literature

Book Review: Austenland

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Austenland by Shannon Hale

Austenland (Austenland, #1)
by Shannon Hale

1 out of 5 stars

Jane has always been obsessed with Mr. Darcy and can’t find happiness in any of her relationships. She goes on a vacation to Austenland, where the guests all dress up in Regency clothing and interact with actors as though it is 1816. Jane hopes that immersing herself in her Austen fantasies will help her to get it out of her system and allow her to be content in her real life. However, she discovers that love and fantasy are formidable foes, when she begins to flirt with a handsome gardener but also hopes to win the heart of a brooding Mr. Darcy-type character.

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Book Review: Dear Jane Austen

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Dear Jane Austen by Patrice Hannon

Dear Jane Austen: A Heroine’s Guide to Life and Love
by Patrice Hannon

1 out of 5 stars

The author gives advice through Jane Austen’s voice in a “Dear Abbey” style, answering letters from modern women who want to have a happy ending like the heroines in Austen’s books. Jane Austen is sitting at home and receives letters from the future. She sits down at her little writing desk to answer the letters, but is sometimes interrupted by her family and nieces visiting and commenting on the letters as well.

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Book Review: Beowulf

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Beowulf by Talbot E. Donaldson

Beowulf: A Prose Translation
by Talbot E. Donaldson

4 out of 5 stars

Beowulf hears of a murderous monster that is attacking Hrothgar’s kingdom, so he journeys across the sea to aid the mighty king. Beowulf refuses to use a sword against the terrible monster Grendel, choosing instead to trust in his own great strength in hand-to-hand combat. He beats Grendel and tears off the monster’s arm. Grendel flees, but bleeds to death elsewhere. Grendel’s mother swears revenge against them, and attacks the next night, killing Hrothgar’s best counselor. Beowulf pursues Grendel’s mother to her underwater lair, and finds an ancient giant’s sword in the caves beneath the lake. He uses the sword to kill her, but the sword melts from the heat of her monster blood. Beowulf cuts off Grendel’s head and returns with it to Hrothgar’s court to show the proof of the monster’s death. After receiving many beautiful and costly gifts in recognition of his great deeds, Beowulf returns to his own land across the sea.

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Book Review: Christian Mythmakers

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Christian Mythmakers by Rolland Hein

Christian Mythmakers: C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Williams, Dante Alighieri, John Bunyan, Walter Wangerin, Robert Siegel, and Hannah Hurnard
by Rolland Hein,

5 out of 5 stars

Through the centuries, there have been Christian writers who have captured the essence of mythology to reveal spiritual truths. Their stories spark a new level of awareness in our imaginations and deeply touch our hearts. Through these Christian myths, we understand ourselves and our relationship with God in a new light.

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Classic Book Review: Aunt Jane’s Nieces on Vacation

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Aunt Jane's Nieces on Vacation by Edith Van Dyne

Aunt Jane’s Nieces on Vacation (Aunt Jane’s Nieces, Book 7)
by Edith Van Dyne (Pseudonym), L. Frank Baum
4 out of 5 stars

Patsy, Beth, and Louise are on vacation with their Uncle John at the farmhouse in Millville. When they hear someone complaining that there is no morning newspaper, they decide to start printing a paper of their own. Uncle John buys a printing press, and the girls do all the journalism and editing. They charge one penny for each paper, but are steadily losing money because of all the expenses. The local mill workers start riots, and local politicians try to bribe the editor. Is running a country newspaper more trouble than it’s worth?

I loved this funny story about the girls taking up journalism as their new hobby. You would think that the plot would be boring with such a peaceful and quiet country setting, but there is plenty of action and mystery.

