced to choose as well. No middle ground is offered, so which choice is the right one?

Certainly, we cannot let our own reason be the standard by which we make our decisions. Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Neither can we set our standards by the expectations of our society. Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Forester is correct in wanting liberation from the dependence on those around us to make our decisions, but his desire of our decisions being made based solely on our emotions and passions is incorrect. Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Lucy gains the desired liberation from society, but she then becomes enslaved to her emotions.

The only way to gain true liberation is to submit to Christ. He is the middle ground between reason and passion, between England and Italy. Psalm 116:16 "O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains."

"A Room With a View" begins with noble intentions, but ultimately it fails in it's quest to free its characters, its author and its reader.

Friday, October 12, 2007

My Best Friend

"The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." Abraham Lincoln

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Prologue


"There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll.
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul."
"A Book" by Emily Dickinson

I can't pinpoint a specific day or book with which I began my love affair with classic literature. All I know is that I have never been as comfortable or content as when I am stretched out on my bed with a good book to read. For me, reading is both a stimulation and a release. While my mind certainly improves as I read these challenging works, it also becomes enveloped in the story, escapes the four walls of my room and flies to distant times and distant lands.

In these books I have been to many places and done many things. I have walked the streets of London on a dark night shrouded in fog. I have been chased by Redcoats through the Highlands of Scotland. I have crawled through the sewers of the 19th century underworld of Paris. I have defended an abbey from a hoard of rats. I have tracked an army alongside the last of an Indian tribe. And I have attended great tournaments on the green fields of England.

In these books I have been in the company of immortals. Edward Fairfax Rochester, Jo March, Emma Bovary, Jean Valjean, David Balfour, Anne Shirley, Sidney Carton, Elnora Comstock, Ishmael Worth, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, Beatrice and Benedict, Edith Adelon, Fitzwilliam Darcy, Sherlock Holmes, Edmond Dantes, Joan of Arc, Anna Karenina, Alyosha Karemazov, and Beowulf.

And in these books, I have learned the lessons of the past and have heard the warnings for the future.

Anyone who says that reading the classics (or anything for that matter) is dull, has not learned to take advantage of the delights contained between two covers. Adventure and romance, friends and enemies, happiness and sorrow, passion and purity. All are there, on the shelf, waiting to be discovered. Allow me to introduce you to them. Let's begin now.