The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by M. Joseph BédierMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This classic of romance literature, which obviously influenced subsequent classic works, had eluded me for decades. I’d only heard mention of it in recent years and came across this Hillaire Beloc translation at a low cost.
I wish I’d read this in the context of a classroom or group/club rather than independently because there is much absent in the text that would make for great discussion. Responsibility, the nature of love, honor, duty, sacrifice – these are all found within Tristan and Iseult, but not in any depth.
There’s some lip service to God and honor, but the lovers absolve themselves from any responsibility because they just can’t help themselves. They (mistakenly) drank a love potion, you see. Whoopsie.
Despite that disappointment, I found this worth reading as a seminal work, and it did mostly hold my attention.
Classics Dracula, A Christmas Carol & The Romance of Tristan and Iseult: My takes in Relevant Fiction Reviews. Click To Tweet
Dracula by Bram StokerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This classic eluded me for nearly five decades, but I was spurred to read it by my teenage son’s enjoyment of it. While the first third of the novel moved rather slowly, the pace picked up from there, and I became engaged in the story.
I was surprised at how little Count Dracula actually appears in the book. We get only glimpses of him, particularly at the beginning through the journals and correspondence of the remaining characters.
Van Helsing was the most fascinating of the bunch with his questionable use of consecrated Hosts! The male characters’ unanimous love and admiration for the females harmed by Dracula (Lucy and Mina) was a bit over the top, but I don’t mind honorable, noble, and smart female characters one bit.
The story itself was curious and suspenseful, and I was helped by reading the Ignatius Press Critical Edition, the notes of which offered explanation where needed.
A Christmas Carol by Charles DickensMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
It took me long enough to read this classic, but I’m glad I finally did! While of course I already had a good sense of the story from movie snippets and popular culture, I appreciated Dickens’s prose and was reminded of his ability to set a scene with ample description and similes.
The tale is a little grittier (spookier?) than I expected and Scrooge’s eagerness to change was something I hadn’t gathered elsewhere. I appreciated its emphasis on the dignity of the human person – all persons, whatever their status, wealth, or disability.
A Christmas Carol is classic for a reason and merits reading and re-reading.
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