The Roaring 20s

English 101 Reads: Brave New World

From George Orwell's 1984 to Sarah Hall's Daughters of the North, I've been known to love a good dystopian novel.  Brave New World was one of my first forays into the genre, and I was thrilled to re-read it for English 101, our Modern Classics Book Club.  10 years later, the writing is just as eloquent--just as eccentric and unique--as I remember. I mutilated my copy a bit, and took to underlining gorgeous passages like this one:

"The sultry darkness into which the students now followed him was visible and crimson, like the darkness of closed eyes on a summer's afternoon." 

Meanwhile, the repeated allusions to Shakespeare had me in heaven. Huxley was also known to admire T.S. Eliot, and nowhere is this more visible than in the third chapter of the book, which segues into multiple and separate lines of narrative: an incredible effect.  As far as the story itself, like Lauren, I feel that the key to enjoying the book in 2010 is to avoid harping on the fallacies of Huxley's predictions.  If you can treat his universe as an alternate reality (how very Lost of me), you will be rewarded.  The allegory of the book borders on the didactic, but from a philosophical perspective, Brave New World is entirely worth the read.  Huxley poses questions about happiness, conformity, sex, love, and human connection that will linger on in your mind long after the novel's close.  At the very least, you might find yourself wondering where to find soma, green velveteen viscose shorts, contraceptive belts, or scent machines.  Have you read Brave New World? Loved it, hated it, couldn't care less about it? Leave a comment, tweet with the hashtag #english101, check out Erica and Lauren's reviews, and click here for this year's schedule of modern classics.    

English 101 #1: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

It may have kept me up until after my bedtime, but last night I finally finished re-reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  First off, I don't know if I've ever read a novel that was so devoted to capturing the finest, most intimate details of a time and a place.  I was just on Lorimer Street last weekend, and reading about the tenements of 1900s Williamsburg was pure time-travel. I agreed with much of what Erica wrote, including the fact that this time around, the Nolans' poverty hit home in an entirely new way.  In fact, I found the book to be far more upsetting than The Bell Jar (more on that book here). 

When I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a pre-teen, I related heavily to Francie, especially her furious passion for writing.  But as a 20something, I found myself looking up to her mother, Katie, and wondering how she managed to work so hard, love so well, and keep everything together in the face of abject hardship.  Katie, who was also in her twenties, fought tooth and nail to give her children a better life, sacrificing the better part of her own happiness to do so.  I was unequivocally humbled reading this book, and newly grateful for so many of the things we take for granted on a daily basis: a warm apartment, a stocked refrigerator, and most of all, an education.  Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Would you re-read it? Leave a comment, or discuss it on Twitter (#english101).  And for the full Modern Classics reading schedule, click here.   

 

Six-Word Memoir Winners!

Apologies for the delay in posting! After a few intense days (and sleepless nights) at ALA Midwinter in Boston, I came down with a horrible cold.  The only thing to do was drink fluids, eat soup, watch 30 Rock, listen to Grizzly Bear, and read this month's modern classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (more on that soon!).

Now that I'm back at my usual post, here are the winners of our six-word memoir contest! I chose five submissions that I thought spoke to 20somethings, so be aware, it was a bit subjective. 

From Dana: I've fallen in love with everyone.
From Bridget: I never felt I belonged here.
From Gabrielle: I'm exactly how I imagined myself.
From Jen: Turns out I'm "not-so-gifted."
From Katy: I thought I would be different.  

Email me at roaring20s AT harpercollins DOT com to receive your copy of It All Changed in an Instant!

Introducing English 101: Our New Classics Book Club

Remember when we talked about the classic novels you can't stand? Well, Erica and I have started a book club for the classics, and you'll be happy to know, there is not a single work by Melville or Steinbeck on the list. For our new book club, we'll be focusing on reading and re-reading some kickass modern classics.  First up is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the coming-of-age story of young, idealistic Francie Nolan in turn-of-the-century Williamsburg.  As someone pretty familiar with the hipster/yuppie Brooklyn enclave circa 2010, I can't wait to read about the neighborhood as it was in the last century. 

Erica and I would love, love, love it if you'd read along with us.  And if you visit The Olive Reader now, you can enter to win your own copy.  Our tentative schedule is after the jump.  What do you think? Any of these you're dying to read?

A Book Club for Two

After a whirlwind Thanksgiving, it looks like we're racing through the holiday season at full-speed.  If you find yourself unprepared for your holiday shopping, here's a gift idea you might be able to use.  A few years ago, my then-boyfriend gave me one of the most thoughtful Christmas gifts I've ever received: two copies of Love in the Time of Cholera: one for him, and one for me.  That way, he reasoned, we could read the novel together and have our own private book club.  If you know your S.O. or best friend has been dying to read the new Audrey Niffenegger or Barbara Kingsolver, invest in two copies and enjoy the book together.  It's fairly cost-effective (especially if you can get paperbacks) and--just my opinion-- more memorable than scented candles.  Are you asking for books this holiday season? What's on your wish-list?

