2nd blog aug 2021

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 ...

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...

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 ...

"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...

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 ...

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...

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...

The Pilgrims Progress Review - A Look at This New Adventures of Sam Hanks The Pilgrims Progress is the tenth anniversary book of the world-famous novel by Thomas Keneally. It was first released in paperback in 1984 and is one of the best-selling books of its genre. It is also one of the most beloved novels of all time. The novel, written as a tale of Thomas and Andy, takes place at the time of their passage across the Australian outback after their voyage from England to Australia during the Great Depression. In this book, the Pilgrims experience the raw and rugged terrain of the outback - an area that has never been exposed to human settlement before, where some of the indigenous tribes are at war with the intruders from Britain. Keneally's narrative is a captivating one, pulling at the reader's heartstrings at every turn with what is an essentially timeless story. The journey through the country - which is named after the first ship to set sail from England to Australia in 18...

Kirkus Reviews is an American popular book review magazine based in North Carolina. The magazine is headquartered at New York City. Each month, Kirkus Reviews awards a prestigious Kirkus Prize, the most distinguished award in the field of science fiction/fantasy literature. The story inside the pages of Kirkus Reviews has a distinct feel. It begins by introducing the reader to the editors and publishers. We learn that James M. Patterson invented the modern science fiction genre with his book The Door Into Mirrors. The Door into Mirrors is the first Patterson novel that uses multiple viewpoint characters. The publication of The Door into Mirrors was a hit. The success of The Door into Mirrors led Patterson to continue to write and produce more successful works. Within a few years of publishing The Door into Mirrors, Patterson created another successful novel, The Good Dog. Within one year of publishing The Good Dog, Patterson had already written another bestseller, A Walk in the Park on...

Have you ever read the final chapter of "The 12 Minute Review" by Jason Fladlien? This is probably not what you were expecting when you purchased this book. This marketing plan was supposed to be about how to write a marketing plan, but the chapters have more to do with business strategy than they do about writing a marketing plan. I believe that the concept of the chapters being titled, "12 Minutes" refers to the fact that all of the marketing plan features are done in a single sitting in front of you so that you don't have to do anything but read the chapters and absorb the information at the same time. Fladlien starts the chapter by describing himself and his background and how he became interested in marketing through the process of one of his consulting jobs. The one thing that he stresses throughout the book is that the most important part of any marketing plan is the comprehensive marketing plan. He further explains that this marketing plan should take in...

Winner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, Gullivers travels to a "fairytale-esque" version of Earth, "a land not so different from our own, yet somehow richer and more magical". The premise is simple: life imitates art - but not always in a way we'd expect. Time is distorted and strange events take place in strange places. What follows is a novel I would classify as surreal: a remarkable novel, with great characters, an excellent plot and one that deserves the accolades it has received. The story begins in 16th century France, where the story's main characters, Gulliver (nicknamed Worm), and his faithful sidekick, Bottom, have been sent on a wild goose chase on behalf of King Louis XIV. A rather unlikely pair of travellers cross the country and encounter many obstacles along the way, including a bear and a leopard. They eventually reach the kingdom of Wonderland, where they meet the beautiful Queen Morbucks, who grants them entrance. But before th...

Clarissa Review - By: Allen Grisham This Clarissa Review will deal specifically with the novel Clarissa by John Grisham. Set in 1963 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the story centers on a young woman who comes to Mississippi to seek out her birth mother. The war seems to have left her family scattered and divided; as a result, Clarissa's birth is marked with tragedy as well as heartache. When her best friend from childhood moves away, Clarissa takes up with a new man, Francis Taylor, but a tragedy strikes just before their wedding. With the help of a great attorney, Clarissa must find the strength to move forward and accept her new life as her parents' legacy is carried forward. Grisham does an admirable job of creating a complex, realistic character in Clarissa. His expertise lies in his ability to bring depth and human drama to a story that is often times simplified for the audience. The novel is entertaining and at times heartbreaking, as it deals with the afterm...

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman is a lighthearted romantic comedy about a bachelor who falls in love with a beautiful girl. In this novel, we are introduced to the character of Tristram Shandy (also referred to simply as TDS). He is a bachelor of 20 years who lives in a small English town called Oxburgh. He works as a clerk in a local book store and his main hobby is collecting old books. His best friend is called David Short, who is a street fighter and aspiring comedian. One day, while TDS is sitting alone in the park, he has an epiphany that he is in love with a woman. He approaches her, but she turns him down cold. He then decides to spend the night at her place and we follow their unlikely relationship from that point on. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman review reveal that despite his best efforts, TDS is unable to win the woman of his dreams. This is because, unfortunately, he does not know how to present himself to girls and he does not reali...

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a classic tale that tells the story of a scientist who creates a monster, hoping to cure his cancer. But this creation is anything but ordinary; it becomes something far more sinister. In the beginning, Dr. Frankenstein is merely intrigued by the monster and his own talents. But when he accidentally causes an explosion at his laboratory, he finds himself afflicted with the monster's insanity. Now the creature has something else in mind: to destroy humanity, destroy its very soul. But when the Monster devises a cure for his insane father, he must deal with the emotions of mistrust and loyalty that he develops toward his daughter. He also has to take into consideration the conflicting loyalties of a widowed scientist, a Protestant minister, and a gentleman who is also his employer. The novel is filled with scientific descriptions and the portrayal of the times in which science and religion were in conflict. But above all, Frankenstein tells the story o...

