Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.
On my journey to read the classics; i simply couldn't pass Pride & Prejudice. Having watched the movie with Matthew Macfadyen and Keira Knightley a few times in my life, i simply had to read the original book.
Pride and Prejudice is a classic novel written by Jane Austen and published in 1813. It follows the story of the Bennet sisters as they contend with class prejudices which prevent them from finding suitable husbands. Elizabeth Bennet is the second-oldest sister and enjoys a good deal of wit, humor, and pride in her family. She meets the mysterious gentleman Mr. Darcy and their initial antipathy soon develops into a warm friendship, and, perhaps, even attraction.
I liked that despite the differences between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, they seemed to have a lot of overlap in character. For example, they both are headstrong and have a sharp intellect, they are both proud and have trouble admitting their own faults, which often creates a great deal of friction between the two. However, these same character traits also make them ideal for each other, as they challenge and complement one another in every possible way.
What fascinated me in every chapter and every page was the witty humor throughout the characters and the blatant, often, too blatant, descriptive words about the characters and their surroundings. Everything gets described in the story, because everything matters to their perspectives. And i absolutely loved it all the way.
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What is your zodiac sign?
(You can comment it to be more specific of course, YouTube only allows 5 choices so i divided it into elements lol)
Forever 27: The Infamous Club Of 27
by Godfried Nevels
This is a book that goes in full detail of the shocking club of 27. Mentioning Robert Johnson, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Pete Ham, Kurt Cobain, Kristen Pfaff, Richey Edwards, Amy Winehouse; their brilliance, their glory and their sad death that connects them all to the club of 27.
What strikes me as odd and slightly arrogant is how this book starts with a prelude about how every story is based on facts and the science there's no conspiracies about the topic and there shouldn't be conspiracies about these (often related) deaths at all. If you ask me, i think when it comes to this huge group of admirable artists in any genre at all, that changed the world of music in their own generation, simply by being the amazing superstars they were, it makes room for speculation about the symbolism of the topic. Especially when you write a book about it. After all; there's room for skepticism about a "conspiracy" like the club of 27, evidently so, when the proof is so obviously provided in the lives of the artists and the lives they've lead.
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After the chapter about Jim Morrison, there was a very small chapter dedicated to the symbolism of the number 27. With all kinds of cultural and spiritual take-ons of its meaning. Personally i would have loved to see this chapter featured as the interlude instead of the interlude of the author debunking the meaning of this, to begin with.
Unlike the author, i did go into this topic with a open mind (being a fan mainly of Hendrix, Morrison, Cobain and Winehouse but equally fascinated with, as unknowledgeable about the rest), and what struck me was how all of their lives were so incredibly intertwined with each other at certain points in their (shockingly short) lives.
What really fascinated me was the impact of all these amazing artist; The world of music wouldn't be the same without Jimi Hendrix changing the racial segregation of psychedelic rock and every branch thereafter, or Janis Joplin; if it wasn't for her influence on the music industry we definitely wouldnt have artists like Joan Jett, Alicia Keys or even P!nk. Kurt Cobain, the voice of a generation; whoms voice and wisdom will never be forgotten, or Amy Winehouse, who's memory will never quit inspiring the world of jazz-fusion and feminism.
Overall i think this book (especially the order its written in) sketches a great illustration of what the Club Of 27 entails and the impact these artists had on the industry as well as each other. It goes in-dept to the personal legacies of the art without addressing the oddities of their deaths. A very insightful read.
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Which Pierce The Veil album do you think has the most screams?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
When i tell you, in the past four days (since i've closed The Picture Of Dorian Gray and opened Frankenstein) i could not seem to put this book aside, i truly do mean it. (It would then be the mundane daily tasks, labor and home-bound, that fell as a interval to this read.) This being said; this endearing read is definitely a huge suggestion (if you haven't read it yet!)
Frankenstein, or 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘶𝘴, was firstly published anonymously in 1818 but re-written by Mary Shelley in 1831. This revisted version was then quite popular in the end of the 18th century, and the start of the 19th century, and throughout time, became a strong reference to 𝘎𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 from this era as it touched on subject matters people recalled secrecy, melancholy, anguish and death.
I find this book endearing and exciting, with plottwists lurking around every chapter. And unlike most horror-stories people are quick to share or point at regarding Frankenstein (and his unnamed monster) i was even momentarily met with sympathy for the creature. Frankenstein's monster, as scarily unfit portrayed by many, was a creature of heart and morals, seized by the distrust and vengeance towards humanity, however bound by the melancholic poetry of fate, at certain points outweighed the empathy and compassion of his creator (that he deamed his destroyer also.)
At some points, i contemplated Frankenstein's monster to be Victor Frankenstein's most truthful shadow; When Victor's courage out-weighed his frame, the wretch was born. And when Victor chose self-protection over the well-being of the monster, the monster took what Victor loved most. It was definitely a endearing and enticing book of which i loved every chapter!
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HIM Ville Valo Chronik Band 1 (by Sonic Seducer)
This is a silly book i decided to read out of love and admiration for His Infernal Majesty, Ville Valo.
