A Flittering Fable

The overall story could be considered a cautionary tale about vanity. How the book tells that story is not particularly cohesive. A chapter detailing historical extravagances felt ponderous and out of place. Stop-start dialogue in the third act came out of nowhere. Not a bad book, but not a favorite either.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Not Austen's Best

This was just okay. I couldn’t quite find anything wrong with the story — it just wasn’t as entertaining as some of Austen’s other books.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

A National Treasure

This remarkable lady’s life was a marvel. The book is a unique account with some interesting theology mixed in. The most thought-provoking aspect was her experiences as a daughter and mother under slavery.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A Great American Novel

There is a special charm brought to life in this unassuming book. The characters are painted so effectively. The story deftly represents the notion that the cast of characters from our youth don’t turn out how we always thought they would.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Far From Boring

This book was just as entertaining as Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre, which are more prominent in the genre. The plot was entertaining and engaging. There were some great characters.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Incoherent rambling

This book was not for me. I’m sure it’s a literary classic for one reason or another, but I had a hard time following let alone enjoying it. The story jumped around so much. Just when I’d figure out what was going on in a chapter it would jump to some other setting and introduce a random person. It reads more like an unfiltered stream of consciousness rather than a coherent story. If it contains a deeper meaning, I missed it. I didn’t get much out of reading this book. I’m just glad it wasn’t longer.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

A Bit of a Let Down

I went into this book with lots of anticipation. It turned out to be a meandering story with a cast of exaggerated caricatures. Ivanhoe is not even the primary character — and it’s hard to say who is. There were so many side quests that a core plot is difficult to decipher. I finished it feeling disappointed more than anything.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Delightfully Clever

This collection of short stories is a treasure trove of storytelling. Each episode presents an intricate puzzle that proves Poirot’s prowess. Aside from a handful of cultural insensitivities, the stories were thoroughly entertaining.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Dickens Does it Again

At his best, Dickens captures humanity in such subtle and yet incisive ways. He did that yet again in Bleak House. The narrative of Bleak House is as complex and meandering as any of his others, and the characters as entertaining. However, the flecks of insightful genius along the way are what make reading his work so enjoyable.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Mind Expanding

It is remarkable that such a short book can portray such powerful ideas. Rand demonstrates masterful storytelling. The invincibility of the human spirit is captured so well. The use of the word ‘we’ is used to jarring effect. It creates a dissonance in the reader’s mind that is uncomfortable and confusing, which is presumably the intended effect.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Culturally Insightful

Nitobé was a very articulate writer. There are portions of this book that read like a research paper, it was meticulously written. It’s more a treatise than anything. There were some useful nuggets of insight that helped me understand Japanese culture better. I read this out of sheer curiosity, and considering how quick a read it is, it was well worth it.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Scottish Adventure

Though not quite as exciting as Treasure Island, Kidnapped was a decent adventure story. Stevenson made the rugged Scottish countryside the star of the story. The plot is pretty thin, but the book romanticizes the rebellious Highlanders, which no doubt had greater cultural significance in its day.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A Slow-Burning Romance

Forget Elizabeth Bennet, Margaret Hale is where it’s at! In my opinion, Margaret is a more compelling protagonist because things never turn out as neatly as one might expect. The story is meandering and slow in the most enjoyable ways. There are abrupt turns in the narrative, but the smolder of the “will they, won’t they” love story is masterfully composed.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Basic not Elementary

Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite fictional characters. This, however, was not my favorite of his adventures. Holmes takes a back seat for most of the story. The big reveal is not some surprising twist, but that there actually is a hound. The identity of the murderer comes out of left field. There was not enough to tantalize the reader along the way.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

One and Done

This Tommy and Tuppence adventure story is very different from a Poirot murder mystery. It's remarkable that both were written by the same author. The plot was entertaining. The opening scene of the story was particularly attention-grabbing. However, the characters were mostly caricatures - stereotypical, exaggerated versions of themselves. Overall, a fun read, but not one I'd need to revisit.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Masterful Science Fiction

It is remarkable that this was written in the 1890s. Of course 130 years of science have explained many of the ideas Wells hypothesized. Even still, the book is so rich in imagination. I had the Spielberg film in the back of my mind going into this book, and I found a rare case where two works share a name but tell the story in their own separate ways to great effect. There were a few slower moments in the book, but overall, it was a great read!

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Hard to finish

One thing I’m sure of, this book was not for me. It was nonsensical and meandered in bizarre ways. As a narrative, it’s all over the place. As for characters, they’re an anthropomorphic muddle. I can only assume that it’s been marked as children’s literature because it’s incomprehensible otherwise. It was hard going to push through to the end.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Spiritually Fascinating

I found this short book to be extremely enlightening. Native American ideas about deity, family, and prophecy were illuminating. I have an appreciation for the deep sense of spirituality and connection to nature. More of us would do well to be so thoughtful in our concrete jungle. The Native Americans have suffered, no doubt, and the ignorance they faced did not help.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

C’est Magnifique!

Agatha Christie was an expert of her craft. Wow! This story kept twisting and turning until the very end. It was very enjoyable to read. When the pieces do finally fall into place they do so ever so neatly. Reading this Agatha Christie novel reminds how much I love reading an Agatha Christie novel.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Georgian Soap Opera

This was a very entertaining book. It had drama, romance, intrigue and a few comedic moments. The plot read like a modern soap opera. The narrative follows an ensemble of characters as their lives weave around each other. It also has some insightful thoughts on wealth and hypocrisy in high society.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Misery in History

This was my first experience reading Dunbar. It certainly won’t be my last. This tragedy novel is a sad read because it likely mirrors the experience of so many other African Americans who experienced bigotry and intolerance after emancipation. The story read like Dunbar was writing a Greek tragedy set in his own time. I found myself compelled to keep reading, though it wasn’t necessarily a pleasant story, more thought-provoking.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Exceptional Science Fiction

It is truly remarkable that a book published 111 years ago could be so forward-thinking, so imaginative. The world of Barsoom with the Tharks and Heliumites is simply marvelous. I read in awe of the narrative as it reads just as well as any of the science fiction books I’ve read from the past 10 years. There are parts that I would say are weaker in the story, but overall I was impressed by how the story accomplishes so much in relatively few words — compared to say, Dune or Lord of the Rings. There are passages where ERB describes sprawling battle scenes with as much thrill as a Star Wars movie. Truly a classic!

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Dreary and Dark

I remember first reading this in high school. I missed a lot of the human emotions that time. Macbeth's journey begins hesitantly and ends tyrannically. It's a good lesson in the slippery slope.

The story is pretty serious for most of the story. However, it was fun to notice words like "alarum" as being the word alarm written with a Scottish accent.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Unexpectedly underwhelming

Firstly, it’s much shorter than I anticipated. As my first exposure to H. G. Wells, overall I was underwhelmed.

This book is less a novel and more a half-baked premise. Looking beyond the weird imaginings of the Victorian mind, the book misses the delivery of a cohesive time travel adventure. The ending supposedly leaves much to the imagination, which may explain the myriad adaptations and derivations of the premise.

Similarly to Gulliver’s Travels, The Time Machine left the impression of being intended as a moral lesson for the author’s societal grievances. The full force of the moral is lost on modern audiences. This is one to check off the list, but there’s not much to savor.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Masterful and measured

This was my first experience reading a book by Edith Wharton. Her writing style is truly masterful. Whether a week passes or decades pass between chapters, Wharton paints the scenes so vividly. For me, the story read as a commentary on the things we communicate without words. As much is communicated in the blank spaces as in the words we say.

The Age of Innocence felt like an American cousin to a Jane Austen novel. It’s very easy to read. At first, there were a lot of names to keep straight, but the same crowd of characters remains throughout. There were themes that challenged some of my personal morals and beliefs — I’m not sure I could say Newland Archer is a hero. Overall, it was an enjoyable story with a few gentle twists and turns along the way.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A Timeless Classic

This book was a reading assignment when I was in school, almost 20 years ago. I didn’t pick up much from the themes, and I recall barely following the narrative. Revisiting it with more matured eyes was very enjoyable. It’s a quick read. It’s one of those classics that stands the test of time.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Tragic and Thought-provoking

I had no concept of this book before I started reading it. Immediately, it became clear what the subject matter was to be. As with other books of this era, I considered not reading. Overall, I’m glad I did. After a few chapters I became curious about the context of this book. It is not hard to understand why this book is considered so consequential in US history. It humanizes slavery. It exposes the most deplorable aspects of the institution, such as removing children from mothers. It was truly a dark portion of history and, though the book has been accused of stereotyping, it is quite effective in its portrayal of the horrors.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Smart and Sassy

This was a real treat to read. The narrative was engaging. Without giving too much away, there were elements of mystery, of romance, of tragedy, and plenty to consider this high-brow literary fiction. The writer created a well-balanced blend of different genres. Though it is quite long, it doesn’t meander as other novels of its time tend to do.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Wonderful and Weird

This book is much more fantastic than the movie. Meaning there is more fantasy and fairy tale than in the movie. The movie will always be a classic though. This was a quick, easy book to read. The book has far more going on in Dorothy's adventure than was included in the movie, such as the river rescue and the 1,000 field mice. There was also a lot of chopping off of heads for a children's book. Overall, it does read as a children's book, aside from the aforementioned violence.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Quaint and Poignant

The story is one that is perfect for children. A beautiful blend of moral and magic The Secret Garden is a cautionary tale on the power of negative thoughts. The characters are well-written and its theme is easy to follow. Would recommend to readers of all ages!

