Showing posts with label Classics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Classics. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2010

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

 

There were a few books that I contimplated using for the letter "D" in this challenge but I finally decide to go with a classic.

I read The Picture of Dorian Gray back in 2005, before my blogging days, with my Classics reading club on Yahoo.  The story has stuck with me all of this time.  Sometimes I'll see something or think of something that makes me think of this book.

For those of you who don't know the basic story, Dorian Gray is very vain.  He looks at himself in the mirror a lot and admires his handsome looks.  He has wishes never to age and his wish comes true.  However the portrait of him does age.  It is a reminder of Dorian's ugliness on the inside.

I really enjoyed this story for the era and the mannerisms of the characters.  Wilde captured a time when social etiquette was everything.  With the importance that society puts on beauty, this story is still very relevant today.  I also enjoyed Wilde's beautiful prose.  I can certainly see why this book has stood the test of time and is considered a great classic.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 11:10 PM 9 comments  

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton


 



I scoured my already read list trying decide which book to choose for the letter "A" and it was tough going for awhile.  I thought of a couple a books and then thought, "darn, they are memoirs.  Historical, yes but not fiction.  Then I came up with two great contenders.  Then thought, I reviewed those just last year.  I know they would be acceptable but I was hoping to come up with something better and better, I did!

I read The Age of Innocence back in 2006, before I started my blog and before I started reviewing all the book I have read.  I did keep track of the books I read, with a spiral notebook and pen.  I included the Title, author, my rating, and a few scribbled thoughts.

I think The Age of Innocence deserves more from me.. so here it is.

I saw the movie when it first came out years ago.  I really loved it but didn't think to read it.  Then a friend recommended the book to me.  She couldn't believe I hadn't read it.  She said, "you love the classics but you have never read The Age of Innocence?"  She was almost outraged.  LOL!  So I got a copy and read it.

Since it has been awhile since I read it, I am going to use the description on the back of the book for those of you who haven't read it:

Into the narrow social world of New York in the 1870s comes Countess Ellen Olenska, surrounded by shocked whispers about her failed marriage to a rich Polish Count. A woman who leaves her husband can never be accepted in polite society. Newland Archer is engaged to young May Welland, but the beautiful and mysterious Countess needs his help. He becomes her friend and defender, but friendship with an unhappy, lonely woman is a dangerous path for a young man to follow - especially a young man who is soon to be married.

My thoughts:

I totally got lost in this sumptuous book.  I had no idea I was reading, as I became a character in the story.  It felt like I was witnessing first hand.  This book is a feast of words,  with biting humour and institutionalized hypocrisy of the upper-class late 19th century New York.  This is a must read for all historical fiction and classics lovers.

4.5/5

Also reviewed by:

Book-a-rama

Did I miss your review?  Please leave me your link in the comments. 

This post is also for Woman on Wednesdays (WOW).  Want to know about other excellent female authors or do you have any to share?  Go to West of Mars' Rocks 'n Reads every Wednesday and look for Susan's WOW post.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:39 PM 19 comments  

Labels: , ,

Monday, July 7, 2008

Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge 08- Completed

Thanks to Becky at Becky's Book Reviews for hosting this challenge!

I chose to watch the BBC 'Cranford' mini-series and the BBC 'North and South' Mini-series.



Based on the book of the same name, Cranford was set in an 1842 rural Cheshire town. It was about the trials and tribulations of the town's people. The town is going through modernization, namely with a railroad being built. Some of the town embrace this change, but many fear it.

I really enjoyed getting to know the Cranford people, warts and all. I hoped and dreamed with them. The crisp filming showed a beautiful landscape.


4/5

Also based on the book of the same name, North and South takes place in 1800's Milton, England. Margaret Hale is uprooted from her southern home because her father has a mid-life crisis of sorts and decides to move the family to Milton, a small cotton-milling town in the north.

With no income, her father decides to teach philosophy. One of his students is the mill owner, mill owner John Thornton. Margaret does not approve of Thorton, thinking he is too harsh with his employees. However, like the leading woman in Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice, Margaret starts to see some good in him.

There have been some comparisons with Pride and Prejudice done with North and South, and I certainly see some similarities. However, this is an excellent story in it's own right and there are some differences. Especially how Margaret befriends the poorer towns people.

I truly enjoyed North and South and highly recommend it. I can see myself re-visiting it from time to time, as I do with Pride and Prejudice. I also hope to read the book North and South one of these days.

5/5

North and South was also reviewed at:

Reading Adventures

Posted by Teddy Rose at 1:04 PM 8 comments  

Labels: ,

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury




Feels Like a Real-Life Thriller




In a futuristic society when firefighters don’t put out fires anymore. Their job now it to create fires. When an alarm is called in, firemen gear up as they use to and speed to the scene, a house with forbidden books in it. All the books are gathered up and hosed down with not water, but kerosene, then set a blaze. Montag is one of those firemen.

This is a time when in most homes, the walls in the living room aren’t walls, their giant screen televisions. The shows on mostly comprise of nonsensical bickering, for entertainment. People are not concerned about any issues, except forbidden books. Ignorance is bliss.

When Montag meets Clarrise, a 17-year-old girl, at first she annoys him. She likes to ask a lot of questions and notices things that most people just don’t notice or even care about. However, as he gets to know her better, he starts to question things himself. A question that he has is a very dangerous question: why are books so dangerous that we have to burn them? What’s in them? As he pursues this question, he gets in trouble.

This book was first published in 1951. I found this it quite frightening because there are some countries that seemed to have arrived to this in our world, and others seem to be heading towards it. In the West, people turn on their televisions and watch sitcoms much more then crack open a book. When most people ask me what I like to watch on TV, I respond that I only watch a couple things, mostly on PBS. I mostly read books, they look at me like am strange and proceed to name off all the shows that they watch.