I was super happy finding this book on Amazon as there's honestly not all that much to find of the Finnish rock band. It would then be really surprising to me to find out that Migé, Linde, Gas, or even Ville haven't gone out of their merry ways to write a biography yet. (Who knows? Maybe it's still to come some day?) But in a way it didn't shock me either, as HIM, to me, symbolizes how you can be a great and succesful artist without becoming jaded and losing your spark.
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That being said, not long after ordering this book, i realized it is in German. (Which is no problem to me as a Dutch, since i can read and hear German moderately fine.) So dusting off my German dictionary, i started to read about the Finnish rockband that inspires me so.
This was a great excuse to freshen up on my German, as the book contains interviews, interviewer take-ons on the band, trivia about every album and answers to every popular question about songs, lyrics, symbols, ect. (F.e. 666 and various love stories that influenced Greatest Love Songs Vol. 666)
I would say, to every HIM fan (that can read German or would take the time to decipher every word of a book with ease and poise) this would be a fun addition to your bookshelf! (Even if that is for the rare pictures in this book!)
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The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Eversince i've started my poetry-journey, i've been enamoured by 'Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast' by Oscar Wilde. So to absolutely no one's surprise, i've told myself to read more of his work therafter. Landing onto, iconic, The Picture Of Dorian Gray.
And oh my god (and i cannot stress this enough) this has got to be my favorite book so far. (In general too!) This story starts as a wholesome love story, with mentions of the melodramatics of Romeo & Juliet, and ends in somewhat of a murder mystery. I can literally remember reading all the floral accented- and rose-colored love sonnet-bound- chapters into a deep, dark, sorrow for only the darkest clouds to linger over.
The story unfolds when painter, Basil Hallward paints a portrait of Dorian Gray. This portrait, as mentioned by the painter, would then be so perfect, he would not exhibit it. For it shows too much of the artist in the work. Though (mutual) friend, Lord Henry mentioned wanting to buy the piece, the artist would gift the painting to Dorian Gray himself, whom prayed to never age and eternally remain the face of the portrait. And so, as fate would allow it, after proclaiming his eternal love for actress Sybil Vane, and having argued with her one night after a bad performance after which she took her own life, the painting changed. In fact; it aged. Eighteen years pass, and Dorian's innocence is only to decline further and further, and romance after romance, the painting ages all the more. Untill one dreadfull night Dorian decides to kill every shred of the painting. Aside the painting lies the stabbed body of Dorian Gray; which had changed into that of a old man.
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I wanted to wish everyone an amazing, beautiful, happy, 2024, with all the opportunities you could possibly wish for in a lifetime ♡ May all your wishes fulfill and all your dreams come true this year ♡ Much love from my black tangled heart to yours
Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice
A book i decided to read after mentioning it with a friend.
This is the story (as suggested by the title) of a vampire, answering questions of myth, morals, vampire lore and philosophy. The vampire in question (Louis) takes you on his journey from young adult mortal, with much affection and prosperity within the church and biblical tales to his baptization in vampirism and the world of the undead that Lestat brought him into.
The differences in morals and character of Louis and Lestat was really interesting to read as it described the clear differences between 'kinds of vampires' and what survival mode, bloodthirst or even certain ethics change of their perspective. In fact, i spend most of the book, tirelessly annoyed at Lestat and fascinated by Louis, and his search of purpose in the midst of Lestat's power-obsessed antics.
What i loved about this book, is that you're essentially getting two stories at once; one being the vampire's journey, the heartache, the misery, Lestat and Claudia, the bloodthirst and the thrill. And the other, being the often myth-debunking dialogue of Louis and the interviewer, narrating this all. It's definitely a classic worth reading if you're interested in vampires (or just classic books :) )
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We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
I decided to read this book after my friend mentioned it, lol.
The story of the three (if you count the cat, four) Blackwoods that survived the arsenic-poisoned last meal, continues on. As the town is suspicious with them as ever before, Constance, Mary Katherine and Julian Blackwood try to make sure their livelyhood, however dim and isolated it is, is well protected. Constance takes care of the garden, Mary Katherine takes care of the groceries and the cat (Jonas) as Julian carries on writing down every detail of the family deaths, as his health allowed him to become very forgetful and he doesn't want to forget the occasion that turned his life up-side-down entirely.
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Everything changed when (cousin) Charles Blackwood showed up, derailing their lives for good.
Something i thoroughly enjoyed in this book, is how the characters are sleek, simple, and authentic without much unnecessary dressing. At every piece of dialogue, it was abundantly clear who was speaking, and who the character was speaking to. (Surely, it helps that it's written from the point of view of Mary Katherine, who kept herself as a quiet, sarcastic character. But still, when she spoke, it was clear it was her and not Constance.)
Another thing i really liked was the dark sense of humor throughout the story. Mary Katherine and Constance had a fun dynamic, filled with dark humor and cynical remarks, often, even lingering a bit sociopathic, which i couldn't help but find entertaining.
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Loves Kylo Ren, loves Audrey Hepburn, hates everyone else.
Fan of art and music. Plant-based. Vinyl collector. Aspiring musician. Star Wars fan.
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