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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - A Book Review

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may just be the best American novel written in the last hundred years. I say this despite the fact that, upon reading the novel, I felt it was a poorly written work full of cliched moralizing and empty platitudes. However, upon rereading the novel later on, I realized that I was not wrong. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is indeed a hilarious book. The story starts with Huck, who is a lad from the deep woods. He wanders from town to town, visiting his old friend Widow Douglas, hoping to hear her take a shot at a bear. She obliges, but upon doing so, she spits in the wind and starts to run away into the forest. A few minutes later, while looking for berries, she finds a young boy named Joe, who tries to buy her a loaf of bread. After hearing about the troubles he is experiencing in life (being constantly drunk), she decides to give him some pocket change, but accidentally drops a coin into his mouth. The coin breaks open and has a ...
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The Way We Live Now - A Personal Review

A novel about the future of humankind caught between its past and its future is The Way We Live Now by J. Wes Watson. I read it quickly because I am a fan of science fiction and space travel, and also because of the premise, which is that almost all life on earth is predicated upon biotechnology, or the use of genetic engineering to create new life forms. This book is about mankind's relationship with its so-called masters, the intelligent life existing in the galaxy, and their uneasy allies the insectoid creatures called aliens. The Way We Live Now also is about our possible relationships with other life, including other planets and stars in the universe. It is interesting to note in this regard that the book is co-written by John Green, author of A Deep Purple Book and A Time To Kill, and is entitled Starseed: A Space Opera Book. The premise of the book is impressive, if for nothing else, for it is the first of what promises to be several volumes of tales chronicling the progres...
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Middlemarch - A Novel by Literman Stover

In order to fully appreciate Middlemarch, a novel that involves witchcraft, you must first understand the setting of the story. The protagonist in this story is named SAM MACDONNAGE, and he was born and raised in England. His father, a well to do lawyer was an avid pamphleteer and avid reader of the tabloids. Middlemarch is based on the life of SAM Macdonnaise. In addition to the life of SAM Macdonnaise, Middlemarch also takes us on a voyage of discovery through the colorful and intricate characters of the book. It is obvious in the beginning that Middlemarch wanted to portray all the aspects of the human experience as well as deal with the complex relationships that exist between people. The main character, SAM, was born in a poor family. He was very bright, but was also quite sensitive. Towards the end of the book, you begin to see this sensitivity and compassion being tested when SAM finds himself in a situation that is threatening to leave him and his family alone. The book's ...
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Book Review of The Little Women - A Story of Two Cities by Anna Katherine Alcott

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott is an enchanting novel. It is one that I definitely recommend. It transports me back to the charming world of our childhood. The gentle characters are very endearing, as are the story's many adventures. This book is a definite must-read for any fan of classic literature. The book itself is considered by many to be among Alcott's finest works. She wrote over forty novels, many of which are not yet available to the public. Her accomplishments are notable indeed. In this novel, we follow the story of Lola Lago, a poor and irascible Spanish immigrant who arrives in America to start a new life. Lola is assigned to an orphanage after her husband is taken away in a shipwreck. She quickly takes to the new American lifestyle and shows promise in school. When a handsome young man from Spain comes along, though, she thinks of marriage, but he instead chooses another woman. Soon, however, he leaves again, this time never to return home. He tel...
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Emma by Jane Austen Book Review

Emma, a common girl fromOxbridge is sent to stay with her Aunt and Brother in Leicestershire, England. There she is forced to become a governess and cook for the family, while attempting to improve on her own poor dining habits. She is also forced to deal with the emotional turmoil brought on by her crush on Mr. Knightley, a much younger man. Despite this, Emma must struggle with feelings of jealousy, anxiety and self-pity as she tries to earn money to support herself and meet the needs of her family. This novel depicts Emma's character growth through its telling of her trials and triumphs. The main theme is the way that people are able to overcome obstacles and move forward despite difficulties. I have read hundreds of reviews about this book and I can't help but compare it with other Jane Austen novels. It has the similar plot structure as many of the books that she wrote. However, this is not a rehashed story or a poorly written piece. Emma is a young girl going through the ...
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Tom Jones by Graham Greene - Book Review

Tom Jones is one of Graham Greene's most celebrated novels. In this masterpiece by the author portrays a broken relationship, an English gentleman and his social conscience. Though not exactly modern, it was an influential work in its day. The language is eloquent and the plot involves the exploration of several cultural aspects in London during the Victorian age. It is also a witty satire on the upper classes in England at that time. The novel has been called a Collins classic and was first published in 1890. Graham Greene wrote Tom Jones while he was working as a journalist. He was impressed with the social justice that the then Prince Regent and his circle were practicing. As a result he spent much of his free time researching the lives of these people and writing about them. This is evident in the book and in his journalism. It is clear from the title of the book that Greene was deeply concerned about the way in which women were treated in society at that time. Graham Greene ch...
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Robinson Crusoe - A Review of This First Game in the series

The first paragraph of this Robinson Crusoe review might have made you think it's just another story about a boy from modern day England who stumbles upon an island that has been haunted for centuries by its violent inhabitants. But then you start reading the novel and you're thrown out of this fantastical world. No magic, no time travel, just a struggling young man - Robinson Crusoe - whose only chance of survival rests upon his own wits and strength. You immediately feel the narrative rising to its high drama when one of your characters, a pirate captain, is attacked and taken captive. But before he can get his bearings again, the island is plunged back into darkness. In the opening pages of the novel we meet three main characters: Robinson Crusoe, his friend and fellow seafarer Jack Rackley, and their unlikely rescuer, Englishman John Smith. All are part of an attempt to chart a course for England through the Carib islands, but the plan goes wrong when Smith becomes stranded...
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