Review: The Little Princess

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Format; ebook
Pages: 257
Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Summary (from the not so little Goodreads): Sara Crewe seemed just like a real princess... When Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school, she seems just like a real little princess. She wears beautiful clothes, has gracious manners, and tells the most wonderful stories. Then one day, Sara suddenly becomes penniless. Now she must wear rags, sleep in the school's dreary attic, and work for her living. Sara is all alone, but keeps telling herself that she can still be a princess inside, if only she tries hard enough.

My Little Thoughts: I had to read this book for one of my English classes this semester so it started off on my hate list. I was glad to find out that the book wasn't school bad. It was actually super good. I found my heart breaking for little Sara, time and time again. But she was just such a good person that she continued to rise above everything that was thrown her way. There were not many surprises in the novel. There really was no big plot twist. The reader could figure out what was coming easily but that really wasn't the point of the novel. The point, I thought, was that she remained herself through terrible obstacles and that she helped people even when she didn't have that much to give.

I'd recommend this book to pretty much anyone. It's a children's book but not immature so it's good for both young and old alike. It's just a super good book about how people can do good things for others. Plus, I thought that Sara was adorable. It's a quick read so you should check it out.

Review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

►Well, isn't that photo nice and blurry for all of you.

I asked my cousin to do an honest review of this book so that our followers could get another perspective than the usual views of Kristen and myself. Just a little background. My cousin is a girl and is 13 years old. This might be important knowledge when reading the following review. Please enjoy!
     - Kelsey

Kelsey's review for this same novel is right HERE

Reviewer: A secret grade 8 student who shall remain nameless
Author: Lewis Carroll
Pages: 327
Format: Paperback

Summary (borrowed from Goodreads but hardly a full description as the novel reviewed was comprised of both the first and the second in this series): Bored on a hot afternoon, Alice, a bright and inquisitive child, follows a white rabbit down a rabbit-hole, and finds herself in Wonderland, a very odd place indeed. This unique story mixes satire and puzzles, comedy and anxiety, Mock Turtles and Gryphos to provide an astute description of the experience of childhood.

Cousin's Thoughts on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: [some editing]

I specifically asked Kelsey for this book because of its weirdness and original story line. Though sometimes I had to read over some things just because of the way things were described or told. At one point I had my mom read a chapter to me just so I would understand what was happening.

Overall I think the writing and describing was very well done seeing that what he was writing was so original and unique. The book really caught my interest because the book itself is described so well and it’s a classic. That just cant be beat!

I do have to say that like any book it did have its ups and downs. My least favorite part was when Alice grew too big in the White Rabbits house because it was kind of confusing when all the creatures were talking. Enough of what I didn’t like in this book! My favorite part was when the three cards where trying to paint all the roses red because they accidentally planted white roses instead. This totally reminded me of all the things that I have done on accident and had to fix before anyone saw. Like the time I spilled something on the carpet and had to race around the house trying to find the carpet cleaner to get the stain out before my parents got home.

For the record, I loved all the characters in this book, but there are two that really stood out to me. The crazy and confused Mad Hatter was one, for always ending up in places he shouldn’t be and for his historically acclaimed question, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” And the snippy March Hair for all his remarks to Alice when she came to the tea party.

I think anyone who wants to read this novel needs to be a good reader and need to be able to think while they're reading. Keep in mind that if you over think this, you’ll give your self the biggest headache ever!! Plus, you can’t find any other book like this great original.

Cousin's Thoughts on Through the Looking Glass: [some editing]

Since I liked Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I was compelled to read the second story of her travels. To me, this one was easier to understand than the first. I’m not sure if it was because I was so used to reading the first book and the way it was written or if this book was generally easier to understand. The writing was just as good in this book as it was in the first one. I liked the story line in this one better because it was all planed out [via a chess board] in the beginning so you sort of know what to expect (depending on if you could remember).

Just like the first book, this one did have its ups and downs. My least favorite part was when Alice arrived at the store where the sheep handed her oars and they were gliding along between banks because during that time I found it very boring and a little confusing because they where in the store, but not in the store at the same time. My favorite part was when Alice was walking with the White Night, because the way the book described him was weird and original with all his inventions.

