Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe ~ The Classics Spin #2

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 30 Comments
I’m squeezing in an extra post today because our Classics Club Spin reviews are due tomorrow. I can’t call this a review because…well you’ll see my lazy shenanigans below. So mostly I’m saying HEY I READ THIS! 
~This is the edition I read ~ 

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

First published in 1719 (London, England)

Original full title: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an uninhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With An Account how he was at last as strangely deliver’d by Pyrates
(Try saying that without taking a breath!)
1st edition title page

I read Robinson Crusoe as part of the The Classics Club Spin. Here’s where I get all lazy on you and point you to Celine’s review on Nyx Book Reviews. She took the words right out of my mouth! (Thank you Celine!)

Including this: “The main thing that puzzles me is how this book turned into the thousands of survival adaptations. How?! Robinson doesn’t have to fight to survive. He has a whole damn ship on his shore with enough supplies for years. He has a dog and a parrot and cats to keep him company, some bibles to read when he’s bored, enough gunpowder to last him for thirty years, enough rum and other booze for about twenty years, tobacco to smoke… The only thing he’s missing is some more clothes, but who cares about those in the Caribbean anyway.”

In summary? Crusoe was kind of a dick. Yes, it was written a billion years ago and attitudes were different then, blah blah blah. Still, his raging bigotry made me uncomfortable and angry. So yea, a dick.

Weekly Wrap-Up 06/30/13

~ Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader ~ 42 Comments
Inspired by “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. 

It’s been a busy week of blogging for this gal. Reviews and discussions and features and a FIRST BLOGOVERSARY too! 
Reviews:

A Masque of Infamy by Kelly Dessaint

Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

Read:

The Violet Hour by Katherine Hill

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Currently Reading:
The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey

Upcoming:

Bookish/Bloggish Business:

There were so many bookish reasons to smile this week!
On Tuesday night I attended a picnic/book reading with William Kent Krueger. I sat across from Kent at dinner and he signed my copy of Ordinary Grace! What a generous and intelligent man. Thanks to Redbery Books and Forest Lodge Library for sponsoring this event.

Are You Well-Read? <~~Great discussion going on here!

The Relentless Reader was featured on Book Bloggers International. <~~See my interview

I celebrated one whole year of blogging, yahoo! There’s an AWESOME giveaway that you’ll definitely want to enter.

A shout out to Monika @ A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall (who was inspired by Lauren @ Lose Time Reading) for inspiring me to start organizing my reviews by spreadsheet. I’ve recycled all of the crazy scraps of paper and calendars I had floating around here. I’m streamlining baby! (Well, I’m trying at least. Old dog, new tricks…you know how it goes.)