"North and South" by Elizabeth Gaskell

"North and South" probably falls within my top 3 books of all time. Margaret Hale is a southern girl, from rural Helstone in England, sheltered and spoilt, when suddenly she finds her life, prejudices, and opinions all topsy turvy, because of a move to the 'industrial north' (i.e. Manchester).

Gaskell was a great socialist, and this definitely comes across in her writing. She champions the rights of the poor, and asks the reader what it means to be educated. The characters are well developed, and the story has a lot more to it, than many others from its era. I won't lie, the story is a little sad at times, and made me cry more than once!

Incredibly romantic throughout, with a heart at its centre, be sure to check out the last page- one of the best endings I've read!

"Far from the madding crowd" by Thomas Hardy

This story is centered around a young girl, and her struggle to run a farm in a man's world, whilst dealing with the attentions of 3 very different men! I think Thomas Hardy has a thing for extravagant names, because the other characters include: Bathsheba Everdene, Gabriel Oak, and Sergeant Troy!

I must admit, Hardy can be a little bit difficult to read sometimes: lots of pages with whimsical descriptions of the countryside, and farming scenes....etc....etc...Not all of the characters are likeable at first, I didn't like Bathsheba in the beginning, but she gradually grows on you, Gabriel Oak's character is the only decent one in my opinion. The novel is a tragedy, but at times the plot line can seem a bit far-fetched, and the story-line a bit slow.

I've tried to read other Hardy books, and I must say this is one of the easier ones! So if you want to try a Thomas Hardy, give this one a go first, as the story is very touching, and the ending is worth the struggle!

"Madame Bovary" by Gustave Flaubert

This famous story has been televised, criticised, analysed, and even banned until it is one of those stories that you've all heard about, but never read.

Let me then introduce you to it for the first time. Meet Emma Rouault, poor daughter of a farmer, desperate for love and something better in her life than raising cattle. She marries a comfortable and dependable doctor, to whom she means eveything. Two tempestuous affairs later, and with one daughter, she finally commits suicide by eating arsenic.

What went wrong? you may ask....well that is for you to read and find out! Flaubert writes poetically, sprinkling his words with touches of french in names and places (which can get a bit annoying), the story line is tragic but still realistic, and despite everything, I finished the book feeling desperately sorry for Emma and her lot:

"Everything, even herself, was now unbearable to her. She wished that, taking wing like a bird, she could fly somewhere, far away to regions of purity, and there grow young again....."

"Rose in bloom" by Louisa May Alcott

Sorry to continue in the 'classics vein', but there really are lots of good ones out there. "Rose in bloom" is a sequel to "Eight cousins" by the same author. Not being able to get hold of a copy, I tried the sequel instead.

The heroine of the story is Rose Campbell, adopted by an uncle, and raised among 7 male cousins, and endless aunts and uncles. To be honest, she's a little prim and maybe a bit too 'good' (who picks philanthropy as a career?) but the sentiments are there, and the other characters try to lead you in the right direction. Reckless Charlie is more realistic, but sadly meets a tragic end...Mac is another decent character, and quite enigmatic.

A pretty little story, from someone who has probably done better. Nevertheless, heartfelt and sincere in its ideals, and touching at its end.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

This book is definitely in my top three. Having gone through a stage when I read lots of classics, I was beginning to become a little disillusioned with them all. Some tend to drone on a bit, and spend chapters describing a field/a sunrise. This however was different.

Elizabeth Bennett's character is extremely likeable and relatable, someone who wouldn't seem out of place in the real world. Mr. Darcy is a complete arse, when we first meet him, but soon changes, and Austen writes with so much wit, and insight, that this book doesn't feel nearly 200 years old! Anyone who has read much Jane Austen, can tell you that "Pride and Prejudice" is the best of the bunch, and some may even go so far as to say that it's almost as though it was written by a different person!

"Lady Lazarus" by Sylvia Plath

This is a poem that I only discovered quite recently, whilst flicking through a book at work. The language is incredibly powerful, and feels as though there is a tangible energy running through each line-even each word.

Due to the length of the poem, I will only put in a few of my favourite verses (these are not necessarily in order):

Them unwrap me hand and foot
The big strip tease
Gentlemen, Ladies

As a sea-shell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls

Ash, ash-
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there-

A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling

Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.

Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air

Sylvia Plath

A haunting poem, illustrating Plath's own experience with suicide. Not easy to forget.