Book/podcast Reviews

A Scroll column where writer Ella Hayes posts reviews for books and podcasts she has recently read and listened to and takes suggestions for more books and podcasts to review for future columns.

Book/podcast ratings and reviews

By Ella Hayes

Welcome back, everyone! Happy November!

I am back for the year with my young adult book reviews! I am so happy to be back into the groove of reading books and literature and writing some more ratings and reviews. I am hoping that the school year is off to a fantastic start for all Scroll readers. Unfortunately, this is my last year at GPHS, and therefore my last year with The Scroll :( However, I am really looking forward to the rest of this school year, and I hope that you all are, too!

A quick rundown for my column, in case you are new to The Scroll: In my section of this column, I review some books I’ve read and the occasional podcast I enjoy listening to, along with some quick ratings and descriptions about the books/podcasts. I also accept ideas of books that others have read and want to see reviewed in the column! For this issue, I am taking a slightly different path than I have in the past. For this month, I have one piece of literature to do an in-depth analysis of (NOT spoiler-free), and will hopefully convince you to consider reading classics! I will also tell you about my current read, which will be reviewed next month.

I hope you enjoy reading, and happy Scrolling!

-Ella Hayes; Writer and Reporter

Photo courtesy of Sonya Pix on unsplash.com

Where I Get My Books and Podcasts

Other than buying physical copies of books at local stores, I also check lots of books out online through the Josephine Community Library. Additionally, the GPHS Library has great ways to get library books (See the library page on the GPHS website!).

I use the app "Overdrive," and use my local library card to sign in. (If you have a library card with the Josephine Community Library, you can do this, too!) The online library has thousands of books for you to choose from. It is also easy to find exactly what you are looking for; using the search engine and filters, you can find books easily by their title, genre or format. You can check out books straight from your phone with the app, and read them on your phone, as well. If you prefer audiobooks, you can also check out audiobooks and listen to them with the app, too. If the book you want is unavailable, you can recommend the book or place a hold. If you have a library card, this is a great way to have access to many books for free!

Additionally, I would like to mention the site Goodreads as a resource that you can use. This is not a place to buy books, but is instead a good website to find new books and read reviews of books you are planning to read. Goodreads has thousands of reviews on many books, and it is a great recourse to use when finding a book that you might enjoy. Additionally, with a Goodreads account, you can write your own reviews for books, or just keep track of your books and make reading goals. Altogether, it is a fantastic source to use when searching for new books to read.

As for podcasts, I listen to every podcast on Spotify, though you can find any episode on each podcast’s website.

Book Reviews

The book that I have chosen to review this month is certainly a classic. Published first in 1813 (though author Jane Austen began her work on this novel in 1797), Pride and Prejudice marked an interesting perspective on the roles of men and women in society. Jane Austen challenged many social etiquettes that were customary for the time period, though she still wrote an entertaining romance and satire novel that has stayed relevant for the past 2 centuries.

What I found most interesting about this novel was that, despite the time differences between when this novel was written and modern times, the messages and sentiments portrayed by the book were still very relevant. Not only this, but the satirical aspect of this novel broke through the barrier of unfamiliarity with old classics, and demonstrated humor to modern readers, despite the passage of time. All in all, I hope to convince all of you to not shut down when presented with the daunting task of reading classics; instead, you should embrace the challenge and learn about what makes classic literature so great!

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: literature, romance, satire

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ (5 stars)

Review: So I’ll just start off by saying that I wasn’t feeling very motivated to read Pride and Prejudice in the first place. I was likely feeling similar sentiments that I know many other high school students may be feeling when faced with the task of reading unfamiliar language; I felt as though reading a novel such as this would prove to be too difficult (and possibly boring), as the concepts wouldn't make sense to me. However, I found that, with the right preparation and adequate time to read and understand the text, this classic piece of literature can be read with ease and even enjoyed and appreciated. (Also, it didn't hurt that I watched the movie first. . .) As it turns out, though, this text was actually pretty straightforward to read. Don’t assume this means simple, though. You must be focused on the text and fully comprehend every sentence you read, as this is much more complicated English than any of us are likely to encounter on the day-to-day. Despite all this, if you are up for the challenge, I would love to dive deeper into many of the themes found in this novel.

