The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Publisher: 1937

Genre: Fantasy Literature

Pages: 300

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; Fall into Reading; Mount TBR; 52 Books - W49; Rereading; Book to Movie

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.

A classic.  A classic that I haven't read for a few years now. I figured it was time to reread especially with the release of the last part of the movie trilogy.  I love Bilbo Baggins so much.  He is such a great character. I love that the audience can latch onto Bilbo along this crazy journey of his. My absolute favorite part of the book is Riddles in the Deep (chapter where Bilbo gets the ring from Gollum).  I love the dialogue between the two characters, three if you count Smeagel.  Smaug is also an amazing character.  I love the interchanges between the dragon and the other characters.  Great dialogue!!!

Movie:

Peter Jackson is a master of taking these classic books and turning them into beautiful film adaptations. I know that there are changes between book and movie, but the changes don't bother me at all.  I was still so enthralled with the story. Martin Freeman was a great Bilbo, but my favorite was Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.  Perfect acting!  I can't wait to see the trilogy closer this Christmas.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Title: The Awakening

Author: Kate Chopin

Publisher: 1899

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 190

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall Reading Challenge; 52 Books -- W44; Monthly Motif -- Oldie but a Goodie; Rereading; Classics -- 19th Century

When first published in 1899, The Awakening shocked readers with its honest treatment of female marital infidelity. Audiences accustomed to the pieties of late Victorian romantic fiction were taken aback by Chopin's daring portrayal of a woman trapped in a stifling marriage, who seeks and finds passionate physical love outside the straitened confines of her domestic situation. Aside from its unusually frank treatment of a then-controversial subject, the novel is widely admired today for its literary qualities. Edmund Wilson characterized it as a work "quite uninhibited and beautifully written, which anticipates D. H. Lawrence in its treatment of infidelity."

I first read The Awakening my sophomore year of high school.  It opened up my world. Because of its influence, I went on to major in Women's Studies with a specialization in women in religion. This was my seminal work.  But would it stand up almost 20 years later? (I have read it off and on during the in between years, but the last time was almost 5 years ago)

The answer is yes!  I still adore this book and the character of Edna. I understand her seemingly trapped position in life. I get how revolutionary this was publishing a feminist novel in 1899.  I wish Edna had been able to make a different choice, but understand the one she made. I still get very emotional as the end nears. Chopin's slim volume has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

Title: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Publisher: 1792

Genre: Nonfiction - Philosophy

Pages: 242

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Ebook; Well Rounded Reader -- Philosophy; Rereading; Classics -- Woman Author

In an era of revolutions demanding greater liberties for mankind, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was an ardent feminist who spoke eloquently for countless women of her time.

Having witnessed firsthand the devastating results of male improvidence, she assumed an independent role early in life, educating herself and eventually earning a living as a governess, teacher and writer. She was also an esteemed member of the radical intellectual circle that included William Godwin (father of her daughter, novelist Mary Godwin Shelley, and later her husband), Thomas Paine, William Blake, Henry Fuseli and others.

First published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman created a scandal in its day, largely, perhaps, because of the unconventional lifestyle of its creator. Today, it is considered the first great manifesto of women’s rights, arguing passionately for the education of women: "Tyrants and sensualists are in the right when they endeavor to keep women in the dark, because the former want only slaves, and the later a plaything."

No narrow-minded zealot, Wollstonecraft balanced passionate advocacy with a sympathetic warmth—a characteristic that helped her ideas achieve widespread influence. Anyone interested in the history of the women’s rights movement will welcome this inexpensive edition of one of the landmark documents in the struggle for human dignity, freedom and equality.

A classic of feminist theory.  Really one of the first treatise on what would become known as feminist theory.  I first encountered Mary Wollstonecraft in college during my women's studies classes.  I was immediately struck by her well reasoned argument.  She doesn't rail against the patriarchy or the men of her lifetime.  Instead, she lays out why women deserve to be seen as worthy beings.  I agree with critics when they take issue with Wollstonecraft's inability to state that women and men are equal beings.  She cannot be classified as a true feminist, but her treatise does make strides toward that end.  A must read for fans of philosophy.

2014 Re-reading Reading Challenge

From Caffeinated Life:

While my to-read pile is constantly expanding and shrinking, there’s always been a couple of books in the back of my head that I’ve been meaning to re-visit, either to see if my understanding of the novel has changed or just re-read it for fun, but I keep putting it off for one reason or another. So I decided to that maybe a reading challenge will compel me to re-visit a couple of these books in 2014 and thought maybe others would be interested in joining me for this.

The (very brief) rundown to this challenge:

• This reading challenge runs from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014
• You can join at any time
• Any book is acceptable in this challenge so long as you’ve read it in the past; perhaps it was a DNF you wanted to revisit, perhaps it’s a book you’ve read and loved but don’t remember the details too much. It’s totally up to you how you want to define this.
• Linking your reviews to the separate Linky Widget (that I will be posting up on 31 December 2013 and will remain live until the end of 2014) is optional but strongly recommended just so that we can share titles and thoughts with other bloggers, learn new titles out there and get to know each other in the process.

Levels (sorry, not feeling very creative coming up with these levels, lol; I’m pretty laxed about this):

• 1 – 4 books — Occasional re-reader
• 5 – 9 books — Re-reading pro!
• 10+ books — Re-reading champ!

I'm sure there are a few books sitting on my piles that I want to reread (looking at you The Awakening!).  So, I'm adding this one to my challenges.  However, I think I'm just going to aim for the lowest level to focus on new-to-me books.

Tentative TBR:

1. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft