tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21875649263872899592023-11-15T10:47:02.879-08:00Linda's 2016 Classics ChallengeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-66613664366429950932017-01-02T14:42:00.000-08:002015-12-31T12:10:49.038-08:00THE TASK<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">1. Read one classic a month.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e06666;">2. </span><span style="color: #e06666;">Write a review or blog about the book.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;">3. OPTIONAL: Answer the following questions:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"> <strong>WHEN</strong> I Discovered This Classic</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"> <strong>WHAT</strong> Makes It A Classic</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"> <strong>WHY</strong> I Chose to Read It </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"> <strong>WILL</strong> It Stay A Classic</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: large;"> <strong>WHO</strong> I’d Recommend It To</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-22793343943070412442016-05-07T08:13:00.000-07:002016-06-20T08:15:54.742-07:00Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9968218-siddhartha" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Siddhartha" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328366491m/9968218.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9968218-siddhartha">Siddhartha</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1113469.Hermann_Hesse">Hermann Hesse</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1606646294">1 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Finishing this book was actually work. Between the cardboard characters and senseless philosophy, I was a little bit miserable. I should have just called it quits, but I couldn't let a 130 page book go unfinished.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-9706626802100710342016-04-15T07:58:00.000-07:002016-06-20T08:00:57.547-07:00Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, John Tenniel (Illustrator) REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6324090-alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Alice's Adventures in Wonderland " border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391204048m/6324090.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6324090-alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland">Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8164.Lewis_Carroll">Lewis Carroll</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1607342132">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I didn’t really appreciate this book. It was weird nonsense to me that never delivered anything exceptional.<br />
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I did like the writing and the way Alice never took any of it very seriously. Alice gave the reader a pass to just enjoy. If she could roll with the punches, so could you, as the reader. I felt in on the joke, but it went on too long. Each chapter had some interesting aspect to it, but at the end of each chapter, I didn’t care. I knew that nothing would end up meaning anything.<br />
<br />
<em>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</em> has appealed to generations of children. My son told me that, when he read it as a child, he loved it. It is a whacky adventure that I think most kids would enjoy, but it was a miss for me personally.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-48780673860316433942016-04-06T15:52:00.000-07:002016-04-06T15:52:45.627-07:00Ethan Frome REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11053967-ethan-frome" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ethan Frome" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352681720m/11053967.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11053967-ethan-frome">Ethan Frome</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16.Edith_Wharton">Edith Wharton</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1593016065">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
***SPOILER***<br />
<br />
<span class="spoilerContainer" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I couldn’t muster much sympathy for Ethan Frome. He married a woman he didn’t love out of fear. Then, he managed to blame her for his unhappiness. Just as he didn’t have the gumption to make the life that he wanted for himself when he, finally, met the woman of his dreams, he didn’t have the will to seize the day. What was his final answer to all of his problems—suicide. What a weak cop-out, but I wasn’t in the least bit surprised. I saw it coming a mile away, which made it worse. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The entire story was too melodramatic for my taste. However, I’m giving it three stars, because it did, eventually, capture my interest enough for me to want to know how it would end.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-54738373575673939412016-03-16T19:06:00.000-07:002016-03-29T19:06:17.740-07:00The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11092745-the-tale-of-peter-rabbit" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Tale of Peter Rabbit" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328328583m/11092745.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11092745-the-tale-of-peter-rabbit">The Tale of Peter Rabbit</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11593.Beatrix_Potter">Beatrix Potter</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1581681860">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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It's a cute, quick read with a message that all parents can support. Children should do what their Moms tell them, or they might end up in a stew pot. There is just enough angst for a disobedient little rabbit. Mom's can't go wrong with this one.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a><br />
<br />
I have abandoned answering the W questions, but, in this case, I will answer the "why" question. I am thinking about reading <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27000.Lost_in_a_Good_Book?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">Lost in a Good Book</a>. Characters from several classics are written into the plot of that book and it would certainly act as a spoiler for the classic mentioned. Consequently, I am trying to read any book mentioned in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27000.Lost_in_a_Good_Book?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">Lost in a Good Book</a> before I actually read it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-53709259401218970472016-03-13T20:07:00.002-07:002016-03-13T20:08:36.807-07:00The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20351202-the-man-in-the-high-castle" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Man in the High Castle" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388378388m/20351202.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20351202-the-man-in-the-high-castle">The Man in the High Castle</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4764.Philip_K_Dick">Philip K. Dick</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1473640091">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
This book is incredibly clever, but that didn’t translate directly to enjoyment for me. I was always initially interested, but I quickly fell asleep when I picked up the book in the evening. The biggest problem for me was that I didn’t care about any of the characters. None of the POVs had any moral fortitude, nor were they enjoyable antagonists.<br />
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I had other problems as well. Dick tackled big themes, but I’m not sure I always knew what his point was. Was he trying to say that we, as individuals, control our destinies, or we should just throw in the towel and let <em>I Ching</em> direct us on a need to know basis? I have no idea where Dick was going in Chapter 14 with Tagomi’s exploration of the pin. I had the feeling that was mumbo jumbo ramblings disguised to seem like something deep and intellectual. Also, the ending was lackluster. I didn’t mind ambiguity in the wrap-ups of each of the POV storylines, but I greatly disliked the ending as related to <em>The Grasshopper Lies Heavy</em>. That needed explanation. I’m not impressed when authors just throw out weird stuff, leave it to you to figure out and walk away.<br />
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On the whole, even though I didn’t love it, I would recommend this book. The themes were very relevant in the context of the 1960’s political and social environment. I appreciate sci-fi used as social commentary. Alternate realities aren’t particularly unique, but for some reason, when they are done well, they seem fresh. <em>The Man in the High Castle</em> isn’t ordinary. I can understand the wide appeal of this book. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-29736015775916009082016-03-13T20:06:00.000-07:002016-03-13T20:08:56.603-07:00The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Stanley Corngold (Translator) REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/485894.The_Metamorphosis" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Metamorphosis" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359061917m/485894.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/485894.The_Metamorphosis">The Metamorphosis</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5223.Franz_Kafka">Franz Kafka</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1560291485">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a difficult book for me to rate. On one hand, there is no denying that it is brilliant. Kafka has a strong point of view. He wants to talk about alienation and loneliness among other things. His themes are universal and have been worked by many other competent writers, but Kafka gives the reader something unique and unexpected. An English teacher could spend a semester of delight helping students understand all of the nuances of this book.<br />
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But…For me, personally, reading it was a chore. I didn’t look forward to it. <em>Metamorphosis</em> did not speak to my soul. It was annoying that it was so weird. Taking into account my level of enjoyment, I can only give this book three stars, but I would never want to discourage anyone from reading it. It is a classic for a reason, and I think that it could be enjoyed today as easily as the day it was written.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-23905248513666771152016-01-09T16:11:00.000-08:002016-03-13T20:07:37.114-07:00The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, by Mary Seacole REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8718136-the-wonderful-adventures-of-mrs-seacole-in-many-lands" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328002000m/8718136.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8718136-the-wonderful-adventures-of-mrs-seacole-in-many-lands">The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/378321.Mary_Seacole">Mary Seacole</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1491744647">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Thank you public domain for another excellent, free book. The most interesting part of this book was Mrs. Seacole’s observations during her travels and her notions about race and discrimination. She was very proud of being Jamaican, but she was also proud of her “yellow” complexion. She loved the English, but knew that they were a conquering power. The writing has a sense of flirtation and hominess, but Mary Seacole was complicated. Her attitudes were an amalgamation of contradictions that were just down right interesting.<br />
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The biggest problem that I had with the book was that so much was left out about Mrs. Seacole’ financial dealings. Mary Seacole engaged in capitalist activities everywhere she went, but where did she get the seed money? Who paid for her first trip to England? What did she do there? Why was she there? How much of her services did she deny to men who couldn’t pay. The complete lack of disclosure left me with a feeling of impropriety. Also, the book contained absolutely nothing about Mrs. Seacole’s personal life. She told us that her first husband died, but, after that, she mentions absolutely nothing about romantic interests. Who was Sarah, a young woman who is documented to have joined her in Balaclava? Sara is rumored to be Seacole’s daughter, but there is no mention in the autobiography of Sarah at all, which is weird no matter who she was. Like I said before, Mary Seacole was a complicated woman. She wrote this book to make money, not to unburden her soul, but mostly everything that is known about Mary Seacole comes from this book. I wish that she would have left us with more.<br />
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In 2004, Mary Seacole was voted the ‘Greatest Black Briton’ in history, and I’d never heard of her. This book is worth at least four stars to me for introducing me to a person that I should have been teaching about right alongside Florence Nightingale. I would recommend this book to anyone who is unfamiliar with Mary Seacole. We should all have learned about her in World History. Shame on public education.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-43404225641796174322016-01-02T12:22:00.001-08:002016-01-02T12:23:49.153-08:00Black No More by George Schuyler REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13026814-black-no-more" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Black No More " border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320771249m/13026814.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13026814-black-no-more">Black No More</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/310306.George_S_Schuyler">George S. Schuyler</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1158520156">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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In this Harlem renaissance classic, Schuler mixes satire and science fiction for a unique blend of social commentary. <em>Black No More</em> is not often referred to as science fiction, but it is the first science-fiction work by an African-American writer. <br />
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By definition, a satire is supposed to be “over the top” funny. Here, Schuler’s jokes are mostly “in your face”, but just when you, as a reader, are feeling saturated by the humor, he switches it up and gives you something a little more subtle. For myself, I didn’t think that it was laugh out loud funny, but I found it extremely interesting. The irreverence he showed for the icons of his time, like DuBois was shocking, but I felt he made a good cases to justify his criticism.<br />
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Schulyer’s overarching themes are: (1) Racism is absurd; (2) Racism is used by capitalist elites to control the population. After reading this book, I did a little research on Schyuler, and I was shocked that shortly after writing this book, his political leanings took a 180 degree turn. Clearly, part of the agenda in writing <em>Black No More</em> was to garner support for, what was considered at the time, socialist ideas. Also, Schuler was very critical of the NAACP. Maybe his satire spoke more truth about who he was than anyone could have guessed. In <em>Black No More</em> he accused everyone of using racism to make money, but Schulyer seems to have done exactly that. He aligned himself with agendas that most would consider hostile to civil rights. For example, in 1968, in a radio broadcast Schuyler said, "In South Africa you have a system of apartheid. That's their business. I don’t think it’s the business of other people to change their society." He opposed Martin Luther King’s award of the Nobel Peace prize. Although, in <em>Black No More</em>, he was very critical of the NAACP, Schulyer worked for the NAACP from 1937-1944 as business manager.<br />
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Was any of the satire based on genuine conviction? He criticizes black men for their apparent rejection of black women, but at the time he wrote the book, he was married to the rich, white heiress, Josephine Lewis Cogdell. Schuyler became a staunch conservative, leaning extremely right, and he made a good living expounding his point of view. He may have switch sides in real life as easily as Max Disher turned into Matthew Fisher. It might be interesting to read one of his later books like <em>Black and Conservative: the Autobiography of George Schuyler</em> or <em>Rac(e)Ing to the Right</em>. I assume either would offer some explanation for his transformation.<br />
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Questioning Schuyler’s real opinions when he wrote this book is interesting, on an academic level to me, but does not change my perception of the book itself. It is well done. The book lacks depth, but that can be forgiven with a satire. I didn’t like the part of the ending involving the botched getaway. I thought it was little long and gory. When I read <em>Black No More</em>, it reminded me of Mat Johnson’s <em>Pym</em>. In a way, even the endings were similar. Johnson lost control of <em>Pym</em> in the same way I think <em>Black</em> got away from Schulyer. Both books offer irreverent, entertaining social commentary.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-50111753644335463062016-01-01T12:58:00.000-08:002015-12-31T12:59:01.636-08:00Black No More<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13026814-black-no-more?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black No More " src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320771249m/13026814.jpg" /></a>My first classic of 2016 will be <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13026814-black-no-more?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book">Black No More</a> by George Schuyler<span style="background-color: white;">.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-3768110179102729392015-12-31T20:50:00.000-08:002015-12-31T12:44:32.960-08:002015 COMLETED GENRE BREAKDOWN<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of my goals is to read classics from differing time
periods, cultures & genres. The
breakdowns I created are largely arbitrary.
Some of the books can fit into more than one category.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">African American</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1234204087"><i>The Mis-Education of the Negro</i> by Carter G. Woodson (non-fiction)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1212431718"><i>The Marrow of Tradition</i> by Charles W. Chesnutt</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1170373590"><i>The Souls of Black Folk</i> by W.E.B. Du Bois (non-fiction)</a></li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">African</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1199970712"><i>Things Fall Apart</i> by Chinua Achebe</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">American</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1327736899"><i>Of Mice and Men</i> by John Steinbeck</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1240663684"><i>The Pearl</i> by John Steinbeck</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1406211527"><i>Fahrenheit 451</i> by Ray Bradbury </a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">British (19<sup>th</sup> century)</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1170807320"><i>Pride and Prejudice</i> by Jane Austen</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1160246927"><i>Jane Eyre</i> by Charlotte Brontë</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">British (20<sup>th</sup> century)</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1263172976"><i>Murder on the Orient Express</i> by Agatha Christie (mystery)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1399564476"><i>Rebecca</i> by Daphne du Maurier</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">Children’s</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1204581610"><i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, # 1</i>) by J.K. Rowling,</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1175405906"><i>The Secret Garden</i> by Frances Hodgson Burnett</a></li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="color: blue;">Christian</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1410441690"><i>Hinds' Feet on High Places</i> by Hannah Hurnard </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1166431494"><i>The Screwtape Letters</i> by C.S. Lewis</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Greek (Ancient</b>)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1269212949"><i>Phaedo</i> by Plato</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<b style="color: blue;">Russian (19<sup>th</sup> century</b><span style="color: blue;">)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1245215019"><i>Crime and Punishment</i> by Fyodor Dostoyevsky</a></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<ul>
</ul>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-41245955335361770422015-10-11T11:51:00.002-07:002015-10-11T11:51:52.530-07:00Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/821056.Hinds_Feet_on_High_Places" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Hinds' Feet on High Places" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312284337m/821056.jpg" /></a><br />
I had never heard of this book before last week. I was reading a list of books that all Christians should read, and <i>Hinds Feet on High Places</i> was on it. It is a Christian allegory about salvation in the same genre of <i>Pilgrim's Progress</i>.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-19990071941550264702015-10-11T11:30:00.002-07:002015-10-11T11:30:39.660-07:00Rebecca-Alfred Hitchcock Movie<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899948-rebecca" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Rebecca" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169m/17899948.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899948-rebecca">Rebecca</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2001717.Daphne_du_Maurier">Daphne du Maurier</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1399564476">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I watch the 1940 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Laurence Oliver and Joan Fontaine. I was struck by how different the movie was from the book. Yes, Hitchcock did a wonderful job. Visually, it was artistic and pleasing. Hitchcock generated a lot of suspense, but it is very different from the book, which was a disappointment.<br />
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<img class="escapedImg" height="250" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1444576451i/16519928._SX540_.jpg" width="345" /><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-14027590080758691352015-10-05T20:25:00.001-07:002015-10-05T20:25:49.794-07:00Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17470674-fahrenheit-451" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Fahrenheit 451" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366411587m/17470674.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17470674-fahrenheit-451">Fahrenheit 451</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1630.Ray_Bradbury">Ray Bradbury</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1406211527">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Without a doubt, Bradbury had an incredible imagination. He gave his 1950s audience flat panel TVs, IPODs and ATM machines. He also turned the traditional role of the fireman upside down and used the symbolism of fire to both bring forth life and destroy it. It is one thing to be a good storyteller or a talented writer, which certainly, Bradbury is, but in my opinion, it elevates the craft to do that while making relevant social commentary. Bradbury had a lot to say, and he did it in the context of a compelling and entertaining story.<br />
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Bradbury wrote <em>Fahrenheit 451</em> during the McCarthy error; so government censorship was a serious and real concern. What is interesting to me is that Bradbury makes the point that the people and the state share the blame for censorship, with the people bearing most of the culpability. Every group that has a viewpoint wants the counter-viewpoint censored. Bradbury warns us of the perils of political correctness before political correctness even had a name.<br />
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Bradbury also warns that as society intoxicates itself with pleasures and titillation of mass media people will increasingly move away from, not only intellectual pursuits, but they will lose their ability to bond with one another. Bradbury didn’t even own a TV until the 1950s, but he had the foresight to understand the (now well documented) mental health issues that can come from heavy ICT use.<br />
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I was, generally, pleased with the storytelling. Bradbury was, at times, a little long winded but he painted vivid pictures. The foreshadowing was nicely done, and even though I knew the plot, I was surprised a few times. Really, you can’t ask for much more out of a book. It is a cool coincidence that I just happened to read this classic during banned book week.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-71439942811198390522015-10-02T20:31:00.000-07:002015-10-05T20:35:45.733-07:00Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899948-rebecca" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Rebecca" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169m/17899948.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899948-rebecca">Rebecca</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2001717.Daphne_du_Maurier">Daphne du Maurier</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1399564476">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Sometimes when you read a book, there is something so special about one conversation or one bit of writing that even if the book, in its entirety, isn’t good that piece makes it worth your effort. In this case, the entire book is fabulous, but there are a couple of parts that are extraordinary. To me, the first chapter is a gothic masterpiece. You know that you are in for a treat right from the beginning. As a whole, the book is superbly written, but there are several sections of pros that stand out. There is a bit about growing older in chapter 15 that is particularly poignant. I loved the confrontation at the window’s ledge in chapter 18.<br />
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There is something about this book that reminds me of Dostoyevsky. Du Maurier’s and Dostoyevsky’s styles are completely different. The similarity is probably in the way that the narrator, in <em>Rebecca</em>,has longwinded conversations with herself and that everyone is a little crazy and self-absorbed, but they are completely clueless to their narcissism.<br />
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The comparison with this book to <em>Jane Eyre</em> is obvious. In my opinion, du Maurier is a better writer than Bronte, but <em>Jane Eyre</em> is a superior book. I love Jane. Rebecca’s narrator is weak and pitiful most of the time. I was attracted to the superb writing, the plot and the mystery in <em>Rebecca</em>, but I didn’t care about the main character. She was appealing to me at first, in Monte Carlo, but after she became Mrs. De Winter, she was just mostly pathetic; so that limited my emotional connection to her. <a class="jsShowSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(view spoiler)</a><span class="spoilerContainer" style="display: none;">[When the narrator began her life at Manderley, after an adjustment period, I wanted to see her comb her hair, claim her man, fire her housekeeper, and get on with it. She was content to sit around and ponder her misery—boring. Even during Max’s confession to our narrator, Mrs. De Winter was portrayed as narcissistic to the point of ridiculousness. Max confessed to the cold blooded murder of his wife and her unborn child, and all that she could think of was the state of her love affair. <a class="jsHideSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(hide spoiler)</a>]</span> All of her whining and obsessions with herself and Rebecca was uninteresting and unrealistic. This is easily a five star book, but I think it could have been even better with a stronger protagonist.<br />
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What I love about this book is that it painstakingly follows the gothic formula. There is a castle, a mystery to be solved and portents of doom. There is heroine overwrought with emotional destress. It seems like it would be “over the top” or even silly, but du Maurier pulls it off perfectly. I was fully engaged, telling off Mrs. Danvers and wanting to slap some sense into Mrs. De Winter.<br />
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I was really obsessed with this book. I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t want it to end. Reading this kind of book is what the classics challenge is all about.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-40756100723592384522015-09-26T07:19:00.000-07:002015-09-26T07:19:05.013-07:00Rebecca Daphne du Maurier <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18891155-rebecca?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rebecca" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385163809m/18891155.jpg" /></a>I'm excited to start this one. <i>Rebecca</i> won the Anthony Award's Novel of the Century in 2000.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-48132706132456952162015-07-12T18:57:00.001-07:002015-07-12T18:57:03.502-07:00Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8136985-of-mice-and-men" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Of Mice and Men" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328025978m/8136985.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8136985-of-mice-and-men">Of Mice and Men</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/585.John_Steinbeck">John Steinbeck</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1327736899">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Steinbeck’s writing is wonderful. He packs quite a punch in this little novella. He uses simple characters to create a complex work that tackles universal themes of friendship, loneliness, poverty and helplessness. He uses animal imagery that is both symbolic and suggestive. Symbolism isn’t my strongest suit, but here, even I get it. He condemns society for its treatment of the lowest classes. He basically does it all in 100 pages.<br />
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The one thing that I didn’t like was the way Steinbeck penned Curly’s wife. None of the characters had very much depth, but Curly’s wife’s behavior was odd, to say the least. I imagine these laborers as being smelly, dirty and unattractive. It is inexplicable that she would have been completely undiscerning in her attraction to them, desiring all of the men equally. Since Curly’s wife was such a pivotal character, I would have liked for Steinbeck to have taken a more nuanced approach with her.<br />
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Although, I rate this book five stars, I won’t be reading more Steinbeck anytime soon. The bottom line is that his stuff is depressing. I get it. I even like it, but I need it in small doses. Two Steinbeck books in one year are more than enough for a while.<br />
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I am participating in a classics challenge. The challenge requires a blog entry for each classic book. You can find my blog at <a href="http://linda2015classicschallenge.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://linda2015classicschallenge.blo...</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-63650971312468667352015-07-09T22:31:00.001-07:002015-07-09T22:41:33.971-07:00Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckMy son is reading John Steinbeck's <i>Of Mice and Men</i> in English class, so, being that I am in a classic's challenge, I figured I'd give it a go. I know the plot, presumable because I read it in high school myself, but I don't actually remember reading it.<br />
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I can probably go ahead and take care of the Ws:<br />
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WHEN I Discovered This Classic: high-school, most definitely<br />
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WHAT Makes It A Classic: Steinbeck's pros is wonderful and he tackles big themes of loneliness, work, poverty and tragedy.<br />
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WHY I Chose to Read It: I love reading books with my kids<br />
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WILL It Stay A Classic: Yes<br />
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WHO I’d Recommend It To: <b>No one</b>. Steinbeck is completely depressing. His whole purpose seems to be to let us know that, if you poor, life sucks, and, then, you die. The poor have no control and all choices lead to one depressing outcome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-79156960183646228432015-05-10T11:17:00.000-07:002015-05-10T19:03:25.550-07:00Phaedo by Plato REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/982310.Phaedo" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Phaedo " border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1266688328m/982310.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/982310.Phaedo">Phaedo</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/879.Plato">Plato</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1269212949">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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What I like about Plato’s dialogues is how accessible they are. Much of Western thought is based on Plato's writings, so you can’t get much more academic than that, but at the same time, Plato isn’t hard. You don’t have to have special skills or been formally trained in philosophy to enjoy and understand Plato. <em>Pheado</em> is one of Plato’s later dialogues so it, probably, represents Plato’s own viewpoints rather than Socrates’. As for the philosophy itself, I like the proofs for the pre-existence of the soul and even the existence the soul after death. Some ideas Plato seems to take for granted and just doesn’t offer any explanation, like re-incarnation. I enjoyed <em>Pheado</em>. I think that Plato's dialogues is a great place to start for someone who has an interest in the origins of western philosophy. <br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a><br />
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<b>The Ws</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>WHEN</b> I Discovered This Classic</div>
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college </div>
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<b>WHY</b> I Chose to Read It</div>
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I hadn't read any ancient Greek, for the challenge, yet.</div>
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<b>WHO</b> I’d Recommend It To</div>
someone interested in Western philosophy<br />
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<b>WILL</b> It Stay A Classic</div>
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Clearly, the answer is yes, but I think that it is still relevant because it deals with the universal theme of the existence of the soul.</div>
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<b>WHO</b> I’d Recommend It To</div>
I’d recommend this to anyone who expressed interest in reading a mystery.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-43611404302579257332015-04-30T09:21:00.001-07:002015-12-17T14:00:03.603-08:00Murder on the Orient Express - REVIEW & The Ws<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16304.Murder_on_the_Orient_Express" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388267702m/16304.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16304.Murder_on_the_Orient_Express">Murder on the Orient Express</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123715.Agatha_Christie">Agatha Christie</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1471713182">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Without a doubt, I saw the movie adaptation of <em>Murder on the Orient Express</em> as child, but it never occurred to me that I would remember anything about the book. Although I didn’t recall anything specific, I knew, without a doubt, “whodunit.” My knowledge of the ending, pretty much, ruined the experience of the book. I kept reading for two reasons: 1) to make sure that I wasn’t crazy and that I really did know the outcome, and 2) to get a feel for Agatha Christie’s writing.<br />
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I don’t know if this book is reflective of Christie’s overall style or not. I loved the main character, but I didn’t think that I got enough of his investigative process. There were many interviews and an elucidation at the end. I don’t read many mysteries, so I don’t know how common that style is, but personally, I think that I would enjoyed the book more if I were given more access to Poirot’s thought process before the big reveal.<br />
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Given the circumstances, it is difficult for me to give this book a fair rating. If I hadn’t known the ending, I might have rated it four stars. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to read another of Agatha Chrisite’s book.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
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<b>The Ws</b><br />
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<b>WHEN</b> I Discovered This Classic</div>
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I can’t remember a time of not knowing that this book existed. I, probably, saw a movie adaptation before the age of ten.</div>
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<b>WHAT</b> Makes It A Classic</div>
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Agatha Christie books have sold over 3 billion copies. Christie took the lead from authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but she has been influential in her own right. Murder on the Orient Express is her most famous dealing with the universal themes of justice and judgment.</div>
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<b>WHY</b> I Chose to Read It</div>
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It was chosen as group read in a group that I’m in on Goodreads.</div>
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<b>WILL</b> It Stay A Classic</div>
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It was written in 1934 and has never been out of print. That is a pretty good start. </div>
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<b>WHO</b> I’d Recommend It To</div>
