REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Addition: Illustrated e-book
Genre: Classics
Rating: 3 out of 5
Synopsis:

Wrongly accused of theft and exiled from a religious community many years before, the embittered weaver Silas Marner lives alone in Raveloe, living only for work and his precious hoard of money. But when his money is stolen and an orphaned child finds her way into his house, Silas is given the chance to transform his life. His fate, and that of the little girl he adopts, is entwined with Godfrey Cass, son of the village Squire, who, like Silas, is trapped by his past. Silas Marner, George Eliot’s favourite of her novels, combines humour, rich symbolism and pointed social criticism to create an unsentimental but affectionate portrait of rural life.

This book was recommended to me by a friend – she described it as her “favourite book ever”. Of course, this added pressure to the book – along with the fact it is a classic, which I always find slow reads as the language is so different.

The story follows Silas Marner, a weaver who was accused of theft in his hometown, by his closest friend. Leaving the town, friend and love of his life behind, he moves to the countryside, to live a solitary life. He falls in love with money, which he hordes under a floorboard. But one fitful night he is robbed. His life is once again empty, until a toddler with gold hair wanders into his cottage and falls asleep on the hearth. The little girl, who he names Eppie, is believed to be an orphan, as her mother is found frozen and dead outside the cottage. What Silas and the village don’t realise is that Eppie is in fact the daughter of Godfrey Cass, one of the Squire’s son. Godfrey had been keeping his marriage to Eppie’s mother a secret as he was so ashamed of it and he sees this as a chance to give up that life – he senses freedom, until 16 years later he is married and childless, and wants nothing more than to have Eppie back from Silas Marner.

I have to be honest and say that this has taken me a long time to read. Partly that is because I have only be reading on my lunch break, and partly because I struggled with a lot of the story. This is a classic, 19th century literature, so the language is very different to most of the books I read. I found there were long sections of the story that I didn’t follow. I remember one whole chapter in a pub based around a cow! A big part of my problem with this book was that the one of the main characters, Eppie, didn’t appear in the story until I had read over half of it! I found the story got much more interesting after the arrival of Eppie and I read it a lot quicker after that point!

I found Silas Marner an interesting character. I felt sorry for him when things went wrong for him – being wrongly accused of theft and then being robbed. I also felt sorry for him that he sunk to a place where money was the most important thing in his life. He really came alive with Eppie, and it was a lovely read. I liked Eppie, she transformed Silas and she was full of love. My favourite moment was probably at the end when, faced with Godfrey’s revelation, she passed up the chance to live in luxury to stay with Silas.

Once Eppie arrived in the story this book picked up and I really enjoyed the second half of the book. If you like classics, you will probably like all of this book! I found the language a big barrier for me and to be honest I also felt the story was slow. However, with the arrival of Eppie all that changed, so I would give this 3 out of 5 because I didn’t think it was all bad!

I saw these questions over at The Diary of a Domestic Goddess, and thought I would answer them too!

1. Who is your all-time favourite author, and why?

My favourite all time author is Roald Dahl. I love his books. They gave me hours of entertainment when I was small, and now keep me entertained as an adult. I’m currently re-reading James and the Giant Peach, and I’m laughing, and I’m gripped, and I love the illustrations by Quentin Blake. I don’t think it is possible to be too old to enjoy Roald Dahl, I love him.

2. Who was your first favourite author, and why?  Do you still consider him or her among your favourites?

Enid Blyton. I loved everything of hers that I read. I loved The Magic Faraway Tree, and remember my Mum reading that to me and my brother – and the Secret Seven, the Famous Five, Mallory Towers…the list goes on. I loved them all! I always found myself wanting to live in those books! I haven’t read any of these books in a long time, but I really want to – I’m sure I would still love them. I think I would still put Enid Elyton as a favourite author because of the memories I have of reading her books and really enjoying them.

3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favourite authors, and why?