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

America the Brutal

For all its merits and goodness in principle, America can, sadly, be a violent, harsh place for minorities. Hope drives the American dream, but Bulosan highlights the brutal reality that many people experienced in America. The stories of police brutality and racial oppression are sadly not just things of the past. This was a good read to see inside the lived experience of millions of Asian Americans.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Weird and Dreamy.

This book was strange to say the least. The story bounces around from one surreal episode to the next. There is no unifying storyline to guide the reader, no doubt intentionally. It reads like a dream, with the next scene washing away the previous. Amidst the nonsense, however, there were many instances of clever wordplay, which were quite entertaining. For the time it was written, the author shows playful imagination. If you’re expecting anything close to the seminal Disney animated production, then you’ll be either surprised or disappointed - they share little in common.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Majestic and Gripping.

This was a slow burner. I struggled to follow what was happening at first. I had to study the text for about the first half to keep everything and everyone straight. The payoff in the second half of the book was worth it. The narrative twists and turns in masterful ways. The story is grand and majestic. The human drama is compelling and gripping. The theme of duality is not one that I would have picked up myself, but study aides pointed out, and my reading experience was enriched. Highly recommend using SparkNotes as a companion, if comprehending this type of novel does not come easily, as was the case for me.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A Very Enjoyable Read.

The narrative was very engaging and the pacing of the story was excellent. The characters were entertaining. The humanity of the characters was so well-formed and so well-grounded. There was something so authentic that made it easy to resonate with Fanny’s anxious but principled nature. The drama was exceptionally compelling. The story balanced convention against conviction, ultimately proving conviction to be the better course for long-term happiness.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Thoughtful, Powerful, and Sobering.

This was a compelling read. It articulates very succinctly and very powerfully the history of the Reconstruction period in the US after the American Civil War. Du Bois opened my eyes to the heartbreaking challenges of many in ways I had not previously considered. The system failed, and Du Bois argues this cogently.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Alas, Poor Hamlet. 

Reading Shakespeare is a unique experience, in that it seems easy to follow but the long-winded speeches can be dizzying. The story was more or less easy to follow, but I many times had no idea what a character was rambling on about. As this is intended as a play, I need next to see it performed.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Happy Thoughts. 

The book is very fun. Barrie’s imagination is clear and present throughout. His childlike approach to storytelling makes it full of wonder. It is easy to see why adaptations abound for this magical story.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Very fun and easy to read! 

This is the first time I've read an Agatha Christie story. It was one of the easiest books to read. The story keeps you guessing all the way through. The only challenging thing is the number of characters. Reading the Kindle version made that easier because there is a characters guide. I reviewed that after the first chapter and it helped me keep all of the players straight. I can't wait to read more of these classic mystery stories!

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Dracula is a fascinating read.

There are long stretches of Victorian melodrama mingled with the foundations of an entire mythology. Told from the perspective of a collective of papers and letters written by the ensemble of protagonists, the titular character is not necessarily the feature.

While present for much of the first few chapters, the antagonist becomes a mysterious figure, who appears in flashes while the merry band of friends figure out the Count’s movements. The mysticism of the Count is enticing, and Stoker reels you in as you follow the protagonists' attempts to catch him.

The last quarter of the story becomes a game of chess to see who can maneuver into a winning position. The finale was satisfying. No spoilers, of course.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

FULL DISCLOSURE: I only read the first 19 chapters, which comprises Volume 1 (of 3).

