12. To The Lighthouse
Book Summary: To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
"To the Lighthouse" is the representative work of Virginia Woolf's stream of consciousness. This novel has always been controversial, and its fans can regard it as a classic, while another group of readers may not read it at all.
This phenomenon is not only specific to Woolf but the same controversy can be found in many novelists of the twentieth century, perhaps reflecting a fundamental change in the pattern of twentieth-century novels and those of the four hundred years that preceded them.
Caused a general phenomenon, for example, Tolstoy, who was the highest achievement of the previous novels, whether he was a rich professor or an ordinary reader, could devote himself to his full storyline and lively rhythm, no one will be misunderstood; but twentieth-century novelists may well be regarded as "genius" among a small group of readers, and inexplicably boring idiots among others, even the well-known Kafka Joyce and others are by no means writers in the public sense, and even if no one dares to criticize them, no one may dare to claim to have read them.
Of course, this involves changes in the idea of fiction, as well as various experiments by novelists trying to break through the constraints of the old model to open up the infinite possibilities of fiction; but they sometimes go too far, so that they don't consider the reader's feelings at all.
Woolf once asked her readers: "Don't give orders to your writer, try to become one with him. You want to be his partner and assistant in his creative activities."
13. Middlemarch
Book Summary: Middlemarch by George Eliot
The book begins in 1829, the year following the death of King George IV, who had served as regent. The political changes brought about by the change of thrones also affected the small town of Middlemarch, and the huge influence of the dual revolution also made women unwilling to be subordinated to men.
Dorothea and Rosamund's marriages are all "disillusioned", married to a man they don't know at all, the expected married life is shattered one by one, and there is no choice to stay with the inescapable marriage of the two only pain.
Casaubon's death at least gave Doro a chance to change, what about Rosa? She left her parents and Lid and went south, gaining money and losing love. Elliott still couldn't be ruthless, and the ending gave everyone a relatively happy ending.
After experiencing a series of grievances in Middlemarch, they will live in the Victorian era ruled by women. Eliot has a very keen insight, and there is no dissonance in her description of the characters' psychology.
Dolo fell in love with Casaubon because of the courage beyond the world, why not choose Will later? Lid and Rosa did not have enough financial capacity to marry. When he was single, he spent money without knowing what to do. After marriage, he was even more indebted.
Leaving Middlemarch was the result of offending his peers for many years. He has an honest heart but has no flexibility. ability. Of course, Middlemarch didn't deserve him either.
Mary and Fred are the third couples who appear in the epilogue, and Elliott gives them a lot of space. An independent girl and a reformed youth, the tame party has a big victory. I like the chapters on Featherstone's death and funeral. Human feelings are both warm and cold at home and abroad.
The dead lie in coffins and the living just want to share money. This year, I have read "Love in the Time of Cholera," "Fine Snow," and "The Siege" three novels about marriage, and this week, "Middlemarch" only felt terrified and tired. Doro's fantasy about Kasubun and Lider and Rosa's fantasy about each other.
They fell in love with the person in their imagination and combined with him or her in reality. After marriage, they found that the person, in reality, was not as perfect as they imagined. . Casaubon doesn't trust Doro, and he doesn't know his wife at all. It has been nearly two hundred years since this story has passed.
Women can no longer depend on men to live, but marriage has not changed. I like the ending of "Barry Lyndon", and it is also appropriate to change one word to be used in this book: "The joys and sorrows of the above-mentioned characters happened in the time of George IV. Whether good or bad, beautiful or ugly, rich or poor, they have now returned to the earth as equals."
14. Emma
Book Summary: Emma by Jane Austen
"Emma" is the fourth work that Jane Austen published before her death, and it can be said to be the last work she published before her death. "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion" were both published after her death. published later. According to Cassandra, the novel was started in January 1814, completed in March 1815, and published at the end of the year.
Anyone who has read Austen's novels knows: walks, conversations, dances, letters... are the plots of Austen novels. Love, marriage, family property, family... are the themes of Austen's novels.
These things are enough to fill her six novels. No wonder Charlotte Bronte says that Austin doesn't know what passion is. But it is undeniable that those walks, dances..., those family, marriage..., there are really few people who can write better than her so that when Austin is mentioned, everyone will immediately think of these scenes.
If you calm down and read carefully, you will find that there are ingenious misunderstandings and subtle suspense in those bland scenes. When the misunderstanding is eliminated and the suspense is solved, it will also make people smile, although the pattern is small and has limited depth, it can also lead to a secluded, different world.
As for the great rivers, mountains, and plains, it is naturally impossible to find them. This was not in the writer's scope of consideration. Disappointed readers can only blame themselves for finding the wrong place. Therefore, Austin is a writer who can only control the subject that he can control, and control it very well.
15. Bridget Jones's Diary
Book Summary: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
This is a book I've wanted to read for a long time ago. Now I hold it in my hand, halfway through reading it, but I no longer have the courage to continue reading.
What a neurotic woman. And it's just nothing.
Dramatic exaggeration is used to a certain extent, and it is no longer humorous. - Besides, this is a very long novel.
It's like a 15-year-old British half-curly fat girl with freckles on her face, giggling and giggling in front of you, and can't stop. - At first, you find it refreshing to see this happy girl so alive, but after five minutes you want her to be quiet and do something else.
Yes. It would be nice if it was a short story. In short stories, it can be called "extreme humor". But. The reality is that my patience has apparently been destroyed by "her" laughing with all her recklessness. Even I felt for her that the air in her lungs was being evacuated, and there was some invisible pressure to laugh. What a serious sufferer of rowdy British neurotic humor. It even reminds me of Mr. Bean.
Another condolence to the mood I've been looking forward to for two months. It doesn't appear to be a dish to my liking. - But I really liked that wonderful opening. Even if you read those pages dozens of times, it will still be as refreshing as sitting in the spring breeze. - A little restraint will do.
Although the author has written the heroine's inner activities more realistically, this book is still written like a running account, mother-in-law, trivial. Although it claims to be a modern version of Pride and Prejudice, it simply doesn't compare to it. The story is also not as interesting as Pride and Prejudice. Contemporary British people are more open and seem to be very casual about sex.
The heroine in the book treats sex too casually, and I don’t know what she has outstanding that can make her. Darcy fell in love with her. The film of the same name is very famous, and I watched it too, but it's a pity that the two handsome male protagonists and the female protagonists are too general. Overall, the book and its film work are ordinary and lack any depth.
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