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| Source: goodreads.com |
Published: 1944
My edition: 2011
Condition: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Essentials
From: My bookshelf (25th book in 'Off the Shelf')
Charles Ryder is a lonely student at Oxford, who befriends the rich Sebastian Flyte. Sebastian invites Charles to his family home, Brideshead. Charles discovers a world of eccentric and aristocratic inhabitants, but at the same time experience that duty and desire, and faith and earthly happiness are in constant conflict. This double world threatens to destroy his beloved Sebastian.
The reason for choosing this book for Banned Book Week was because it lives in my bookshelf, I have seen the movie (from 2008) and lastly because it is listed on the '1001 books you should read before you die'.
Brideshead Revisited is widely regarded as Evelyn Waugh's finest work, but sadly it doesn't appeal to me. I should have known since I didn't like the movie too much, I wouldn't like the novel. It contains a funny mood of guilt, and of people who really don't want to be where they are. However, the book is not entirely bad. The conversations between Charles and his widowed father, Edward Ryder, are some of the best comic scenes in the novel.
Why does it appear on the Banned Classics-list you may ask? ALA.org writes that in 2005 an Alabama Representative proposed that novels with gay protagonists and/or books that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle should be removed from school-, public- and university libraries in Alabama. I do not agree with the Alabama Representative because we live in a modern world, and every person deserves to be happy with who ever they choose, male or female. Do you agree/disagree?
All in all I did not become an immediate fan of the novel, but I hope there are others who enjoy it.
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| http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/ |
As part of Banned Book Week at Bookjourney I am giving away a copy of Brideshead Revisited. Leave a comment, whether or not you agree with me not, and you will get a chance to win. PS. If you don't have a blog I can contact you at, please leave your adress at elidasta(a)gmail.com.
XOXO
Jeg har også sett filmen, den gjorde på ingen måter inntrykk. Men kanskje boken burde leses? Det er for meg et under at denne boken er på banned books lista. Er det en lett eller tung bok å lese? Hvordan er språket?
SvarSlettHa en "fin" søndag videre...dette regnet må da slutte snart?
Filmen var rar, boka var grei. Litt tung, men kanskje det hadde vore betre på norsk. Lurer på om den er oversatt? Den er på banned books-lista fordi nokon ikkje liker at den fremmer eit homofilt levesett. Språket er flott.
SlettEg håper det snart tar slutt dette regnet.
I haven't read this one (or seen the movie). It doesn't necessarily sound like my cup of tea, either, but I'm curious.
SvarSlettCuriosity is a marvellous thing to have:-)
SlettThis one is new to me. I'd be interested in reading it. Thanks for the giveaway, and for being part of Banned Books Week!
SvarSlettI haven't really had this on my radar, but I'm definitely going to check this out now. I, of course, do not think any book should be banned and I don't think the government should be telling me what to read. Just me.
SvarSlettI know and I agree. People should be able to make up their own mind, and when books are banned it only make me want to read it more:-)
SlettI am not familiar with this book but I am super curious about it! Thanks for participating in Banned book week and thanks for the giveaway!
SvarSlettI really loved this book when I read it last year. I thought the writing was superb. I think the guilt thing is part of the major theme--more specifically Catholic Guilt. Interesting to think about how the religion affected their choices and happiness ultimately, and not in a good way.
SvarSlettI did see the movie and while I liked some of it, I didn't think it stayed very true to the book, which was disappointing. Sorry it didn't work for you. Not every book is for everyone. Glad to see you gave it a chance.
This has been on my TBR list for some time! Thanks for the chance to win. Yay for banned book week!
SvarSlettKelly
thewellreadredhead at gmail dot com
http://thewellreadredhead.blogspot.com
What a strange reason to ban a classic!
SvarSlettI saw the latest movie version a while ago. I enjoyed it, but was not blown away by it. I've never read the book. I'd like to give it a try thank you.
SvarSlettmarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I agree 100%. And how sad it would be for homosexuals growing up in our society not to hear the message that they are "normal" and O.K., even through books. It's a shame this novel didn't work for you. :)
SvarSlettI read this so many years ago that I don't remember a think about it. I don't know if that means that I wasn't impressed or if my memory is just shot!
SvarSlettI havent read this book but I totally agree with you that people can have a relationship with whoever they want to whether it is two men or two woman or a man and a woman. Books that explore this topic shouldnt be taken of the shelves because of this.
SvarSlettMegan
http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk
New to me too. Please count me in!
SvarSlettmystica123athotmaildotcom
I first read this classic years ago. I loved it. The writing is fantastic! I am still shocked that it's a "banned" book, though. (Of course, I feel that way about a lot of them!)
SvarSlettThere are some books that do not translate well into movies. This, in my opinion, was one of them. They just can't do the book justice.
Thanks for sharing and for a great giveaway!
songbird1613 at yahoo dot com
Denne kommentaren har blitt fjernet av forfatteren.
SvarSlettI've never read the book. So I can't say much about it. But books shouldn't be banned anyways. That just shows ignorance and fear for things that some might not like.
SvarSlettJesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
Thank you for a fantastic blog post. I have never read this classic book although have seen a film version of Brideshead revisited, and found it truly captivating. I would love to have the oportunity of reading this, as i would like to form my own opinions on whether it should have been banned or not. Thank you x
SvarSlettEmail: lfountain1(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk