Small Island by Andrea Levy

In a nutshell, a story about WWII times in England when a (white) woman, Queenie, takes in a few black lodgers and all the racism that was going on during the time. It's very bizarre considering the fact that the men from Jamaica were coming over, as volunteers, to help England fight the war, and yet they were still fighting a war in this country because the English couldn't accept them.

In actual fact, I never thought there could be as much racism in England during that time as there was in America. I mean there is still lots of racism around now, but it just never crossed my mind that it could be like that back then.

There were a whole lot of emotions while reading this book. If there is anything I hate, it's racism. It makes me sick. It makes me more sick to read about it. So I did quite angry when reading some of the book, at the some of the language that was used. I suppose that is what makes it such a damn good book, that it could make me feel like that.


But if you can't be bothered to read the book, then you can always watch the TV drama that was done on BBC. Doubt it will do the book justice.

Last few books...

So I've been really lazy and not bothered to update on the books I have been reading. And then I sucked myself into watching Grey's Anatomy for a good few weeks and went off reading. Seem to have periods of overdosing on something I enjoy doing and then go off it for awhile, which happened with my reading. Keeps me sane I suppose.


Brief update on books I've read since last blogged:

Cider House Rules

Such a very strange book, but so good! I think it only took me a week to read it because it was just that good. It's a story about a young man named Homer Wells and his life growing up in an orphanage where he becomes an apprentice in abortion and birth. Then by fate he meets a young couple, who come from a very wealthy apple orchard family and have come to the orphanage for an abortion. Homer thinks it's time to experience the world outside the orphanage and takes up the offer of working on the apple orchard in a cider-making factory. And basically the story goes on of his life there as well and about his strange relationship with the wife of his best friend (the young couple).

My explanations suck, but it's actually really good. There was even a film too- so you know it's got to be good.



Though not sure I like the fact that Michael Caine is in this film...isn't he a bit too English for such an American film? I may have to watch it now....


The Long Walk- actually a true story


Its 1939 and a polish cavalry officer has been captured by the Russians. He's put through quite a bit of torture and long, pointless trial in which he is sentenced 25 years. For 3 months he and other prisoners take on a gruelling trek through north Russia in mid-winter and finally reach their destination of a desolate camp. The story goes through his planned efforts of escape with 5 others and their successful escape from the camp and their epic trek from north Russia all the way to India.
I have to say at some points I got a bit bored as I wasn't sure where the book was going, but from the point of reaching the camp and then on I was gripped. Quite a lot of description, but just so interesting to read and to actually know he made it through all of that!- from the coldest of winters to the hottest of deserts to the climb through the Himalayas.


Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass




There's not really much that can be said about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I enjoyed it so much, mainly because I'm quite familiar with the story from different version films of the book. I didn't enjoy Through the Looking Glass too much as I didn't really know the story, but could see that the Disney cartoon film definitely used some of the characters in that book to create a rather different story for the film...not sure if I liked that in the end. Also found it at times difficult to read with the millions of songs/poems which I can't actually stand....but nevertheless it's something to cross off having read.

Although I am still trying to figure out how Tim Burton came up with the story for his version of Alice in Wonderland, I could point out a few characters and references in Through the Looking Glass that were in the film, such as the Jaberwocky.


I remember going to the theatre when at college to see Alice in Wonderland- it was nearly a damn pantomime!- but it was quite good. The costumes were so colourful and attractive and the way it was staged was so really creative in trying to portray certain points in the story such as Alice drinking the liquid that makes her massive and then the eating of the cake which makes her really tiny. I can't exactly remember it now but I remember it just 'wowing' me.


Also to add- love the illustrations...

The Book Thief- Markus Zusak

This is one book that I never thought I would end up liking. I had always seen it in the bookstore for the past year, and would always consider it, but then after reading the summary on the back, I feel disinterested in the book. It wasn't until my mom had read it and recommended reading it, that I gave it a chance.

It's about a young German girl, Liesel, who goes to live with foster parents after her own parents are sent to a concentration camp in 1939. The book is narrated by Death (yes, random I know) and follows 5 years of Liesel's life living in Nazi Germany. It took a couple of chapters to really get into it as I wasn't really sure as to where the book was going. I actually enjoyed it by the time I got to the end of the book. I had gotten so wrapped up in the story and this fictional girl's life and at times I felt quite emotional.

Really, I do seem to get quite emotional when it comes to stories about WWII. I know most people now are pretty bored of hearing these stories, fictional or non-fictional, but I find it fascinating and also disturbing that a certain race of people could be treated the way they had been. Although the story follows a German, non-Jewish girl, it still crosses over with the story of the Jews suffering under the hand of Hitler. I suppose that is what makes the story unique to others based during this era, that it brushes on the story of the Jews but focuses on a German girl who has to experience all of this at such a young age.

I may have to look into more books based around this era too. There's just so much to learn from what happened, I don't see how anyone could get bored of it.