Read! Read! Read!

Whilst I was reading a novel at work, one of my co-workers asked me how many books I read in a year. It's hard for me to answer this question because I've been in school, as an English major, for the past few years. We went through novels at a grueling pace, and I prefer to enjoy the book I'm reading.

I thought it would be fun to blog about each book that I read this year. I'm auditing a Shakespeare class, so I will count the plays in a separate category. So far, I have read three plays.

"The Comedy of Errors"

 This is the first I have read of Shakespeare that I actually enjoy. I've read "Romeo and Juliet" and parts of "Julius Caesar" I have also read "The Tempest," which could have been enjoyable, but my professor managed to make it miserable. As I've read Shakespeare's comedies in this class that I'm auditing, I wonder, why didn't we read the comedies in high school? Then, surely, people would have respected Shakespeare.

"The Comedy of Errors" was not bad at all. It was entertaining with a slapstick-sort of humor. There are two sets of twins that get separated at birth. Of course, neither pair of twins get paired with the other twin. Later in life, they find themselves in the same city. One of which has married, and it is hilarious when one brother finds himself with the others' wife. I would not say that this play is a must read (or watch), but it is certainly enjoyable.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream"

I liked this one a lot better than "The Comedy of Errors" and not just because it has fairies in it. The scene where Demetrius and Lysander are both confused and Helena and Hermes are arguing with each other almost had me falling out of my chair. Of course, when I finally watched this scene as a production, I was rolling. I read the play first, and then in class we watched parts of it. The professor showed us a live production that had been video taped - it had Christine Baranski (the lady who played in The Grinch and Mamma Mia) in it. Then, I found a version on Netflix that was almost painful to watch, but I suffered through it. 

Another favorite scene of mine is when the low class, handy men decide to put on a play. (Yes, a play within a play, kind of like Inception.) They are all over the place, and the comments that the Duke and Demetrius make during the play add in more humor. I really don't want to give away any major plot details.


"Much Ado About Nothing"

My favorite Shakespearean play, thus far. Beatrice and Benedick's bantering throughout make this play much enjoyable and hilarious. They are both witty, and hateful, until they realize (with the help of their friends) that they are both in love with each other. Don't worry, it doesn't get too mushy as they still communicate with a quick paced love-hate banter. 

After I read the play, I watched the 1993 film with Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves,  and Kate Beckinsale. I thought the film matched my original reading of the play fairly well. However, I read Dogberry quite differently. I read him as a simple idiot, where in the film, he seemed more of a con. 

Right now I'm reading "Twelfth Night" and I'm working on a short novel by R.A. Salvatore.