I love A Christmas Carol. Every film adaption from the black and white one to the muppets. But I have never read the story. So this year I vowed to fiI love A Christmas Carol. Every film adaption from the black and white one to the muppets. But I have never read the story. So this year I vowed to finally read the original.
Along with a few of Dickens’ other Christmas writings I really enjoyed it.
I won’t bother with a synopsis, as everyone knows the story more or less. It was wonderful to read and be reminded of what makes this such a powerful tale of kindness and generosity to our fellow human at this time of the year....more
Not the most gripping of reads but glad I read it. The premise is fascinating, Victor Frankenstein discovers the ability to replicate a human being.
INot the most gripping of reads but glad I read it. The premise is fascinating, Victor Frankenstein discovers the ability to replicate a human being.
I enjoyed the chapters from the monsters perspective as well. It raises the question, if the world already perceives you as a monster, do you eventually become one?
I liked it well enough, probably wouldn’t read it again, but it’s a classic I can mark off the list. ...more
This was technically a reread, but I couldn't remember the specific dates I read it the first time, so I recorded this as a first time read.
Such an enThis was technically a reread, but I couldn't remember the specific dates I read it the first time, so I recorded this as a first time read.
Such an enjoyable, quick and surprising retelling of The Odyssey from Penelope's perspective. Nearly everyone knows Odysseus, smart, witty, promiscuous; tackles 1 too many mythical beasts over the decade he is missing on his return from The Trojan War. Penelope is sassy, intelligent, and more than a little bit pissed off at her cousin Helen for causing this war and therefore preventing her husbands safe return. We also get a new persepctive of Helen. Usually she is seen as sweet, beautiful (obviously) kind etc. Here we seen her as vain, nasty and particularly cruel.
The Penelopiad is told from Penelope's POV, from Hades, long after she and the others from antiquity are dead. She talks to the reader in the 21st century, to tell her side of the story. There is also an important focus on the 12 maids who were murdered on Odysseus' return for sleeping with the suitors who were hounding Penelope and her home during Odysseus' absence.
A fantastic perspective to read, it makes you question a lot of Odysseus' behaviours and in particular, his massive double standards (sleeping with countless goddesses, but fuming if Penelope so much as looked at another man)
Overall a great book to read alongside or after The Odyssey...more
I’m sorry...I just don’t get it? This book has numerous five star reviews, and while I understand it isn’t plot driven, the characters are so vague? ThI’m sorry...I just don’t get it? This book has numerous five star reviews, and while I understand it isn’t plot driven, the characters are so vague? They all kind of blur together so I never really knew who was speaking/thinking and when. So many thoughts flying around and I just didn’t see the point in them. I guess I just don’t have the mind required to appreciate whatever it is I am supposed to appreciate in this book. If someone would like to tell me what it is I missed that would be helpful, because I am just lost. ...more
“Watch and pray. The day of judgement is at hand.”
Now I understand why Agatha is the Queen of crime! This was addictive.
A group of people are all “Watch and pray. The day of judgement is at hand.”
Now I understand why Agatha is the Queen of crime! This was addictive.
A group of people are all individually invited to an island for a summer holiday in Devon. None of them 100% sure who their mysterious host is. Things become even more peculiar when their host isn’t there when they arrive, and doesn’t show themselves at all.
One by one the guests are killed, picked off, leaving the others terrified and paranoid. It was a fantastic mystery throughout. As tension becomes hysteria, the guests wonder who will be next, who is responsible for these murders and why?
A fantastic read that leaves you guessing until the very end.
“Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse for some.”
What a powerful and frightening dystopia! The Handmaid’s Tale has b“Better never means better for everyone, he says. It always means worse for some.”
What a powerful and frightening dystopia! The Handmaid’s Tale has been on my radar for a long time, having recently watched the television series adaption I got around to reading it, and it was just as haunting as I expected! A world where women cannot own money, or property, where they are used purely for their abilities to bear children. Noting comparisons with this world and the one we live in now was very concerning. The religious overtones were done well - realising how the leaders would pick and choose scriptures, altering them and in places just making up their own entirely to push their agendas.
“Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.”
Offred is a handmaiden to a commander and his wife. Once a month she is required to sleep with the commander, an event known as the ‘Ceremony’ in an attempt to get pregnant, as in this world birth rates have dropped, with very low chances of health to the babies that do survive pregnancy. I am glad I watched the series, as the disjointed narrative and lack of clarification would have meant I couldn’t follow or understand what was happening and why. Also there are a lot of parts left open, which for me added to the fear factor. A horrifyingly appropriate read, and one that will continue to raise questions and remain relevant for a long time.
“I’m sorry there is so much pain in this story. I’m sorry it’s in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire or pulled apart by force. But there is nothing I can do to change it.”...more
3.5 stars! My copy is split into the two stories, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and Wendy, and they are so different!
Peter Pan in Kensingt3.5 stars! My copy is split into the two stories, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and Wendy, and they are so different!
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.
"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings."
This story focuses on the origin of Peter Pan. A young child of only 7 days falls out of his pram and lives with the birds and the fairies in Kensington Gardens. This is a sweet story of how he grows accustomed to life in the gardens and as he takes on the task of burying young children who also fall out of their prams and fail to survive the night. Certainly a slightly darker tale than I expected.
Peter and Wendy
"Keep back, lady, no one is going to catch me and make me a man."
Peter and Wendy is more the story we are all accustomed to with all the recognisable characters including Captain Hook, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys. The Peter Pan from this story is quite a jump from the Peter in Kensington Gardens. He is older, and has relocated to the Neverlands The characters aren't as nice and squeaky clean as Disney leads us to believe. They are harsh and real, which makes them sometimes difficult to like.
I enjoyed these two stories, I love to experience the books where classic characters originate and to see how they have been adapted and grown in different interpretations as time as passed.
Peter Pan is an iconic character, the boy who never grew up will live on in all childhoods, it's a privilege to have experienced J M Barrie's world as he originally created it.
"To die would be an awfully big adventure."...more
I am so glad I’ve finally read this! And that I made it this far in life with no spoilers and was able to go in blind.
I’m sure there is very little I I am so glad I’ve finally read this! And that I made it this far in life with no spoilers and was able to go in blind.
I’m sure there is very little I can add to the masses of reviews - I fully understand why this is a classic and how it is so popular and relevant even now.
The unnamed protagonist in this novel is young, impressionable and in some cases quite weak. She meets Maxim De Winter while away working as a ladies companion in Monte Carlo. A quick marriage ensues much to the surprise of basically everyone - because Maxim’s late wife Rebecca is barely a year gone and everyone knows how much he adored her.
When the newly weds return to Maxim’s family home - Manderly, things become even trickier for our young protagonist. The nasty Mrs Danvers who runs the house is awful to her, makes her feel inadequate and stupid at every turn. She really is a piece of work.
I won’t go on much more because I honestly think it is best to go in blind! But I loved the way the story panned out, I loved all the different themes explored from loss of innocence, control within marriage, the divide between nobility and the other classes and much more.
There is so much to get from this novel. I found it a bit slow at first but trust me, persevere- because it is so worth it!...more
This was actually really nice. An uplifting tale, where the heroine wins out and the villain fails (screw you Miss Minchen!) Sara Crewe is a well off This was actually really nice. An uplifting tale, where the heroine wins out and the villain fails (screw you Miss Minchen!) Sara Crewe is a well off young lady, whose father sends her to a boarding school in London so she can be educated. Despite her upbringing being given her every hearts desire, Sara doesn't act like a brat. She shares what she has with the other girls - apart from two awful jealous ones. (There's always a vindictive girl and her sidekick). So when her father dies suddenly having lost their fortune Sara is reduced to a life of servitude and hunger. Despite this she pretends in her heart that she is a princess just going through hard times and that things will improve. It's a wonderful story with an ending that everyone would love. It restores faith in karma and good triumphing over bad. I thoroughly enjoyed it. ...more
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