Currently reading
The 5th Wave
14
The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It
Clockwork Princess
The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness
Love Medicine
Love Medicine: Newly Revised Edition
The Return of the Native (Modern Library Classics)
Although this book is set in rural England in the 1800s, the story covers a universal theme of star crossed lovers who lives are doomed due to a few pivotal decisions. The heroine (or villain, depending on your outlook) of the story is Eustacia Vye, a dark haired beauty who longs to escape the rural life on the heath for adventure and culture in Paris or other large city. She is romantically involved with Damon Wildeve, the local inn keeper, but chooses to marry Clym Yeobright, a successful businessman in Paris who has returned to the heath to visit his mother. Although, their marriage starts off strong, Clym wants to leave the big city and settle down in rural Egdon Heath and Eustacia still longs for more excitement. To add to this love triangle, after being rejected by Eustacia, Damon marries Clym's cousin Thomasin, although he still loves and longs for Eustacia. And to add even more to the mix, Diggory Venn has declared his love for Thomasin. But Return of the Native is not a convoluted soap opera love story. At several key moments in this book, the characters come to a decision point - sometimes as simple as whether or not to open a door - and the choice they make sets the story - and the tragedy - on its way. Added to this is the beautiful description of Egdon Heath and the lives of the people who work the land. These characters not only add a touch of humor to a pretty bleak story, but also provide wisdom and an interesting perspective on life.Beautiful, soothing narration by my favorite - Simon Vance.