Sarah Dessen. I discovered her when I was blogging about young adult books. Every one of her books that I have read I have loved. I found her gripping, entertaining, touching, realistic and just fantastic. I read Just Listen first and it blew me away. I haven’t found a bad book by her yet – thankfully!

4. If someone asked you who your favourite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth?  Are there any you’d add on a moment of further reflection?

Terry Pratchett, CS Lewis, Sarah Dessen, Erica James, Wendy Virgo, Philippa Gregory, Roald Dahl. After some thought… Enid Blyton, Ben Elton, Dorothy Koomson, Beatrix Potter, A A Milne, Mark Driscoll, Debbie Macomber, Elizabeth Noble, Nicholas Sparks, Sophie Kinsella, Stephanie Meyer, JK Rowling, Andrew Wilson and Jane Austen I think.

5. Which “unknown” author do you recommend to people most often?

Probably Wendy Virgo. She writes theology books, mainly for women and I love her. I wrote a Recommended Author post about her. The books are easy to read, engaging and for me, life changing. I think everyone should read her books.

Genre: Mystery/crime

Addition: Paperback (own copy)

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis:

This is a series of short stories about a detective Sherlock Holmes, and his assistant, Dr. Watson. The detective is at the height of his powers and the volume is full of famous cases, including ‘The Red-Headed League, ‘ ‘The Blue Carbuncle, ‘ and ‘The Speckled Band.’

This is my first Sherlock Holmes book, and it will certainly not be my last. This is a collection of short stories, and I found it a great introduction to Doyle’s writing and the characters of Sherlock and Dr. Watson. Every story is no more than 25 pages long and is fun to read and engaging. The stories do not follow any particular order and one could easily dip in and out of this book or read the stories in their own desired order.

I liked all the stories, but probably The Blue Carbuncle which I did find fairly amusing. A man hid a stolen blue gem in a turkey before Christmas, and when the turkey was given to the wrong person he went a bit crazy! I did find myself laughing. Doyle is a clever, fun writer and Sherlock is intelligent, a bit bizarre and humorous.

I didn’t find this a quick read – I believe this is because of the old-fashioned language and structure. It took me a little while to adjust, however this was not a problem – I find this is the case with classics as well. It is worth pursuing and the stories are fantastic. There is adventure, mystery and humour. I don’t think I worked out any of the mysteries as this is not my usual genre, but I loved reading these stories and have even lent out my copy so others can share this enjoyment. I cannot wait to read more!

Just as an aside, if you are in the UK you definitely should check out the BBC’s Sherlock series:

The film Sherlock Holmes is amazing too:

Synopsis:

A flamboyant and controversial personality of enormous wit and intelligence, Voltaire is one of the most intriguing figures of the eighteenth century Enlightenment. His masterpiece is Candide, a brilliant satire on the theory that ‘the world is the best of all possible worlds.’ The book traces the picaresque adventures of the guileless Candide, who is forced into the army, flogged, shipwrecked, betrayed, robbed, separated from his beloved Cunegonde, tortured by the Inquisition, etc., all without losing his resilience and will to live.

I don’t know what to say about this novel, except that is was very strange! The story follows Candide on his journey through life to find love and such life. However, he often finds himself in mischief or witness to some extraordinary stories. None of this puts him off his mission though.

This is truly bizarre. I read it as it is on The Rory Gilmore list, and as I sit and reflect on the novel I just don’t know what to say. There are elements of this story that will stay with me for a long time – such as the woman with one buttock or the ladies who entertained themselves with monkeys. These things are just odd. I’ve read other reviews of this book and found that people laughed all the through – I didn’t, I was more bemused than anything. I didn’t know what to think.

For me, this wasn’t a book that was about liking the characters. I think I only finished it because I wanted to know what other crazy scenarios Voltaire could think up. This book contains rape, murder, theft, slavery and a whole host of other things. This is not my usual read and thankfully it isn’t very long – less than 200 pages. I don’t think I enjoyed this book, I finished it just to see what else would come out the woodwork. Only 3/5 for me.