In Pride and Prejudice, all men and women are viewed through a harsh lens of societal rights and wrongs; all are expected to be aware of these rules, and abide by them in order to maintain their reputation. Specifically addressed through her novel was Austen’s views on gender norms: women were expected to abide by the desires of men-- more specifically, if said men desired a lady’s hand in marriage. It was common at the time for marriage proposals to be made soon after meeting another, and in middle to high-class families, they were often made without any previous intent of romantic feelings. Austen majorly challenged this notion through P&P's main character, Elizabeth. Austen combated sexism through a rebellion against the expectations of this culture, and crafted a protagonist that did not abide by these expectations. P&P illustrates the disparities between societal expectations of the time and main character Elizabeth’s outlook on marriage, wealth, and societal contributions. This culture’s fixation on external appearances causes headstrong Elizabeth to act differently from society's expectations of a “respectable young woman.”

The pretense for this entire novel is quickly set up from the first sentence of the novel: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” This sets the scene for many characters (mainly young girls) that have a singular goal: to be married to a respectable man. This illustrates the differences in society of this era, compared to modern times, that are exhibited through this work. Many women do not believe they have much purpose other than to find a husband, and if they are unsuccessful in that search, they will never be respected and loved by those around them. This idea, however, is quickly opposed by the introduction of protagonist Elizabeth, or Lizzy. Despite her surroundings of a tough culture (not to mention an overbearing, dramatic mother who is positively obsessed with her image and her young girls’ reputations), Lizzy is a witty, independent woman, who is unafraid of moving against the grain that this culture is pushing her towards.

One of the first times Lizzy’s character is best demonstrated was through her introduction to Mr. Darcy, her nemesis for the majority of the novel, and husband by the end. Lizzy’s first impressions of Mr. Darcy were very poor, as was Mr. Darcy’s of Lizzy. However, Lizzy’s disposition to Mr. Darcy was based purely off of his character: his dismissive attitude and his desire to withdraw himself from the working of society struck her as rude and prideful. However, Mr. Darcy’s dismissal of Lizzy was not based on her own character; instead, he did not bother to engage with Lizzy because of her social standing, which was below Mr. Darcy’s. This illustrates the difference in character between Lizzy and most other characters in the novel; Lizzy tended to focus on more internal goodness of character, rather than paying attention to anything as material-focused as something such as wealth or social status. Though it may not be an external rebellion against the workings of society, this shows a shift from the normal external-based first impressions to one of character and internal goodness.

Throughout the course of the novel, Lizzy is proposed to by two different men. (Yes, two! Within less than half the book!) Her response to both of these requests best demonstrates the differences between the expectations of responses to proposals versus Lizzy’s actions. The first proposal is done by Mr. Collins, a self-centered, clueless young man in desperate search of a wife. The attitude at which he holds himself and the manner in which he asks for Lizzy’s hand in marriage makes it quite apparent to her that he would never have expected a refusal from Lizzy. To be quite frank, Lizzy thinks of him as quite a ridiculous and oblivious man, and she had never even taken him seriously as a person until he forced her to pay attention by the means of his proposal. The idea that Lizzy would have never been inclined to turn down an offer of marriage is an example of how this appearance-based culture had altered the minds of many characters, perhaps, with the exception of Lizzy. Though Lizzy may have been expected to accept Mr. Collin’s offer, her flat out refusal stunned many of her friends and family. Why would a respectable young woman ever turn down an offer to marry a financially-successful young man? It was supposedly the “right” thing to do, though, time and time again, Lizzy has demonstrated that she doesn’t always do the “right” thing that looks good and respectable from the outside. Lizzy is aware that she would never be happy with Mr. Collins; she wants to marry for love (a preposterous and outlandish idea within this culture). What I loved best about this notion was that Lizzy had absolutely no reservations in her refusal of marriage to Mr. Collins. Despite the fact that nearly every single other character in this novel had to carefully consider their words and actions before acting on them, Lizzy acted on her true character impulses when the rude, imprudent man assumed she would be honored to marry him. This only goes to make Lizzy a more likable character to many modern readers' eyes. However, there is an opposing side to this character trait of fairness and independence: Lizzy will occasionally become so sure of herself that she starts to look over details that prove her wrong. This is a character flaw that will be the cause of most of her failures throughout the book, though it is best complicated by her eventual love interest, Mr. Darcy. (More on this topic later. . .)

