The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells

Author: H.G. Wells
Origianlly Published: 1897
Length: 208 pages
Source: Library
Challenge(s): 1001+, Classics Club


Personal Enjoyment Factor:3/5

Ambition--what is the good of pride of place when you cannot appear there?  What is the good of the love of a woman when her name must needs be Delilah?  I have no taste for politics, for the blackguardisms of fame, for philanthropy, for sport. What was I to do?  And for this I had become a wrapped-up mystery, a swathed and bandaged caricature of a man.

When it comes to the magical objects of the Harry Potter world, the Time-Turner tops my list for most coveted items.  The Pensieve is high on the list as well--my brain could use a thorough decluttering.  But I have to admit that the Invisibility Cloak would be pretty cool.  I have no nefarious purposes for it in mind--I don't want to steal or cheat, I have no authority figures I need to hide or run from, and I do NOT want to know what people are saying about me behind my back. No, I just want to use it to go on errands with messy hair and pajamas without fear of ending up in a People of Walmart video.

Why does Griffin, our brilliant scientist who discovers a formula to make himself invisible, want to be unseen by the world?  In current movies and books, we have gotten used to sympathizing with the villain,  trying to figure out how he got to be the way he is, finding excuses for him, hating his behavior but wanting to give him a big hug.  In The Invisible Man, you just want to give the guy a good slap in the face.  Sure, he is an albino when visible, which might cause the reader to try to make some sort of psychological analysis about how he may have been ignored by his associates for being different, and his obsession with his experiments was a way to prove himself and be valued by society.  But this sliver of sympathy is grossly overshadowed by the fact that the guy is a textbook psychopath.  He never takes responsibility for his actions, cares nothing for the feelings of others, and has no feelings of guilt for the crimes he commits.  So what does he actually gain from being invisible?  Well, he gets a cold, and the side effects of the drugs are remarkably similar to a bad case of PMS. 

I'll admit, I would have been cranky too.  Griffin may have unlocked the secrets of invisibility, but he has no clue how to make himself visible again.   He either has to wrap himself up with bandages and don a curious outfit, or walk naked in the cold.  I'm sure he would have appreciated a good invisibility cloak!  But the world Wells creates is not magic, it's scientific.  He gives such a detailed and believable description of how Griffin's formula works, that the reader is able to suspend disbelief.  Now I just need to suspend my mental image of a naked albino.

Taking a Break (And picture of Dan Stevens. Your welcome.)

Yes, it's come to that point once again in which I need to ban myself from the blog in order to finish some non-book related projects.  I'm thinking maybe around 2-3 months.  As usual, I'm making it official with a post for my own sake so that I will stick to it.  But I wanted to tie up a few loose ends first for the sake of peace of mind, and express my agony over a few things I'll be missing.

1.  The Foundation Trilogy Readalong hosted by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings has now ended, and what a great experience it has been.  I loved the books, and the discussion has been wonderful.  I had to take the book back to the library, and my memory has been especially bad lately, so my plan is just to read other posts but not do one of my own.  I realized that I forgot what happened in two complete (and significant) chapters for the last group of questions, so who knows what I've wiped from my mind this time!

2.  I will continue reading Clarissa as part of a year-long group read.  I hope to jump back into the discussion  by summer.

3.  If I've been a good girl and have gotten enough done, I plan to join in on the Bloggiesta fun, March 30-April 1, hosted by Suey of It's All About Books and Danielle of There's a Book.  I'm pretty behind in updating my book directories and sidebars, and I MUST figure out why Disqus is not showing a link to comments for each post on my home page.  (I switched to Disqus for threaded comments, and now Blogger has them too, but from what I can tell, if I switch back to Blogger, all of the comments I've gotten through Disqus are gone.  I need to decide if I'm okay with that or not.  Right now that idea horrifies me!)  I also usually try to learn one new technological-ish  thing each time there's a Bloggiesta.  That's a great weakness of mine.  Baby steps...

4.  There are couple of readalongs I'm sad about missing.  I know there were others that were quite tempting, but these are the ones I put on my calendar, which means serious business.  Check them out if you're interested:

Cloud Atlas

Midnight's Children

5.  I've been tagged!  It's been a few years since I've uttered that phrase.  How fun! I'm sure you've seen this going around, and these questions are from Melissa at Avid Reader's Musings.

1. What's your favorite souvenir you've bought on a trip?

I bought a world globe ornament when I was in Seattle last year that I love.  I love globes and maps, and it's just cool looking.

2. How many times have you moved?

Nine times.  All in Southern California.

3. What movie should win the Best Picture Oscar this year?

I'm really out of it when it comes to the Academy Awards.  I usually have only seen like one movie that is nominated for Best Picture.  And this year I'm not even sure what was nominated.  But I think I know which one won.  The Actor, or something like that.  Am I right?  Something about a silent film. 

4. Do you have a dream job? What is it?

Making movie previews/trailers.  (Wow, I just realized how wrong that sounds after just saying I don't know anything about the big movies this last year.)

5. Favorite Girl Scout cookie?

Samoas (or whatever they're called now.)

6. Guilty pleasure TV show you watch?

I'm going to have to go with Downton Abbey.  Total high-brow soap.  Especially Season 2 (which I'm not done with, so don't say anything about the end of the season!!!) It's uber-dramatic, all over the place with the writing, but just give me a quick shot of Dan Stevens, and all becomes magic.

7. What question do you hate it when people ask you?

This is a common one among book bloggers I think:  "How do you have all that time to read all those books?"  These days, I get in about an hour of reading a day, plus whatever audio book I'm listening to while I do various tasks.  That doesn't sounds too excessive, does it?  I know some people who don't even have time for that, but I also know people who watch a few hours of TV a day.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  But for some reason I never hear people asking each other, "How do you have all that time to watch all those TV shows?"

8. Your favorite pet you've ever owned?

My German Shepherd Rootbeer that I had growing up.  

9. What's the first book you remember reading?

Did anyone else learn to read from the I See Sam series?   I read through those when I was 3, so I guess those are the first.  A picture book that stands out to me from a young age is Millions of Cats.  First obsessive series--Chronicles of Narnia. 

10. What's your favorite drink?

Right now, Diet Coke Lime.  I also love Sparkling Apple Grape Juice.  

11. What's one thing on your Bucket List?

I still have yet to make an official one, but I do have a chance to be in a Zumba flash mob, and I thought that sounded like a Bucket List item, but I wondered if it counted if I didn't really have it on my list first?  I also don't know if I'll do it because I hate crowds.  Which is kind of the whole thing of a flash mob.

One of the reasons I haven't made a list yet is because when I think of things to put on the list, I just think, "Oh, I'd be okay if I didn't do that before I die." And so I never get anything down on the list.  Wow, I'm boring!  I guess I'd like to get my Bachelor's Degree, and maybe a Masters.  And I'd like to serve in a soup kitchen. There. Three things on my list.

I'm trying to not let it bug me that I have numbers within numbers here on this random post.  There's just something very wrong about that, but it is what it is.  And I'm sure I've forgotten something important.

Have a great Spring everyone, and if I'm missing anything exciting, don't tell me about it!!! I have no willpower.  

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

Author: Margot Livesey
Published: 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers
Length: 464 pages
Source: From Publisher via TLC Book Tours

Personal Enjoyment Factor: 4/5

A modern retelling of the beloved Jane Eyre? I was both intrigued and nervous when I began this novel. There's a certain audacity in such an attempt that prompts the reader to mentally dare the author to prove that they are somehow worthy of such task.  "Have you got what it takes, Ms. Livesey?  Can you justify this reincarnation of the irreplaceable Jane into the 20th century?"  There was, of course, only one way to find out.

The story begins with an air a familiarity for those who have read Jane Eyre--an orphan unloved and mistreated by her aunt and cousins, the transition to an austere boarding school, the death of her only friend, employment taking care of a lively young girl.   It's so familiar, that it's almost hard to remember that we're in Scotland in the Sixties rather than 19th century England.  But once Gemma makes her way to the Orkney Islands, the setting becomes distinct (and breathtaking), as the story becomes something all its own.

(Photo source)

Gemma Hardy also becomes a distinct character from her Victorian counterpart.  The power of Jane Eyre lies in a heroine that takes control of her life on her own terms, in contrast with the prevailing attitudes towards women at the time.  While the contrast isn't as strong in our modern-day heroine, Gemma also becomes a woman directing her own course in life.  Her own personal code of morality is formed throughout the novel, as secrets are revealed and questions about her origins are answered.  In this moral code she sets herself apart from Jane, with a more modern viewpoint, of course, resulting in a somewhat different outcome.

This outcome and the events leading up to it lack the deliciously Gothic intensity of the original Jane Eyre, but they were suspenseful in their own right, and warranted some vigorous page-turning.  If I could ask for something more from the novel, it would be a stronger presence from Mr. Sinclair, Gemma's employer-turned-love interest.  I also would have liked for the author to have delved more into the mysterious, supernatural aspects of the story.  I expected something more. But perhaps she meant for them to remain ambiguous.  

