I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Jane Eyre, but she has now had her happy ending, so it is time to choose another classic to read. I was planning on diving into Tess of the D'Urbervilles, but I am wavering after some recent reminders of how bleak the story is. Perhaps not the best reading material for the dark days of winter? Although I know it is not a happy story, I have long wanted to read it. Maybe I should scoot it a book or two down the pile for now? This leaves me open for other possibilities. I know I probably should choose something from the Modern Library 100 as I want to keep reading from the list. Or I should just start dedicating myself to War and Peace now (though that is going to be my March project) or get back to Night and Day, but of course what I really want to do is start a new book. I took a long look at my reading piles, and it is such a hard decision. It was suggested that I read a few pages from the books and let that be the deciding factor--which one really grabs me. So here goes--a little taste. I have narrowed my choices down a bit. I have wanted to read more George Eliot, so maybe Adam Bede:
"With a single drop of ink for a mirror, the Egyptian sorcerer undertakes to reveal to any chance comer far-reaching visions of the past. This is what I undertake to do for you, reader. With this drop of ink at the end of my pen, I will show you the roomy workshop of Mr. Jonathan Burge, carpenter and builder, in the village of Hayslope, as it appeared on the eighteenth of June, in the year of our Lord 1799."
I'm wondering, though, if the rural dialect will make it slow going? I have David Copperfield on order. I mentioned wanting to read it recently.
"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o'clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike,and I began to cry, simultaneously."
I admit that Tess is still in the running:
"On an evening in the latter part of May a middle-aged man was walking homeward from Shaston to the village of Marlott, in the adjoining Vale of Blakemore, or Blackmoor. The pair of legs that carried him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he was not thinking of anything in particular. An empty egg-basket was slung upon his arm, the nap of his hat was ruffled, a patch being quite worn away at its brim where his thumb came in taking it off. Presently he was met by an elderly parson astride on a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tune."
Or, I could go back to The Three Musketeers. I was working on that before Jane elbowed her way in, and I am in the mood for something French.
"On the first Monday of the month of April, 1625, the market town of Meung, in which the author of ROMANCE OF THE ROSE was born, appeared to be in as perfect a state of revolution as if the Huguenots had just made a second La Rochelle of it. Many citizens, seeing the women flying toward the High Street, leaving their children crying at the open doors, hastened to don the cuirass, and supporting their somewhat uncertain courage with a musket or a partisan, directed their steps toward the hostelry of the Jolly Miller, before which was gathered, increasing every minute, a compact group, vociferous and full of curiosity."
Admittedly, for me anyway, David Copperfield has best opening paragraph. Maybe I should just try and be patient and wait for the mail? Don't be surprised if I end up with a book completely different than the ones I listed. I'll let you know how it turns out!