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett

Similarly to Mr. Collin’s request, Lizzy’s first refusal to Mr. Darcy’s proposal went even further in breaking the rules that society had placed on marriage in the early 19th century. As Lizzy ranted about Mr. Darcy’s character and the foolishness of his actions, she exclaimed: “From the very beginning. . . of my acquaintance with you, your manner, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others. . . I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.” Wow, what a powerful statement. I think this has got to be my favorite part of the novel, where Lizzy takes Mr. Darcy's heartfelt confession of love as an opportunity to insult and belittle the minor defects of Mr. Darcy’s character. Here, not only did Lizzy refuse an offer of marriage from a respectable man with good fortune, but she went on about his poor character, his selfishness, and his arrogance. This is a complete and utter betrayal of societal expectations; a woman of good reputation would never argue with a man, especially after he asked for her hand in marriage. This best demonstrates how Mr. Darcy brings out certain characteristics in Lizzy, though not always good. When these two characters are together, they are continuously challenging the expectations of a young couple, or a single man and woman. This disagreement is far from proper, and best shows how Lizzy does not care for being proper when it comes to defending her own honor or character.

Additionally, Mr. Darcy further insults LIzzy when explaining how he loves her against his own will. Due to her social standings, Darcy perceives Lizzy to be inferior to himself and his family. He does not comprehend why this would be offensive, as he is explaining why he “loves her anyways,” Lizzy possesses no care for social status when it comes to love and marriage. In Lizzy’s mind, if one loves another, there should be no means of shackling their love to means of class or wealth. Although, in this moment, Lizzy felt as though she had all the right to basically tell off Mr. Darcy for all of the frustrations she has felt toward him, she later resents her brash actions. This depicts one of the first times that Lizzy has reconsidered her principles on first impressions, assumptions, and--most importantly--pride. She later feels embarrassed that she assumed so much about Mr. Darcy’s character, though Mr. Darcy also made many unfair assumptions about Lizzy’s character. They are very similar in this way, though they never realized until much later: Mr. Darcy and Lizzy are both prone to making poor first impressions, holding terrible grudges, and pride. Their fierce loyalty to their own characters make them immediately clash with one another; however, both Lizzy and Mr. Darcy will eventually change for one another: Lizzy rethinks her initial judgement of Mr. Darcy's character, and Mr. Darcy places less emphasis on the importance of class and social standings

Now: let’s talk about the best part of this novel--as many must agree--the romance. But first, here is where I must bring in a comparison to the 2005 Pride and Prejudice adaptation to contrast some of the changes made to the plot when it was transferred from book to the big screen. It is indisputable that the movie was made to appeal to a modern audience; the vibe of the movie was made to be more romantic. A higher focus was put on the relationship between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, and the setting was adjusted forward by about 30 years! Though I’m always skeptical when it comes to movie adaptations that vary away from the original plot, I felt as though this take on P&P best exemplified some of the best parts of the original Jane Austen novel. Additionally, I felt that Keira Knightley’s portrayal of Lizzy correctly reflected the many aspects of her character though, most importantly, her fierce spirit. Regardless, the movie most comes into play when considering the climax of this plotline: Mr. Darcy’s proposal/declaration of undying love.