In the end, do I feel that Ms. Livesey proved that she could accomplish the feat of reinventing one of my favorite novels of all time?  Well, the book entertained me, swept me away to a different place and time, and made me think about my own moral compass.  I would call that a success.  Although I've tried really hard to keep this review serious, I can't help but end with an apt food comparison.  (What can I say?  Food and books.  Is there anything else to life?)  I love both store-bought Chips Ahoy cookies and homemade chocolate chip cookies.  When I want to enjoy a satisfying crunch with minimal effort, I'll grab the Chips Ahoy.  If I want warm, gooey, right-out-of the oven cookies, I'll take some time to gather the ingredients, mix up a batch, and wait that ten minutes for them to bake.  The Flight of Gemma Hardy is like those fabulous Chips Ahoy cookies, and Jane Eyre is more like homemade.   Very different, but delicious.  And no calories.

For more reviews of The Flight of Gemma Hardy, check here.

Second Foundation Group Read Part 1

No pre-question rambling--I'll just jump into this week's questions from host Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings.  And be forewarned--SPOILERS!

1.  How have your perceptions of the Mule and his form of governing grown or changed, or not, after spending more time with him in this novel?

First of all, I was so happy that we were not done with The Mule.  I'm still somewhat in that protective mode where I don't get too attached to characters for fear that Asimov will jump ahead in time with a whole new cast.  My conflicting feelings about The Mule make him absolutely intriguing, and I wanted more.

I still have the same aversion to his mode of power.  I still feel empathy for him and the hardships and insecurities he faces being a mutant. I liked seeing his strength in strategy, and enjoyed being the spectator of another mental chess match. We got a glimpse into his mind--his doubts about his power.  I appreciated his recognition of the weakness in his control of others--that it takes away their initiative and drive and they end up weaker as a result.

2.  Having finally gotten a glimpse into the mysterious Second Foundation, what are your feelings/thoughts about this group and their methods (as revealed thus far)?

Because their mental powers were similar to The Mule's, I was a little wary that we would have yet another instance of an individual/group attempting to take away free will in order to reach its aims. I was happy to find out that although Channis' mind was altered, it was his own choice to undergo the surgery.  That was significant.  On the other hand, The Mule didn't have a choice when they changed his mind to eliminate his inferiority complex and other psychological baggage.  Yes, this did a lot of good for him and the galaxy. And he is getting a taste of his own medicine. But it still irks me a bit from an ethical standpoint.

3.  Has your understanding of the Seldon Plan changed at all with the revelations about the plan and the Second Foundationers near the end of this first part of our reading? Looking back does it alter any ideas you had about Seldon and his predictions?

From the reader's perspective, the whole aura of the plan seems to have been set aside during this part. Instead it has become a very pragmatic "Well, Seldon knew everything wouldn't go according to plan, so let's just do what we can to fix it." This quote struck me:

So [Seldon] created his Foundations according to the laws of psychohistory, but who knew better than he that even those laws were relative. He never created a finished product. Finished products are for decadent minds. His was an evolving mechanism and the Second Foundation was the instrument of that evolution (p. 65).

I'm guessing a lot of us are more comfortable with this view, as opposed to the almost religious fixation in the past with the Plan going down an unchanging route. The idea of an "evolving mechanism" meshes better with reality. It's much easier to accept.

4.  A simple one: How did you feel the first part of Second Foundation held up in comparison to the sections we've previously read?

It's among my favorite so far.  All of the mini twists and turns were intense, and it was great getting a different perspective about Seldon's Plan.  I've been curious about the Second Foundation from the beginning, so learning a little bit about it has been satisfying.  I hope there's more in the final part. 

5.  It is perhaps not surprising that Asimov's second important female character in the trilogy would be a direct descendent of the first. What do you think of young Arcadia "Arkady" Darell?

She's smart and resourceful, and yet Asimov doesn't let us forget that she's still a fourteen-year-old girl.  

More discussion on this first part of Second Foundation can be found here.

Literary Giveaway Blog Hop

I signed up to participate once again in the fun Literary Giveaway Blog Hop, but things have been so busy around here that I am putting up my post late.  The good news is that I'm rushing even writing this post, so I will make it very simple and offer your choice of a $15 dollar e-gift card from Amazon OR a book of your choice up to $15 from Book Depository if Book Depository delivers free to your country.

All you need to do for a chance to win is to comment and leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.  I will close the giveaway on Wednesday, February 22 around midnight PST.

Hopefully in my haste I haven't forgotten any important bits of information.  Let me know if you see something missing.

