To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I had never read To Kill a Mockingbird before, so when I found it at the thrift store for 25 cents I was very excited. In case you haven't read it, here is a synopsis from Amazon:

"Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman."

I'm so glad I decided to read this book. It's definitely my favorite "classic" that I've read so far. Also, it's on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list. I was very surprised that it was in the perspective of such a young girl. I really had no idea what the book was about before I read it. I liked that Scout eventually realized that all men really are created equally by the end of the book. I think this is definitely a book that all people should read. It's very good.

5 out of 5 stars

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

It took me so long to read Wuthering Heights! It's only just over 300 pages and I think it took me longer to read this book than The Pillars of the Earth, which is over 900 pages! I guess it's the language.

Mr. Lockwood moves into a property called Thrushcross Grange. He visits his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, who lives in a property called Wuthering Heights. He discovers that Heathcliff is a very odd, rude man and decides to ask the housekeeper at Thrushcross Grange, Nelly, about him. Nelly begins a very long story about Heathcliff's life and the people he hurt along the way.

This book was so depressing! Heathcliff is so mean to everyone in his life including the woman he loves! It was interesting that the book was in Mr. Lockwood's perspective until Nelly is telling her story but then goes back to Mr. Lockwood's perspective near the end. It was very difficult to concentrate on this book because of the language and it just wasn't that interesting. I'm glad I read it, though, since it's a classic. Wuthering Heights is one of the books in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, so I have now read 24 of them! Time for a nice easy young adult book next!

2 out of 5 stars (because of the depressing nature of the book and the fact that it wasn't capturing my attention)

This book is so long...

I've been reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett for a week now and I haven't even read half of it yet. I had no idea that 983 pages would feel like an eternity. I am really liking the book, but it's taking so long I've started reading shorter, easier books in between. The book is already overdue at the library and I can't renew it because it has too many holds on it! Oh well, at least the fine is only $.10 a day. I would have to have the book for more than 3 months to rack up a fine equal to the cost of the book new! I'm on page 383 of 983, so I only have 600 more pages!

I found this list online of 1001 books you should read before you die. It's from the book 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Ackroyd and Peter Boxall. I scanned the list and I've only read 23 of them! This list is obviously just the opinions of the authors but it's still an interesting guideline. It has a lot of books on it that I've been wanting to read anyway. Maybe I'll read a book from the list each month or something. It depends on what I can get from the library. I will never be able to live somewhere where the library doesn't deliver books. It's way too convenient!