A Passage to India

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
Harcourt, Inc, 1952
Originally Published 1924
362 pages
Classic; FITG
3.5/5

Source: Bought and read for class

Summary: Adela Quested and Mrs. Moore are British citizens, excited to journey to India and see the scenery.  A new friend of Mrs. Moore's, Dr. Aziz invites them to see the Marabar Caves where a most unfortunate incident occurs leading to a court case and aggravating relations between the British colonizers and the colonized Indians.

I was really excited about this but I was left unsatisfied.  I was expecting a tale of the clash of cultures as Anglo/Indian relations were explored and gender roles were examined.  And to a degree, I got that.  But the prose was not to my liking at all.  Forster's descriptions of the scenery were so boring (almost Tolkien-esque-the only way I got through LOTR was by skimming the endless scenery descriptions and focusing on the actual plot) and it was very slow-moving.  The incident described on the book-flap is Aziz being falsely accused of sexually molesting Adela; do you know when that happens? Nearly halfway through the book! Before that, there is plenty of description and a lot of set-up to establish the personalities of the characters and the relationship between the British and the Indians.

I didn't particularly like any of the characters either.  The four main characters are Brits Adela, Mrs. Moore, and college principal Fielding in addition to Indian doctor Aziz.  My inability to feel completely connected to any of them soured my opinion of this book.  I'm not sure if that was part of Forster's intention.  However this is an useful book for study of the time period.  Rising nationalism makes an appearance and is a topic I find fascinating.

Overall: I was really disappointed; have I missed something huge with regards to Forster? I'd love to give him another try-any recommendations?

Read for personal FITG challenge.

Disney Princess Profile: Snow White

Hosted by Irena at This Miss Loves to Read.

Name: Snow White

Film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, 1937

Princess: Born plus marries a prince

Voice: Adriana Caselotti

Hair: Short black

Outfit: Blue with a big yellow skirt

Home: Dwarves cottage

Special Powers: Magical singing voice
Friends: Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, and Dopey

Parents: King

Love Interest: The Prince

Prince: Yes

Voice: Harry Stockwell

Villain: The Wicked Queen

Voice: Lucille La Verne

Songs: "I'm Wishing/One Song"
"With a Smile and a Song"
"Whistle While You Work"
"Heigh-Ho"
"Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Washing Song)"
"The Silly Song"
"Some Day My Prince Will Come"

I am not a big fan of Snow-she doesn't have the personality of the 90's princesses and I've never liked her as much as Cindy and Aurora.  However she is either a keen survivor or extremely lucky to have gotten away from her stepmother, survive in the forest, live with the dwarfs, and then not die from the poisoned apple.  I'm inclined toward the latter. Mostly though I'm grateful for the success of this film because that enabled all the rest of the Disney princess films that I do love to get made.

Freefall

Freefall by Mindi Scott
Simon Pulse, 2010
315 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: Seth's best friend died over the summer and he blames himself for not looking out for Isaac.  As he lives without feeling, he meets Rosetta, a beautiful rich brunette with her own grief.  Their shared class of Interpersonal Communications will greatly impact their lives and relationships.

Thoughts: I'm really grateful for the Contemps Challenge, which is the reason for me reading this book.  Unlike the books I usually read it features a male protagonist and has a mostly black cover, rather than something pretty and pink.

I was inclined to like Seth immediately as the death of his best friend Isaac seemed to have shaken him to his core.  His previous activities of pot, booze, and bass don't have quite the same appeal anymore.  Instead he drifts along in the wake of his older brother.  And then he meets Rosetta.  She lives in the wealthy part of time, far removed from Seth's family's trailer but they seem to connect.  On the first day of school, they discover that they're in the same new class Interpersonal Connections (IC) and the first activity they do helps them get a new start to the relationship.  Soon they're falling for each other but not with many a complication.

First Seth's in a band but he has crippling stage fright and thus never wants to perform.  This is a fear the IC class pushes him on.  Rosetta has a fear of her own that leads to some amazing scenes.  Second he thinks he hooked up with Isaac's ex-girlfriend and an old friend of his, Kendall.  The guilt for betraying his friend and shame for not being able to remember that night plague him.  Kendall was a tricky character for me.  At some points her motivations confused me and I hated when her relationship with Seth interrupted his relationship with Rosetta.  And third the rest of the school seems very aware of the social divide between Rosetta and Seth leading one character in particular to interfere.

I was so pleased to see Seth's metamorphosis.  Before he skipped school and abused drugs.  But he turns over a new leaf, working hard at his homework, actually attending classes, continuing to work at his job, and trying to be a better person.  That's exactly the kind of character development I love!  I didn't like Rosetta quite as much, just because we spend less time with her and most of her personality is filtered through Seth's perceptions so I feel like it's more than a little biased.

Warning: Language, underage drug-use and sexual content may make this book inappropriate for some readers. But the story is worth pushing past that!

Overall: Recommended gritty contemporary YA read.

Read for Contemps Challenge.

Kate

Kate Middleton: Princess in Waiting by Claudia Joseph
Avon, 2009
268 pages
Non-fiction; Royalty
3.5/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: A brief biography of Middleton's ancestors from the Victorian era to Kate's own life.