Thanks for participating! Be sure to visit other Hop Participants for more chances to win:

Leeswammes Curiosity Killed The Bookworm Lit Endeavors (US) The Book Whisperer Rikki's Teleidoscope 2606 Books and Counting The Parrish Lantern Sam Still Reading Bookworm with a view Breieninpeking (Dutch readers) Seaside Book Nook Elle Lit (US) Nishita's Rants and Raves Tell Me A Story Living, Learning, and Loving Life (US) Book'd Out Uniflame Creates Tiny Library (UK) An Armchair by the Sea (UK) bibliosue Lena Sledge's Blog (US) Roof Beam Reader Misprinted Pages Mevrouw Kinderboek (Dutch readers) Under My Apple Tree (US) Indie Reader Houston Book Clutter I Am A Reader, Not A Writer (US) Lizzy's Literary Life Sweeping Me

Caribousmom (US) Minding Spot (US) Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea The Book Diva's Reads The Blue Bookcase Thinking About Loud! write meg! (US) Devouring Texts Thirty Creative Studio (US) The Book Stop Dolce Bellezza (US) Simple Clockwork Chocolate and Croissants The Scarlet Letter (US) Reflections from the Hinterland (N. America) De Boekblogger (Europe, Dutch readers) Readerbuzz (US) Must Read Faster (N. America) Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry carolinareti MaeGal Ephemeral Digest Scattered Figments (UK) Bibliophile By the Sea The Blog of Litwits (US) Kate Austin Alice Anderson (US) Always Cooking up Something

Happy Birthday, Mr. Dickens!

I love this picture, but it reminds me how much a hate beards.  Yuck!

My children got me a beautiful biography of Dickens for my birthday.  I'm hoping to read a little bit of it today to celebrate.  Or at least look at some of the pictures.  It's supposed to rain today.  Perfect!

Books I've read by Dickens:  David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, Bleak House, Oliver Twist
Dickens on my shelf:  Pickwick Papers, Our Mutual Friend
Favorites:  David Copperfield and Great Expectations
Books I want to read:  All of them!
Screen Adaptations I've seen:  David Copperfield, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, Bleak House, Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist
Favorite:  David Copperfield (1999).  Bleak House and Little Dorrit are close behind.

Foundation and Empire Group Read: Conclusion

It seems like a lifetime ago since reading and discussing the first half of Foundation and Empire because in between the two sections I had to finish up Moby-Dick for another readalong and read Rebecca in two days for a book club.  So if I start talking about whales or a psycho housekeeper, you'll understand why.

Here are the questions for the week from host Carl, with SPOILERS!

1.  While it didn't break new ground, Asimov did have a female character who played a major role in this second half of the book.  What are your thoughts on how Asimov portrayed Bayta?

I'm pretty satisfied with the way Bayta is portrayed.  Both her brains and her heart saved them in the end.  And apparently she could whip up a yummy pie.

2.  Now that you know the Mule's identity, were you surprised or had  you figured it out along the way?  If you did figure it out, how did that affect your reading of the book?

I was reasonably sure of his true identity, but there was enough room for another possibility that it wasn't completely devoid of suspense.  The biggest clue for me was the Visi-Sonor and the concerts.  It was still enjoyable to find out at the end because there were many instances pointed out where he was influencing others and it answered a lot of questions.  In some cases I actually thought that Asimov was just being careless in his characterization, but in the end I realized he knew just what he was doing.  Oh, me of little faith!

3.  In previous posts we discussed the role individuals seemed to have in the unfolding of Seldon's plan.  How do you feel about the issue now that we've seen an individual derail Seldon's plans?

It's really kind of relief to me, even though ironically the individual is one seeking to take away personal choice through his control of emotions.  I need to know that one person can make a change, or else why would I try to do anything?  I've read Horton Hears a Who too many times to give up this ideal!

At the same time, though, did he derail Seldon's plans?  It sounds like the Second Foundation was set up to make up for any aberrations in the plan, so doesn't that make it part of the plan?  

4.  Did it surprise you in the end that the Mule was allowed to get away?  Did Asimov make you feel any pity or empathy for the Mule, either as the clown and/or when you discovered he was the Mule?

I loved the mixed emotions of the ending.  I was both horrified by his actions and felt pity for him.  Just like Darth Vader!!

5.  How do you feel this story compared to all the other stories that have made up the two Foundation novels we've read?

"The Mule" was my favorite by far.  Admittedly, it has the comfort of a conventional structure, unlike the stories of Foundation.  But it was also in and of itself an excellent story.

6.  What final thoughts do you have about Foundation and Empire?

Loved it!  Five stars.  I'm ready to read the next installment--I've heard it's the best.

For more discussion and links, visit here. Thanks, Carl!