My favorite character in this book was the White Night because of all of his silly and unique ideas and just the way he acts. Plus, the way he rides a horse is just hilarious!

My overall impression of the book was very good. Therefore I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first one.

So there you have it folks.

Review: 1984

[The cover looks super sketchy to me in the editing box because it's white. I'm sorry if it still looks bizarre on the home page.]
Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: George Orwell
Format: Really old, hand-me-down paperback
Pages: 326
Rating (based on nothing more than how much I liked it, entertainment value): 7.5 out of 10

Summary (I'm watching you Goodreads): Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell's chilling prophecy about the future. 

While 1984 has come and gone, Orwell's narrative is more timely that ever. 1984 presents a "negative utopia", that is at once a startling and haunting vision of the world — so powerful that it's completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of entire generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions — a legacy that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

Thoughts: I despise reviewing classics or super famous works because, really, who am I to say anything about novels like this. I wish I could write something that was profound but I really doubt that I have anything to say that hasn't already been said...not that I have anything intelligent to say about this novel at all.

My dad warned me that I wouldn't like it at all but a hundred pages in and I was pretty interested in what was happening. The world was interesting. I enjoyed  was intrigued by the idea of the novel. It was scary how similar it is to present day. I mean, there isn't as much censorship though it exists. I could connect it a lot to things that were happening in the world today. It was really terrifying actually. I was impressed by Orwell's ability to predict the future.

This novel, to me, was like the young adult of the classics. It felt more like a dystopian novel that I might read now than something that was written in 1948. It didn't seem like other classics I've read in the past that are so complicated as to be un-understandable. It wasn't impossible for me to understand the language in this novel either, thank God. My problem with classics is that they are always a million pages and impossible to follow the dialogue because I don't speak 1800, heck I hardly speak 2014! This novel didn't have the same problem for me.

If you are on the boarder about whether or not you want to read this novel. I think you should do it. It was scary and could happen in the future. So much of it was like present day. It was easy to understand. If you haven't spent a lot of time reading classics because they seem like too much of an undertaking, this is the book for you. It's just long enough, just short enough, just easy enough to follow along with. 

The end nearly broke my heart in two. It wasn't the "aw" kind of heartbreak. It was the "really?" and "I can't take this" and the "Why would the author do this to me?" kind of heartbreak. Nobody can claim that the author didn't stick to the true story, the heart of the story, or that he did what he had to do. That said, after reading Harry Potter and The Hunger Games and Divergent, the ending was a bit of a let down. Yet, what was I expecting? A modern ending on an old novel? That just doesn't happen. If it did, the story would be lost.

So: This is the easiest to read classic I've read yet. It was like the YA of classics which was a nice break for me while on vacation (I hadn't opened the novel yet and was very worried I would hate it and not be able to follow what was happening). Stick with it and let me know what you think about it! 

Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: William Shakespeare
Format: Paperback - Play
Pages: 209
Rating: (as if what I say about Shakespeare will count for anything in this world) 6 out of 10

Summary (I doth need Goodreads): Unique features of the Signet Classic Shakespeare An extensive overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater by the general editor of the Signet Classic Shakespeare series, Sylvan Barnet A special introduction to the play by the editor, Wolfgang Clemen, University of Munich A note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived A Midsummer Night's Dream Dramatic criticism from the past and present: commentaries by William Hazlitt, John Russell Brown, Frank Kermode, Linda Bamber, Camille Wells Slights A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, then and now Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable type Up-to-date list of recommended readings.

...Well, thanks Goodreads...that really makes me want to read this book. Are you kidding? That's what I get? That's less than useful. What am I supposed to do with that? Urg, Goodreads, you have LET ME DOWN!

We are just going to move on then...

My Quick Thoughts: This is another one of those books that some people read in school so a lot of people don't consider giving it a read. I think it's worth the time. It's a play so it doesn't require all that much time. That said, I'd much rather see the play than read it. If you like Shakespeare and understand the language without help from the book (my copy didn't have many notes but I always understood Shakespeare in high school so I did fine) then maybe this would be a good novel to read. 

