Charlotte's Web

To round out my classics posts, I'll share with you a children's classic (which will highlight the theme of my next posting spree: children's book).

Pretty much everyone has read "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White at least once in their lifetime. 

This book suddenly shares themes of change, death, innocence, goodness, and friends with children. It doesn't hurt that the main characters are all adorable animals. 

I also love the names in this books (you'll learn I have a thing for names): Wilbur, Fern, Zuckerman, Charlotte, Templeton.

Which animal is your favorite from "Charlotte's Web"?

Are you more of a Wilbur or a Charlotte? (I wonder if Buzzfeed has a quiz for that).

#charlottesweb #ebwhite #wilbur #somepig #terrific #humble #radiant #theclassics #childrensclassics #childrensbooks #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Brokeback Mountain

Okay, so many not an old-old classic, but a classic nonetheless.

"Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx was written in 1997, during the/near the end of the AIDS/HIV Crisis. I mean, you have to be a serious BAMF to write and publish a book about the homosexual experience during this time. 

And oh, was it good. "Brokeback Mountain" was a phenomenon, still is. It's the pre "Call Me By Your Name." A classic that following the secret homosexual relationship of two men as they discover themselves and their heterosexual relationship during yet another time of nationwide homophobia/heteronormalization. Granted, the ending was sad, and it made me cry (again, much like "Call Me By Your Name"), it was so worth the read.

"Brokeback Mountain" showed me that it was okay to write about LGBT experiences, that it was okay to read about it. 

#brokebackmountain #annieproulx #theclassics #lgbtclassic #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Fahrenheit 451

Another classic: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.

In this dystopian, technology-driven universe, the possession of and reading of books is a crime. If a person is found with books, the texts (as well as their home) is burned. 

The title represents the temperature in which books catch fire and burn. Such a high number, in my opinion, represents the quality of books, that something so valuable can only burn at such a high temperature.

Firefighters are not in charge of stopping fires, but starting them (very Series of Unfortunate Events (#VFD)). 

Everything is normal, everything is fine, until Guy Montag (narrator) meets an individual that throws themselves into the fire as their books burn. He wonders what could be so wonderful that would make someone want to die with the thing they love.

Guy goes on a journey of self discovery. He falls in love with books, even as he continues to burn them. 

I love the edition of "Fahrenheit 451" that comes with a match.

What's your favorite dystopian novel (classic or otherwise)?

#fahrenheit451 #raybradbury #bookburning #theclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Divine Comedy

"The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri...I remember reading "Inferno" in high school. It was one of the many books (that I plan on sharing with you today) that helped me shape my academic identity, push forward my love of literature, and understand my drive for books that mean something, that come from something important, that shape minds.

"Inferno" was fabulous to read. I should have been inspired to lead a better life, to stop sinning or something. Instead, I fell in love with the dark themes and even darker imagery. 

If you haven't read it, "Inferno" is the journey of Dante (not (necessarily) the author) as he descends through the nine levels of hell. 

In high school, one of our reading projects was to pick something to make into hell and give it nine different depths as well as create punishments to fit accordingly. Most people picked their workplaces or sports teams. I picked annoying people. I can't remember all of the circle I made, but I know one was parents who put their children on leashes.

If you had to do this project, what would your hell be?

The other two books in this series follow Dante as he goes through Purgatory and Paradise. I've yet to read these additions, but I plan to (eventually).

#divinecomedy #inferno #purgatory #paradise #dante #dantealighieri #theclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lord of the Flies

Okay, I lied to you. The book that really made me discover the wonder of literature, higher education, and analyzing/theorizing was "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.

This was the very first book we read sophomore year of high school in advanced academic english. My teacher that year...she changed my life. Her passion for books, for teaching, has driven me every day since then. Thank you, Mrs. Mann.

"Lord of the Flies" focuses on a group of young boys as they're abandoned on an uninhabited island after a plane crash and are forced to figure out how to live (all Survivor style). This novel has so many metaphors and powerful symbols. There was so much to analyze. I loved it.

The major question that this novel addresses is: are people born evil or does society turn people evil? This novel fueled my love of criminology/psychology/sociology before I knew what this field of study was.

Many people think that "The Maze Runners" was inspired by "Lord of the Flies". What modern novel(s) that were inspired by a classic is your favorite?

#lordoftheflies #williamgolding #theclassics #piggyisthebest #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye February

January sputtered along. But February blurred by. I can't believe its practically March. 

Here I am again checking in with my 2019 resolutions:

(1) Keep learning

(2) Write [almost] every day

(3) Don't stop reading

(4) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

(5) Get [a little] professional 

This month was...not very successful. The winter blues hit me hard this month (stupid fake spring). Then I got the worst sinus infection of my life. Bleh, excuses, excuses, Abby.

(1) Again, no real "evidence" of this to share. 

(2) I've failed in this epically. I'm trying to get back into the habit of...something. I'm picking back up a prompt book (or two). And forcing myself to work on resolution #4 more, too.

(3) I read a lot for the average person in February, but for my usual self, I slowed down a lot. In February, I've read a total of 6.5 books (though I tried to get to 7...and failed). Not quite as good as January, but still very good.

(4) Again, I've been failing at this in February. My manuscript has ~__91__ pages done. They still look more like a screenplay than a novel. But I'm still really happy with it; and really excited about my characters and their journey.

(5) Posts in February:  14 (that includes this one). 

I'm going to (try) to do this at the end of every month, or close to it (that is, if I remember, and my life isn't too too crazy at that time).

What are your big March reads?Anything I should check out?

As we say at the daycare I work at during circle time:

"Goodbye, February!"

"Hello, March!"

It sounds silly, but just imagine 6-10 two year olds repeating that after you. It could make almost anyone smile.

#newyearsresolutions #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #goodbyefebruary #hellomarch #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Stardust

Speaking of lovable disasters and fairytales, have you ever read "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman?

"Stardust" was another book I discovered after seeing (and falling in love with) the movie.

In the town of Wall, life is...normal, average, barely this side of boring (if you didn't know how boring, the town is named after an imposing stone barrier which separates the town from a grassy meadow). Tristran Thorn loves Victoria Forester and vows to retreieve a fallen star for her, in exchange for her hand in marriage.

Along the way, well....there's magic, intrigue, murder, pirates, witches, and crossdressing (done by a pirate calling himself Shakespeare). I mean, doesn't that sound amazing?

And, honestly, I think I prefer the movie to the book. But it's just that brilliant. Please go watch it (it's usually on Netflix).

Is there any book where you prefer the movie version?

#stardust #neilgaiman #shakespeare #crossdressingpirates #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks