White Fang by Jack London, adapted by Malvina G. Vogel

White Fang by Jack London, adapted by Malvina G. Vogel

Publisher/Year: Baronet Books, 1994

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 240

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads

Summary

The Frozen North

Part wolf, part dog, with the strength and courage of both in his blood, White Fang is an orphan cub in the frozen frontier of the Yukon. His is a world of enemies, animal and human. His inborn instincts and acquired ways teach him to hunt…to fight…to win! Nothing else matters.

Men exploit and abuse him until one man teaches the noble animal to recognize his own greatest attribute–his loyalty.

Only then can White Fang face the most dangerous challenge of all!

What I thought

I loved these Great Illustrated Classics when I was a kid! Honestly, I think between these and Wishbone, it’s no surprise that I grew up to be a fan of classic literature. This book was actually my husband’s from childhood, but it’s one that I hadn’t read.

And I’ll be honest–as an adult, this isn’t the most riveting writing. It is a good story though, and Vogel made it very accessible for young readers. That’s why I think these stories are so important. On one hand, they expose readers to these classic stories and on the other hand, they can spark an interest in classic literature by presenting worthwhile stories in a format that is less daunting.

Now I’m rambling. White Fang is a great story–both the original and this adaptation. I wouldn’t call this a must-read for adults, but this would be a good read for children. Hey, it would be a good contender for some parent-child reading, too–whether reading aloud or reading in tandem with the original. Just a thought!

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
Publisher/Year: Penguin, 2009 (orig. 1925)
Format: E-book (Libby)
Pages: 1363
Rating: ⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The classic depiction of the harsh realities of American life, the dark side of the American Dream, and one man’s doomed pursuit of love and success…

What I thought

Okay. So. Here we go. Where to begin? This book was a struggle. Ultimately, I’m glad I read it–partly because it is a classic and partly because I’m feeling a little proud of myself for sticking with it. I even struggled with what to rate this. One star didn’t feel right because even though I can say that I did not enjoy my read of this, I can appreciate what Dreiser did here. So, two stars it is.

Like I said, I “get” what Dreiser was trying to do here. And it’s obviously compelling enough to keep me reading to the end of this brick of a novel. There’s much here to contemplate and discuss–hence, its status as a classic. However, for really the entirety of this book, I just felt like I was slogging through it. I have read for more reasons than just enjoyment, but there were just too many things as a reader that I struggled with here.

First and foremost, I don’t care what anyone says–this book was TOO LONG. I do not need to know which direction this lake lies from that lake and which members of the law posse went this direction and which went that. It was TOO MUCH. My eyes were drying out in my head, which was getting hit over and over with the point Dreiser was making.

Also, I just really did not mesh well with Dreiser’s writing style. It felt very uneven to me. It would go from short and sweet (if campy) dialogue to these long expositions with sentences that had 45 subordinating clauses. Maybe that’s to someone’s taste, but unfortunately not to mine. I prefer writing that flows. Flowery prose I can handle (Dickens is my fav), but those clauses were painful. (You know what else was painful? Sondra’s baby talk–GAG.)

Finally, I just have to say that I did not like a single character in this book. Well, okay, I take that back–I did feel for Roberta, but she was more wet noodle-y than I can stand. But Clyde–oh, Clyde, how I abhorred you. I can appreciate an unlikeable character. When done well, they can be a testament to humanity. Clyde was a whiny, selfish, self-indulgent jerk, with literally not one redeeming quality. In his final moments in this book, I felt more pity for his mom than for him. Clyde was just the worst. I know I’m supposed to feel the tragedy of what unavoidable fate deemed to happen with the rise and fall of a man, but I just don’t. Maybe I’m heartless (it’s probably that), or maybe this just isn’t my book.

So. I’m glad I finished. I’m glad I checked this out from the library. I’m glad I can now enter discussions about this book. But mostly, I’m glad I am finished.

Winter’s Tales by Isak Dinesen

Winter’s Tales by Isak Dinesen
Publisher/Year: Vintage, 2011
Format: E-book (Libby)
Pages: 400
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

In Isak Dinesen’s universe, the magical enchantment of the fairy tale and the moral resonance of myth coexist with an unflinching grasp of the most obscure human strengths and weaknesses. A despairing author abandons his wife, but in the course of a long night’s wandering, he learns love’s true value and returns to her, only to find her a different woman than the one he left. A landowner, seeking to prove a principle, inadvertently exposes the ferocity of a mother’s love. A wealthy young traveler melts the hauteur of a lovely woman by masquerading as her aged and loyal servant.