This was far and away my favorite part of the book and especially of the movie. However, the 2005 adoption changed many things about the scene. . . for the better. First, the scene was moved from a room inside the manor to outside of a beautiful house by the lake. It is pouring down rain, all adding to the mood of the scene. I certainly felt the contrast between the book and movie here; the movie’s setting, including the rain, surroundings, etc. seemed to boost the emotional intensity of the scene and felt more fitting for the drama of the moment. In this very scene, the entire premise of the novel is turned on its head. Up until this point, Lizzy and most readers have assumed Mr. Darcy’s indifference to his friends, society, and Lizzy herself. When Darcy blurts out (most awkwardly), “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you,” Lizzy is shocked speechless. Can we blame her? A man whose pride has seemingly commanded him to hold himself above all others, a man who has previously dismissed Lizzy as below his social standing, has just confessed his passionate love in a most dramatic way?

Watch Mr. Darcy's proposal form the 2005 adaptation here

However, here is where Mr. Darcy makes his fatal mistake: he considers Lizzy’s apparent “inferiority” to be something he is loving despite. Mr. Darcy does not seem to realize how insulting a woman’s social standings in the middle of a proposal of marriage may be perceived as quite offensive. . . Of course, Lizzy must make her opposition to this proposal quite clear, thus hurting Mr. Darcy’s feelings. (This is where she proclaims that he is the last man on Earth she would ever be prevailed upon to marry. Slightly dramatic, maybe?) However, this is considered a turning point in their relationship as the pining begins to reverse directions. Quickly after the proposal in the rain, and after Mr. Darcy sends Lizzy a letter containing his reasoning and apology for all that she has accused him of, Lizzy becomes intensely regretful of all that she’s done. Her quick judgment caused her blindness to make important parts of Mr. Darcy’s character: his selflessness, loyalty to family, and consideration for those he cares about. The final realization of her love for Darcy comes after she finds out the sacrifice that Mr. Darcy has made for her family that he had insulted in the past: Mr. Darcy paid Mr. Wickham (his enemy) a handsome sum to avoid the social downfall of Lizzy’s sister, Lydia. This show of affection and love for her family is what makes Lizzy realize that Mr. Darcy is the right fit for her, though Mr. Darcy had seen it nearly the entire time. Therefore, in the end, Lizzy has achieved her ultimate goal: to marry for love instead of money or social standings. She has rebelled against the norms that society has put in place for young women, and even Mr. Darcy has stopped caring for the means of society and class, and he has found his one true love, and nothing else matters.

This novel is considered to be monumental for its time, due to its rebellion against the expectations for people of the time. Mainly, the role of women was brought into question, and best challenged through the actions of protagonist Elizabeth. Though Lizzy has been raised in this culture of class, wealth, and social reputations, her character demonstrates an independent spirit that would be considered a rebellion against her surroundings. Though she is, at times, harsh and judgmental, her character quickly grows and flourishes through her interactions with Mr. Darcy. Lizzy also even changed Mr. Darcy. Though, in the beginning, he is quick to dismiss young women based on their family and class, by the end, he is happy to marry the love of his life, no matter what kind of money she holds. Though the expectation of Lizzy was to be a good, “respectable '' young woman, the culture she was surrounded by caused her to pave her own path, which found her in a happy, loving marriage with no care for her class or social standing.

I loved to read this novel so much because of its many layers and interpretations of relationships, character, and theme. I feel as though I can read this a million times over and realize something new with every read! It is my biggest hope that, after reading this analysis, you readers are more encouraged to try reading classic literature, as there are so many important lessons you can take away from the classic text.

Goodreads Review - P&P

Current Read

To close up this month’s issue, I’d love to tell you all a little about my current read, the review of which will be coming out next month!

Title: Five Total Strangers

Author: Natalie D. Richards

Genre: YA realistic fiction, thriller, suspense

Description: When main character Mira’s flight is canceled, she takes a leap of faith to catch a ride with 4 people, only one of which she has already met on their flight. Though Mira is aware of the dangers, her desperation to return home causes her to forget about the risks and blindly trust these strangers. However, she quickly realizes that this may be a fatal mistake. When it becomes apparent that someone on the trip is a thief, and others are lying, she understands that there’s nobody she can trust.

I’m excited to finish reading this story. Though I’m not very far into it yet, I can tell that this will be a fast-paced and suspenseful read with atmospheric settings.

Look for the review of this one in the next issue! Thank you all for reading!

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