THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd

The Secret Life Of Bees was recommend to me by a very good friend of mine who said it was a brilliant book and one that I would really enjoy, and I must say that she was more than right. I have enjoyed reading this book so much that I want to read it again and again and again.

It is the story of a young white girl (Lily) and her Negro friend (Rosaleen) who end up an a spot of bother and end up running away from Lily's father, breaking out of jail and numerous other plights. The two are taken in by three Negro bee-keeping sisters who protect them and look after them while they are hiding from Lily's father and the law.

I cannot put my finger on one, single way this book made me feel. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I got angry, I feared for the other characters, I even loved throughout the course of this book. This, I think, is the sign of an impeccably written book.

To be honest with you, the plot was nothing like I expected it to be, even after reading the blurb, but I cannot fault what has been woven into these pages. The Secret Life Of Bees is an enormously powerful book that represents brilliantly the struggle of coloured men and women in the 1960's and the hostility that they faced from white society. I think that the coming together of races and denominations is fantastic and something that should most definitely be encouraged by all.

My favourite character has to be August Boatwright. I feel like I know her now, I feel like she has taken me under her wing and been there for me through trial and struggle. Of course she is only a fictional character, but she has been so beautifully written that she could very well be real. I admire her bravery and her solidness that she shows throughout everything her and her family are forced to go through; including deaths. She takes everything in her stride and freely admits that everyone needs time to be alone and grieve for their own personal problems in their own way. The thing that I found came across strongest about August was her passionately, pastoral heart which leaked through the pages of the novel and seeped into the reader. The fact that she would rather do something like pain the house bright pink because it helped to keep her sister stable, rather than paint it blue because that was what she wanted and that her her favourite colour. I found there really was a lot to admire in August.

I really felt drawn into the complexity of Lily's character. There are so many layers to her that there is something that everybody can relate to in some form or another, the most difficult part for me, when Lily breaks down admitting her feelings of being unlovable.
I felt that throughout the story, Lily grew up and became a woman. At the beginning of the novel, she seemed no more than a child catching bees in a jam jar, but at the end she had grown and matured into a strong, independent woman who was able to stand up to her Father and tell him what he needed to hear, but still deep inside she still had that child-like longing for a Father who loved her. All the way through we see this battle within Lily, between the part of her that remain a child and be held by her mother, and the part of her that wants to grow up and leave her family behind her, making a fresh start for her adult self, and I think it is really interesting how we see this physically through her actions as well as her thoughts and her speech. The main evidence of this battle is when she's alone in the Honey House and on one occasion she begins throwing jars of honey and making the biggest mess she can, an another time she cannot sleep and so begins a mad, cleaning frenzy. Two completely different activities - One more likely to be done by a girl and the other by a woman.

Over all this really is an incredible book and one that I would definitely recommend. I would probably say that it is more suited to older teens and adults but that's not to say it wouldn't make a good read for anyone younger (however there are taboo terms used throughout). As I mentioned before, it is an incredibly powerful book and definitely a story to combat prejudice and racial discrimination.

A CUT GLASS BOWL (short story) by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I must say, after reading The Great Gatsby by the same author, I wasn't exactly looking forward to reading Fitzgerald's short stories, however I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised by A Cut Glass Bowl and I have really enjoyed reading this first short story.

The story covers about twenty years of a woman named Evelyn and the events of her life over this period of time. We also get insight into her husband although this is usually negative considering the circumstances or her affair in her younger years at the start of their marriage. Although her children do get mentioned in the story, we hear little about them far from the few details about Julie's accident.

I think that this is a truly is a fine example of a short story. It has everything that a novel should have but in far fewer words. There is love, disappointment, fear, drunkenness, sadness, anger, hate, awkwardness. In just a few short pages you are over loaded with so many different emotions and feelings that all add up to create this incredible story that flows brilliantly.

One of the things I find interesting about this tale is the way that Evelyn describes her house maids. Not only does she put them down "well those swedes-", she doesn't even finish her sentence, assuming that the audience share her disgust at the maids, but also that way that Fitzgerald writes their dialogue makes the maids sound almost unintelligent and very simple minded. Through this I feel that the author is making a statement or a suggestion about society at this period of time in history (beginning to the 20th century). I feel that the author is trying to tells that immigrants from central and eastern Europe are looked down upon by these upper-middle class Americans and possible seen as inferior, they failed to move to America and make their fortune when they had the chance so now they are having to wait on the people who beat them too it. Even when referring to western European places such as Ireland, although she describes them as being good maids and being good at what they do, she is still assigning them to remain as nothing but house maids.

