Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
It’s been so long since I last read Mary Poppins. I think I was around 12 or 13 when I first read it, so refreshing my memory on the intricacies of this story was so lovely. I must admit: it took me a bit longer to get into it this time around. However, as it continually became a nice escape from droning professors back when we were still living our normal lives and sitting in class–what does that feel like, again?–I started to enjoy it more and more.
Mary Poppins is a charming tale, and although it’s a children’s book, it’s a classic (which, as y’all know, is my favourite). As is the mark of every good novel, rereads bring out new details you didn’t notice before, and this is especially true when you haven’t picked up a book since you were a kid. For example, I didn’t know who Guy Fawkes was until a few years after reading this book, but I noticed the reference to him this time around, and it enriched the cultural context of the story!
To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, one of my all-time favourite authors, reading so-called “children’s books,” as an adult, means you get more out of them.
The Tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Ah, Hamlet. You tragic hero, you. It’s been agessss since I last read a Shakespearean play. The last time was definitely Macbeth, my senior year of high school–3 years ago. Oh, how I missed him!! Diving back into this style of English was so enjoyable, and I just adore Shakespeare’s sense of humour. Can’t wait to read more in the coming months!
I enjoyed my first read of Hamlet immensely. From the outset, Hamlet wrestles with the fleeting nature of life and what it all means. This seems to be the ultimate internal struggle Hamlet is wrestling with. There seem to be no answers for him, and old King ghostie showing up really doesn’t help things in that arena.
Yes, he is increasingly troubled with the callousness and wickedness of his mother and uncle, but it feels like Hamlet’s overarching questions relate to an existentialist view of life. What do we leave behind? Why do we insist on legacy if it all erodes in the end? If we all go to the grave, what is the frickin point, anyway? It’s a wild ride.
Aside from this, please accept my *SPOILER-FULL* thoughts on the following characters:
- Poor, dreadful, drownded Ophelia. You’re having a rough year my girl, hope the afterlife is much better.
- Can Polonius stop being such a wishy-washy busybody??? PLEASE. Also, “‘beautified’ is a vile phrase”, MY EYE. Shut your cake trap.
- Horatio, my guy, you are a real one.
- Rosencrantz, Guildenstern: you two are the FAKEST SNAKES EVER. I hope you both die.
- King and Queen of marble-hearted Incestuousness, that goes for you too.
- Laertes deserved more stage time; I am very intrigued about what he got up to over there, hmmMmmMmMMMMmm.
Favourite Quotes
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! /// What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.
Hamlet
brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes…
Polonius (best thing this wishy-washy busybody ever said smh)
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thoughts…
Hamlet
Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love…I love thee best…
Hamlet — am I… am I… swooning?
Frailty, thy name is woman!
Hamlet — I am cackling omg; this is 100000% my number one favourite, also extra points if you remember this reference in the Sense & Sensibility film 😉
A Ring of Endless Light by Madeline L’Engle
I’ve reread this particular book at least twice before, but that was at least 4 or 5 years ago. Honestly, I thought I would struggle to like it this time around simply because I couldn’t remember how much I liked it before (obviously enough to reread it), but, you know, tastes change and all that. Also, bear with me, this review will be the longest because I am v excited to discuss A Ring of Endless Light.
I really shouldn’t have been worried because it was a real treat. A Ring of Endless Light is anything but shallow, and it explores profound topics with a sweet, simple, dexterity that is refreshing and, to me, familiar. Our main character, Vicky, is a 15-year-old girl who is continuing her coming of age story. (Although this is the third of the Austin family series, it stands alone incredibly well, and I’m equally happy to read the entire series or to let my positive memories of these characters end here–if that makes sense.)
A wee bit of background…
Vicky faces a love triangle in a weird, hard time in her life. She and her family have come to Seven Bay Island, a summer family tradition that is mostly strongly tied with the fact that her grandfather lives here. Death is a very prevalent theme throughout the entirety of the story, and this is evident from the start when the family find themselves at a funeral of one of Grandfather’s friends, Commander Rodney. Also, the love triangle isn’t cliche, so that’s not an issue in the slightest.
We are immediately introduced to Adam, the love interest that walks into Vicky’s life during this strange summer. I am always captivated by his delicious description. He works with her older, college-aged, brother at the marine biology centre.
Zachary, the dazzling love interest from the past, is back in Vicky’s life as he grapples with his mother’s death and staying alive himself–despite the emptiness he exists in.
Leo is the son of Commander Rodney, and as much as he likes her, Vicky can’t bring herself to feel the same way.
Each of these boys affect Vicky in a different way, and to a certain extent, they all need her–for varying reasons. She has to figure out how to handle all of this while she deals with her grandfather’s deteriorating condition, family dynamics, and her own self-discovery.
There are some deliciously long chapters. I kind of feel like longer chapters are avoided by authors writing middle-grade to teen books. Not always, but generally. L’Engle doesn’t shy away here at all. In addition, since Vicky is a poet, the poem that is the namesake of this book is included in its entirety. There are other, smaller pieces here and there that are excellent.
In keeping with this, towards the end of the novel, Vicky is dealing with a traumatic incident, and there is a poetic cadence to some of the diction that parallels her staccato thought process through it all. This particular element of the last couple of chapters is one of my favourite stylistic choices ever, and I think it’s very well executed.
Finally…
As I already mentioned, death is a ubiquitous theme. Moralism, I would argue, is another overarching theme that takes centre stage in a variety of different ways throughout the novel. L’Engle deals with these topics realistically but beautifully, and there is a peace that flows under it all.
To turn the tide a bit, my only qualms have to do with the feasibility of Adam and Vicky’s relationship. His actual age escapes me, but he’s at least three years older than her, at most five. I don’t know how realistic it is for a connection like theirs to form so swiftly and so deeply. However, two souls coming together by fate can’t be stopped by an age gap, I suppose.
All in all, I really enjoy watching their electric connection unfold, and if I read more of this series in the future, it’s because I want more of Adam because I’m in love and so enraptured to know how things turn out between them, and I better not be disappointed man.
A Ring of Endless Light is an eloquent and touching commentary on what is a massive part of life: coming to terms with death in a percipient manner.
Favourite Quotes
scientists need poets, mystics, people who can escape our logical, linear thinking.
Adam
An excerpt from Vicky’s poem:
When we are born we bear the seeds of blight; Around us life & death are torn apart, Yet a great ring of pure & endless light Dazzles the darkness in my heart.
Vicky’s mind in the last couple of chapters:
Okay, so maybe I went a little overboard with that last review?? I don’t think it was very “mini” :’) I definitely enjoyed writing about A Ring of Endless Light the best though, hehe. Is there anything here that you’ve read before or that you’d like to read?! Please let me know!! Hope everyone is keeping safe & healthy <3