Synopsis from Librivox:

What Katy Did is a children’s book written by Susan Coolidge, the pen name of Sarah Chauncey Woolsey. It follows the adventures of Katy Carr and her family, growing up in America in the 1860s. Katy is a tall, untidy tomboy, forever getting into scrapes but wishing to be beautiful and beloved. When a terrible accident makes her an invalid, her illness and recovery gradually teach her to be as good and kind as she has always wanted.

I remember having this when I was little, simply because my name is Katie too (although note the different spelling) and I don’t think I ever read it. That all changed when I decided to read some of the Wordsworth Children’s Classics. I liked this book and I will read the next two, although this has not been my favourite from the classics.

The story follows Katy Carr as she does some serious growing up. At the beginning of the book she is carefree, and although not inconsiderate, she thinks more about fun than looking out for others. Then she is struck down by what at first seems to be a cold, and it finds her bedridden for over a year. There are some big changes in the house while she is ill and all this leads her to grow up and accept more responsibility.

This is a nice story and liked the subtle changes in Katy’s character. This story starts full of fun and adventure and as the story progresses there is a lesson in how to deal with what life throws at you and about how to step up and stop wallowing in self-pity. There is a good message in this book and I think children will learn from it.

As an adult I liked this. It wasn’t the best I have read but it is worth reading. It is an interesting story with some lovely characters and I think parents and children alike should read this book.

I downloaded this book from: http://librivox.org/what-katy-did-by-susan-coolidge/

Waterstones Synopsis:

When a huge cyclone transports Dorothy and her little dog Toto from Kansas to the Land of Oz, she fears that she will never return home again. She and three friends she meets along the way make their way to the Emerald City where they hope to find the Wizard of Oz and have their wishes granted.

Having seen the film many times I was excited to read this book, and I wasn’t let down. Dorothy is taken in her house to the Land of Oz in a cyclone and there she meets some great characters: the Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Lion. With her friends and Toto in tow, she embarks on many adventures to get to see the Wizard of Oz.

This is a very well written book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is full of the adventures you expect, including killing the witches and the Queen Mouse. I loved how Baum writes – he is engaging  and the events are gripping. Even though I knew what was going to happen I was hooked and loved the stories.

My favourite character was probably Dorothy. She bought the best out of everyone but ultimately was an innocent little girl who loved her family and just wanted to get home. I just liked her attitude and the way she was so welcoming to everyone.

On an interesting note: the witches shoes in the film are ruby red, but in the book they are silver! My Mum informs me that they changed the colour because silver did not show up enough in the film

This is a great read for both adults and children, and it made me want to watch the film again!

3/5

This is where I got the audiobook: http://librivox.org/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz/

Waterstones Synopsis:

Martyrs to hypochondria and general seediness, J. and his friends George and Harris decide that a jaunt up the Thames would suit them to a ‘T’. But when they set off, they can hardly predict the troubles that lie ahead with tow-ropes, unreliable weather-forecasts and tins of pineapple chunks – not to mention the devastation left in the wake of J.’s small fox-terrier Montmorency. “Three Men in a Boat” was an instant success when it appeared in 1889, and, with its benign escapism, authorial discursions and wonderful evocation of the late-Victorian ‘clerking classes’, it hilariously captured the spirit of its age.

I really enjoyed this book! I mean, what is there not to like? Snobby men who suffer from a severe case of hypochondria who believe they can cope with a trip down the Thames in a boat. The storyline is great. The author Jerome K. Jerome is a talented writer who kept me entertained all the way through.

I loved the commentary of the journey. Everything they saw had a story and the recollection of them made me laugh. These men thought they were more superior and their thoughts on the surrounding areas where very entertaining. The synopsis says this book was an instant success and it is easy to see why.

My favourite chapter was probably involving tie-ropes. I loved the idea of girls pulling boats along, and then getting distracted and letting the boats drift into the middle of the river. I laughed at how these men were happy to annoy larger boats and fellow sailors.

I loved these men simply because of their attitudes. They believed they could cope – although they also believed they had life-threatening diseases; and following their story was great fun. This is well worth reading!

