Pilot: Yankee

May 21st, 2011 (end of days)

I should have started this blog when I began reading in the fall. I just moved into an apartment where I would have to take the metro (subway, as it's called by non-montrealers) to get to work an school. I was kinda sick of listening to my ipod all the time on the metro. Instead I decided to pick up a book! Anytime you're in a rut you can put your own feelings on pause for 10 minutes and be transported to a completely different place. It's a great time!

Mark Twain

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

'When I came to... there was a fellow on a horse, looking down at me--a fellow fresh out of a picture book. He was in old-time iron armour from head to heel, with a helmet on his head the shape of a nail keg with slits in it; and he had a shield, and a sword, and a prodigious spear... "Fair sir, will ye just?" said this fellow. "Will I which?" "Will ye try a passage of arms for land or lady or for--" "What are you giving me?" I said. "Get along back to your circus or I'll report you."'

This is my first Mark Twain and I'm almost half-way through. I bought it at a used books store ($2.50 woot!). Mark Twain is the hero of one of my favourite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, so I was eager to get into his stuff.

Mark Twain was born in Missouri in 1835. He wrote also "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" two novels that I will definitely want to read after I'm done "Yankee".

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is exactly what it sounds like. A 19th Century American wakes up one day in 6th Century Britain just outside Camelot and is brought in as a prisoner of the court. The book is freaking hilarious. It's also a commentary on life in the Dark Ages in Britain. Twain makes the point that their fancy impressive-sounding language masks a profound ignorance. It is this ignorance that the protagonist sets out to change.

Tips for readers: For young people like myself the language is a little difficult to get through at times. But you can take comfort in the fact that, the protagonist is often confounded too! (That's kinda the point) However, if you can tackle Jane Austen you can handle Mark Twain.

I'll keep you updated as I read along!

Buy the book on Amazon