Before there were computers imaginatorium

     It was a time before long before facebook overtook the world. It was a time before computers, mobiles, talking films and other such modern conveniences we know and depend on. It was before the American Dream was fully conceptualized and before the world had seen even one World War. But the authors who wrote before all these things understood some valuable truths. They wrote about life, about issues that invaded society and those issues still carry weight and relevance today. The fact that many of these works have survived over the years is a testament not only to the story, but also to their style of writing and their voice.
     The month of October became books written before 1900. This stemmed mostly from not being able to finish all the books I wanted during my Gilmore Girls month. Although I didn't get through a ton of literature, I ended up with three fantastic authors; Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Victor Hugo.
     Despite having read Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, not to mention having seen dozens of different productions and adaptations of these works, I never read A Tale of Two Cities. The opening being as famous as it is, I was eager to dive in it. Understanding the depression that pervades much of Charles Dickens' other works, I assumed that A Tale of Two Cities would fall into the same category, which it did. The book takes on an epic scope, spanning across the two cities (surprise!) of London and Paris. We watch as Dickens takes us back and forth between the two cities as a trial unfolds, a revolution occurs and the happy endings of some characters are forever forgotten.
      I really did enjoy A Tale of Two Cities. I found it almost an easier read than Oliver Twist and certainly preferred it more as well. There is still a rather large cast of characters to follow. But it is a classic and one that does need to be read. If you only read one novel by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities would be the one I pick.
       As A Tale of Two Cities spanned across time and across two cities, Les Miserable set me into 19th century France and spanned over a course of several decades as well. For the epic scope that Victor Hugo set for Les Miserable, I found it a rather easy read. The writing style, although dense with fabulous vocabulary, is not as convoluted as I expected. It has a more playful and inquisitive tone, almost as if Hugo wasn't quite sure where his characters were going to take him yet it helped guide the reader through the book. The book, although massive, is split into manageable sections as we follow the story through different characters' perspectives.
     Having seen the musical, I enjoyed reading through the novel that inspired it. I actually adored this book; the tales of Jean Valjean, Cosette, Fantine, Marius, and Eponine were fleshed out and expanded in a way that the musical obviously didn't allow. Eponine's character was not as strong as I expected her to be nor her interaction with Marius and Cosette as involved which was a bit disappointing. Yet, Hugo effectively displayed a human drama amongst a revolution. The revolution wasn't the center point but rather the characters, how they interacted and moved through life. It's not a story about war but rather about people who happen upon a revolution. With as popular as Les Miserable the musical has become in recent years, especially with the new movie coming out with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, I was eager to read the book. Ultimately, it's another book well worth a read and before you look at the 1000 page book and decide against it, there are abridged versions to choose from if the unabridged seems too daunting. 

      The other book I read this month was a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Recently, there has been an influx of Sherlock Holmes reboots; the movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson, the BBC series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as the pair and the most recent rendition, Elementary with Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Lui (not my favorite but it's pretty good all the same). As the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes clearly still resonant with our society, I was eager to read the stories in their purity as originally written by Sir Arthur Conon Doyle. I chose A Study in Scarlet which begins the story of Holmes and Watson when they first meet and become roommates. A murder unfurls as the quirky but brilliant Sherlock Holmes discovers just how the murder occurred and who the culprit was.       The story and characters are brilliant. Looking at Sherlock through the mind of Watson was fantastic. The reader is able to see the eccentricities of Holmes but also come to understand the scientific mind of Watson as well. Watson proves just to be as strong of a character and good counterpoint to Sherlock. This particular tale of Sherlock Holmes took an interesting turn with the back story of how the victim and murderer came to be in London I didn't really see coming. What was fabulous is the solving of the crime rest not on what our modern minds have come to rely on but purely searching out clues and using logic. I enjoyed being able to track with Holmes and allow the answer to the mystery to unfold. I'm excited to read more Sherlock Holmes tales as well. I loved the writing style and how Conan Doyle concocted the mystery and the answer, yet never lost sight of his characters, their banter, or how they operated within the world.

     When I was younger, I read books written before the 20th century because I thought it made me sound pretentious and smart. I doubt I always understood half of what I read but I knew that reading those sorts of novels were good for me. As I've gotten older, it's not about being pretentious, it's about learning and discovering the gems hidden in those sorts of books. There are human issues we're still dealing with, stories that are still being told today that were written over a hundred years ago. The writing is good, the stories are keen, and all well worth a read. Don't let a dense book or perceived uppity language scare you because ultimately these works are for the "common people". They were written for the people of everyday society, not the most educated. They tell the tales of the people on the streets, working, and trying to make a living. So discover the magic and ordinariness in the imaginatorium. I promise it will be worth it.

And next month: I attempt to make it through an entire series in one month. What that series is will be a secret until that posting. :) Happy Reading!

A Tale of Cities- Charles Dickens

A Study in Scarlet – Arthur Conan Doyle
Les Miserable – Victor Hugo