BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS

We love books

I adore English Literature. If I could, I would want to devote my life to two things: Literature and fashion (and everything related, for example beauty, a bit of cooking, etc.)

I've loved reading my whole life. It brings me pleasure to sit down, and immerse myself in another world, meeting new people and sharing in their experiences. I am so so happy that I chose English Literature for A level, despite my parents having other plans for me, and wishing me to pursue a different course. It's enabled me to engage with the English language more, and therefore appreciate the immense amount of thought put in by the author, playwright or poet into choosing each word carefully (well, maybe not each word, but most).

If asked why I love English Literature, I'll tell you this. Let's use the example of a poem, and we'll compare that to meeting a person for the first time. You first set eyes on the poem, and you take in it's form, and it's shape. You look at the title, and make assumptions. These may be fulfilled, or may be completely false. This is exactly like meeting a person for the first time. We make our initial judgements based on their appearance. But as we've all been told, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover!!!' You start to read the poem. You establish what it's about, and identify a few other things like tone and themes, perhaps rhyme. At this stage, you're asking the person some questions. 'Who are you?', 'What's your name?', 'What are you interested in?' 'What's your job?'. You start to build a bigger picture; you start to get a better sense of who they are, of what the poem is. You then read the poem again, slower this time, stanza by stanza, line by line, word by word, And the magic starts to happen.

At this point, 'WORD LEVEL ANALYSIS' is ringing in my mind, after being battered into me by my English teachers through the years. As you read, more and more doors are opened. More gold starts oozing out; pure, liquid, precious gold. It's pouring out now, rushing out, filling your mind and your heart and your soul. Doors are being unlocked and flung open two, now three at a time. And you understand this poem. You understand it inside out, from every angle. You've spent some hours on it, days even. And now you know this person, you relate to them, are inspired by them, are intrigued by them.

And now we zoom out. We take in the bigger picture. We look at poetry, which one can devote a lifetime to. We zoom out even more, to novels and plays.

Language is delicious. It is extraordinary. Words have power. They have the power to change lives. They allow you to enter another world, and they bring pleasure through the sound that they make when read aloud. I adore reading aloud.

And then we go into films and plays in the theatre, and can get into massive discussions about our opinions on it, AND what's more, there's fashion involved in his too! And another section will be dedicated to a video I watched where someone describes their favourite movies with the best fashion in them, which opened my eyes to the incredible world of costume design.

Literature: Welcome

Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars.

Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

Literature: Quote

MY READING GOALS

I love setting myself reading goals for each new year. This year (2020), I've read 24 books. Originally, my goal had been to read 20 books, but once I had done that, I decided to up it to 24. I'm so happy that I've achieved my goal!

I use the Goodreads app: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ .Check me out on there! My name's Isabelle.

I love using it to create a reading list, track my reading progress, record the books I've read, read and write book reviews and create reading goals! I also love the way a quote pops up every time you open the app, although it always disappears faster than I can read it ! :(

My reading goal for 2021 is to read 30 books, and after that, 36 books.

I've come across the 100 books a year challenge, and I'd love to give the 50 books a year challenge a go, one year! It would be great to get others on board with this too. We could track our progress, recommend books and keep each other motivated! It could also be competitive. Let me know if you'd be interested.

Literature: Text

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

Novels

- Tender is the Night, F. Scott Fitzgerald

I love Fitzgerald's writing style- the language he uses is beautiful. I was transfixed by the presentation of the Divers, and loved exploring the downfall of Dick Diver. I love the glamour in the book, but I also find it very moving.

- Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

This is a truly incredible book. I'm using it in my English Personal Investigation. I've never read such eloquence as that of the narrator, and it's made even more impressive when considering that Nabokov wasn't writing in his first language!

- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Again, another extraordinary book. Many literary critics consider it to be one of the greatest novels ever written. I've also watched the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio- It was quite good but nothing can beat the book in my opinion!

Poetry

- Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Major Works (My favourites: Carrion Comfort, I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day, Pied Beauty, The Windhover)

- Sylvia Plath, Collected Poems, (Favourites: Tulips, Cut, The Stones, Resolve, Spinster (the last stanza is particularly poignant to me!), Face Lift, Mirror, Miss Drake Proceeds to Supper)

I am in love with Tulips and Cut. I definitely recommend!!!

- My Last Duchess, Porphyria's Lover, Soliloquy of a Spanish Cloister, Robert Browning

I first read, My Last Duchess in Year 11, and fell in love with it. We later looked at it in Year 12 and I adore the other 2 poems. I love the narrative manipulation as I think it's so clever. I love the cruelty of the Duke, and his eloquence. I love how love is presented in this poem as well as Porphyria's Lover. Also I suggest listening to My Last Duchess being read aloud on Youtube by Tom O'Bedlam. I really love it!

- Warming Her Pearls, Carol Ann Duffy

I love the imagery in this poem- of pearls (my birthstone), gowns of taffeta and silk, tall men, red lips and a full moon. Again, it's very simple, but I love the idea of an admiration and attachment to someone who may not know about these feelings. It feels very gentle and warm, but there are darker tones with the maid feeling the absence of the pearls and longing for her mistress.

- If, Rudyard Kipling

This poem has received a lot of hate, and I remember my English teacher in Year 11 telling us about how awful it was, but I disagree. I see it as beautiful and sincere in its simplicity and the message behind it. I love the idea of a father writing a poem of advice to his son, and don't see it as sexist because he is simply writing to his son; he is not writing to a female reader and therefore why should we find issue with that?

Short Stories

- The Tell Tale Heart, Benjamin Harper and Edgar Allan Poe

I looked at this in an English lesson once, perhaps in Year 10 or 11. I remember it to this day and adore it so so much. Please read it!! The animation of it on Youtube is amazing and terrifying at the same time.

- Telling Tales, Edexcel, Oxford University Press

An amazing collection of some of the best 19th century and 20th century short stories ever written. I keep coming back to this book to re-read stories in there. I will never forget, 'The Necklace' and 'Désirée's Baby'. Yesterday (05.12.20) I re-read, 'The Trout'. The image of the beating silver engine will stick with me for a long time. Really, this book is a treasure.

Literature: About