I loved that we saw what was happening even when the main characters didn't. That happens a lot in Shakespeare but it was especially important in this play. The beginning was a bit confusing as far as who loves who and I had to glance a couple times at the Dramatis Personae, I won't lie to you. Eventually, you catch up and no longer need that. It was funny too. I managed to laugh at a few of the jokes or situations. It really did get all screwed up. The ending was a bit random even with my background knowledge into Latin myths, but whatever. Shakespeare is king and can do whatever he wants to do. 

So, yeah, if you liked Shakespeare in high school, give this one a try. It's not as exciting as Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet (which remains my favourite thanks to David Tennant in the version I watched) but it's still good.

Review: Animal Farm

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: George Orwell
Format: Paperback
Pages: 140
Rating: I'm going to skip this again. Don't hate me.

Basically, this review is only meant to give you a glimpse at Animal Farm. Many people read it in high school; I was not one of those people. I bought this and was curious. It wasn't at all what I expected but after reading the Introduction, I see that the author was trying to do. I think can be applied to people as a whole so please don't think I'm focusing on a specific group. I realize this is probably a horrible time for me to be bringing this novel up. I simple read a lot of 'Classics' while in Florida...

Summary (brought to you buy the back cover of my copy as Goodreads only has commentary posted and nobody wants to read that): A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned - a razor-edged  fairy tale for grown-ups [...] Today it is devastatingly clear that wherever and whenever freedom is attacked, under whatever banner, the cutting clarity and savage comedy of George Orwell's masterpiece has a meaning and message still ferociously fresh.

Thoughts: I thought that this novel was pretty interesting. I tried not to deconstruct it too much because everyone seems to do that with this novel. I felt that in that sense, I didn't need to think for myself as I could simply read what other people had said about the novel. While I admit that I did read the Preface and the Introduction, I haven't spent much time looking into either the back ground of this novel nor of it's politics. I simply don't care. After all, this wasn't a high school read for me. I think too many people focus on that the author says about it instead of gathering their own opinion. My opinion is that this is scary and I can totally see it in the world. I consider myself very good at drawing parallels between novels and real life. I do it constantly in random novels and I even write it into my own work. That's what makes this novel so terrifying and yet interesting. I see parallels in everyday society but even within the education system (as that's the main focus of my life right now and I'm not enjoying it, I like picking at the injustices that exist within it...sue me).

Anyway: I think this novel is an interesting book to read for a few reasons. Take away what the author and the world focus on and it's an interesting commentary of all people and society as a whole. Take away the commentary and it's just funny, entertaining, and plain bizarre. Take all that away and at the very least you are reading a Classic that millions of other people have also read and invested their time in. Did I mention that it's only a novella and, therefore, it's short and won't take too much of your time? I don't see a real downside in reading this novel. I liked it. I would consider reading it again just to look deeper into its meaning.

Frankenstein

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Mary Shelley
Format: Paperback
Pages: 215 (mine was a different edition then that of the cover shown)
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (Thanks Goodreads): Mary Shelley began writing Frankenstein when she was only eighteen. At once a Gothic thriller, a passionate romance, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of science, Frankenstein tells the story of committed science student Victor Frankenstein. Obsessed with discovering the cause of generation and life and bestowing animation upon lifeless matter, Frankenstein assembles a human being from stolen body parts but; upon bringing it to life, he recoils in horror at the creature's hideousness. Tormented by isolation and loneliness, the once-innocent creature turns to evil and unleashes a campaign of murderous revenge against his creator, Frankenstein.

Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.

My Thoughts: Poor Frankenstein. I really feel bad for the guy. Talk about one mistake ruining the rest of your life. That said, maybe he should have spent a little bit more time thinking about what he was planning to do. Did it really seem like that good of an idea? I mean, if you really sat down with it, did it? Probably not. People are stupid, I guess.

I didn't really understand the connection between the letters and the story. I think that part could have been done in many different ways but the author gets final say, she must have liked it just the way it was. It seems really important, how it begins, but it's not really. I focused too much on it at the time. It's not the real meat of the story. It's more foreshadowing what happens to Frankenstein than anything else. The beginning of this novel really didn't lend itself to a good climax though. The reader already knows whats going to happen to the poor guy. I feel that this points to a different kind of reader. Mary Shelley wrote this for the people of her time and I think between the lack of really high point and vocabulary (did I mention I love classics for the vocabulary? I love learning big words) we can learn what that reader must have liked. 

