Who wrote this book and when?
Pearl S. Buck published this in 1988.
Has there been a film version?
No – althought it’s kind of sad there isn’t. Buck and one of her movie producer friends visited a castle which inspired this story. They decided to each tell it their own way – her through a novel and he through a film. But he died before he could make it.
Who are the important characters?
Kate – the maid at Starborough Castle
Sir Richard Sedgeley – the lord of the castle
Lady Mary Sedgeley – the lady of the castle
Wells – the butler at Starborough Castle and Kate’s grandfather
John Blayne – an American who wants to buy the castle
What’s it about?
The Sedgeley family has lived in Starborough Castle for hundreds of years. Now, Sir Richard is the last of his blood, he and his wife having no children. In dire financial straits, the castle must be sold and the greatest option seems to be to sell it to the American John Blayne, who wants to convert it into a museum. Kate, the maid, finds it nearly unbearable to watch Sir Richard and Lady Mary struggle to remain dignified in their precarious position. She loves them both and the castle deeply and feels a strange attachment to it. However, when the deal turns out to be not what the Sedgeleys or Kate expected, they all are thrown into a turmoil that includes spirits, secrets, and a treasure.
Why is this book a bestseller/classic?
It isn’t really. In fact, on most sites about Pearl S Buck, it wasn’t even listed in her bibliography.
Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes. It’s excellent. Although not what you would expect from Buck.
Why did this book make your list?
I like “The Good Earth” and I saw it on the library shelf with the rest of Buck’s books.
Has it won any awards?
No.
Favorite quotes:
“Sir Richard rose to stand beside her. It was sweet, John Blayne thought, watching them, how when one took a stand the other came to the same spot. He would always remember them, side by side in ancient splendor. It was an achievement to grow old with splendor.” – p 69
Anything else?
Nope.
Personal thoughts:
I was a bit skeptical at first concerning this book. I love Pearl S Buck as an author – her book “The Good Earth” is one of my favorites. And this book is nothing like any of Buck’s other works. This one is set in England, not China. It’s somewhat suspensful, not an epic life story or a story of hardship. I love the characters. And Lady Mary is one of the most wonderful characters I’ve come across in a long time, although she isn’t really a primary person. After reading it, I feel like I could travel to Starbourough and meet them and feel perfectly at home.
Foundation
November 9, 2006 — sarahintheskywithWho wrote this book and when?
Hmmmm, well…Isaac Asimov wrote it. It was published as four separate parts in 1942 and 1944, then published as a whole book in 1951.
Has there been a film version?
No. Not yet…
Who are the important charactors?
Well, there are a bunch of important characters since the book spans almost 1,000 years. The most important throughout the whole book is:
Hari Seldon – a psychohistorian mathematician who has predicted the downfall of the 12,000 year old Galactic Empire (no, not the one from Star Wars)
What’s it about?
Hari Seldon is a rebel. He’s also a psychohistorian mathematician (someone who uses historic human action trends and psychology to predict the future). And he has predicted the fall of the 12,000 year old Galactic Empire. Obviously, the Empire resents this and arrests him. Seldon claims to have set to work 150,000 men and women putting together the Encyclopedia Galactica – a work which will contain all the scientific information gathered in the past 12,000 years – which will help those left over after the Empire’s collapse to form a new civilization in only 1,000 years instead of much longer. Seldon and his scientists are sent to live on two planets on opposite ends of the galaxy, where they continue their work. The Empire does fall and the inhabitants of Terminus, one of the encyclopedic planets, are left to fend for themselves.
Why is this book a classic/bestseller?
Because it is so amazingly detailed, scientific, and entertaining at the same time, I suppose.
Do you recommend I read this book?
Yes, if you are a science fiction fan. If not, you probably won’t enjoy it, sorry.
Why did this book make your list?
Because I heard about some people trying to get the rights to it to make a movie version. So I figured I’d read it.
Has it won any awards?
The Foundation series has won the Hugo award for Best Science Fiction Series.
Favorite quotes:
Anything else?
Asimov was very good friends with both Kurt Vonnegut and Gene Roddenberry.
Personal thoughts:
The first part of this book was interesting. The first – oh – twenty pages. Then it got shoot-yourself-in-the-head boring. But I kept plowing through and finally the last two sections were great. Hari himself is a little bit annoying. His character is so all-pervading but rarely even physically present in the book. However, the Seldon crises make the book more interesting. You know that a big crap is about to hit a big fan – but you never know how the people are supposed to react to it. Or how they will. Or if Seldon will help them or not. And if it will be a similar crap to the last crap. Ok, enough of the crap analogy.