Review of Arthur Gordon Pym Of Nantucket The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym Of Nantucket is the only authentic novel written by American author Edgar Allan Poe. The tale tells of the youthful Arthur Gordon Pym, who stows away on a pirate ship called the Grampus after being thrown out of a window by a British soldier. After being captured and imprisoned for several years, Pym is offered freedom by a English witch who charms him. However, his imprisonment is not free as he now has to work on a ship as a sailor in the Caribbean. He then meets the beautiful Mary Read, who is the mother of his two children, Jack and Joanna. Together they form a gang and go on a daring quest in search for their rightful prize - the king of the pirates. This famous novel is one of the first works that American author Francis Bacon has written. In fact, it is often referred to as the greatest novel ever written by an American. The story involves a young man called Arthur Gordon Pym who stows away on a sloop ca...

Summary: In the opening paragraph of The Sybil, author Louise Hay writes: "Many years ago a small village called Sybil (for sugar) became a world heritage site. Legend has it that the people of Sybil decided to plant sugar trees, because it provided them with an income...they were careful not to plant the native species of trees they needed for their food, lest their sugar production is dependent on the harvest of those native trees. The Sybil was a success." As you read on, and as you continue to read The SyBIL, you begin to understand just how successful this small town of 600 residents can be. It is hard to fathom how such a small town with only six hundred residents could have helped shape the world as we know it today. The history of the SyBIL dates back to when Sir Walter Raleigh came to the coast of Africa looking for gold. He was not exactly a successful prospector; he found only two large mines and was forced to abandon them when a storm caught him and shut off the w...

Jane Eyre is one of Cornwall's most beloved novels. It was first published in 1940, and while most of the events described in the book took place in the north of England, Grisham added a few events that took place in Llandudno, Wales, making it truly a novel of merit. It is primarily set in Grisham, but includes a few additional towns, such as Taunton, that add an element of local interest. What makes Jane Eyre stands out from other romance novels is that Grisham peppers its tale with enough twists and turns to keep the reader entertained but not tired. The story begins in the middle of winter, when Mrs. Mabie Tandy, a young lady who lives in Llandudno, goes on vacation with her mother and younger sister. When they stop at a small shop to purchase a pair of boots for their trip, they are surprised to find that the owner has gone missing. John Eyre, a boy living with his grandmother in the small town of Rishton, happens to overhear the entire conversation. This leads him to the near...

"Wuthering Heights" by Paula Sage is the eighth novel of the series featuring Anna Pigeon. In this novel, we are introduced to another side of Anna Pigeon that makes her a much-loved character in the Twilight saga. It also introduces us to Joseph, an orphan who has been raised and brought up in Wuthering Heights. This novel provides a view of life in Wuthering Heights as it was and up until several years ago when the family ofonics came from the West Country. This novel is not as exciting as those of the other books in the Twilight saga, but it does have its high points. I enjoyed reading this book despite the fact that it was not as exciting or dramatic as other Twilight novels. I enjoyed the characters and the story told in the short story. The main story involves a war between two sisters, one of them pregnant, and their boyfriend. While the war seems to be over in a matter of days, it takes the readers a few weeks to see how everything will turn out for the two sisters. I...

Vanity Fair Review by Beverly Barton. Based on the book of the very same name, "Vanity Fair" tells the story of impoverished Becky Sharp as she struggles to climb out of her poverty and to scale the heights of English societal status in the latter years after the demise of Napoleon. Set against the tumultuous years after the French victory in Europe, Sharp struggles to rise above her Station with little attention to the consequences. In her attempts to progress herself, her petty thievery, schemes, fights, romances, and cheating, she upsets not only her social circle but also exposes the ugliest aspects of nineteenth-century England. "Vanity Fair" offers a refreshing look at the underclass of that time and the freedoms they had to survive and enjoy. Becky Sharp is a thirty-one-year-old woman who works as a housekeeper for her grandmother, Aunt Polly. The home is a place where Becky spends much of her spare time relieving the elderly and sewing for her grandmother. W...

David Copperfield is one of the most famous and respected magicians in the world. He is also one of its more colorful characters. David Copperfield is an American stage magician who has made a name for himself performing acts for both adults and children. His performances have been seen all around the world and have gained him many fans. His books on magic are some of the most well-known books in the history of magic. The Personal History, Magic Experiences, Adventure and Obsession of David Copperfield the Young of Blunderstone is the third in his series of books on magic. It was originally published as a single novel in eighteen fifty-nine, and later as a novel in paperback as well. The novel tells the story of David Copperfield's rise and fall from the mountaintop. He was once a master illusionist who mastered tricks such as disorienting his audience with smoke and mirrors, levitation and walking through walls. But when he tried to apply the same tricks to people in real life, it...