4/5

Also Reviewed By:

Chris at book-a-rama

Nymeth at things mean a lot

Susan at You Can Never Have Too Many Books

Tanabata at In Spring it is the Dawn

If you've reviewed this book, please leave a link in the comments.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 4:57 PM 11 comments  

Labels: , ,

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge 08

Now through November 15, 2008
Becky at Becky's Book Reviews set up this challenge.

Here's how it works:
Read and/or watch TWO works by Elizabeth Gaskell. For example: Watching two moviesReading two booksReading one book; watching one movieYou can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

This is perfect timing, because Masterpiece Theater on PBS is broadcasting the mini series 'CRANFORD' starting tomorrow night (Sunday). It is based on three novels by Elizabeth Gaskell.





Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:29 PM 5 comments  

Labels: , ,

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Hawaii by James A. Michener




Wonderful Saga About Hawaii and it’s People!



I have never read a Michener book before this. I love historical fiction, but I somehow avoided this great author. Maybe because my father was such a fan, it turned me off for some reason, even unknown to myself.

Last year I mentioned to my father that I planned to read Hawaii. He told me that I would like it, but also advised me to skip the first chapter. He said it was so boring that he almost didn't read the book. It turned out that my mother had read it first and when he complained she told him to skip the first chapter. He also told me that he looked forward to hearing what I thought. Unfortunately my dad passed away in September, but who knows, maybe he's reading my review.

I didn't follow my mom and dad's advice; I started with the first chapter. I can see why they would have thought it was boring, but I really enjoyed it. You see Michener chose to start at the very beginning, with the formation of the land of Hawaii. I found both breath taking and informative.

Hawaii is a sprawling beautiful saga, both about it's land and it's people. The first inhabitants came over from Bora, Bora. Michener tells about their customs and their gods. From there, following a genealogical chart, the story grows and the years go by. Next the missionaries from America show up to bring their religion to Hawaiians that they see as heathens. Then the immigrants arrive. First the Chinese, then that Japanese and then the Filipinos. We learn about the harsh immigrant experience and how these cultures ultimately gained respect and intermingle to become the new race, Hawaiians.

I recently read an article about him, explaining that he normally moved to the places that he intended to write about. He immersed himself in the atmosphere and did his detailed research. It is apparent Michener really did his research on Hawaii.

There is not a boring moment in this long novel. Michener's characters walk right off the page and absorb the reader into their world. I loved this novel and didn't want it to end. Indeed, I was sad when it did. I highly recommend it, especially to historical fiction lovers.

5/5

I can hardly wait to read more James A. Michener. Hmm, which should I read next?
You decide (Disclaimer: I am not making any promises as to when I will read it):

Also reviewed at:

Book-a-rama




Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:21 AM 21 comments  

Labels: , , ,

Friday, February 29, 2008

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery




Happy 100 Year Anniversary!


I have lived in Canada for over 15 years and even became a citizen of this beautiful country, but I had never read Anne of Green Gables. I knew that I had to be remedy soon, so I started to read it. Then I happened to be on the Internet a few days ago and found out that this is the 100 year anniversary of this fine book.

Anne is picked up from an orphanage by a friend of the Cuthberts. They asked her to choose a boy for them, but somehow this was miscommunicated and they ended up with a girl. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert debated right in front of Anne trying decided if they should bring her back and exchange her for a boy. During this part it seems like they are debating over a sack of potatoes rather than a human being.

However, they did decide to keep her and that’s when the story truly begins. Anne easily wins the hearts of the Cuthbert’s, all of Green Gables, and the reader’s.

L.M. Montgomery’s characters come to life in this heart warming but not over sentimental book. I was able to visualize all of the places in Prince Edward Island with her breath taking descriptions. At times I forgot that I was actually reading a book. It was like I became part of the story, part of the town.

I definitely want to read the entire series now, and would very much like to visit P.E.I. I highly recommend this book for both children and adults, and you don’t even need to live in Canada to love it.

5/5

Also reviewed at:
1morechapter.com
Things Mean a Lot

Posted by Teddy Rose at 7:43 PM 2 comments  

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, February 10, 2008

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee



Wow, What a Classic!

I’ve seen the movie several times and love it. However, I never read the book, until recently.

Harper Lee engaged me from the first paragraph. Her characters come alive. The narrator is an eight-year-old girl named Scout. She tells the story of her small southern town during the depression and of her family. The father Atticus, was a lawyer, appointed to defend a black man for rape. I only hope that there are really fathers somewhere in real life that are like him! Yet, this was not a sappy book.

If you’ve seen the movie and enjoyed it, you need to read this book. There are so many little enjoyable snippets that were not in the movie. If you haven’t seen the movie, nor read the book, treat yourself. I highly recommend this gem!
5/5
Also reviewed at:

Posted by Teddy Rose at 5:10 PM 1 comments  

Labels: , ,

Friday, November 2, 2007

A Passage to India by E. M. Forster

A Classic of Epic Proportions!


First published in 1924, over the vast sweeping landscape of India under British rule A Passage to India examines the cultural differences between the Indians and the English.

As the novel opens Ms. Adela Quested and her potential mother in-law, Mrs. Moore arrives in Chandrapore India. They both have the desire to see the real India and not just hang out with other British citizens. Mrs. Moore becomes friends with a local, Dr Aziz who promises to show her and Ms. Quested the famous Marabar caves. While at the caves, a possible incident occurs that alters the lives of all of the characters involved.

I can see why this book is on the top 100 books to read list. It is a must, especially for Classic lovers and those interested in British rule India! 5/5

Also Reviewed at:

My Own Little Reading Room

Random Field Notes

A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore...

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:26 PM 19 comments  

Labels: , , ,

Older Posts Home

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)