The Reading Book Post, August 31st

Hello, everyone! Are you ready to welcome the fall? I am and I can't wait for the weather to become chillier. Anyway, tomorrow I'll be travelling all day long. But, as every Monday, let's see what happened in the literary world the previous week.

• Sad news. Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and author of books such as Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat has passed away last week at the age of 82. Many people from the literary world paid him tribute.

• Have you read The Shepherd's Crown yet? Author Neil Gaiman has revealed that Terry Pratchett had a different ending planned for this novel, but he died before he could get it down on paper.

• The Japanese book company Kinokuniya has bought 90% of the first print of Haruki Murakami's upcoming collection of essays. The reason for this is to rival online book retailers. Novelist as a Vocation will be published on September 10, 2015.

•  Warm Bodies has a prequel novella! It's called The New Hunger, it was originally self-published in 2013 and it will be officially released on October 6. You can now read an excerpt.

• Scarlett Johannson went to court, in order to block the translation in English of a French novel, that is about the relationship between a man and the star's look-alike. The novel The First Thing You See will be eventually be published in the UK in September. 

• Freedom of speech is one of the issues that concern me. Who better to speak about controversial books, censorship threats to graphic novels than Neil Gaiman? This was one of the most interesting interviews I've read so far. 

• Last week, I told you that Morrissey will release his first novel at the end of September. Now, we can see the cover. List of the Lost will be published on September 24 by Penguin.

• Guess the Book by Food Quotes. This quiz is for the hungry ones!

Review: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Title: Mansfield Park

Author: Jane Austen

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Date of Publication: 1814

Number of Pages: 507

Find it at: Book Depository

Summary

Taken from the poverty of her parents' home, Fanny Price is brought up with her rich cousins at Mansfield Park, acutely aware of her humble rank and with only her cousin Edmund as an ally. When Fanny's uncle is absent in Antigua, Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive in the neighbourhood, bringing with them London glamour and a reckless taste for flirtation. As her female cousins vie for Henry's attention, and even Edmund falls for Mary's dazzling charms, only Fanny remains doubtful about the Crawfords' influence and finds herself more isolated than ever. A subtle examination of social position and moral integrity, Mansfield Park is one of Jane Austen's most profound works.

Review

Mansfield Park was the only novel by Jane Austen that I had only read one time. So, when I decided to participate to Austen in August I got the opportunity I was seeking to reread it. Although I liked it the first time I read it, I appreciated it in a totally different way the second. This happened because I didn't consider it as a romance, I didn't expect any and I wanted to become a judge of the characters. And what a world this opened to me!

Fanny Price grows up with her wealthy relations, the Bertrams, in Mansfield Park. She grows up accustomed to different behaviour than her cousins since she is in a totally different position than them. To be honest, she is never allowed to forget it. The way her aunt Norris and her cousins behave to her is unbearable at times, the boys are excluded since Edmund seems to care about her and Tom doesn't really care of anyone. But she neve complains and she is always grateful for all the things that are offered to her. She is almost too good to be real.

Her character becomes more obvious when the Crawfords come into the neighbourhood. All of her cousins become enchanted by them, both of the girls fall in love with Henry, and Edmund falls for Mary. They forget everything that propriety demands. Although Maria is engaged she doesn't even try to show her preference to a man different than her fiance. And in a time that their father is absent. By this point, we learn the Fanny is in love with Edmund and it's so painful to see her observe all of his attentions to Mary Crawford. One of the saddest scenes of the novel is the one that Edmund wants to participate in the play, but he doesn't want to admit it and tries to reason Fanny into urging him to do so.

Edmund for me is unforgivable. He is constantly obsessing over Mary that his judgement is blinded. He sees her faults, but he chooses to ignore them. He understands that she is not the right woman to be a clergyman's wife, but he still nurses the hopes that she will change her mind. His feelings for Fanny are the ones of a brother and this doesn't change in the end, so I can't really understand how he fell in love with her. Besides, they are first cousins!

Henry Crawford is a complex character. He is easygoing and likes to flirt. But he normally knows where to stop. I believe that he genuinely loves Fanny and that he wants to marry her, he's just easy to fall into temptation. This is what ruins his chances in the end.

In Mansfield Park, it's very interesting to see how young wealthy people are behaving. Well-bred girls show no respect to their absent father, firstborns neglect their responsibilities towards an estate that doesn't have the same profit as before, and even aunts the encourage such behaviours. While reading it, you cannot help but think Is Fanny the only reasonable one there?