Shimmering and haunting, Dinesen’s Winter’s Tales transport us, through their author’s deft guidance of our desire to imagine, to the mysterious place where all stories are born.

What I thought

• “The Young Man With The Carnation” ⭐⭐
• “Sorrow-Acre” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• “The Heroine” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• “The Sailor-Boy’s Tale” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• “The Pearls” ⭐⭐⭐
• “The Invincible Slave-Owners” ⭐⭐
• “The Dreaming Child” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• “Alkmene” ⭐⭐⭐
• “The Fish” ⭐⭐⭐
• “Peter and Rosa” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• “A Consolatory Tale” ⭐⭐

This book is easily the most frustrating book I have ever read. I knew going into it that short story collections can be a bit of a mixed bag, as it is. But while I enjoyed the writing style immensely, I couldn’t help but feel exasperated with these stories, as a whole.

Isak Dinesen writes beautifully, simply put. I can’t begin to tell you how many passages and turns of phrase there were that absolutely took my breath away. The writing itself is why I gave this three stars. I liked what I read, I just didn’t get it.

I like to think that between being a lifelong reader and having taken my share of literature courses that my literary comprehension and analysis skills are, at the very least, decent. So, it was very discouraging to me when, upon completing (what felt like) every story here, I was left thinking “huh?” Especially after reading one glowing review of this after another. Maybe I was just thinking about it too hard, or maybe I’m not as smart as I thought.

Ultimately, I finished this book feeling frustrated because I had hoped to enjoy it so much more than I did. Maybe I’d revisit this if I had the chance to read this with a book club or a class, but for now, I’m glad I borrowed it from the library.

Point of No Return by John P. Marquand

Point of No Return by John P. Marquand
Publisher/Year: Academy Chicago Publishers, 1985
Format: Paperback
Pages: 559
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Point of No Return is the story of Charles Gray, an apparently successful New York banker who has come to a pivotal point in his career: he is competing for the vice presidency of the elegant private bank, a job he must win if he is to become a success in the eyes of society.

Gray travels back to Clyde, the Massachusetts town where he grew up and looks with as much objectivity as he can muster on the background which produced him. He wants to decide which way his life will go, and discovers eventually, as C. Hugh Holman points out in 20th Century American Literature, that “all the decisions had already been made without his being aware of it, and that he has passed ‘the point of no return.'”

What I thought

Initially, I was unsure what to make of this book. Here is a book written in the 1940s by an author who, by all appearances, was wildly popular during his time. So, why has this book seemingly fallen to the wayside? Well, now that I’ve finished, I can’t really say. I enjoyed this novel immensely. It wasn’t a pageturner, by any means, but I kind of liked it all the more for that. It reminded me of a book you’d curl up with under a blanket in your comfy chair next to your reading lamp to while away the hours on a dark and chilly night. (Can you tell I’m a mood reader?) It was a quiet, thoughtful read, and I very much enjoyed getting to know Charley Gray. He’s a bit of an “every man,” but that’s something that doesn’t bother me. I think Charley is a character that will stick with me for a while. Yesterday’s “rat race” might look slightly different than today’s, but in a lot of ways, it’s the same. And, at least for me, it’s something I frequently give thought to, so Charley was somebody I felt very sympathetic towards.

All in all, I thought this was an excellent book, and I truly think it is a misplaced classic. I will certainly be on the lookout for more of John P. Marquand’s works.

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Bleak House by Charles Dickens
Publisher/Year: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2005
Format: Paperback
Pages: 874
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Often considered Charles Dickens’s masterpiece, Bleak House blends together several literary genres–detective fiction, romance, melodrama, and satire–to create an unforgettable portrait of the decay and corruption at the heart of law and society in Victorian England.