There is a lot of writing to follow very little plot. Perhaps to a Victorian mind this would have been the most thrilling read. Perhaps the intrigue and subtext went over my head. For me it was difficult. There were so many characters that were interchangeable, in my mind, that I never knew if I was coming or going. It pains me to say that I didn’t enjoy it, because I loved Pride and Prejudice, and had high hopes for Emma. Maybe I’ll revisit volumes two and three after watching a film or TV adaptation. If that’s what it takes to understand the book, however, then that says a lot about the book.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

UPDATE: November 2021

This review has lingered in my mind for a few months. I saw the 2020 movie with Anya Taylor-Joy on HBO Max and decide to watch it. It was a fun movie, and has a strong Jane Austen feel. The movie followed the book (as far as I know for the first third). Though it's probably not a popular opinion I will supplement the point above: the movie is more enjoyable than the book. I don't think I'll be going back to volumes two and three.

The concept is so enticing to begin with. Taking the age-old story of murder and turning it into a sport or a game? What a premise! This short story delivers on the mystery and high drama you'd expect from the title. It's an easy read.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

FULL DISCLOSURE: I listened to this book, rather than read it.

I believe this story is best experienced in a theater on Broadway or in London's West End. The book is fine, but contains many racially insensitive elements. Stick to Andrew Lloyd Webber's definitive adaptation for maximum enjoyment.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

A Howling Good Read.

The descriptive language makes this story so compelling. Taken from the perspective of a dog the narrative is wild, with a primal, limited explanation of things that a human protagonist would elaborate. It was a quick read, and very enjoyable.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Long and Lovely. 

The pacing of this book is joyfully steady, and the hardships pass over the characters as descriptively as the blessings. At times it felt lengthy, but by the end the length was quite enjoyable.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

A Melodramatic Semi-autobiography 

At times this reads like a soap opera, particularly the portions focused on Amory' s love life. Towards the end there are some social commentaries that are just as relevant today, 100 years later, such as the stifling societal struggle of women, and the inequality of wealth. Having read the author's biography at the end, it quickly becomes obvious that Fitzgerald was pulling from his own life and experiences, which, for better or worse, is unsurprising considering the book is about an egotistical person.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Where to begin? 

This was a slog. It reads more like Mr Melville’s journal than a cohesive story. It was so dense and difficult to follow that I gave up reading and listened to the audiobook on 1.5 speed just to plough through it. You could read the first 10 chapters and the last 3 and get the gist of the whole book and not miss anything too important. That’s 13 out of 135 chapters, so 90% of this book is unnecessary. There’s a whole section of page after page on the different kinds of whales, honestly why?! Maybe I’m ignorant, but I just didn’t get it.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Shakespeare does it again!

The strength of the bard’s work is in how it sounds, thus I would recommend reading this one aloud. Unless you can hear the rhythmic and alliterative, the full beauty of the writing is not appreciated. The story is very fun and a bit silly. The only complaint I have is that it became suddenly more obtuse in act 5; I wonder if Shakespeare had some bad press or a bad review when he sat down to write this part and decided to mock his critics by playing out a critique.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

More Like Mind of Darkness

There were moments in the story that I followed what was going on, but there were several stretches where page after page seemed incomprehensible. I did, however, enjoy the imaginative, descriptive language. There were metaphors, alliteration, etc., so much that in parts it felt poetic. Not my favorite story, as it was low on narrative and heavy on elaborate description. Overall a bit too cerebral for me, and neither entertaining nor thought-provoking.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

I'm willing to wager this story is one of the most well-known in Western societies. Ebenezer Scrooge is a perennial figure in the Yuletide lexicon, and there are dozens of TV and movie adaptations of the story. The story of the repentant miser teaches about living in the moment, being joyful and generous, and having a hopeful optimism in the goodness of humanity. This is one I highly endorse for everyone to read. It's a quick, easy read, and no matter the degree of derivative fidelity it is much richer to read than watch this story.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

Reading this book was an interesting experience. At the start, I struggled to keep straight who was who. There were Hindley, Earnshaw, Heathcliff, and Linton. As I continued reading I was able to keep up with the characters' characters but it began to feel like I was reading a soap opera; so much melodrama! Then, all of a sudden, the story began to keep my interest as ulterior motives emerged and the plot thickened. As a result, my fondness for this story grew the longer I stuck to reading, so the main thing I learned was to "keep on keepin' on".

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

This book grew on me, gradually. Initially, I struggled to engage with the story because it seemed to me that Tom Sawyer was very naughty. As the story progressed, however, I began to see some of the nobler qualities of young Tom. Though he still got into trouble more often than not, his intentions were usually good. The story also became easier to follow over time as I was able to keep better track of the characters.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

This was a very easy, enjoyable read. Prior to reading the story my only recollection of it is an encounter with the movie Muppet Treasure Island (1996). In this particular case, the original far exceeds the derivative - I know there are other movie versions but without watching them I cannot comment. What captured my imagination most in the story is the unpredictability of Jim and Co.'s predicaments. What do you do when facing mutinous pirates on a remote island with limited resources? This is what made Treasure Island such a fun story because it kept me hooked to find out what would happen next.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

I had no idea what this book was about; I had never heard of the story. Had I known, perhaps I would've substituted it for a different one. Mrs. Edna Pontellier, the lead character in the story, is a figure that cuts a little close to the bone for me and my personal experiences. It cannot be overstated how much this book discomforted me while reading it. 