I really liked the concept of this book.  The first eleven chapters focus on Kate's ancestors, giving brief insight into the four main branches starting with the great-great-great-great grandparents and  even brief mentions of William's family especially to compare circumstances.  Those chapters were a little difficult as many names appear but they gave a brief peek at a particular time period and of people living under those conditions.

The rest of the book traces Kate's own life including the brief breakup and almost immediate reconciliation.  It really stressed the sacrifices Kate has made to be with William.  She looked for a low-key job so that she could be by his side at a moment's notice and support him at society events.  She's so patient and giving-I really do hope for the best for their marriage!

I hated the constant comparisons between the poverty of many of her ancestors and how Kate would be keeping much more rarefied company.  I also felt like Joseph thought that Kate and her family were social climbers.  The stress on Kate as a commoner when her family is worth millions and she went to private school seems bizarre to me over here in America. In my view, she's legitimately upper-class even if she doesn't have aristocratic blood, solely because of her financial situation-one of many differences between the US and the UK!

Read as part of the British Books Challenge.

Why Jesus?

Why Jesus? by William H. Willimon
Abingdon Press, 2010
165 pages
Non-fiction; Christian
4/5 stars

Source: Received a free review copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Willimon asks two questions: "Why, Jesus?" and "Why Jesus?" in this new book, written in a very down-to-earth style.  Each chapter is devoted to a different aspect of Jesus' character: Vagabond; Peacemaker; Story Teller; Party Person; Preacher; Magician; Home Wrecker; Savior; Sovereign; Lover; Delegator; and Body.  Probably not the first words you necessarily think of when you think of Jesus.  But he illustrates each well with scripture and he also includes asides to Jesus that really challenged my complacent lifestyle.

I think I liked those challenges the most because they defy expectation.  We might think of God in some way but that's not necessarily how He is.  And He didn't come to fulfill those expectations but to challenge and uproot what we think we know so that He can bring us to Him.  Why did He do certain things and not other things that we might have assumed.  He is so much greater than we can fathom.

My main problem was the style.  All of the scripture he quotes has been rendered into colloquial speech that took away some of the reverence I think is due God.  It seemed like Willimon was trying much too hard and I became annoyed.

Overall: A fun read overall.

Read for Ebook challenge.

The Vespertine

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Harcourt, 2011
293 pages
YA; Historical; Fantasy
3/5 stars

Source: Received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was pretty excited about this because I do love a good historical fiction.  In summer 1889, Amelia stays with friends in Baltimore and it seems very jaunty due to the many explanation points in the characters' conversations.  Amelia is upper class and able to move through Society but her eye is caught by an unsuitable man, Nathaniel, a painter.  I did not like their romance as I didn't like Nathaniel and thus I did not enjoy this section. This is intercut with chapters from Autumn 1889 that were confusing at first and then later dark.

About two thirds of the way through (or so), the story as a whole turns rather dark.  Dark as in multiple deaths, unexplained magic, and heartbreak although the ending is not unrelentingly bleak in case you were wondering.

There are also paranormal aspects that were rather minor.  Amelia has the ability to see glimpses of the future in the setting sun, through the vespers (I am unsure of how exactly it works).  While at first these visions are hailed, when the darker ones come true, people turn on her.  I feel like the paranormal element was necessary to help this book stand out but I didn't really like it.  On the other hand, I thought the historical elements were pretty well done although this isn't my time period so I can't say for certain.

Overall: Romance I didn't like and change in tone made this a book I didn't really like.  Still fans of historical fiction who don't mind paranormal may appreciate this book.

Read for Ebook challenge.

Tempestuous

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
Harper, 2010
361 pages
YA; Fantasy; Faerie
4.5/5 stars

Source: From the library

SPOILERS for first two books!

Summary: The conclusion to Livingston's Wondrous Strange Faerie trilogy! After Kelley says she does not love Sonny Flannery, events are set in motion.  He can't believe her about-face; she can't believe she managed to lie despite her faerie blood.  The illness of her father leads to chaos among the Realms and Kelley has to access both dies of her lineage in order to save the world.

Thoughts: As usual, it took me a bit to jump into the world of Kelley Winslow and her friends and relations.  She is so determined to protect Sonny that she is willing to sabotage their relationship, which is admittedly a theme I hate.  Why can't couples ever just talk normally to each other?!  But the trope does set the plot in motion as Sonny and Kelley independently investigate; the switching between points of view enables the reader to put pieces together (something that I predicted actually turned out to be true!) for the final showdown between our heroes and the villains.

I really liked that Kelley struggled more with her relationship to her father Auberon and mother Mabh.  While she did not understand them and had a contentious relationship in the previous books, she moves closer to building a stronger bond with them and accepting their legacy.  They really do seem to love her, even if their nature doesn't express that love as a human might understand it.

The appropriateness of the title kicks in as Shakespeare references have abounded throughout the books and Kelley's acting company takes on the challenge of performing "The Tempest" as the conclusion to this novel.

I was sad for a general lack of Tyff, Kelley's roommate and another faerie, but I understand that she didn't really play a part in this story. Other secondary characters remain such as Maddox, Fenn, Chloe, and of course the wonderful Puck/Bob.

Overall: A fitting conclusion to this fantastic trilogy-my favorite Faerie novels! The mix of magic, romance, and mystery please me immensely. I highly recommend reading them all in order now that they're all released as the previous books ended with massive cliff-hangers.

Cover: Another striking cover with her beautiful bright hair grabbing the eye.