I just left Stanford (sad) and am sprawled in front of the television at my sister's apartment, which only gets one very blurry channel that is showing "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and I'm not all that fond of it.
(Note: We can use this blog to post anything booky, or not booky once in a while)
So back to posting.
As I was packing, I thought about the books I brought with me to school. I didn't allow myself to bring many because I knew I'd be collecting a lot over the year. Here's what I brought?
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Excellent reworking of the classic Cinderella story. It's my favorite "I'm a little sorrowful and I want to relive some happy memories" book. Ella is cursed with the gift of obedience. The book basically chronicles her efforts to find the fairy Lucinda to break the curse. Her evil stepsisters, Hattie and Olive, exploit her curse and make her their servant. Olive is hilarious; I almost died laughing during one scene when they're being chased by ogres. The prince, Charmont, is delicious, albeit slightly slow. I probably wouldn't love him in real life, but in a book he's wonderful (for some reason, Laura, he reminds me of Christos...maybe the noble suitor thing?).
Brown by Richard Rodriguez. I read this for Three Books on my drive up to Stanford freshman year. I remember that it gave me a headache. And that I didn't feel like I really "got" it. I told myself that I would read it each year and gauge my intellectual growth by how much better I understood it each time. I haven't read it yet this year, but I will find time this summer! Plus, it's orange. I can't DEAL with an orange book.
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I started this during the summer and thought I would be able to read it during the school year. But it was so depressing to read during the summer, and I was already so stressed during the school year that I didn't think I needed to read a kick-me-when-I'm-down kind of book. But since it is a Three Books choice this coming year, I guess I will give it another shot.
Emily Climbs and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Two old favorites, about two orphans who like to write. L.M. Montgomery always makes me feel romantic and sentimental (probably the reason why I didn't really read them this year...who needs to feel romantic and sentimental at Stanford?), and the Emily books always inspire me to write in my journal, which is always a good thing. Easy, fluffy read if you have time. Start with Emily of New Moon, though, for the Emily series. The last Emily book is a bit much, but tolerable at 13. Anne of Green Gables used to make me want to cry, and I think I actually did cry a few times (I bawled during the movie).
What books did you all bring with you to our dear Stanford?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Megan Follows, who plays Anne, does a pretty good job, I think. I saw the movies first, so it sort of coloured my image of book Anne, so I don't know what you'll think of the movies. I thought the first one, though, was really very good, and held up pretty well even after I read the books.
ELLA ENCHANTED ROCKS. Cheryl still has mine. I'm desperate for it. I might have to go out and buy a new one...the old one was falling apart anyway.
Post a Comment