Category: Read Along

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 4 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends week four of the Ivanhoe read-along.  We’ve read chapters 26 – 31, but if you’re a little behind, that’s OK!  I’ll mark any spoilers so you can come back after you’re caught up, and the previous weeks’ recaps are here and here and here.  Below is the chapter breakdown:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

An interesting little fact about Sir Walter Scott: He married Charlotte Genevieve Charpentier on Christmas Eve, 1797, after only 3 weeks of courtship.

[SPOILERS]  Not much happens in this week’s chapters, but at the same time, it feels like everything happens.  Locksley, his men, and the Black Knight storm the castle after Wamba switches places with Cedric.  Front-de-Boeuf is gravely injured by the Black Knight, and then dies in a fire that Ulrica, the daughter of Torquilstone, sets in a final act of revenge for her family being killed.  Ulrica dies as one of the castle turrets collapses, De Bracy surrenders and is taken prisoner, and the Templar runs off with Rebecca.  Athelstane attempts to save her, believing that she’s the lady Rowena, but he’s killed(?) by the Templar.  [SPOILERS]

Is it horrible that I like Ulrica?  I really like Ulrica.  I think I know who the Black Knight is, but I won’t say anything until I know for sure.  I’ve had my suspicions for quite a while now, so hopefully we’ll find out in the next few chapters.  I also think that, unless something goes ridiculously wrong with the story, I will be adding this book to my Through the Magic Door list.  With the exception of the Romantic era writing style, many of the story’s other elements remind me of The Princess Bride by William Goldman.  Action! Adventure! True Love!  Oh, and the following line that made me giggle:

“I am ready,” answered Athelstane, “to stand the worst of their malice, and shall walk to my death with as much composure as ever I did to my dinner.”

I just can’t read that line with a straight face, despite Athelstane saying it in all seriousness.

How are you enjoying the book so far?  What are your thoughts on the story, characters, setting, etc?  Please mark any spoilers.

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 3 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends week three of the Ivanhoe read-along, and we’re now at the halfway point.  We’ve read chapters 17 – 25, but if you’re a little behind, that’s OK!  I’ll mark any spoilers so you can come back after you’re caught up, and the previous weeks’ recaps are here and here.  Below is the chapter breakdown:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

It turns out that most of the popular conception of Robin Hood actually comes from Ivanhoe.  Sir Walter Scott supposedly took the name “Locksley” from an anonymous manuscript written in 1600 that used the name as an epithet for Robin Hood. The name has been used to refer to Robin Hood ever since.  Also, Robin’s familiar feat of splitting his competitor’s arrow in an archery contest comes directly from Ivanhoe.  However, Scott shunned the late 16th century depiction of Robin Hood as a dispossessed nobleman. This didn’t prevent Scott’s contribution to the legend though, since many of the films about Robin Hood, including the parody “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, give him traits that come from Ivanhoe.

[SPOILERS]  This week’s chapters have us jumping around a bit from one place to another in order to keep up with all of the characters.  The story progression has slowed a little, but I think it will be picking back up again over the next week’s chapters.  Maurice de Bracy and his men take Cedric, Lady Rowena, Isaac of York and his daughter, along with several others, hostage.  They’re all locked up in various rooms of Front-de-Boeuf’s castle, but not before Wamba and Gurth escape and then run into Locksley, who gathers up his men, including the friar of Copmanhurst, to rescue the captives. The Black Knight joins Locksley and his men, and they all besiege the castle.  Scene by scene we find out what is happening with the captives: Lady Rowena refuses de Bracy’s marriage proposal and he threatens to kill Ivanhoe and Cedric, Rebecca threatens suicide rather than give herself to the Templar, and Isaac refuses to pay for his freedom when he finds out what the Templar plans to do to Rebecca.  Each interaction is interrupted by the sound of a horn.  We find out that it’s a messenger notifying Front-de-Boeuf, de Bracy and the Templar that Locksley and his men are there demanding the captives be let go.  They send the messenger back to tell Locksley and company to send a confessor for the captives who will be executed.[SPOILERS]

I now have two characters that I love to hate.  I already didn’t like de Bracy from last week’s chapters, but now I also despise the Templar.  The only thing I’m finding a bit confusing is that it seems the one character who’s name is the title of the book doesn’t seem to be a central character.  I’m curious to find out when he’s going to come back into the picture.  When I planned the chapter breakdown I had no idea that this week would end on a bit of a cliffhanger!  I really wanted to continue reading, even more so than the previous two weeks.