I thought that the ending of the short story was incredibly effective. Not once was it mentioned in the text that Donald (Evelyn's son) had died and yet through the way the text has been written and the actions and thoughts of Evelyn we see very clearly what the situation is. Throughout the story it is fascinating how the thing that is supposed to be a wonderful, beautiful gift that is displayed for everyone to see and yet to is the source of all Evelyn's problems.

Overall I felt that 'A Cut Glass Bowl' had everything that I needed it to have to be a complete, entertaining, quick and intelligent read. I'm not a hundred percent sure what else I can write about to be honest, other that during the chapter describing the punch party, I genuinely felt myself getting more and more anxious on Evelyn's behalf which I believe is a sign that Fitzgerald has done his job properly. These are just my first impressions of the story as a whole, until I have studied it in deeper detail I think I have summed up my feelings about the story.

THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien

I must admit that the first time I tried to read this book; about five or six years ago, I got no further than chapter five. This time however, I am older and a more mature reader and I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire book, the only regret I have is not reading it again sooner. It really is a masterpiece and a genuine work of art. I have not seen the film which I am pleased about because it has meant that I could read the Hobbit without anyone-else's interpretations influencing my imagination.

I love dwarves, they really are funny little creatures although they would probably not thank me for describing them as so.

The thing that I think surprised me the most about the Hobbit is the unending list of hidden messages that the author has embedded in the text. For example, the idea that two people can carry out the same task but for two completely different reasons and with different motivations. Thorin Oakenshield wanted to reach Lonely Mountain ultimately to retrieve the lost treasure whereas poor Bilbo did it purely out of not wanting to break a promise he had made. There are so many other messages, too numerous to mention, but I think the most fascinating thing in that these messages can change depending on who you are and how you read it.

My favourite part of the novel is when Bilbo talking with Smaug and is trying to bluff his way out of being eaten. I absolutely love the language that Tolkien has used here and I must say that I felt as entranced by the dragon-speak as Bilbo was. I was totally enchanted by the conversation and I feel that if I had not known what I did, then I would probably have been tricked into believing the dragon and falling for his trap.

I find Tolkien's use of words incredible and incurably poetic. All the way through the book, right from the beginning with the songs and the poems of the dwarves and the elves, right through to the riddles in the dark with Gollum, to the discussions and the parlay between the dwarves and the men/elves towards the end. I everything the Tolkien writes, he has a knack for creating the most wondrous speech. He spins his sentences like a spider spins silk, drawing you into the story and trapping you within the pages, unable to draw yourself away from the magic woven by the author. The language that he uses in his description is equally as incredible and the language that he uses in the character's dialogue -

"A black cloud hurried over the sky. Winter thunder on a wild wind rolled roaring up and rumbled in the mountain, and lightning lit its peak. An beneath the thunder another blackness could be seen whirling forward; but it did not come with the wind, it came from the North, like a vast cloud of birds, so dense that no light could be seen between their wings."

There is so much I could write about the Hobbit if I had more time to do so, although in someways I feel that this book should just be enjoyed for what it is and interpreted by individuals rather than analysed and reviewed on a large scale.

I would be more than happy to recommend this fabulous book to anybody, young and old. Although it is quite dense and may take a while to read, I have found it incredibly easy to read and I would definitely describe it as a 'page-turner'. One fantastical oddity leading onto the next, drawing you from page to page, the text not for one moment relinquishing it's grip on the reader.

The Hobbit is a beautiful book full of adventure and sorrow and victory. Perfectly written and awaiting its readers.

THE HANDMAID'S TALE by Margaret Atwood (chapters 22 - 25)

Chapter twenty two starts off with a short paragraph, where Offred is explaining how she is feeling after the Birth, however the way she speaks, in short, breathless sentences makes it sound more like it is Offred who has given birth to the child rather than Ofwarren. As I mentioned last time, this reflects the ideology that the Handmaids are all one body, carrying out one purpose. The shortness of the paragraph also suggests that it is something important that she neither has the energy, or wants to talk about and therefore sums it up quickly.

The format of the rest of this chapter is rather clever, because it is Offred talking about another handmaid and she is retelling a story that has been passed onto her. She narrates the story in third person which makes this element stand out against the rest of the narrative because you have first and third person narrative juxtaposed together. This emphasizes the importance of this story to the readers. It is only once, Offred reveals this to the reader, this she becomes to act more bravely and starts to break the rules more frequently. This could be representing the empowerment of knowledge. By physically telling the story of Moira's defiance, she has come to believe it more definitely, to the point that she feels that she can do it also, that she also has the ability and the power to do such things. This also shows us clearly the reason that the handmaids conversations with each other are so restricted; because of the powerful effect that this information can have.