All in all, Mansfield Park is a very enjoyable novel. Fanny is well-liked and you can only feel bad for all the things she has to endure and all the things she has to remain silent about. There are so many characters here that don't have the acceptable behaviour, but are portrayed so well that it proves the fine writing style of Jane Austen. I would recommend it to anyone, but beware, don't expect any grand romance. You will definitely be disappointed if you expect one.

So, my advice is...

Ride to Mansfield Park!  

Confession Saturday: Dear Cadence

Hello, everyone! Confession Saturday is a weekly feature, in which we will have the chance to express our feelings towards certain characters. This time of the week we will choose one character and write to him/her about all the things we would like to say. We can explain why we like or dislike each character, which of his/her actions we don't understand and generally whatever comes to mind. 

This week I'm going to write a letter to Cadence, the young protagonist of the book We Were Liars (2014) by E. Lockhart. This is a thrilling novel with a lot of twists and turns and you can't really see the end coming.

Dear Cadence,

your situation is grave. I don't even know where to begin, but you definitely need psychological help.

The trauma you had to get over was impossible, to be honest. I would lose it as well if I were in your position. It might be a relief though that you couldn't really remember anything. Or maybe it was what it made it even worse because when you finally remembered, it came as a second shock. And it was a shock for all of us. 

You should have planned the whole mission differently. You should have left a little room for mistakes and alternations of the last moment. I can't propose anything better, but I'm sure that if the four of you had thought about it more thoroughly then you would have succeeded. 

I'm not sure how I feel about you. I guess I like you, but my compassion is stronger. 

Yours,

Aeriko

Thursday Quotables: Edmund Bertram's Diary

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Thursday Quotables! This weekly feature is hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies. Every week we highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week.

As much as I love reading the classics, I equally love reading their retellings. This is one such case. Edmund Bertram's Diary (2007) by Amanda Grange gives us the story of Mansfield Park through the eyes of the gentleman, Edmund Bertram. I'll share with a passage in which Edmund encounters for the first time Mary Crawford. I found the description lovely.

I scarcely know what I am writing, for I have had such a jolt to my feelings that I am quite dazed. I returned from estate business this afternoon to find a beautiful young woman in the drawing room. I caught a glimpse of her profile first and felt my pulse quicken, and when she turned her face towards mine, the hope flashed through my mind that Tom would not care for her after all, for she was the most charming young woman I had ever seen. She had bright. dark eyes and dark hair, with a clear brown complexion and a smiling mouth, whilst her figure was small and dainty. She was a complete contrast to Maria and Julia, whose tall fairness, as they sat next to her, set off her dark loveliness like two willowy reeds setting off a forest pool.

Have you read Edmund Bertram's Diary? Which is your favourite fan fiction? 

Blogger Recognition Award, '90s Movie Book Tag and Book Cover Guessing Challenge

Hello, everyone! I was invited to do some tags/awards and now that I finally got the time, I'll do them all in this post. It might be a long one but bear with me. I will also say beforehand that I won't tag anyone. You can all consider yourselves tagged and do them if you find them interesting :)

Blogger Recognition Award

Rules:

1. Select 15 other blogs you want to give this award to. Do some digging if you must! Find those blogs. You cannot nominate yourself or the person who has nominated you.
2. Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers. List who you nominated in your post. Make sure to attach the award yourself!
3. Comment on each blog and let them know you've nominated them. Provide a link to your award post.
4. Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night. That way, anyone can find the original post if needed, and we can keep it from mutating and becoming confusing!

My story:

I've always been an avid reader. But I wanted to challenge myself. So, I thought of doing themed reads, it would also be a great chance to read some of the books that are in my TBR list for a long time. Then, I got the idea of sharing those themed reads with the blogosphere and this is how The Reading Armchair came to be. The first themed read (although I didn't call it like that) was David Mitchell's novel in chronological order, then I continued with a Japanese themed read and recently I finished with the funny books themed read. The upcoming theme will be all about books adapted to/from video games.

Advice to new bloggers:

1.  Don't press yourself! You should always read books that you are interested in reading. I know it's great to have people ask you to read their novels, but you shouldn't push your limits. If you enjoy what you do then this will show on your blog as well.
2. Be social. Be sure to answer to the comments people leave on your posts and try to visit and read their content. Apart from showing respect, it's also a nice way to create bonds among the blogosphere!