How are you enjoying the book so far?  What are your thoughts on the story, characters, setting, etc?  Please mark any spoilers.

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 2 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends the second week of the Ivanhoe read-along.  We’ve read chapters 8 – 16, but if you’re a little behind, that’s OK!  I’ll mark any spoilers so you can come back after you’re caught up.  Below is the chapter break down:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

Sir Walter Scott chose the title of the book from an old rhyme because he felt the name “Ivanhoe” had an ancient English sound to it, and also because it says nothing about what the story is about.  This was important to him because he didn’t want readers to prejudge the story.  I have to say that, at least for myself, it worked.  I had no idea what to expect, except that the story had something to do with knights, and that only because of the cover of my copy.  I deliberately didn’t look any information up about the book itself until I had sat down to write the recap for week one.

This week’s chapters get us further into the story, and there are two big reveals!

[SPOILERS]  We find ourselves at the tournament that Issac and the palmer are headed towards.  Though it’s not spelled out for us, the Disinherited Knight that enters the tournament is, in fact, the palmer.  He proceeds to win the 1st day of the tournament and then names Lady Rowena the Queen of Beauty and Love.  He then wins the 2nd day of the tournament as well, but only because he is aided at the last minute by the Black Knight, who then disappears before the prize can be given to him.  As I said above, there are two big reveals this week.  The first one is that the palmer is actually Cedric’s estranged son, Wilfred of Ivanhoe.  The second reveal is Sir Locksley, known to most readers as Robin of Locksley, or to the general public, Robin Hood!  He comes into the story during the archery contest, which was supposed to be held during the third day.  However, Prince John gets word that King Richard is on his way back and so rushes to finish the tournament so he can plan how to take the throne once and for all.  We also find out about a plot by Maurice de Bracy to kidnap and wed the Lady Rowena, and then the story moves to the Black Knight taking refuge with the Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst.  [SPOILERS]

I’m still very much enjoying the story.  The reading is getting a little bit easier as I’m getting used to the writing, but I’m still having to look up words that aren’t familiar to me.  I also had to stop myself again from reading past this week’s chapters.

How are you enjoying the book so far?  What are your thoughts on the story, characters, setting, etc?  Please mark any spoilers.

Ivanhoe Read-Along: Week 1 Recap

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

Today ends the first week of the Ivanhoe read-along.  It’s also the last day to sign up!  If you’d like to participate, create a blog post, and then sign up through the linky below before 11:55pm, or comment with your Tweet or Facebook post.  We’ve read chapters 1 – 7, but if you’re a little behind, that’s OK!  I’ll mark any spoilers so you can come back after you’re caught up.  Below is the chapter break down:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

Ivanhoe was the final novel of five that Sir Walter Scott wrote in the space of two and a half years!  Can you imagine writing FIVE novels in that short amount of time?!  Ivanhoe is also the 10th “Waverley” novel, but it’s unlike any of the others in that it’s set in England instead of Scotland, and takes its origins from other books instead of living experience.  Even though the book is not considered to be one of Scott’s best by critics, it is his most popular one.  In fact, it was so popular that Thackeray wrote what amounts to fanfic, a “sequel” titled Rebecca and Rowena.

Even though it might seem like seven chapters is a lot to read in one week, the chapters are fairly short and Ivanhoe is just a bit longer than the average novel.  The first seven chapters barely scratch the surface of the story, but they introduce quite a few characters as well as the setting.  We find ourselves in an England populated by Anglo-Saxons who have been conquered by the Normans.  King Richard’s whereabouts are unknown, and Prince John, his younger brother, is running the show while he’s away.

[SPOILERS]  The story begins with Norman knights and prelates seeking the hospitality of Cedric. They are guided there by a palmer, who recently returned from the Holy Land. Also seeking refuge is Isaac, a Jew.  Following the night’s meal, the palmer overhears Brian de Bois-Guilbert issue an order to his Saracen soldiers to follow Isaac after he leaves Rotherwood, capture him, and take him to a noble’s castle.  The palmer warns Issac and helps him escape. The swineherd, Gurth, refuses to open the gates until the palmer whispers something in his ear.  Gurth suddenly turns helpful, and allows them to leave Rotherwood.  Isaac offers to repay his debt to the palmer by offering armor and a horse to participate in the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. He makes the offer after discovering that the palmer is really a knight.  The palmer is surprised but accepts the offer.   [SPOILERS]

So far, I’m enjoying the story, as well as the character descriptions.  This is a more difficult read, since the writing often contains words that had very different meanings during Scott’s time.  Also, it’s very easy to get confused if you’re not paying attention.  I’ve been doing some Googling to refresh my memory on the time period and the historical events that are mentioned.  All of this amounts to Ivanhoe being exactly what I needed to end my reading slump.  I wanted to continue reading past this week’s chapters, but I stopped myself so that I wouldn’t accidentally include anything in this week’s post that shouldn’t be discussed until next week.

