Review: Mariana by Monica Dickens.

I am glad that I found that "used" copy of Mariana by Monica Dickens sitting on the shelf. And I am even more glad that I brought it home with me.

My very first Persephone experience has shown me that I must get my hands on more of these lovely books. Mariana has been a wonderful first read for me, and perhaps it is the novel that has finally pulled me from my reading slump.

In Mariana, we are introduced to Mary, a young woman who is alone and awaiting news of her husband who is away in war. While she waits, Mary begins remembering moments of her childhood. We are first taken back to when she is eight, and traveling with her mother to her grandparents' house in the country. We learn that her father died in the Great War, which has affected her deeper than she lets on.

Gradually we are introduced to the other members of her family-given small glimpses of who they are and what they strive to be. Some instances made me chuckle (like the play the kids perform) and others took my breath away.

Her memories continue forward to the other experiences that have shaped her life-different jobs and relationships. Some of these are positive, but there are bad experiences as well. All of them shape her and turn her into the person she is when we first met her.

I loved this novel. So much that I really want to dive back in and explore more in the person that Mary becomes. Monica Dickens is a marvelous writer, weaving in humor and delicacy to Mary's story. One of my favorite pieces is the following:

"She had a feeling of calmness, almost of dignity, that she had never had when she was not alone. With other people one was only an unconsidered fragment of the company; alone, one was a complete entity by oneself," (72).

I love the depth of passion that weaves beneath all the small stories of Mary's life, that leads ultimately to the climax. Monica Dickens achieved this supremely and has left me feeling that she is the Dickens I should have been reading all along. I will most definitely be reading more of her work, when I can find it, in the future.

As to the whole Persephone experience? As this was my first novel published by them, and I had such a high opinion of it when I finished it, I have to say that I cannot wait to get my hands on more of their titles. If all of their books are as beautifully written and as elegant as this one, then I will have many more happy reading experiences.

Weekly Wrap-up for February 27, 2011: More New Books, Persephone Weekend, and New Things!

After having Monday and Tuesday off of school, I felt like the rest of the week dragged forward. But it is already another Sunday and I have lots of bookish bits to discuss with you! Aren't you excited?

One of the first exciting bits is that I acquired more books this week. Let me assure you that I "bought" them before my book buying ban (I should clarify that my husband demanded this ban after my recent splurges). If you remember back a month and a half ago, I mentioned I was doing a "Game On! Diet" challenge with a few other bloggers. Well, my team won so we each got $30 to spend at Amazon.com. I agonized over what to get, but when I saw there was a great deal on some Shakespeare titles, I caved. Here is what I ended up with:


From top to bottom-

• All's Well that Ends Well by Shakespeare: I read this one back in my college Shakespeare class, but it has been awhile, so I barely remember the plot!
  
• Coriolanus by Shakespeare: This is a little known play that I know nothing about. I will probably read this one a little later-I'm sure it will be more challenging.
  
• Love's Labor's Lost by Shakespeare: This is another title I read in my college Shakespeare class, and I remember really loving it when we read it.
  
• Measure for Measure by Shakespeare: I know the basics of this one, but haven't given it a chance yet!
  
• Troilus and Cressida by Shakespeare: I know absolutely nothing about this title, but like the others, I know I will eventually get to it!
• The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: This was the only Hardy title on my project list that I hadn't found a copy of in my searches. So glad I found this lovely Oxford edition.

Good haul? I think so. I am going to be making it a future project to read all of Shakespeare's works, so this is a great start to getting some of the lesser-known titles on my shelf.

In addition, the lovely Rebecca at Rebecca Reads was taking part in that big literary giveaway last weekend, and I won a copy of My Antonia by Willa Cather! I can't wait for that beauty to be sitting on my shelves as well. :)

This weekend I am participating in Persephone Reading Weekend. Unfortunately I was hit with a super nasty migraine yesterday that sent me to bed for a few hours, so I still need to finish my book today and post my review. I'm reading Mariana by Monica Dickens. It is a wonderful read!

However, the most exciting thing to happen all week was what I am currently typing on. My husband bought me a new laptop! Yay! My old laptop was nearing seven years of hard use and was certainly showing it. It would freeze randomly, refuse to open files, and be all-around obnoxious. So the hubby bought me a lovely HP and I am so excited to be typing on something that isn't on the verge of having a meltdown any second.



I'm still getting used to the feel of the new keyboard, but I am loving my new buddy. :)

One of the best parts of this new computer is that I now have a webcam and the ability to do vlogs! I'm not sure how or when, but I've always wanted to!

The only other bit of news is that I finally went and got my hair done yesterday. The last time my hair was cut was LAST Memorial Day, so it was in some serious need. It was also super long (almost to my butt), so it needed to be chopped. I still wanted to have it on the longer side because I look better with long hair, but I also wanted to donate it. I ended up chopping 10 inches (that was scary when she showed me how much she chopped), but my hair is still below my shoulders. I also dyed it pretty dark with a touch of red. It is taking some getting used to. My ponytail is so short and I am used to it hanging all the way down my back! I am sure that in a few days I'll get used to the drastic change!

Anyway, this week lots of exciting things are happening. Tomorrow you'll see the ending posts for War and Peace and Oliver Twist! I'm glad to be knocking two more titles off my list. I'm also in the middle of Candide, which I hope to finish either tonight or tomorrow. I'm still kind of stuck on what to read next. As always, suggestions are welcome. I do know that I'll be starting the readalong books sometime this week, and posting the polls for the next three months (hard to imagine it is March already!).

I hope you all had a great reading week and have another!

Persephone Reading Weekend and Mariana by Monica Dickens.

In case you haven't heard the buzz, this weekend is the Persephone Reading Weekend. Persephone books is a small UK based publisher that focuses on publishing out-of-print titles, little known women authors, and all kinds of delights from the 20th century.

You can find more information about the books they publish and all that good stuff at their website.

This is the very first time I read a Persephone title and I am extremely excited about. Reading through the books they have published, there are a great deal that I would absolutely love to get my hands on. The best part is that many of these titles are considered classics, so while I am again straying from my project list, I don't feel quite so guilty about it like I did last weekend.

I found my very first Persephone title a few months ago when I was scanning the shelves in the used section of my local bookstore. As soon as I saw the title, I knew it was a Persephone and I snatched it up. Sure enough, it was one of the paperback editions of one of their titles. It had a used price sticker on it, but it looked like whoever owned it before had never even opened it. It was a great steal, so I snatched it up and brought it home with me.

I am so glad that I did. The title I own is Mariana by Monica Dickens. She is the great-granddaughter of my arch-nemesis, Mr. Charles. And while I am not finished read this great little book, I am in love with it. I love her writing and the ease of the words across the page.

The plan for today is to finish the title, so I can gush here with all of you who have already read this one.

And, for those of you unfamiliar with this whole project, you need to and see all the goods things happening. Here is where you can find more information about what is going on this weekend: Paperback Reader and CardiganGirlVerity.

I'm going to go read. :)