'90s Movie Book Tag

Thank you Julia @ For the Love of Books for tagging me :)

1. She's All That - Name a book couple that are an odd pairing but they still fit together perfectly

This couple would be Rosie and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

2. 10 Things I hate about you - a book or series that you have a love/hate relationship with

Kafka on the Shore, without a second thought. Although I wasn't particularly close to this novel, I've been thinking about it ever since I read it.

3. Clueless - A character that is totally clueless, but you love them anyway

Would Emma Woodhouse be too obvious, since Clueless is an adaptation of this novel? Well, I guess Emma it is. I like her no matter what!

4. Titanic - A book that made you cry

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. I couldn't stop crying at the end.

5. American Pie - A book that made you laugh

That's an easy question since I've just finished the funny books themed read. Napalm & Silly Putty by George Carlin.

6. Can't Hardly Wait - A book with a crazy party

I'd say the Artemis Fowl series. They all are so different and the situations are always getting out of hand.

7. Cruel Intensions - Name a character you can never fully trust

Hugo from The Bone Clocks. He is charming and intelligent, but he also seems capable of doing great evil.

8. Name your favourite "boy next door" or "girl next door" couple

Anna and Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss. Such an adorable couple!

9. Scream - A book with a memorable villain

The Lord of the Rings series? I go classic again, but this is the book with the ultimate fight between evil and good. 

10. The Craft - A book with Witches

All Souls Trilogy. What more can I say? An excellent series!

Book Cover Guessing Challenge

Thanks a lot to Fiona @ A Girl Between the Pages for tagging me for this one!

So, in this one I'll choose four book covers and I'll try to guess the plot of the book. Will I succeed?

Goodbye Stranger

My guess: A girl meets accidentally a guy, they like each other but they get lost. They meet again after a while and in the end all ends well. 

Goodreads Summary:

Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody's games--or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. Can it get them through seventh grade? 

This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl--as a friend? 

On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?

The result:

Not one but three girls. And I'm not sure if the three of them face romantic problems. I guess I was completely wrong.

In a Dark, Dark Wood

My guess: This is definitely a mystery. There is a wedding that takes place in the woods and someone gets murdered. Then our protagonist tries to solve it, in order to survive herself.

Goodreads Summary:

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back. 

In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house 

Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her? 

And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room. 

But something goes wrong. Very wrong. 

And in the dark, dark room… 

Some things can’t stay secret forever.

The result:

I was part right. It is a mystery, but I'm not quiet sure what actually happens. Is the invitation for a wedding? The cover says so.

The Match Girl and the Heiress

My guess: This one seems a typical historical novel. A poor girl who sells matches (?) meets an heiress and they become friends. But society doesn't allow it and they go against it.

Goodreads Summary:

Nellie Dowell was a match factory girl in Victorian London who spent her early years consigned to orphanages and hospitals. Muriel Lester, the daughter of a wealthy shipbuilder, longed to be free of the burden of money and possessions. Together, these unlikely soulmates sought to remake the world according to their own utopian vision of Christ’s teachings. The Match Girl and the Heiress paints an unforgettable portrait of their late-nineteenth-century girlhoods of wealth and want, and their daring twentieth-century experiments in ethical living in a world torn apart by war, imperialism, and industrial capitalism.

The Result:

I was so close! Ok, there are a thing or two that I couldn't guess but this is definitely a success!

Revelation Space

My guess: This book is set in the far future. There is an evil alliance that took over the space and there are also some rebels who try to resist (I'm a Star Wars fan). And they live in constant danger of getting uncovered and getting killed.

Goodreads Summary:

Nine hundred thousand years ago, something annihilated the Amarantin civilization just as it was on the verge of discovering space flight. Now one scientist, Dan Sylveste, will stop at nothing to solve the Amarantin riddle before ancient history repeats itself. With no other resources at his disposal, Sylveste forges a dangerous alliance with the cyborg crew of the starship Nostalgia for Infinity. But as he closes in on the secret, a killer closes in on him. Because the Amarantin were destroyed for a reason — and if that reason is uncovered, the universe—and reality itself — could be irrecoverably altered…

The result:

I was completely wrong! It's not even set in future. Oh, well...