Speaking of Mary Shelley, I read A Vindication for the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft which was a major bore-fest in an English class. Imagine my surprise upon finding out that these Marys were in fact the same Mary. After knowing this, I really didn't want to read Frankenstein. Thank god the two works were nothing a like.

There are many different TV versions of the same story. Of course, there is the movie and its subsequent remakes and spoofs as well as the Once Upon a Time version which is nothing like the real story. All of these confused versions made it so that I had no idea what the real story was about. I'm glad that I took the time to find out what the real story actually is. With so many versions and references about it out in the world, how could you not take a couple hours and read this novel over?

To End:  Luckily, this wasn't a very long novel. You can take your time reading it and still not take too long to get through it. Classics fans will enjoy this addition to their collection. You should really check out the real story behind all the remakes and allusions. 

Favourite Movie Version:

So it's not really right from this book but I really enjoy Young Frankenstein. It's a spoof of the novel but really entertaining. If you aren't looking for a carbon copy you should check out this movie. It's old and in black and white (it's not that old, it's just for fun) but it's worth a watch. Enjoy it. It's all for fun.

The Catcher in the Rye

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: J.D. Salinger
Format: Paperback
Pages: 277
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (Goodreads): The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep.

My Quick Thoughts: I can't really review this because, well, it's a super popular classic but I do have some thoughts. When I was in school people always mentioned this book so when my class didn't read it, I thought I was missing out but I wasn't missing out as much as I thought. Yes, it is a classic and if you read many of those you should read this one. However, it didn't really rock my world. I made it to the end and it was an easy enough read it being so short but it definitely won't be my new favourite but I could see maybe reading it again. It seemed to be one of those novels that you have to break down and think about while you read so that you can get everything out of it and I just wasn't up to analyzing it. 

There was a lot of swearing and the ending came suddenly without much of a wrap up.

If you liked Perks of Being a Wallflower than this book is similar so you might like it too.

Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reviewer: Kristen 
My Rating: 9 out of 10

My Thoughts: I basically disagree with everything Kelsey said, as this is seriously one of my favourite novels. I think the reason I didn't like The Perks of Being a Wallflower as much as everyone else seems to is because I feel loyal to this book (Weird wording, can't do any better). This is one of my favourites, and will always be one of my favourites. J D Salinger is brilliant. 

The Wizard of Oz

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: L. Frank Baum
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (from Goodreads): Dorothy thinks she's lost forever when a tornado whirls her and her dog, Toto, into a magical world. To get home, she must find the wonderful wizard in the Emerald City of Oz. On the way she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. But the Wicked Witch of the West has her own plans for the new arrival - will Dorothy ever see Kansas again?

Quick View: It really threw me off to find out that Dorothy was actually a very young girl. This changes the entire feel of the novel. I had to change what I thought about it since, in the movie, Dorothy is played by a much older actress. It took a bit of getting used too but I managed.

Also, it was hard to remember the time the story took. She was with the witch for a lot longer than it looks in the movie. I guess, in the end, one really must just avoid bringing their preconceived notions about a book to their reading because they saw the movie.

I thought the book was quite simplistic however. It was definitely a quick read and, if we are being honest, was probably meant for children to read. I couldn't resist; it's a classic.

So: If you enjoyed the movie than you should check out the original but don't expect them to be the same; for such a short book, they left a lot out of the movie! Try going into the book forgetting that you ever watched the movie. It's a quick and fun read. If you like classics then take a look at this book!

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Oscar Wilde
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (I love you, Goodreads): Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life; indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was a succes de scandale. Early readers were shocked by its hints at unspeakable sins, and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895

My Thoughts: Dorian bothered me, to begin with. I know that he had to be self-centered for the story to work but still. Also, he said he was in love but got over her so quickly? Please! Then it goes awry and he's over it in no time. That's hard to believe. I know, I know, it needed to be so for the story. I did feel sorry for him though. He thought that the only thing that was important was his good looks. That's pathetic in itself. I love it when he goes kind of crazy. He moves the picture like that would make him feel better.

