classic literature

Classic Book Review: Phineas Finn

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Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollope

Phineas Finn (Palliser, #2)
byAnthony Trollope

5 out of 5 stars

Phineas Finn is delighted when a political fluke gets him elected to represent his little Irish county in Parliament. Everyone says that he is making a mistake, and he’ll never succeed in politics, but Phineas is young and optimistic and full of energy. He quickly learns the ins and outs of political life in London, especially when it comes to befriending influential people… and their daughters. Lady Laura takes Phineas under her wing, and uses her influence with her father to introduce Phineas to all the right people. Madame Goesler is a wealthy widow with the social clout to bring politicians together at her exclusive dinners, and she also advises Phineas on his political affairs. Violet Effingham is a fabulous heiress and Lady Laura’s dearest friend. She is rumored to be engaged to Lady Laura’s brother, Lord Chiltern, but will Phineas win her heart before the engagement can be finalized? And back home in Ireland, poor little Mary Flood-Jones is a simple country girl who has been in love with Phineas since childhood. Between all these romances, Phineas must decide the future of his political life, or break his heart and his career on the rocks of ignominy.

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Classic Review: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Gawain Poet

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
byGawain Poet, translated by Marie Boroff

4 out of 5 stars

( There are spoilers for this classic! )

This classic poem follows the adventures of Sir Gawain, when he is called to take on a quest presented by the mysterious Green Knight at King Arthur’s court. The Green Knight challenges the bravest knight at court to exchange one blow with his axe and take the consequences. Sir Gawain accepts the challenge, and chops off the Green Knight’s head. But the Green Knight is unhurt, picks up his own head, and enjoins Sir Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in a year’s time, when the Green Knight will then return the blow.

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Book Review: The Adventures of Odysseus

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The Adventures of Odysseus by Nicolás Schuff

The Adventures of Odysseus: A Graphic Novel of The Odyssey
by Nicolás Schuff, Lawrence Schimel(Translator), Mariana Ruiz Johnson(Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

This graphic novel for children follows the voyages of Odysseus as he tries to find his way home to his beloved wife, Penelope. Although, the original Ancient Greek story follows a different narrative structure, this adaptation tells Odysseus’ story in chronological order, starting from when he left the battle of Troy. I really liked that, because it makes it much easier for kids to follow along with the story, rather than hearing about Odysseus’ adventures through flashbacks like the original does.

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Book Review: Manga Classics- King Lear

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Manga Classics by William Shakespeare

Manga Classics: King Lear – Full Original Text Edition
byWilliam Shakespeare

4.5 out of 5 stars

King Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters and relinquish his royal power to them, retaining only the title of king and a hundred of his own knights as a guard. After his retirement, he plans to reside with his daughters and their husbands as a guest in their castles. In order to divide up the kingdom, he asks each daughter to prove her love for her father, and two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan, give flowery speeches about how much they love and respect him. However, Cordelia includes a reasonable caveat that when she is married, she will give half her heart to her husband, so her father cannot be first in her affections. King Lear is offended, and cuts Cordelia off completely.

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Book Review: They Came to Baghdad

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They Came to Baghdad by Agatha Christie

They Came to Baghdad
byAgatha Christie

4 out of 5 stars

Victoria is fascinated by a dashing young man, Edward, who she meets by chance in the park one day. But he is leaving for Baghdad the very next day, so Victoria decides to follow him and finds a job as a travelling companion. She arrives in Baghdad with no idea how to find him and only a little money in her pocket, but she is soon swept into a mysterious adventure involving a ring of spies. When a spy is found murdered in her hotel room, Victoria must unravel the clues to discover what the spy was hiding.

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Book Review: Castle Rackrent and The Absentee

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Castle Rackrent / The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth

Castle Rackrent / The Absentee
by Maria Edgeworth

4 out of 5 stars

Castle Rackrent is about a servant of the Rackrent family, who sees four generations of the landowners go through bankruptcy and scandal. Thady Quirk remains loyal to the family despite their drunken debaucheries, years of wasted income, and scandalous relationships. His narration gives excuses for their bad behavior and turns a blind eye to their evil ways, steadfastly claiming that the Rackrent family are all saints and the kindest masters in the world. On the one hand, his loyalty is admirable, but it could not have attached itself to a more unworthy object. Eventually, the family comes to ruin and a circumspect lawyer snaps up all their land and livelihood and the last of their house dies in poverty.

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Book Review: The Myth Made Fact

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The Myth Made Fact by Louis A. Markos

The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes
by Louis A. Markos

5 out of 5 stars

C.S Lewis wrote an essay called “Myth Became Fact”, explaining that all the pagan myths hold a kernel of truth pointing to Christ. He said that “the heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact…” The story of Christ is a true history that “retains its mythic power and force.” Lewis believed that our imagination is fired up in mythical stories, and that those stories will guide our hearts to the truth. “Reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”-C.S. Lewis

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Book Review: The Wide, Wide World

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The Wide, Wide World by Susan Bogert Warner

The Wide, Wide World
by Susan Bogert Warner

4 out of 5 stars

Ellen’s mother goes abroad hoping to improve her health in Europe, and Ellen is sent to live with her grumpy aunt. Her mother encourages her to look to Jesus for help and guidance, and Ellen’s temper is sorely tried when her aunt is unjust and mean to her. But Ellen has some help from Alice, a neighbor lady who is the daughter of a local preacher. Although Ellen’s aunt won’t send her to school, Alice agrees to help Ellen with her studies in French and English grammar and they pray and read the Bible together too. Alice’s brother, John, also agrees to help with Ellen’s education, and teaches her history, science, and horseback riding. Through many difficulties and setbacks, Ellen learns to trust in God and finds peace in His providence.

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Book Review: With Wolfe in Canada

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With Wolfe in Canada by G.A. Henty

With Wolfe in Canada
by G.A. Henty

4 out of 5 stars

James becomes involved with the squire’s estate when he saves a little girl, Aggie, from drowning in the ocean. The child is placed with his mother’s school for girls, and they become childhood playmates. James comes to Aggie’s defense when the squire’s nephew, Richard Horton, breaks her toy boat and pushes her down, and the squire hears about the fight between the two boys. Years later, James and Richard meet again when James is pressed on board a ship going to America. James joins the militia as a volunteer until his commission in the royal army can come through from England, and he fights in the French and Indian War, joining officers like Colonel Washington, Colonel Monro at Fort William Henry, and the famous General Wolfe who led the American troops into Canada.

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Book Review: The Talisman

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The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott Bart

The Talisman
by Sir Walter Scott

5 out of 5 stars

King Richard the Lionheart is on a Crusade to the Holy Land when he falls ill with a fever. A month-long truce is called between the armies, and Richard’s European allies use the time to plot against him. A poor Scottish knight, Sir Kenneth, goes on a short pilgrimage to visit the holy hermit of a nearby mountain range with secret messages from the European council to Saladin, the leader of the Muslim army. On the way Sir Kenneth meets a lone Arabian warrior, and after a brief skirmish, they agree to travel together as worthy opponents. Sir Kenneth arrives at the hermitage and sees a strange and holy sight that changes the destiny of his life.

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