The other thing that really stands out to me in this chapter; short though it is, is the way that Moira swaps her clothes with the aunt, this is not what surprised me though, what surprised me is the reaction that everybody has. No one begs to differ that Moira is an Aunt merely because she is wearing the Aunts uniform. Here we see all to clearly that in Gilead, what you wear defines who you are. You are judged by the colour of you're dress. This is something that we as a reader can relate to because we live in a world where, although we are encouraged not to judge people by what brands and labels they wear, we still subconsciously do it. We make assumptions based on what we see people wearing, just as the Guardian assumed that Moira was an Aunt based on the dress she was wearing.

"This is a reconstruction" is the opening statement of chapter twenty three. I find this most fascinating because although Offred is talking about her story; and this suggests that she is writing this after Gilead and she is no longer a handmaid, I believe that is is also Atwood referring to the entire world this the story is set in. Gilead is a reconstruction of society, constructing it how they believe it should be run. Also they have reconstructed many religious values, which also have been rebuilt to suit the needs of Gilead and the people that are in charge. So I feel quite unnerved at the thought that somebody has taken a strong, thriving society (as we know it) and they have rebuilt/reconstructed it to fit with their ideas and their regime.

I love chapter twenty three, I really do love it. I think it is brilliant how Atwood creates this terrible suspense as Offred is summoned to the commanders office for reasons we know not. I know personally, I began to feel scared for Offred because I thought his intentions were to rape her or force her to carry out some equally degrading activity. I felt that the poor girl had been through enough and I really felt like she didn't need this, however when she enters his office and asks her to play SCRABBLE! I physically started laughing out loud because it just didn't seem real at the time; that the commander should summon his Handmaid in the cover of night to attend to him in his office... to play scrabble of all things. It almost adds an element of comic relief to the story. It seems so trivial to us, scrabble isn't something that we would normally get excited over, but for Offred it is sweet,sweet honey, after all words and literature are forbidden to her, so this opportunity to play word games is absolutely unbelievable. It has added something to her life now that she can actually look forward to however it also raises the question: Is this to good to be true?

The whole scenario in the commanders office is very much separated from the rest of Gileadean life. Even the Commander himself is completely different once he is in this room with Offred, even the way that he speaks to her. I found myself quite taken aback when he said hello to her because this is not to required greeting, it is something of the time before. However Offred explains to the reader that she had difficulty remembering the correct response to Hello. This shows us that despite her defiance, the ways of Gilead have finally managed to make some impression on her, pushing out old memories that used to seem so trivial and causing her to automatically think that there is a correct response to everything. As well as breaking the laws of reading and literature, I also believe that the Commander is breaking the laws of education in Gilead, re-tutoring her in the ways of the time before Gilead; almost as if he feels sorry for her and he is trying to help her hold onto herself in this society so set on separating itself from the rest of the world.

I think the words that Atwood has chosen for the Commander and Offred to play during the game are very clever and if you look closely at them, you can see the hidden meaning:

Larynx: The part of the throat that causes you to create voice, Offred's voice is silenced in Gilead

Valance: A piece of material draped over another, could in this instance the dress that Offred is forced to wear.

Quince: A fruit - Fruit of the womb, children, fertility

Zygote: The beginning stages of an embryo, Offred has still yet to concieve

Limp: Could be a pun aimed at the commander and his manhood, considering he has still to get her pregnant

Gorge: Offred is gorging on words which she wouldn't normally have access to while she has the opportunity too. Gorge is also a chasm which could represent the distance between her and the commander and/or how Gilead has left Offred feeling inside.

Finally for this chapter, in his office the Commander even has the audacity and the self felt empowerment to ask Offred to kiss him, which she has already explain in chapter sixteen: "Kissing is forbidden between us".
It shows us a little bit about who the commander thinks he is, Untouchable and that he cannot be punished because his is too high up in the chain of command. However, even though he feels like this, he doesn't flaunt it, he keeps it to himself and pleasures himself with his own illegal secret.