Some of the more minor characters bothered me but it might not have been them but rather how they treated Dorian, a human being, not a god or child yet impressionable to a fault. They weren't very smart when they were around him. Maybe it was just how people were during that time period but I don't really care...

I didn't like that the novel felt the need to go off on tangents. There was some useless information which is hard with classics because they are already hard to follow. You can get lost in the nonsense. I always have issues with getting off track. The older language and big words don't help that either but you do learn a lot of words.

The concept of this book is a bit crazy. Imagine that it actually happened. Also, imagine the fear that would eat at you if you had a portrait like that hanging around, waiting to be found, of course he goes crazy! I was sad that I knew how it ended. That's another problem with classics, you know how most of them end.

Final Thoughts: I thought that the story was enjoyable but it isn't close to being my favourite. Plus, for so few pages, it took a long time to read. I don't regret reading it at all, it's a good part of culture and I also understand his character in A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen better now (Good movie by the way).

A Christmas Carol

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Charles Dickens
Format: Paperback (all available) 
Pages: 89 (depending on copy but all short)
Rating: 9 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Cruel miser Ebeneezer Scrooge has never met a shilling he doesn't like...and hardly a man he does. And he hates Christmas most of all. When Scrooge is visited by his old partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come, he learns eternal lessons of charity, kindness, and goodwill. Experience a true Victorian Christmas

Thoughts: Don't worry; it being Christmas, I'll keep this short. This was not my first Charles Dickens novel but it was definitely my favourite. I had never before read it but it's a Christmas classic so I needed to this year. I wasn't disappointed at all. I was glad to be thrown right into the life of Scrooge. The story would have been boring with extra background at the beginning. The reader did, however, need the description of him. In the first two pages, you understand what kind of man Scrooge is. This is good because the story goes right into trying to change him. This novel has some of the best descriptions I've ever read. Then again, my copy had a few pictures so...

I thought the whole premise was pretty incredible too. There are a lot of people that don't know what Christmas really is about and this book not only teaches that but also shows that people can change, forgiveness is possible and people can be truly happy. I can never really understand why the Ghost of Christmas Future scares everybody though. 

It was an easy read. My copy had huge font and pictures, like a said before. It was short, sweet, and to the point. I've seen many versions of this movie so it was great to be able to compare them to the real book. I love watching (or reading about) people changing.

In Conclusion: If you have the time before next Christmas, you should read this book. You might even make it a Christmas Tradition.

My Favourite Movie Versions:
A Muppet Christmas Carol: I loved this. Last year was my first time seeing it but I'm going to watch it every year now. The songs are catchy and who doesn't love the Muppets? I've never seen a movie that sticks so closely to the novel it came from. I read along with parts of the movie and entire lines were right from book. I loved it. The only big, big change was that the business partner in this movie was two brothers instead of one man, big deal!

Scrooged: This one is a bit more serious than the Muppet's version though there is a lot of humor in it too. The humor in this is more grown up. It is not exactly a children's movie but the ghosts are pretty hilarious  My favourite ghost is that of Christmas present because she hits him with a toaster! She's violent and it's the best. (P.S. The video doesn't go all the way to the end but it shows you what I mean. Sorry for the end!)

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Victor Hugo
Format: Paperback (others available)
Pages: 429
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (Goodreads, we cannot live without you): In the vaulted Gothic towers of Notre-Dame lives Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bellringer. Mocked and shunned for his appearance, he is pitied only by Esmerelda, a beautiful gypsy dancer to whom he becomes completely devoted. Esmerelda, however, has also attracted the attention of the sinister archdeacon Claude Frollo, and when she rejects his lecherous approaches, Frollo hatches a plot to destroy her that only Quasimodo can prevent. Victor Hugo's sensational, evocative novel brings life to the medieval Paris he loved, and mourns its passing in one of the greatest historical romances of the nineteenth century.

