A day(ish) late on my first weekly post! Eek.

Wallace at Unputdownables is hosting the Villette Read-a-long. Each week through March 31st, a short section of the book will be read, and a weekly write-up will be posted here and at the other participants' blogs. These posts will contain spoilers...

I was pulled in immediately. Lucy Snowe is living with her godmother, Ms. Bretton, when little six-year-old Polly arrives. Polly's a little bit of a brat and it's pretty obvious that she is downright spoiled. Temporarily staying with them since her father isn't well, she is drawn to Graham, the sixteen-year-old son of Ms. Bretton. Teasing her and treating her like a little sister, Polly becomes distressed when his attention is not on her, and almost to the point where I felt uncomfortable by her reaction, even though it seems innocent enough.

I was getting a little annoyed with Polly at this point, though.

When Polly eventually returns to her father, the focus circles back to Lucy Snowe. I was pleased about this because I didn't feel as if I knew her, even though she had been narrating the entire time.

After a few years, and distanced from Ms. Bretton, Graham, and Polly, Lucy's prospects for work are slim. She settles with an elderly, ill, and kind woman, Miss Marchmont, who shares her sad love story one night and then passes away, leaving Lucy jobless again. Yet another sad moment for Lucy as Miss Marchmont promised her the night she passed that she would do something nice for Lucy should anything happen to her, help her with finances and such - but she dies that same night, so she obviously didn't have a chance to change her will or anything! Gah! I felt horrible for Lucy. True to Lucy's character, though, she accepts her final wages and moves on without saying a word about the deathbed promise.

Lucy is again back to what looks like a sad and lonely life. And where will she work? For someone who once had a lot of money, it's an unfortunate predicament for her to be in.

Loving this book so far.

Happy Reading,

Coffee and a Book Chick

Other than the Victorian Literature Challenge, hosted by words, words, words, I have been remiss in posting about all of the challenges that I'd like to partake in.  I don't want to overwhelm myself, but I just don't want to miss out, sooooo, here goes.....

Hosted by Books in the City, the Immigrant Stories 2011 Challenge drew me right in. The requirement is that the stories be about immigrants, the immigrant experience, and first generation children of immigrants. It is also not limited to the American immigrant experience.

Thanks to Beth Fish Reads for posting about all of the challenges that look interesting.  That's where she introduced me to Book After Book who is hosting the Italy in Books Challenge. Some of you may know that I have a teensy bit of an obsession with all things Italy and have visited twice, including my honeymoon a little over a year ago. I would have felt guilty had I not signed up for this one! January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 - read at least 12 books set in Italy (yikes!). There are monthly prizes, though!

The Ladybug Reads is hosting the 2011 E-Book Challenge. Since I got the Nook Color for Christmas from my fabulous family, I didn't want to pass this one up.  January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 - read a minimum of three, no maximum.

Here are some other challenges or read-a-longs that have really pulled me in. I am not sure if I am officially joining, but don't these look hard to resist?

After reading Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome, I decided I was in love with her haunting and depressing stories. And bookworm meets bookworm is hosting The Age of Innocence Read-A-Long.

I've been meaning to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte for ages. Then, when it seemed to be mentioned frequently in Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale, I knew it was some sort of sign that I should read it. Hosted by the amazing Unputdownables...

Sigh...how will I ever get this all done...  But, what a good problem to have, no?

Happy Reading,

Coffee and a Book Chick