Book Club Logistics

Well, gang, I feel terrible about what I'm about to write.  It seems that, in all the haste and confusion of moving to a new apartment here, I've neglected my book club.  Here's a little background:

My lovely friend (and Upper West Sider) Marie runs a book club with me.  We read mainstream and literary fiction, with a dash of memoir.  Anyway, this month we chose one of the Man Booker's shortlisted titles, The Little Stranger.  I'm absolutely psyched to read the latest from Sarah Waters, which promises to be a gothic literary thriller, but I realized I may have not given the book club enough time to a) procure a copy and b) get most of it read before the next meeting.

Which brings me to my question: how much time is enough time to read a book club selection? 2 weeks? 1 month? Leave a comment with recommendations and I would be ever in your debt!

'Rebecca,' Revisited

Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.  When I saw that we had the book on our backlist, I just had to check it out.  Reading it now, I am convinced that Daphne Du Maurier's classic has loads to offer 20somethings.  Rebecca is narrated by a young woman (never given a name) who is the paid companion of the boorish, wealthy Mrs. Van Hopper.  They are on holiday in Monte Carlo when she meets the dashing, troubled Maxim de Winter, whose wife died a year earlier in a tragic boating accident.  Maxim and our narrator have a whirlwind courtship, and he takes her back to his estate, Manderley, which is haunted--albeit psychologically--by the ghost of his dead wife, Rebecca.  I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but it truly has everything: romance, suspense, mystery, and some fabulous writing.  And I promise, if you read Rebecca as a woman of 2009, you will find some very interesting social commentary on women's issues, and the way we communicate in relationships.  Rebecca made me wish I was still in college--it would lend itself perfectly to a thesis or a feminist reading of gothic romance.  It's safe to say that it would be a hit at any book club this Fall.  So, before you check out the latest Linda Howard, give Rebecca a chance.  And if you've already read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Leave a comment!         

SWF Who Loves Henry Miller Seeking...?

There seems to be a new trend in recession-era dating and, oddly enough, it involves books.  I've blogged before about bookshelf deal-breakers, but this takes it to the next level.  Both The New York Review of Books and The London Review of Books are posting personal ads.  Here are some choice ones, courtesy of the Seattle PI:

"I butchered three volumes of Seamus Heaney to produce this ad."
"In a certain light I look like Robert Mitchum. In a certain light you look like Kim Novak. More usually I look like Shrek. More usually you still look like Kim Novak. Yes, you're very unlucky. Now pass me the Doritos and get over it."
"I am the literary event of 2007, or at least the most entertaining drunk on my ward."
"Blah, blah, whatever. Indifferent woman. Go ahead and write."

If personal ads are too impersonal for you, try "Read Dating": part singles mixer, part reader's advisory. The Minnesota Library Association has one slated for October 29th and the University Bookstore in Seattle holds them regularly.  And if you're based in the UK, check out Penguin Dating: an online dating site where you canfind like-minded bibliophiles.  What do you think? Are books really a good indicator of romantic compatibility? Feel free to opine in the comments.       

While I'm Falling

I know quite a few 20somethings who are big-time Jodi Picoult fans.  For them, I am sincerely recommending Laura Moriarty's While I'm Falling: a compelling depiction of how one young woman’s life changes when her family breaks up for good. Entertainment Weekly writes: "Jodi Picoult fans, listen up! Here, finally, is someone as good as she is...  A-" Check out some more fantastic quotes below.

     

Chandler Burr Courts Controversy

One of my favorite upcoming titles is Chandler Burr's insightful debut, You or Someone Like You.  As you might remember, I blogged about You or Someone Like You back in February.  As the on sale date approaches (Tuesday June 9th), it's my job to alert you to the gathering media storm.  Check out this beautiful review on NPR (which includes an excerpt of the book), as well as this excellent profile from Time Out New York.  And here's a quote from the NPR review that lets you in on the reason for the controversy I mentioned:

"You or Someone Like You is sure to stir up controversy because it doesn't just stick to the safe pieties of descrying discrimination in terms of race or gender; instead, it confronts what it sees as a more socially acceptable form of discrimination practiced by organized religion...But Burr, like his main character, Anne Rosenbaum, clearly subscribes to the view that one distinguishing mark of a good piece of literature is that it doesn't set out to please everybody."

Browse inside and let me know what you think.