Opening in the swirling mists of London, the novel revolves around a court case that has dragged on for decades–the infamous Jarndyce and Jarndyce lawsuit, in which an inheritance is gradually devoured by legal costs. As Dickens takes us through the case’s history, he presents a cast of characters as idiosyncratic and memorable as any he ever created, including the beautiful Lady Dedlock, who hides a shocking secret about an illegitimate child and a long-lost love; Mr. Bucket, one of the first detectives to appear in English fiction; and the hilarious Mrs. Jellyby, whose endless philanthropy has left her utterly unconcerned about her own family. As a question of inheritance becomes a question of murder, the novel’s heroine, Esther Summerson, struggles to discover the truth about her birth and her unknown mother’s tragic life. Can the resilience of her love transform a bleak house? And–more devastatingly–will justice prevail?

What I thought

I absolutely do not view reading as any sort of competition (except, maybe, with one’s self), but I want to begin this review with a self-congratulatory pat on the back because I did it! I finished Bleak House during the dumpster fire otherwise known as 2020! And even better? I enjoyed it!

I just love Charles Dickens. I do. Nobody else can paint such an all-encompassing portrait of Victorian England like ole Chucky D. His books are definitely challenging, but his skill with words, especially evident here, makes the read all the more rewarding. I can’t help but be impressed by the fact that despite the novel’s length, the 700 characters, and the 1200 plotlines, I was still completely invested in this story at its end, which put a silly smile on my face. I knocked off a star because, admittedly, it did feel long at times, but I did truly enjoy this one. And there’s just so much to enjoy–the incredibly crafted writing, the characters who were so vividly written as to leap from the pages (even the minor ones), the mystery, the romance, the melodrama, the biting satire. And speaking of satire–can we seriously talk about how funny Dickens is?

Bleak House is a time-honored classic that surprisingly still offers insight on the legal system and society for modern-day readers, while maintaining the same level of pure entertainment as it did for its monthly readers in 1852-53. For mood readers, this would make a great fall or winter read. 4/5–I’d definitely recommend this one–you can’t go wrong with Dickens!

The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid’s Tale #1) by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid’s Tale #1) by Margaret Atwood
Publisher/Year: Anchor Books, 2017
Format: Paperback
Pages: 315
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now…

Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.

What I thought

Update – 2019

It’s been a few years since I read this one last, but I wanted to revisit it before diving into The Testaments for book club. And y’know, I’m glad I did because it reaffirmed the fact that this book stands as one of my all-time favorite books. This time, particularly, I was struck by how entirely horrifying and utterly unsettling Offred’s story is, which is probably due to the fact of today’s political climate. Atwood’s writing is just so phenomenal–I want everyone to read this book. The Handmaid’s Tale is one of those books I loved so much that I hugged it tome when I was done. I’m so glad I re-read it–I feel like this was one of those “perfect timing” reads; this story resonated with me now at this stage of my life more so than any of my previous reads. There are only so many ways I can put it–I love this book, it is a favorite of mine. It’s gut-wrenching, horrifying, and all-too-plausible, and Offred stands as one of the most unforgettable, relatable, hopeful, witty, and strong heroines that I have ever read. I will forever be pushing The Handmaid’s Tale into the hands of everyone. If you haven’t read it–what are you waiting for! Read it, absorb it…the last thing we want to do is inadvertently end up creating our own hellish version of Gilead.

Initial review – 2015

When I was in college, I took a class called Women & Lit, and this was one of our assigned novels. I read slowly, so I got about halfway through this one before I had to give it up for our next read. I regret now that it took me until now to read this in its entirety. This was a brilliant novel & I think its brilliance lies in the fact of its utter plausibility. Atwood paints a picture of a world that we would like to scoff at and think, “That’ll never happen!” but in reality, it very well could. Offred was a narrator that I grew to deeply care about–I HAD to know what happened to her, I had such a difficult time putting this down. And I usually hate open endings, but here I felt it was perfect. I loved Atwood’s writing, too. I actually felt like I was listening to Offred tell us her tale. I was VERY impressed by this book, and I KNOW this won’t be my last read of Atwood’s.

