TBRP....Frida

Frida by Barbara Mujica

         


There is something that draws me to Frida Kahlo and her paintings.  I'm not quite sure how to describe what I like about them.  Is it that they are dripping with blood, or the skeletons that surround some of her paintings, the bright colors, or maybe it's her self-portraits that highlight her  famous uni-brow. (I have to pluck otherwise I would have one as well...!) Her story intrigues me.  She suffered a fatal accident that broke her pelvis, survived the accident and lived to become a world renowned  painter.  She married the famous painter Diego Rivera, whose paintings portray large women and the struggles of poor migrant workers, and she led a pretty racy sex life, divorcing and remarrying Diego, while having affairs with other women.
A found Frida, the book, at a yard sale and bought it with intentions to read right away, and instead it sat on the bookshelf for several years.  The TBRP challenge  persuaded me  to place the book on the list 'to be read this year'.  Finally I'm done with it and what a disappointment; grant it, the book is a historical fiction account of her story that is  narrated by her younger sister.  The entire book is nothing but a long list of complaints against Frida, and how poor Christina, her younger sister, was never appreciated, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah.......
I remain a fan of Frida Kahlo's work and after reading this somewhat historical/fictional account of her story, I plan on delving deeper into the story of Frida Kahlo.
  

Image sources:
http://www.hovied.com/entertainment/2010/frida-kahlo-biography-with-video-06076661.html
http://www.frida-kahlo-foundation.org/

TBRP....The life all around me by Ellen Foster

Did any of you red the book Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons when Oprah selected it as one of her book club selections?  I did and really liked it.  After finishing the book, I wanted to find out more about Ellen, and what happened to her after she left her aunts house and found her new foster family.  Here is the sequel to Ellen Foster, The Life all Around Me by Ellen Foster.  It's been 10 years since Ellen has moved in her with her foster family, she is still dealing with her unlovable aunt, and navigating life in her small town, setting her aspirations on attending Harvard.  Quick, good read!

TBRP...The Historian

This book totally creeped me out!  I don't think I got past page 45.  I can't put my finger on why it was creeping me out, especially after just finishing Dracula, and that book didn't creep me out. While reading it I felt like there was a presence in the room, and I kept looking over my shoulder to see if someone was behind me.  Didn't read it at night, and the BG wasn't out of town, all I know is that I couldn't even get into the book and will have to put it back on the TBRP shelf for later and dip into the alternate list.  Three Musketeers or Don Quixote?  Thinking about attempting to read the Three Musketeers, I've never read it but seen several versions of the movie. Don Quixote was first read way back in high school for an English research project so it can wait to be re-read later.  What are your thoughts on the Historian?  Did you read it?

TBRP...Wrinkle in Time

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and each time I pick it up I end up putting it down because there is something more urgent to be read.  Did I read this book in High School?  Memoyr fails me!
How did I like this book....I can only give it an 'OK'.  I can't believe that I'd waited for so long to read it and it just didn't meet my expectations!  Hoping for a gripping sci-fi mystery, time travel thriller or good coming of age drama? I'm not sure what I was expecting.  All I can say is that it was 'OK' and my life isn't any more complete after reading it. What are your thoughts on this book?

Wuthering Heights review-2nd in the TBRP

Why is this book considered a classis.  I guess ‘classic’ is a subjective term.  I certainly wouldn’t call this book a classis.  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is a classic, Moby Dick is a classic, Wuthering Heights?  Is it a classic because it’s dark and brooding and set in the moors?  Is it a classic because of the love story?  I didn’t see a love story.  Heathcliff was a bully and Cathy was crazy! 
Did I enjoy the book?  No, I can’t say that I did.  I liked that the narrator was the housekeeper and that at the end the young Cathy and Heathcliff are nicer to each other.  It’s crossed of my list of books to read!