How are you enjoying the book so far?  What are your thoughts on the story, characters, setting, etc?  Please mark any spoilers.

Ivanhoe Read-Along: It Begins!

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

For the Classics Club Spin #8, I’m reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, and I’d like you to read-along with me.  Today is the first day, and it also happens to be the first day of Book Week Scotland.  Sir Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh on Aug. 15th, 1771, and died in Abbotsford on Sep. 21st, 1832.  He wrote during the Romantic era, which was my favorite time period while I was in high school. Between the years 1814 and 1832, he wrote 30 novels, several long poems, and many other books, including a nine-volume Life of Napoleon.  He has been called a combination of Shakespeare and Samuel Johnson, and he was greatly admired by Honoré de Balzac and Alexandre Dumas.

We’ll finish on the 4th of Jan, 2015.  I’ll do a progress/discussion post every Sunday, which will include trivia about the book and Sir Walter Scott, and a review post on Jan. 5th.  Don’t worry if you get a little behind at any point during the read-along.  The discussion posts will most likely include spoilers, but I will mark them as such so you can skip over them until you get caught up.  Below is the chapter break down:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

If you’d like to participate, create a blog post, and then sign up through the linky below before the 30th, or comment with your Tweet or Facebook post.  You don’t have to be a member of the Classics Club to participate, but if you are, leave a comment with a link to your Classics Club list.  Happy reading!

Ivanhoe Read-Along

Published on by Rachelle

Ivanhoe

For the Classics Club Spin #8, I’m reading Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, and I’d like you to read-along with me.  We’ll start on the 24th of Nov., which is the same day that Book Week Scotland starts, and we’ll finish on the 4th of Jan, 2015.  I’ll do another announcement post on the 24th, a progress/discussion post every Sunday, and a review post on Jan. 5th.  Don’t worry if you get a little behind at any point during the read-along.  I know this time of the year can get crazy, which is why this is a 6 week read-along, instead of a month.  Below is the chapter break down:

  • Mon. 24th Nov. – Sun. 30th Nov.: Chapters 1 – 7
  • Mon. 1st Dec. – Sun. 7th Dec.: Chapters 8 – 16
  • Mon. 8th Dec. – Sun. 14th Dec.: Chapters 17 – 25
  • Mon. 15th Dec. – Sun. 21st Dec.: Chapters 26 – 31
  • Mon. 22nd Dec. – Sun. 28th Dec.: Chapters 32 – 38
  • Mon. 29th Dec. – Sun. 4th Jan.: Chapters 39 – 44

If you’d like to participate, create a blog post, and then sign up through the linky below, or comment with your Tweet or Facebook post.  You don’t have to be a member of the Classics Club to participate, but if you are, leave a comment with a link to your Classics Club list.  Happy reading!

Horror October Fortnight: Read-Along Wrap-Up

Published on by Rachelle

HorrorOctober2014

It’s Halloween, which means it’s the final day of Horror October Fortnight and the read-along for Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.  Since I was unable to do Thursday’s Quotables yesterday, I won’t be doing a review.  Instead, this wrap-up will be about all the wonderful quotes I came across.

Something Wicked

Out in the world, not much happened.  But here in the special night, a land bricked with paper and leather, anything might happen, always did.

This line made me think that somehow the carnival would be let loose from some, possibly evil and most definitely mysterious, book.  I’m glad it didn’t, however, since I think that might have ruined libraries for many readers.

Still most comfortable in the library nights, in out of the rain of people.

I love this line not just because it’s about Mr. Halloway’s love of libraries, but because of the beautiful truth of libraries being a place to get away from “the rain of people.”

By the pricking of my thumbs,/ Something wicked this way comes.

I love the cleverness of using a line, spoken by the 2nd Witch, in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” for the title of the book.  If you’re curious to know where exactly in the play this line is, it’s Act 4, Scene 1, Page 2, Line 44.  The beauty of it was destroyed in the modern text, so please, stick to the original version.