American Supernatural Tales edited by S. T. Joshi

American Supernatural Tales edited by S. T. Joshi
Publisher/Year: Penguin Books, 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 477
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The ultimate collection of weird and frightening fiction by American writers

It takes an unusual caliber of writer to deliver readers into the terrifying beyond–to conjure tales that are not only unsettling, but unnatural, with elements and characters that are all the more disturbing for their impossibility. From Edgar Allan Poe to Stephen King, American authors have excelled at journeying into the supernatural. You’ll find them here, including H. P. Lovecraft, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and others. An unprecedented anthology of phantasmagoric, spectral, and demonic writing, American Supernatural Tales celebrates our enduring need to be spooked and horrified.

What I thought

If you are looking for a collection of “supernatural”/horror short stories, look no further. This was a solid sampling of stories from some of the genre’s best authors. I was so excited to dive into this one to not only read selections from some of my favorite authors, but also to discover some of the other greats that I hadn’t read before. As with any collection, there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others, but for the most part, I really liked what I read and even found a few new favorites. I also really enjoyed Joshi’s introduction and found his commentary on the genre to be fascinating, although I highly disagree with his opinion of Stephen King. All in all, I thought this was a comprehensive anthology and one I’d like to add to my own shelves!

Here’s my rating of each story:

–“The Adventure of the German Student” by Washington Irving ⭐⭐⭐
–“Edward Randolph’s Portrait” by Nathaniel Hawthorne ⭐⭐⭐
–“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe ⭐⭐⭐
–“What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Death of Halpin Frayser” by Ambrose Bierce ⭐⭐
–“The Yellow Sign” by Robert W. Chambers ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Real Right Thing” by Henry James ⭐⭐⭐
–“The Call of Cthulhu” by H. P. Lovecraft ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis” by Clark Ashton Smith ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Old Garfield’s Heart” by Robert E. Howard ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Black Bargain” by Robert Bloch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Lonesome Place” by August Derleth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Girl With Hungry Eyes” by Fritz Leiber ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Fog Horn” by Ray Bradbury ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“A Visit” by Shirley Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Long Distance Call” by Richard Matheson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Vanishing American” by Charles Beaumont ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Events at Poroth Farm” by T. E. D. Klein ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Night Surf” by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“The Late Shift” by Dennis Etchison ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Vastarien” by Thomas Ligotti ⭐⭐⭐
–“Endless Night” by Karl Edward Wagner ⭐⭐
–“The Hollow Man” by Norman Partridge ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“Last Call for the Sons of Shock” by David J. Schow ⭐⭐⭐
–“Demon” by Joyce Carol Oates ⭐⭐⭐⭐
–“In the Water Works (Birmingham, Alabama 1888) by Caitlin R. Kiernan ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe

Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe
Publisher/Year: Scholastic Inc., 1989
Format: Paperback
Pages: 210
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

 

Summary

The Pit and the Pendulum…The Purloined Letter…The Tell-Tale Heart…A Descent into the Maelstrom…and six other choice chillers by the acknowledged master of mystery, fantasy, and horror.

These ten absorbing stories, selected by a famed anthologist of science-fiction and the supernatural, prove that even after a century Poe’s imagination still works its macabre magic.

What I thought

Update – 2018

Since this was a re-read for me, I don’t have too much to add on top of my original review. I will say that this little collection of stories has become one of my favorites, and it does contain a good handful of my favorite Poe stories. While it pains me that it seems like a lot of people are quick to dismiss Poe’s verbose writing, I will say that his writing does get heavy after a while. I do think this collection is the perfect size to get a feel for Poe and appreciate his words without getting bogged down. With the gloomy, chilly, rain-filled fall we’ve been having here, this was just the right time to re-read this one. If you’re looking for a good introduction to Edgar Allan Poe’s prose, this collection would be a good place to start. Plus, look at this creepy vintage cover–I just love it!

Original review – 2010

I can be an atmospheric reader. Certain books should be read in a certain setting. Thoreau should be read on a stump in the middle of the woods. Jane Austen should be read curled up in bed with a cup of tea in the middle of winter. Twain should be read lazing under a tree in the grass in the middle of the summer. And Poe should be read in late fall, somewhere around Halloween.

Well, as I just found out, he makes for excellent campfire reading, as well.

For me, Poe is the ultimate of suspense. As a reader, it is evident just how haunted of a man Edgar Allan Poe really was. This makes his writing quite effective and allows the reader to become pleasantly creeped out. I love his writing and adore immersing myself in his words. An absolutely classic author, I dare say.