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Here are a few lines I wrote to summarize this poem:

Beowulf brings banality beyond barriers by boredom;

Lengthy lore literature languidly lacks luster;

Most menial mythology makes meandering monotonous.

Overall Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

This story felt like a combination of Forrest Gump, The Princess Bride, and Gulliver's Travels. Considering the last of those three was written barely thirty years prior, it would not be a stretch to believe Voltaire had read Swift's work.

It mirrored Forrest Gump as the story had Candide show up in prominent locations/events of the day such as the Lisbon earthquake (1755), and El Dorado - Candide's unfailing optimism also reminded me of Gump. The love story of Candide and Cunegonde began with the former retrieving the latter's handkerchief, which in my mind brought images of the famous line in The Princess Bride, "As you wish." Voltaire's work reminded me of Swift's because it was used to comment on his contemporaries and ideas of his contemporaries.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

** Spoiler alert **

The story seemed to be teaching a moral. The protagonist, Hester, lived in infamy and constant public shame for her sin, but her soul recovered and was no longer burdened by guilt. Dimmesdale, however, was tormented and weighed down by the guilt of his part in the same sin, which was hidden from view. To me, the moral was that those who suppress the truth will be consumed by the effort to do so. It is wearying, unto death, to try to pretend you're something you are not.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Having seen the Keira Knightley movie, and long heard about the Colin Firth version, I was well acquainted with the story and main characters. Reading the original text, however, was a much richer experience. I saw so much that was relevant to dating in the modern world; I learned that not much has changed in 200 years of human courtship. The hope of reciprocation, the fear of rejection, and the anxiety of ever finding a partner were all very apparent in the book.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

Wow. Just wow. I was blown away by this book. It was so intricate and well written. The story was a commentary on the connection between money and happiness. Mr. Pip spends so much time chasing happiness that he misses the simple truth that happiness comes from within. There's a stark contrast between how he lived when money was no object and when money was scarce.

In some ways, this story reminds me of the story in the Bible of the Prodigal Son. A young man seeks happiness through expensive living only to find that he is unable to do so, and returns home seeking a simpler life.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

This was a tough one to read. I hadn't realized it was a collection of short stories, and I found it difficult to keep track of a story if I didn't read it in one sitting.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

This coming-of-age story captures all the anxiety and struggle of moving to a new area. It takes time to feel comfortable, to settle in. Young Anne Shirley is able to make the best of any situation by virtue of her vivid imagination. Her unabashed optimism was a good reminder of the power of positive thinking.

Overall Rating: ★★★★★

This collection of stories, written almost three hundred years ago, has all the pith of an episode of Saturday Night Live. Swift utilizes the fantastic to expound on the politics and society of his day. That's basically what every SNL cold open does week in and week out. Humanity hasn't changed much in three hundred years!

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

I enjoyed the masterful mode of exposition through dialogue and soliloquy. In a novel, the writer can simply tell us the character's thoughts and we can understand motives. In a play, the writer must find a way to have the character vocalize those thoughts. The most enjoyable parts of reading this play were the soliloquies, especially those of Iago. I found it riveting to peer into the mind of a villain.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

** Spoiler Alert ** 

The contrast between the unnatural demon Victor creates and the immense beauty and power of the natural world is impressively portrayed. The descriptions have such detail that makes it easy to imagine the scenes. The horror that is invoked when the demon murders the various members of the Frankenstein family is in stark contrast to the majesty of the strike of lightning which obliterates a tree.

Though immortalized in society's collective mind by Boris Karloff's towering frame, the source material paints a well-spoken, calculating menace. In my mind, a conscientious villain is more terrifying than an ogreish brute. Victor is unable to comprehend how to even convey what he's created to another human being, and when he tries he is met with skepticism. It's the final interview between Captain Walton and the demon that gives the reader a second witness to the monster's existence. It's interesting to note that Walton feels compassion, concern even, for the demon, despite having heard Victor's story and seen him wither and die. It is a credit to the writing to make us believe the demon's pathos. 

Overall Rating: ★★★★★