4/5

Audiobook downloaded from: http://librivox.org/three-men-in-a-boat-by-jerome-k-jerome/

Waterstones Synopsis:

“Wuthering Heights” is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine’s father. After Mr Earnshaw’s death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine’s brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature.

This is not the first time I have read this book, but I must admit it was the first time I enjoyed it. The first time I read the book was for my English Literature course and I really did not like it, but this time I read it for enjoyment and it made all the difference. This time was different also because I listened to it, which I found helped me get into the story.

Wuthering Heights is a great classic. A tale of love, jealously and revenge set in the Yorkshire Moors. Catherine and Heathcliff are in love, but Heathcliff leaves thinking Cathy does not love him. When he comes back he is angry and out for revenge. The story follows their families, they way they clash and how they each manipulate one another.

Oddly, even though I enjoyed this book, I didn’t really like any of the characters. I found them all quite similar: selfish, grumpy and manipulative. Everyone was out for themselves, even Nelly the narrator. However, I think this added to the enjoyment of the book, because I was forming opinions about them instead of being indifferent to them all.

I liked how Emily Bronte wrote. The book was descriptive and it is a great story.

4/5

Audiobook: http://librivox.org/wuthering-heights-by-emily-bronte-2/

Waterstones Synopsis:

Mary Lennox was horrid, selfish and spoilt, and was sent to stay with her uncle in Yorkshire. She hated it. But when she finds the entrance to a secret garden a change overcomes her. With a local boy and her cousin the three children work magic in themselves and those around them.

I absolutely loved this book. Mary starts this book as a spoilt little girl who didn’t know joy nor love. Coming to England and discovering nature does her the world of good – and it changes the lives of others too.

This is a beautiful book. The descriptions are breath-taking and the story line is lovely. The book is rich with characters and flowers. I did like Mary. I felt sorry for her as she wasn’t loved by her parents, and when everyone in her household died she was left alone for days before she was found. It was no surprise she was horrid. I loved watching her discover the wonders of the outside world – enjoying fresh air and flowers, and how to be happy. It was a lovely journey and I really enjoyed experiencing it.

The descriptions are gorgeous. The secret garden is wonderful and I would love to have sat there alongside her and the boys watching the garden grow and flourish. Hodgson Burnett wrote a beautiful book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The only downside for me was that I struggled to read the Yorkshire dialect. However, that does not spoil the book much, although it did slow down the reading for me a bit.

Overall this is a must-read book, even if it is a children’s book.

4.5/5

Waterstones Synopsis:

From the famous episodes of the whitewashed fence and the ordeal in the cave to the trial of Injun Joe, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is redolent of life in the Mississippi River towns in which Twain spent his own youth. A sombre undercurrent flows through the high humour and unabashed nostalgia of the novel, however, for beneath the innocence of childhood lie the inequities of adult reality – base emotions and superstitions, murder and revenge, starvation and slavery.

This is my first Mark Twain novel, which I read because it is on The List of Banned Books. I am really pleased I picked this book to read – it was full of life, adventure and mischief. Tom Sawyer is a boy out there looking for fun. He runs off to play pirates for a few days and conning other boys into doing jobs his Aunt has assigned him. Twain was a wonderful writer and took me into this world of boy’s play and games.

This book is not just about games Tom plays however. On his adventures he discovers a crime with Huckleberry Finn. This twist and the suspense surrounding the event added depth and flavour to his novel. I liked how it played out, the way it fitted into adventures that make this book special.

I enjoyed reading all the characters, and I loved Tom and his cheekiness. He made for an exciting read, and it was fascinating following his activities. I loved his Aunt and the way she wanted the best for him. And I liked Huck Finn too. He was fun but poor – a risk to be with but great fun.

This novel is full of life. It has mystery and adventure. It is fun to read and I felt like I was there and just wanted to know what was going to happen. There was a range of characters and some great mischief occurring. I will definitely be reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn very soon.

4.5/5