What’s unique about this edition is that it goes to show that Poe writes more than just horror–namely suspense and science fiction (and don’t forget poetry and romance, even though they don’t appear here). I also enjoyed this little edition because even though it includes Poe classics like “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Pit and the Pendulum,” it also includes less well-known stories.

Overall, not a must-have for Poe enthusiasts (as this is just a little snippet of his total works), but recommended for those who would like to become better read in Edgar Allan Poe or who would like to see what he is capable of.

 

 

Always Emily by Michaela MacColl

Always Emily by Michaela MacColl
Publisher/Year: Chronicle Books, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 276
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

Summary

Two girls on the brink of womanhood, torn between family duty and self, between love and art…

Emily and Charlotte Bronte are about as opposite as two sisters can be. Charlotte is practical and cautious. Emily is curious and headstrong. But they have one thing in common: a love of writing. And when two strangers appear on the desolate English moors that surround their home, they must combine the imagination and wit usually reserved for their pens to unravel a string of mysteries.

Is there a connection between a series of local burglaries and rumors that a neighbor’s death may not have been accidental? Can the handsome young man Emily met on one of her solitary walks be trusted? Or is the equally handsome local landowner that keeps appearing on Charlotte’s doorstep the one they should confide in? And what about the seemingly mad woman that Charlotte encountered at a crossroads on the outskirts of the village–is she the key? There are a lot of knots to untangle, and they had better do it quickly–before someone else is killed.

Michaela MacColl has drawn upon her own love of writing and reading to craft a suspenseful tale inspired by the real-life Emily and Charlotte, young writers who would grow up to author several of the most enduring English novels of all time.

What I thought

This little book turned out to be delightful! This was my morning-coffee-before-work read, and I very much looked forward to picking this up each morning. If you are a fan of YA and enjoy the writing of Charlotte or Emily Bronte, you would be a fan of this book.

It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but I think that may have been because though this book is labelled as YA, it had a younger, almost middle grade feel. This is not a bad thing, by any means, it just means that I had to adjust. One of the things I actually ended up really enjoying was the feel of this novel. It did feel like MacColl was nodding to the Bronte sisters without making it into an overbearing tribute. The story & the setting were moody & atmospheric, while also romantic & adventurous. It was really just a nice story, all around. I also loved seeing Emily & Charlotte brought to life & I was a big fan of how MacColl interpreted their personalities.

The only thing that I wasn’t a huge fan of was the epilogue. I can’t quite place my finger on why, but maybe it was that it felt almost abrupt to me? I’m not sure.

Overall, I really liked this book, and I WILL be reading more by Michaela MacColl in the future. As I said, if you like the classics and YA, this is a really great story, full of charm, that truly brought Emily & Charlotte Bronte to life.

 

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Publisher/Year: Dell Publishing Co., Inc./1969 (Dell Yearling)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 184
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

 

 

Summary

This is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur–and of Wilbur’s dear friend Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn. With the help of Templeton, the rat who never did anything for anybody unless there was something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saved the life of Wilbur, who by this time had grown up to be quite a pig.

What I thought

What is there to say about this wonderful book that hasn’t been said?

It’s absolutely a children’s classic, and I’m one of the fortunate ones who first encountered this book as a child. I remember very vividly my first elementary school library, just a small trailer that sat outside the school. And I remember that this book was hard to find because it was ALWAYS checked out.

Thankfully, I’m an adult now, and I have my own copy of this book that I hope to pass down to my kids someday. I’ve had this book on my “currently-reading” shelf for about a month now. I could have absolutely finished it in a day, but I love it so much that I wanted to stretch it out by reading just a couple pages each night before bed.

For as sad as this ending is (I definitely cried over this as a kid), this book just fills me with so much joy. I have always had a soft spot for animals, and especially animal stories, so this is right up my alley. It hearkens to a simpler time, both in the story & in my own life.

Besides nostalgia, I think everyone can agree that the best part of this book is the sweet friendship between Wilbur & Charlotte. It teaches what it means to truly be someone’s friend.

I also really loved E. B. White’s writing, and I’m a fan of many of his books. His writing is simple, but intelligent & evocative. It begs to be read aloud. I personally loved how White wrote about nature & the changing of seasons & how precious life is.

