It's Monday! So what is everyone out there reading?
(Judy Garland)
I have discovered audiobooks! I had so much housework to do on the weekend, and a lot of walking from one room to another, so I downloaded an audiobook app to my iphone and listened to The Phantom of the Opera.
I have discovered audiobooks! I had so much housework to do on the weekend, and a lot of walking from one room to another, so I downloaded an audiobook app to my iphone and listened to The Phantom of the Opera.
I've been reading the book on my phone, but hearing it was just as good, in fact, I was able to hear the proper pronounciation of the French words in the story, so it was even better than reading it myself. I'm about a quarter of the way through and there is a lot of background story I am enjoying that was not in the musical or the movie.
This week I read Divergent, and am currently reading the follow-up, Insurgent.
I find the idea of a world where people are divided into five factions really interesting, but Divergent was hard for me to read because of all the violence. I am finding Insurgent easier because it is more about family relationships.
I finished reading Catching Fire, which I really enjoyed, because it is about people banding together to rebel against a dystopian society. (Same theme as Insurgent.)
I also read The Woman in Black this week. I love the first person narrative, in the spirit of classic books such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Crime and Punishment. The story starts pretty slowly, and then centres around the home of a Mrs Drablow, who has passed away and left papers which need to be obtained by a solicitor. Said solicitor, upon entering the house, endures all manner of spooky moments, including glimpses of a woman in black, strange sounds coming from within a locked room, and a pony and cart being swallowed up by the mud of the surrounding marsh.
The Woman in Black is a quick satisfying read, however not as enthralling as The Man in the Picture by the same author, which I read last year. I would think the film The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, would be much scarier than the book, as the visuals and sounds would create the atmosphere more fully than the book has been able to capture.
Ahead this week, I will finish Insurgent, and Phantom of the Opera, along with the third part of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay.
I'm curious to see what Katniss, Peter and Gale achieve in this part of the story.
Check out all the other books that people are reading here:
Check out all the other books that people are reading here:
Happy reading!
xx
Hello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the novel and the play The Woman in Black. I saw the play first in the West End and it was so creepy and terrifying and really amazing how the actor managed to bring the world of the novel to the story with very minimal props. I saw the movie recently and it didn’t come anywhere near the play and novel in my opinion. It became more like some shloppy old Horror movie despite some really wonderful visuals. One thing the movie did do which was very impressive, in my opinion was bring out the dark themes of grief and revenge which I didn’t get as much from the original novel. And audio books are wonderful. My Poet’s Cottage has just come out on audio which was really a great joy for me. My sister has retinitis pigmentosa and so it’s lovely to know the book is always there for her to listen and enjoy when her eyes eventually go. I love the pic of Judy Garland.xx
Thanks so much for dropping in, Josephine! The Woman in Black play sounds awesome! Shame about the movie being B-grade. Actually, it would probably make a good audiobook, with the narrator's voice building the atmosphere and suspense.
DeleteSorry to hear about your sister's sight. Your audiobook will be a blessing to her. :)
The Hunger Games trilogy was a favourite but I did find Mockingjay a little disappointing. I loved the neuropsychology element in Insurgent ... fascinating!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and happy reading :)
I've heard that about Mockingjay. Bummer.
DeleteThere is so much in Insurgent that is fascinating - I find it hard to put it down! :)
I read Divergent when it first came out and now I feel lost trying to read Insurgent...I almost feel like I need to reread Divergent!
ReplyDeleteHere's my
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? I hope you will come by and say hello.
That happens to me when there's a long time between the books in a series! Often I try to wait until I can read the whole set together. :)
DeleteI loved The Hunger Games series and Divergent - totally agree with you though that it is indeed a bit violent, although I didn't mind. I still haven't gotten to Insurgent yet, so it's good to see that you're enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteYou'll love it, I'm sure! :)
DeleteI read Divergent and Insurgent this week too.
ReplyDeleteThey are so popular! Even though they are YA I don't think I would encourage my 13 year old son to read them. Too dark for teenagers :)
DeleteThe Woman in Black sounds very tempting...hope you enjoy your week.
ReplyDeleteHere's MY MONDAY MEMES POST
It's a quick read, and has a pretty creepy ending! :)
DeleteGreat post. It is good to be more occupied doing worth things.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! My book club really liked The Hunger Games trilogy. I was a little skeptical at first because I don't typically select YA reads but I couldn't put them down. I haven't read the Veronica Roth Books but I they seem to be showing up on everyone's reading list this summer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading!
Rebecca @ The Key to the Gate
If you can get past the teenage romance stuff, YA books are often just as good as adult fiction. :)
DeleteThe music from Phantom is WONDERFUL!!! <3
ReplyDeleteHave a great reading week!
What are YOU reading @ The Brunette Librarian??
I agree! I totally love it! xx
DeleteOh wow - such great reads!!!!!
ReplyDeleteStopped by to wish you a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteShelleyrae @ Book'd Out