Chapter twenty four is such a contrast to the previous chapter, she has just had one of the best nights of her new life and yet, the night time section; chapter fourteen, is so feminist centralized. we hear her recalling things that Aunt Lydia said about 'Men are sex machines' and she also thinks of her mother who, by know, we know always was an active feminist. Almost as if now she is trying to convince herself that it is too good to be true and that she shouldn't get too comfortable with him.

But something has change, now, tonight. Circumstances have changed.

I really like how Atwood has used this sentence, because it marks turning point in the entire book, which Offred does not yet know about. This works well because we know that there are somethings which she isn't telling us, either because she doesn't know or doesn't want to experience that pain anymore than she has to, and now it is almost the opposite, she is revealing something that she doesn't know she knows yet.

Atwood has juxtaposed different emotions and atmospheres really well, after you hear Offred contemplating humanity and how easy it is to reinvent it, thinking about makeup and clothing and the apparently dire effects it had, and then all of a sudden, it switched into this crazed hysteria, that is so great it causes Offred to collapse. I think this direct juxtaposition works incredibly well to express the certain effects of just how drastic hysteria can really be. I also think that Atwood's choice of the word Hysteria is really interesting, coming from the same origins as the word Hysterectomy which applies only to women and the removal of the uterus and the womb, which of course, Offred would be useless without, so this word could represent that some important part of her has been taken from her; personality, name etc...

'Red all over the cupboard' is a sentence in this chapter which has really grabbed my attention and really made me think. This could literally mean the red of her dress but then it also makes you wonder if she is bleeding in someway, a sign that maybe she has failed to get pregnant again. But also I feel that maybe Atwood has used it as a metaphor, linking it to the phrase 'seeing red' which means that someone is really angry, furious even. The idea that you are so angry that you begin to see everything in a red tint, because of the hate and the frustration and the anger that you are feeling. I feel that this is a metaphor for how Offred is feeling at this point, that the whole event with the Commander has gone beyond puzzling her and has actually made her feel angry about it.

Chapter twenty five has a great mix of different themes and thoughts and snippets of memories, as if Offred is struggling to focus on one particular thing for too long with out being distracted or forcing herself to think about something less painful. Initially she talks about when Cora discovered her in the cupboard, however after only a couple of pages, she skips ahead missing out entire months which we hear nothing about. This backs up the idea of the unreliable narrator; the idea that Offred is hiding things from the reader, whether it is because she wishes not to share or because she is unable to share for fear of punishment  we do not know, however it does make us wonder about whether we are hearing the whole truth. Also during the section that Offred skips ahead to, she describes how out of everything that Serena Joy has, the only things that she really genuinely coverts is the shears that she uses in the garden, this links back to previously in the novel when Offred expresses an interest in stealing something from the house but it also suggests that maybe she is beginning to think about ending her own life; equally it could be that she just wants ownership of something that would give her power. It reminds me of a part in The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, where Gus always holds a cigarette between his teeth yet never lighting it, the idea being that you have control over the killing thing and whether or not it has the power to kill you. If you don't light the cigarette, it can't cause lung cancer. It could be a similar situation, Offred wants the shears not to end her own life with them but just to know that she has the power to do that if the need ever arose or she ever wished to do so.

Chapter twenty five also plays host to the third meeting of Offred and the commander. All in all, these meeting with the commander, reveal to us the journey that Offred is going on and how she is becoming more and more adventurous and brave. On this third meeting she asks the Commander for some hand cream (a forbidden substance). I suppose to us it would be like asking you're legal guardian or boss for drugs or something equally and illegal.

She also takes the step as to explain to the reader, the arrangement that she has with the Commander. This suggests that she is beginning to trust the reader and to feel more comfortable with the people she is speaking to. This backs up the idea addressed in earlier posts, that Offred is an unreliable narrator. It confirms that she has been hiding parts of the truth from us as she is only now beginning to reveal these to us.
'The Commander and I have and arrangement. Its not the first such arrangement in history, though the shape it's taken is not the usual one." I find this quote fascinating as it hints to the realization that Offred comes to at the end of the chapter. It is as if she is looking back in hindsight at what happened and is trying to warn her previous self that she is growing too comfortable with the commander and that "for him, I must remember, that I am only a whim". I feel that the first quote leads up nicely to this latter one, letting the reader see something that our narrator didn't see themselves at the time. "It's not the first such arrangement in history".

Finally, the way Atwood repeats the use of listing devices when describing the scrabble game helps to emphisise how the ritualistic and orderly way in which these meetings flow. Everyone appears to be the same however the difference in the way that Offred describes them changes, showing us that her attitudes towards the Commander and his arrangement have changed and are changing.