Book number 17!

I finished Howards End last night. It was wonderful. Another great E. M. Forster tale about class differences- from the wealthy (the Wilcox family) to the well-off middle class (Margaret and Helen Schlegel) to the desperately poor (the Basts), and how they connect. Forster, as usual, points out the prejudicial behavior in every class- such as Mr. Wilcox's refusal to see that the lower classes have worth and need help. Some of Forster's best characters are in this novel- Helen in particular is amusing (with her umbrella snatching) and passionate about her beliefs. All is centered on the home of the late Mrs. Wilcox, Howards End. She wills it to Margaret but her husband tears up the notice...only to fall in love with and marry Margaret years later. Margaret has to deal with Wilcox's horrible son Charles, her sister Helen's wild fancies, and Helen's friend Leonard Bast- which sets up the novel's final tragedy and scandal. Margaret believes in charity and compassion towards the less fortunate, and tries to make the Wilcox family believe as she does.

I love the themes of the novel- mainly that the classes are starting to blend together whether the rich want them to or not. In a way, the house called Howards End is a bit of a catalyst for change- it is there that Henry Wilcox begins to realize that he needs to connect with others both in and out of his class ("only connect..." as Margaret tells him). Also, there is the connection between Margaret and Mrs. Wilcox- Margaret's kindness leads to Mrs. Wilcox wanting to leave the house to her.

More reading to do this week! I'm almost finished with Death of a Hussy, and I have Death of a Gossip next. Plus, my mother gave me a copy of Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, so I'll read that soon! I loved the movie. The book looks like a fast read. I also have a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel (Terok Nor- Night of the Wolves) that I can't wait to read. So by the end of May, I will have read 20 books. Still waiting for the three new Torchwood novels...and I just read that three more will be published in October!