Overall, I could go on & on about this little book, but seriously, just go read it. It is the one & ONLY time you’ll ever hear me speak fondly of a spider. With an unforgettable cast of characters and a dear friendship that will bring tears to your eyes, Charlotte’s Web is a children’s classic that is not to be missed!

Henry Huggins (Henry Huggins #1) by Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins (Henry Huggins #1) by Beverly Cleary 
Publisher/Year: Scholastic, 2000
Format: Paperback
Pages: 155
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Summary

Henry Huggins had been wishing for some excitement in his life. He never thought it would come in the form of a lost, hungry dog with big brown eyes that just begged for a taste of his ice cream cone.

Of course Henry shared his ice cream, and of course the poor dog wanted to follow Henry home. But long before Henry reached home with “Ribsy” he had spent all his money, been put off three buses, and enjoyed a hair-raising ride in a police car. And that was only the beginning of Henry’s exciting new life!

What I thought

I am so sad that I missed this book as a kid because I loved it now, as an adult. I was a HUGE Beverly Cleary as a kid, so I have no idea how I passed by this one. I’m just glad I finally found it.

Beverly Cleary is simply THE BEST, there’s no other way around it. You can tell that she knew & understood children, which is why she remains so popular among them.

With regards to this particular book, I fell in love with Henry and Ribsy. Henry is such a likeable, clever, adventurous, and ambitious boy, and Ribsy is such a great & oftentimes hilarious sidekick.

I really liked how Henry’s story was told, too, with each chapter being an anecdote versus having an overarching plot. It makes this book ideal for reading to (or with) young readers.

There’s something so wonderful & almost magical about the way that Beverly Cleary can take a simple story about everyday characters and create such a nostalgic, accessible read for all ages.

A definite must-read for young & old, I highly recommend checking out this classic book!

Twice 22: The Golden Apples of the Sun / A Medicine for Melancholy by Ray Bradbury

Twice 22: The Golden Apples of the Sun / A Medicine for Melancholy by Ray Bradbury
Publisher/Year: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1959
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Goodreads

 

 

Summary (from Goodreads)

Twice twenty-two makes forty-four–a multiplication that explodes into nightmare fireworks when the twenty-two (and the forty-four) happen to be the number of collected stories in a collection by Ray Bradbury. For the first time, two complete books by the acknowledged Grand Master of fantasy and science fiction are here brought together: The Golden Apples of the Sun and A Medicine for Melancholy.

But of course it would be a mistake to call Bradbury a “science fiction” or a “fantasy” writer: he uses elements from both forms in the way a painter uses pigments. He can create images of the darkness and density of, say, “A Sound of Thunder”–a strange parable of the Faustian lust to conquer Time–and at the same time evokes the haunting delicacy and lightness of fifth century China in a story like “The Flying Machine.” His “All in a Summer Day” is an indelible portrait of a child’s torment and isolation; his “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit,” a splashy mural wild with gaiety. Endlessly, he subjects the reader, under his commanding power, to worlds as redolent with reverie, humor, and fear as those of Hawthorne or Poe or Kafka–worlds which have given him a multitudinous audience, including such men as W. H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood, and Dylan Thomas.

What I thought

I think it’s safe to say that Ray Bradbury has officially made it onto the list of my favorite authors. This man is just a brilliant writer, simply put. I am so very glad I stumbled upon this collection of short stories.

Bradbury is a master of his craft, and nowhere is this more evident than in his short stories. Usually with a collection of short stories, it ends up being pretty 50-50 for me–some I like, some I don’t. With the exception of a few (and I’m talking 3-4 out of 44), I really loved these. There was a little bit of everything here; it wasn’t just one genre or another. And his stories are short & sweet, if you will, which I liked. They weren’t drawn out unnecessarily, and they got to the point. Bradbury has such a way with words that this brevity really worked. He describes things in a way that you’ve never thought of but that makes perfect sense. This makes his stories come vividly to life without the need of cumbersome back story. I truly have no other words–his stories are beautiful.

All in all, I enjoyed this collection immensely and it is not to be missed for Bradbury fans. I can definitely see myself revisiting this in the future. If you are a fan of the short story and are looking for some incisive, artful stories, look no further –Ray Bradbury’s your man.