Concluding Response: The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald certainly doesn't feed it to you on a spoon - the reader has to do a lot of digging between the lines - making an overall air of mystery. Plot-changing events happen so quickly; you might blink and miss them. If I hadn't seen the film first (whoops) it would have been very unpredictable. I'm going to say it again: there is an astonishing quantity of content concentrated into only 170 pages of text! I also found the setting and time period fascinating - I've never read anything of that time. Thoroughly enjoyed it - just as much as the film, if not even more so! It's crying out for a prequel (maybe there is one (I'm not sure)). 
Definitely recommend (it's an American classic after all) but READ THE BOOK FIRST!!!

Happy reading, Kate x

P.S: Perhaps, I might look into reading another of his books - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

Interim Response: The Great Gatsby

So much has happened in such a short space of time! The plot is very fast paced, yet at the same time very rich in detail and description. I love all the added snippets of information that the film didn't provide. The style of writing is quite complex (as is to be expected of such a great classic) but overall is easy(ish) to follow. The characters are incredibly vivacious, curious and mysterious - especially Gatsby! Eager to continue ....

Happy reading, Kate x

New Book: The Great Gatsby

Title: The Great Gatsby

Author: F.Scott Fitzgerald

Written: 1925
Set: 1922

Midwest native Nick Carraway arrives in 1922 New York in search of the American dream. Nick, a would-be writer, moves in next-door to millionaire Jay Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin Daisy  and her philandering husband, Tom. Thus, Nick becomes drawn into the captivating world of the wealthy and -- as he bears witness to their illusions and deceits -- pens a tale of impossible love, dreams, and tragedy.

First thoughts: I'm going to plead guilty to a book crime.... I watched the film first. It is usually regarded as a sin to do so, but the film was extraordinary (and very tempting)! Despite that I have been meaning to read this for AGES and the opportunity has arrived! I have high expectations.....

Happy reading, Kate x

Concluding Response: The Book Thief

I have just finished the final page of 'The Book Theif' and am genuinely sobbing into my duvet... The ending is so cruel it rips at your heart strings!

The plot is a mesh of tightly woven threads that create one grey cloth of human suffering, joy and friendship.

I might mention that this book is over 500 pages long, and over the duration of the story, you really do bond with the characters. It's incredible how attached you can become to a fictional family!

I would urge you to read this magnificent book if you haven't already (and if you have, REREAD IT!!).

There's not much more I can say because I fear I'm slightly emotionally unstable at the moment.. But anyways,

Happy reading, Kate x

Interim Response: The Book Thief

Absolutely engrossed in this book!

This novel is narrated by Death, which very promptly hooked me - right from the first pages. This unusual narrator brings a very blunt but honest reality to the plot. I am also really liking the layout and structure of the story - it's separated into parts which announce their contents on the beginning page. These parts are then separated into chapters, whose titles are like a keyhole into the chapters contents. Throughout, there are snippets of information interjected into the text. These range from 'reassuring announcements' to translations to subtle hints of the future...

The story shadows Liesel (a young girl) whilst she arrives, settles in and eventually loves her new foster home in Mulching, Germany. She swiftly creates close bonds with her foster parents and a boy named Rudy down Himmel street. I find all of the characters have such rich and complex personalities, that when woven together in each other's lives, create a quirky and unpredictable plot.  Liesel is taught how to read by her dear papa - Hans Hubermann. With her new found ability she (despite her childhood innocence) soon develops into a mischievous book thief! Each part is the name of one of the books she obtains.

Symbolism plays a key role - 'colours' and the Nazi flag regularly crop up... I love Markus Zusak's vibrant yet twisted writing style!

Must get back to reading...
Happy reading, Kate x

New Book: The Book Thief

Title: The Book Thief 

Author: Markus Zusak

Written: 2005
Set: 1935

'Narrated by Death, the book is set in Nazi Germany, a place and time when the narrator notes he was extremely busy. It describes a young girl's relationship with her foster parents, the other residents of their neighbourhood, and a young Jewish man hides in her home during the escalation of World War II.' - Wikipedia

First thoughts: I've been eager to see the film for ages and didn't actually realise it was adapted from a book... So here goes... I have a feeling this one is going to be interesting!

Happy reading, Kate x

Concluding Response: Diary of a Young Girl

I feel like my interim response is going to be more in depth than this (I covered most of my thoughts). I might add though that I really admired Anne's style of writing - for a girl of her age, it seems very complex and mature. I also admire her philosophical approach to things - particularly towards the end when she expresses her views of Hitler, Britain and the war generally.

The end is so abrupt it almost takes the wind out of you! After her last entry, a short conclusion summaries what happened to her and her family after their annex was discovered...

Now, I feel really driven to visit Amsterdam (the location of the annex) and the museum dedicated to her life and diary. Very moving.

I haven't got much else to add, except I recommend to give it a read!

Happy reading, Kate x