I’d recommend this to anyone who expressed interest in reading a mystery.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-34206057659441025682015-04-28T20:28:00.001-07:002015-04-29T13:07:36.361-07:00Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky REVIEW & the Ws<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17879.Crime_and_Punishment" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Crime and Punishment" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388341198m/17879.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17879.Crime_and_Punishment">Crime and Punishment</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3137322.Fyodor_Dostoyevsky">Fyodor Dostoyevsky</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1245215019">2 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I have read some amazing classics, this year, so I had no reason to think that <em>Crime and Punishment</em> wouldn’t be another winner. Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate what a drag it would be. Hours and hours of my life dedicated to exploring the mind of an insane person. If only Dostoyevsky could have done it in 250 pages, it might have been tolerable. Sometimes it was oddly compelling, but, mostly, I just wanted the punishment to end. <a class="jsShowSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(view spoiler)</a><span class="spoilerContainer" style="display: none;">[ As far as the plot goes, I never figured why Raskolnikov committed the murders. In the beginning, I assumed that it was about money, but, as the book went on, it was obviously that he didn’t care about the money. I suppose that he gave an explanation in his article, but the arguments, in the article, didn’t fit together with the circumstances of Raskolnikov life. His attempts to explain it to Sonya sounded ridiculous, except for the fact that he admitted that he was a little bad and a little crazy. In the end, the murders were senseless. I have to assume that that was the point, but it didn't sit well with me. <a class="jsHideSpoiler spoilerAction" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">(hide spoiler)</a>]</span><br />
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Sometimes if I don’t like a book, it is really that I just don’t understand the book. For a while, I read a chapter analysis after each chapter. I hoped that thoroughly understanding the book would help me appreciate it more. I gave that up by part three (about ½ through). The chapter analyses weren’t adding much to comprehension of the book, and it was prolonging the experience.<br />
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I’m giving <em>Crime and Punishment</em> two stars instead of one, because Dostoyevsky, in some respects, is an excellent writer. I, truly, felt that I was inside the mind of a mad man.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
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<b>The Ws</b><br />
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<b>WHEN</b> I Discovered This Classic</div>
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I must have been in high school. I don’t quite remember.</div>
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<b>WHY</b> I Chose to Read It </div>
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It was chosen as a group read for a group that I am in on
Goodreads. </div>
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<b>WHAT</b> Makes It A Classic</div>
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Crime and Punishment examines universal themes: primarily societal alienation and the
psychology of the criminal mind. Crazy
is crazy whether it’s the 19<sup>th</sup> century of 2015. Anyone interested in crazy will, probably,
like this book.</div>
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<b>WHAT</b> I Thought of This Classic<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think that books like this are the reasons people hesitate
to read classics. In my opinion, it was
long and boring. I didn’t like the
characters, so I didn’t care much what happened to them.</div>
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<b>WILL</b> It Stay A Classic</div>
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Since it was written in the early 19<sup>th</sup> century
and it is still going strong, I think that there is a good bet that it will
continue its domination of any list of Russian classics.</div>
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<b>WHO</b> I’d Recommend It To</div>
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A psychology student</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-22259974284272230692015-04-05T13:45:00.000-07:002015-04-05T21:14:08.691-07:00Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9667950-things-fall-apart" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Things Fall Apart" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328204457m/9667950.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9667950-things-fall-apart">Things Fall Apart</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8051.Chinua_Achebe">Chinua Achebe</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1199970712">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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My feelings about this book are mixed. On one hand, I found it interesting and challenging. I utilized many resources, while reading this book, to help me better understand the background information and literary allegories. One valuable resource was a study guide prepared by Heather DuBois Bourenane from the University Wisconsin‐Madison. I became engrossed in the plot, and I appreciated the literary devices used to examine various themes. On an academic level, I was very impressed with the book.<br />
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On the other hand, if I consider <em>Things Fall Apart</em> outside of any historical significance, political importance or literary appreciation, I was underwhelmed. The main character was, too, vilified in the first chapters. I didn’t care much what happened to him, nor did I feel empathy for any of the other characters. I didn’t feel anything while reading the book. Reading a novel shouldn’t be an academic pursuit but one of the heart.<br />
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That leaves me in a quandary as to what rating to give <em>Things Fall Apart</em>. I have settled on 4 stars. Although I didn't find the novel emotionally riveting, Achebe seamlessly incorporated African storytelling with a western style of writing, and he tackled difficult themes in a way that was stimulating and thought provoking. <br />
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Most of the answers to the Ws are found in my <a href="http://linda2015classicschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/02/things-fall-apart-by-chinua-achebe.html">previous post</a> about this book.<br />
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Things Fall Apart – 1987 Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation
mini‐series.</div>
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Find scene 1
at: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7FS95IcRNU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7FS95IcRNU </a><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-46660412156331522472015-03-30T10:17:00.001-07:002015-03-30T10:17:53.171-07:00The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Woodson<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10772657-the-mis-education-of-the-negro" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Mis-Education of the Negro" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328320258m/10772657.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10772657-the-mis-education-of-the-negro">The Mis-Education of the Negro</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/142122.Carter_G_Woodson">Carter G. Woodson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1234204087">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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<em>The Mis-Education of the Negro</em> was originally published in 1933. In it, Woodson outlines what he sees as the repercussions of an ineffective Negro educational system. The book may have been shocking when it was written, but it represents mainstay thought about education, today. The book remains relevant, because even though most agree, as a community, we still have a way to go in putting many of his recommendations into practice. As a modern reader, I appreciated chapters XVII and the appendix the most. In chapter XVII, Woodson says that it doesn’t make sense for Blacks to simple give their vote to one political party. <br />
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<em>Any people who will vote the same way for three generations without thereby obtaining results ought to be ignored and disfranchised. As a minority element, the Negro should not knock at the door of any particular political party.</em>
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In the appendix, Woodson examines the question of what the race should be called. I don’t think he ever answers the question, but I love the following quote:<br />
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<em>It doesn’t matter so much what a thing is called as what a thing is. </em>
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Although the topics Woodson covers in chapters VII and the appendix aren’t new, I think he offers an opinion that isn’t often articulated as eloquently and is relevant to a modern discussion.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-58434030048098928692015-03-30T08:45:00.005-07:002015-04-29T13:18:31.196-07:00The Pearl by John Steinbeck REVIEW<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">People who love Steinbeck seem to think that this isn't a sampling of his best, but I was certainly impressed. The writing is wonderful and the story is simple with universal themes.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>WHEN</strong> I Discovered This Classic</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I recently discovered this book. It was added to my library's ebook collection, so I put it on hold. When it became available I borrowed it, and read it. I wasn't aware of it before I saw added as a new book to the library's collection</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>WHAT</strong> Makes It A Classic</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">This is a book commonly taught in middle school and highschool. It is very accessible as a way to introduce how an author can use symbolism. There is a great deal of teaching material available for this book.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>WHY</strong> I Chose to Read It</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">free</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>WILL</strong> It Stay A Classic</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">Yes. The book is beautifully written and involves universal themes. Teachers can dig in, because every character represents a sin or temptation, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><strong>WHO</strong> I’d Recommend It To</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I'd recommend this to anyone who likes good writing.</span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2187564926387289959.post-85474804032230166432015-03-07T08:09:00.001-08:002015-03-07T08:14:33.233-08:00The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis REVIEW<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383917-the-screwtape-letters" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Screwtape Letters" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1414551641m/17383917.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383917-the-screwtape-letters">The Screwtape Letters</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1069006.C_S_Lewis">C.S. Lewis</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1166431494">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Lewis was nothing if not clever. He demonstrated that again in this classic Christian apologetic.<br />
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<i>The Screwtape Letters<em></em></i> is a commentary on how we allow sin to creep into our life and the spiritual warfare that is really at work in the process. Lewis engaged a dry wit an an unusual composition to keep the reader interested. This book could easily be read straight through like a novel, but I approached it more like a study, reading it piecemeal. I was most struck by how timeless it is. Even though this book was written over fifty years ago, it is still amazingly accurate concerning the temptations of modern life. I would recommend this book to any Christian looking for a primer or even an advanced study on sin and temptation.<br />
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<b>WHEN</b> I Discovered This Classic<o:p></o:p></div>
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About 15 years ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>WHAT</b> Makes It A Classic<o:p></o:p></div>
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C.S. Lewis is a legend as a Christian apologetic. That doesn’t make every book he wrote a
classic, but I have seen this one listed several times on different Christian classics
lists, and I have seen this book referenced
numerous times in other Christian literature.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>WHY</b> I Chose to Read It<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was interested in the premise. Lewis is at his best when he is being creative.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>WILL</b> It Stay A Classic<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most certainly this will stay a classic. The commentary is extremely relevant to
modern society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>WHO</b> I’d Recommend It To<o:p></o:p></div>
Christians<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5346734-linda">View all my reviews</a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0