Death doesn’t exist.  It never did, it never will.  But we’ve drawn so many pictures of it, so many years, trying to pin it down, comprehend it, we’ve got to thinking of it as an entity, strangely alive and greedy.  All it is, however, is a stopped watch, a loss, an end, a darkness.  Nothing.  And the carnival wisely knows we’re more afraid of Nothing than we are of Something.  You can fight Something.  But…Nothing?  Where do you hit it?

This sums up the entire story, and is exactly why this book is so scary.  There are so many more amazing lines throughout the book, but they require a lot of context, and are wonderful more for the choice of highly descriptive words and the modern style in which they’re written than what is being said.

Happy Halloween!

Tuesday’s Tunes and Things #1

Published on by Rachelle

HorrorOctober2014

I’ve decided to start this new feature called “Tuesday’s Tunes and Things”.  It will be a collection of literary links I’ve come across and a playlist of music I listen to while reading.  I’m thinking it will be a bimonthly or monthly post, instead of weekly.  Since it’s Horror October Fortnight, this one is Halloween themed.

While I’ve been reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes for the read-along, I’ve been listening to this playlist.  Be warned: this book and music combo might keep you awake for fear of nightmares about Mr. Dark and the Dust Witch.  For whatever idiotic reason, the album “Carnival of Lost Souls” by Nox Arcana isn’t on Spotify, so it’s not on my playlist, but you can find it here.

[spotify id=”spotify:user:12161100118:playlist:28kx4aeQ9MBXJIVFYIdYS9″ width=”300″ height=”380″ /]
The 50 Scariest Short Stories of All Time (Flavorwire) – I’ve read several of these, and judging from that, I can say this is a great list.  What I love about it is the links to the stories so you have quick access to scaring yourself silly.

Literary Witches Quiz –  Test your knowledge of witches in literature.

9 Creepy Books to Read Just in Time for Halloween – Unfortunately I won’t have time to read any of these this October, since I’m trying to finish the three books I’m already reading by Halloween.  I’m adding a few of these to my list of books to read next October though.

5 Great Halloween Reads for Kids (Nerdist) – These are also great for those who prefer to keep their Halloween more fun than freaky.

21 Literary-Inspired Pumpkins Every Bookworm will Adore and 18 Literary Pumpkins for a Bookish Halloween – Sadly, I don’t have any artistic ability when it comes to carving pumpkins.  Otherwise, I would definitely make several of these.

3 Ghostly Good Reads – Kim, over at Bookmark to Blog, has convinced me to add Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake and The Diviners by Libba Bray to my TBR for next year.

Nightmare Magazine – I learned about this Horror and Dark Fantasy magazine from a review over at Book Punks.

Horror October Fortnight!

Published on by Rachelle

HorrorOctober2014

I just found out about Horror October Fortnight from Oh, The Books!  I’m a day late, but since I love October so much, I’ll be participating.  I’m also participating in the Something Wicked This Way Comes read-along, so I’m going to combine the two by doing a post about the playlist I’m listening to while I read.  I’ll be doing another playlist post containing my favorite Halloween tunes, and I’ll be doing a review of The Nightingale Bones by Ariel Swan, which I started reading during the read-a-thon.  I may also dedicate a post to the horror movies I watch every year.  In addition to my own posts, I’ll be wandering around the other participants’ blogs and joining in on some of their activities.

For today, I give you my Top 5 Fave Horror/Paranormal Books:

  • It by Stephen King – This book scared me so much, I had to put it down for a month before I could continue.
  • Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton – The first in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series.  This is my Horror/Paranormal brain candy.  Hamilton has yet to end the series, and I’m nowhere near caught up.  I look forward to having more Anita Blake books to read for a very long time.
  • Dracula by Bram Stoker – An essential read for anyone who loves vampires.
  • Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice – Another essential read for vampire lovers.  I was depressed after I finished the last of the Vampire Chronicles.  I’m planning on re-reading them all soon.
  • The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe – There’s nothing I love more than to read Poe during October.  There’s no way I could possibly name a favorite story of his.

October Read Along!

Published on by Rachelle

I just found out about a Read Along of Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury from Book Chatter.  This is the perfect book for October, I already own it, and I’ve never read it, so I will definitely be participating.

Something Wicked

The read along begins on October 1, 2014 and ends on October 31, 2014.
Below is the schedule:

  • Finish Chapters 1-24 by Friday, October 10th
  • Finish Chapters 25-44 by Friday, October 24th
  • Finish Chapters 45-54 by Friday, October 31st