My Thoughts on ~The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens~

Hey there, book-lovers!

It's been awhile to share my thoughts on my favourite novelists, which include Charles Dickens. If you're like me, you perhaps go on the internet regularly, but you still mildly resist to the idea of reading books paperless. Today, I want to introduce to you, a book that I have recently read of Dickens - It's called The Old Curiosity Shop. It's really not been a long time since I began to love his writing.

I am in my early-going-mid 20's, and I felt like Dickens, as I was reading this book, was the most brilliant writer ever.

I did read a concluding remark at the end of the pages by some brilliant person, and I may be unconsciously sharing of his/her remarkable commentaries. But, I shall try not to so I can actually share what I THINK!

So, not many perhaps, have read all of Dickens' literary works, so The Old Curiosity Shop, may not have be familiar to public readers (including yourself).

First of all, what I really LOVE about it is that, despite those 'literary criticisms' heavily imposed by the historical readers and critics, I really, really loved every bit of the book - even the plot! Now wait a minute, obviously plot has to be good in order to be readable. What I meant was, people commonly criticized the way Dickens drew his plot towards the end.

So, why did I not criticize it? Personally, I had too much emotional strength in the protagonist, Nell. So, when the story did not turn out great for her as I hoped it would be, I still loved her for what she did in previous chapters. Dickens, through her and other characters, discussed his moral values (besides his witty comments and many sarcasms) upon common folks' society, ranging from a servant to a grandfather who runs a little curiosity shop (it's sort of like an antique shop) and lives with his granddaughter Nell, an evil mastermind behind all misfortunes to the weak and naive ones, and to money-driven lawyers.

Justice is eventually served (as I exclaimed, yes!). But the element of innocence achieved through a little girl's perspective - her longing for sibling's love, to depend upon her grandfather - is difficult to be realized as she has to depend only upon herself. Her bravery, unconditional love for her grandfather, and her gentle, kind manner are some things to be praised. 

Perhaps being an emotional reader and a watcher, I cried a little at the end - when things didn't work out for little Nell - but, the book served its purpose of creating strong emotions for her.

Dickens' way of writing, which is hard to describe, is simply beautiful and full of wits. He would take you to a very imaginative, but yet so real life story. 

If you want to start, or continue indulging on some great classics, this book is the one for you. I hope you'll enjoy the wonderful journey of beautiful life, and realize that, how it changes so fast, yet, each moment was precious because it is short-lived. I think it was particularly applicable in this case, because everyone's life was so different at the concluding chapter (including yours!).

And I hope when you are reading this book, you will feel as I did, that good virtues never die.

Lord of the Rings - onto the last chapter...

I have finally read two-thirds of the all-time favourite book - <The Lord of the Rings> by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is indeed a worthy book, because of poetries and songs; I just cannot get over at how incredible it is!

At first, I thought it would be difficult to read such a grand classic (and a thick book to begin with, it is almost 2,000 pages! I cannot go on without finishing the entire book). But now I know, you read as it flows - I love to describe reading as if one does yoga - you can let it flow, do not try to read things over and over again.

Audio books really helped me to read the <Pride and Prejudice> by Jane Austen. Now this book is just worth reading! Pure adventure and joy!

The plot begins with Bilbo Baggins, the main protagonist from <The Hobbit> and slowly transition to Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Sam, Aragorn, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas ('The Company'). Well, what I love particularly about this book is that it has so much human things - the dear friendship between Gimli and Legolas, as well as Frodo and Sam, many kings (and stewards) of the human race who are noble, shrewd, kind, forgiving, cruel, and most of all, courageous. 

Personally, I felt that the book LOTR (abbreviated) tells of love between friends, companions, and the will to help each other at the time of war (pressing, death, and gloomy). I feel that the author did an excellent job of tying the subsections into one central theme.

I would also like you to know that there are other books written by the same author concerning the medieval times in this strange land of fiction. I was very excited to learn of this, because I'd like to know more about the elves, the people in the ancient time as well as some more background information for the LOTR.

I highly recommend this book, as I am reading this so far, I dearly love it. Thanks to my friend who happened to mention this book to me.

Becoming Jane

As I write this post, I have noticed a stiff recalling of this movie: I am currently listening to the soundtrack of Becoming Jane - the most wonderful movie about the most admired authoress - Jane Austen. Obviously, I cannot get over how much I love the movie and the main characters: James McAvoy is the man of this movie, and I cannot imagine it without him. 

I would be all drools and over the top about this subject, but needlessly without the substance that I am trying to get at. 

I seriously love this music; it really calms me down. The inner peace, the French horn, the wind ensemble... I must say that brief period of band life in high school really brings me to favour the woodwind instruments. Because it still sounds beautiful without the piano being the main player. Cannot get over with the clarinets now, which once I thought sounded a bit annoying. Well, was I wrong.

If you haven't watched it, you are basically missing out on these beautiful sounding music - so no farther think, just watch it on your on-line streaming site!

I've always felt the same as the person who has posted the soundtrack on-line, that I ought to have been living in the same era as Austen. While I know now, that clearly it would be a misfortune to me if I were born in a poor/low-income family. The reality may be harsh, but Austen wrote so romantically during her lifetime that so many people these days want to go back to the late 19th century, in some small city such as Bath.

I am not from Europe, and therefore, I cannot foretell if that experience would be such as joy for me; to be honest, I fear the exact opposite feelings would overtake me.

It led me to believe, that life was meaningless without purpose, like a ship that lost its way to the final destination. Was Austen also living her life without a goal? Were her goals solely to focus on her writing, and really neglecting the reality around her?

I wonder, if Austen meant to marry anyone but for the unfortunate turnout with Tom Lefroy. 

I'd love to meet her, if I could, because now I am a sheep without a shepherd.