Peyton Place

While growing up I remembered my mother using the expression "this is just a little Peyton Place". Although the profanity was not used as prolifically as in modern day novels, the situations show people are the same even if the time has chanced. I think the novel won it's acclaim because of shock value not from quality of writing. I know that there is a sequel and the ending left me with the feeling that this was just the first half of a longer book. Not a bad read but it never moved me or challenged me mentally.

This is my selection for "a classic with a title that includes a place name".

Vingt Mille Lieues Sous Les Mers (Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas

Finally, yesterday afternoon I finished this book. The version I bought was bilingual, French and English. This was very helpful since my French is rusty plus many of the words were nautical and the language was dated. That said, it really did go pretty fast. I read the French and when I got stuck I peeked at the English translation. The story line is good and holds your interest until you run into the myriad lists of fish, sea creatures, and plants. I will confess to skimming these from time to time. I had read this book in 5th or 6th grade and loved it. There is enough mystery left in the ending that you finish feeling it was a good read and intriguing. I think it would make an excellent movie. I am glad I picked this Jules Verne book for my "classic in translation".