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Classic Book Review: Eight Cousins

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Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott

Eight Cousins (or The Aunt-Hill)
by Louisa May Alcott
5 out of 5 stars
After her father’s death Rose is listless and ill, until her new guardian, Uncle Alec, encourages her to try healthful food, sunshine, and exercise. Gradually, Rose begins to improve both in health and spirits, and soon she is able to join her cousins in their frolics and adventures. She has seven cousins, all boys, who gather around her with energetic fun. But Rose also has a great many meddlesome aunts, who object to Uncle Alec’s parenting style, saying that he will make her into a shameful tomboy instead of an elegant young lady. Ultimately, Rose has to decide which path is the best for her own happiness.

This book just gets sweeter every time I read it! What a comfort it is to reread old favorites! I always cry at the sad parts and cheer for Rose when she triumphs.

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Classic Review: Persuasion

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Persuasion by Jane Austen

Persuasion
by Jane Austen
5 out of 5 stars
Anne Elliot meets Captain Wentworth again after breaking off their engagement eight years before. She is filled with doubt and anxiety, and wonders how she should behave and whether or not his feelings have changed. Captain Wentworth tries to ignore her without actually being rude, and flirts with other young ladies of their acquaintance. It is impossible to tell if he is trying to hide a broken heart or if he has truly left behind his old feelings for Anne, but a few little words and looks might tell the true story.

A perfect masterpiece! Every time I reread this book I love it more and more, and see more depth in the characters, and more humor in the sarcastic writing style.

There are so many sweet little moments between Anne and Captain Wentworth! A glance, a small gesture, a chance word; all these things create such a suspense and make the story exciting. It’s the little undercurrents of emotion behind everyday scenes that make this book so special. On the surface, the plot doesn’t have much going on; but we get such an intimate look into Anne’s heart, and so much depth from each of the supporting characters, that it shows that there is quite a lot happening under the surface.

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Book Review: Twenty-One Balloons

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The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

The Twenty-One Balloons
by William Pène du Bois
5 out of 5 stars
Professor Sherman is sick of teaching mathematics to unruly children in San Francisco, so he decides to take a year-long balloon ride around the world and never touch land in all that time. However, within days his balloon crashes near the mysterious island of Krakatoa, and he discovers the secrets of the island where a most unusual society is flourishing and fabulous diamonds are available to anyone.

This is such a fun and entertaining story! The plot has all these hilarious details all about the reception for Professor Sherman when he returns to San Francisco, his arrangements for his balloon house and how he planned his balloon trip, and the strange society that lives on Krakatoa and how they organize their days. Most of the narrative is explaining things, so there isn’t a ton of action, but the descriptions are so wild and interesting that you never feel bored.

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Book Review: That Hideous Strength

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That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

That Hideous Strength (The Space Trilogy, #3)
by C.S. Lewis
4 out of 5 stars
Jane and Mark are caught between the forces of good and evil. As the N.I.C.E. corporation offers Mark a job to lure him into their wicked schemes, Jane is approached by a very different group of people who have gathered around Ransom. They each have to decide what they believe in when it turns out that archangels and ancient legends are real.

This book has a very different format from the other books in the series, and Ransom is a side character in his own story. The trouble with Jane and Mark being the main characters, is that I don’t really like either of them. They are so wishy-washy and both their personalities are unattractive. However, they do both have extreme character development and really interesting internal journeys.

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Classic Review: Mystery of the Blue Train

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The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie

The Mystery of the Blue Train (Hercule Poirot, #6)
by Agatha Christie
4 out of 5 stars

Poirot is traveling on the blue train when one of the passengers is murdered and a famous ruby called the Heart of Fire is stolen. There are several mysterious clues in the case that only the great Hercule Poirot can bring to light.

Poirot really is one of my favorite detectives! He definitely shines in this book, and I love the way that he is so protective of the innocent victims. He is wonderfully shrewd. His strong temperament pulls the story forward. Even if he is just having tea with some friends, every word takes on a special meaning when Poirot is part of the conversation!

I love the complex characters in this book! There is a lot of focus on unraveling their personalities and there are so many good scenes where they interact and react to one another. I just love the way each person has their own vivid and memorable personality.

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