Throwback Thursday: The Raven

Ok, I do know that The Raven isn't a YA novel. I'm not an idiot. But just because you love YA, you shouldn't neglect the classics. The classics are classics for a reason. I have personally been putting off reading The Raven and A Midsummer Night's Dream, i.e., for a long time. But as I am reading a lot of these  popular YA novels, like books in The Iron Fey series and in the Nevermore trilogy, I notice the references to classic literature.

Going back and reading though the classics not only gives you a deeper understanding of the characters and their backgrounds, it will also give a different understanding of the book itself. Especially when it comes to books with direct links to the classics.

Now of course this is something that I have personally seen and something I personally think. I would be surprised if everyone felt the same way. Moving along to the review.

I was surprised when I started reading The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. First off, I thought it would be a whole lot longer than what it really was. Secondly, I thought it would be a whole lot harder to read and understand. The Raven was, in fact, short and very easy to read. Maybe this is because I am practically inexperienced when it comes to poetry or it's because I'm just shallow. I hope it isn't the second alternative. The Raven was entertaining and I have reread twice now.

In The Raven, Poe uses something called a Trochee which is the opposite of an Iambic Pentameter, the metrical line that Shakespeare used. A trochee is a metrical foot with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. Now I do believe that these meters are used to enhance a characters speech in narrative poetry, so disclaimer if I'm wrong.

For those of you who don't know what this would sound like, go on to youtube and search Edgar Allan Poe vs Stephen King EBR. The first few lines of that rap battle is in trochee and is inspired by The Raven.

I'll leave determining what The Raven is about to you, fellow readers.

Happy reading.

Throwback Thursday: Kate DiCamillo

When I think Throwback Thursday in book terms I remember one of my favorite childhood authors, Kate DiCamillo. I remember reading The Tale of Despereaux during the evenings while I was still getting the hang of reading larger children's novels and wondering how Edward felt in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and what I would do if I had my own very special dog like Winn-Dixie.

I do hope that you have read Kate DiCamillo's work. If you are ever looking for an easy read, with capturing illustrations and a very odd plot, check her out. I personally found The Tale of Despereaux, Winn-Dixie and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

For those of you who haven't read these books, here is a very short summary.

The Tale of Despereaux is partially about a mouse who is exiled, Despereaux, and about a princess who does not truly understand the King's hate towards the Rats, and about a young, abused girl called Miggery Sow. Despereaux lives in the castle. The same castle where the Princess lives and Miggery Sow works as a maid. Through a complicated series of events all three meet and face their own battles.

Although this novel has a quite a series of twist and turns, the story is amazing and much loved.

Winn-Dixie is a story about a girl who finds a stray in a grocery store called Winn-Dixie. The book revolves around how India Opal, the main character, dreams about having a dog and how she finds Winn-Dixie, the dog. Of course it isn't as simple as 1 2 3 voilà you are now the proud owner of a very special dog. No, India Opal has to go through the whole process of convincing her parents.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane follows the travels of a rabbit. Now this is not any ordinary rabbit but a doll that looks like a rabbit. Now if I remember correctly Edward was lost at sea one year and his dream was to find his way home. And of course that is his miraculous journey. His journey home.

Enjoy