My Thoughts: I feel bad saying anything bad about Victor Hugo. It's not that I want to. As far as classics go it is one of the better ones. I found it, for the most part, easy to understand. As I got closer to the end, the more into the story I found myself. Sometimes, though, I didn't have a clue what was going on. The story was told from many perspectives and we knew more than just what they were thinking. Also, I thought that a lot of the detail describing Paris could have been skipped but it's his book; he can do what he wants. In the beginning I was worried that I would end up putting the book down. It started a little slow for my taste. 

It kills me what Disney does to stories. This wasn't like the Disney movie at all. I'm glad I read it and discovered that. It is a lot more heart-breaking than the child's version. Actually, I'm kind of sad right now. Why does Disney hate us so much?

Final Thoughts: The only way to get the real, original story is to read it. This is one of the easier classics to follow so if you want to try one but not sure which you might be able to actually finish, this one might be a good place to start.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Lewis Carroll
Pages: 239
Format: Paperback
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)
Rating: 5 out of 10 (Through the looking Glass)

Summary (Via GoodReads): Weary of her storybook, one "without pictures or conversations," the young and imaginative Alice follows a hasty hare underground -- to come face-to-face with some of the strangest adventures and most fantastic characters in all of literature. The Ugly Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the weeping Mock Turtle, the diabolical Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat -- each more eccentric than the last -- could only have come from that master of sublime nonsense, Lewis Carroll. In penning this brilliant burlesque of children's literature, this farcical satire of rigid Victorian society, this arresting parody of the fears, anxieties, and complexities of growing up, Carroll was one of the few adult writers to enter successfully the children's world of make-believe, where the impossible becomes possible, the unreal, real, and where the heights of adventure are limited only by the depths of imagination.

My Thoughts: I really liked Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It was super original and a bit crazy. Actually, it was a lot crazy. I think that perhaps somebody did a little bit too much drugs before sitting down at his desk. Then again, I have some pretty strange dreams too. The characters were unique which I love, nobody likes to read about the same characters over and over again. Sometimes it was so bizarre that I really had to stretch my already over-sized imagination. Good and classic, definitely worth reading at some point before you die.

On the other hand, Through the Looking Glass was a bit different. I didn't like it near as much. The plot and layout were well done, if you know how to play chess that is. I do so I could appreciate it. Again, the characters were interesting. Sadly, the continued strangeness that carried over from the first book was a bit too much. It seemed to be the same thing over and over again. For a dream, however, it was pretty good.

Final Comments: Read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and if it happens to be your favourite book ever than read Through the Looking Glass. At the very least, wait to read them. Don't read them back to back like I did unless you really like them. Good story though. Very different.

Anna Karenina

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Pages: 754
Format: Paperback
Rating: 2 out of 10

Summary (From GoodReads): The sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable yet stifling marriage for an affair that offers passion even as it ensnares her for destruction. Her story contrasts with that of Levin, a young, self- doubting agnostic who takes a different path to fulfilment.


My Take: Thought it began interesting enough, with its multiple love stories that were all woven together, it quickly grew confusing and complicated. I was interested to know how it ended and I truly did want to finish it but I just couldn't do it. I got lost in the Russian names that I couldn't pronounce and the many nicknames/short forms of names that each character had. There were many characters and each had at least three different names. Also, my mind couldn't decided which characters I liked and which I didn't. One second I liked one and the next I couldn't stand them. It drove me crazy.

The plot was good when I could keep track of who we were talking about. The switching between the different story lines had no rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes one character got two chapters and other times they got five or six in a row. I didn't like that. Soon I was skipping chapters so that I could just read the parts about Anna because I was the most interested in her but in the end I gave up on the story all together. I ended up googling the ending because I still wanted to know. One day I'll try reading it again but for now it sits on my shelf with the bookmark hanging out of it.

Final Thoughts: It has a good but slightly very confusing plot. You really have to be paying attention and have a long attention span because not all 750 pages are filled with action but are all filled with words. On the upside, you may make it all the way through it. It has a interesting ending according to google. I hope you can get through it.

P.S. How do you make it through really long books? Any tips?


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UPDATE - Kristen


It's kind of funny that Kelsey decided to post this today, because I literally recommended this to someone today! Though I'm still trudging through it, I kind of like the changing chapters though I do wish Anna herself was more focused on. I'm determined to finish this, no  matter what.
My rating thus far isn't has low as Kels', probably a 7 for me.