Duology Review: The Prisoner of Zenda / Rupert of Hentzau

The Prisoner of Zenda / Rupert of Hentzau
The Prisoner of Zenda / Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rudolf goes on vacation to Ruritania, he discovers that he is the King’s doppelganger. When the King is kidnapped by his evil half-brother, Duke Michael, Rudolf is persuaded to masquerade on the throne until the real King can be rescued. While Rudolf’s quick wit and steady nerves will help him to act as King, he is unprepared for the vagaries of the heart when he meets Princess Flavia.

I enjoyed both the books in this duology so much! The adventure, the espionage, the dashing heroes, the battles for honor and love, and of course, the beautiful Princess Flavia who inspires others to daring deeds of courage and loyalty. Continue reading

Do’s and Don’ts of Reading Classics

 

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Book Review: The Small House at Allington

The Small House at Allington
The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lily and Bell are two sisters, living with their widowed mother in the Small House, adjacent to their uncle’s estate at Allington. Both girls have trouble with love, trouble with money, and general family difficulties to overcome. Their uncle has his own plans for the family’s future, but the girls have their own independent ideas for their happiness.

A major theme in the book is misunderstandings, disappointments, and how people don’t really understand the motivations or inner hearts of those around them, even the people closest to them. As always, Trollope gives a compelling and interesting picture of human life. Continue reading

Book Review: The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

That is perhaps the most terrible thing I have ever read. I mean, I knew it would be disparaging of women and archaic in it’s ideas, but seriously! I never imagined that this play would be so entirely anti-feminist; buying and selling women in marriage without one single man ever once asking what the woman wants. All they talked about was price and goods and ownership, as if a marriage was a financial transaction. Continue reading

Play Review: Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This is a truly terrible play. The writing is decent, but the subject material…. ugh! So much violence and nastiness and evil, it made me cringe.
Titus Andronicus is a Roman general just back from war with the Goths, and he kills the son of Tamora, the Queen of the Goths, starting a cycle of revenge that ends with lots of blood on both sides.

It’s a tragedy, so I know nearly everyone is going to die, but still… really over the top violence and bloodshed. Continue reading

Avatar Last Airbender Book Tag

 

Clockwork Reader Original Tag: https://youtu.be/YpEvXo91K-I
Questions:
Water
1. Katara and Sokka: Best sibling relationship
2. Yue: Favorite star crossed lovers
3. Blood Bending: A book with a disturbing/unsettling concept Continue reading

Book Review: Finding God in the Hobbit

Finding God in the Hobbit
Finding God in the Hobbit by Jim Ware

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this in-depth look at the Christian themes found in the Hobbit! Tolkien is one of my top three favorite authors, so I was hanging on every word.

The author takes various characters, events, dialogue, and plot points from the Hobbit and then uses them to illustrate a Biblical truth. He really brought forth some excellent points that I had never thought of before! I loved how the author worked “around” a principle, and showed you all the facets and different sides, and then hammered it home simply and concisely. I loved the forceful writing style!

I wish that there had been more literary analysis though. It read more like a devotional book with personal stories, nuggets of wisdom, and a “thought for the day” kind of moral at the end of each chapter. I liked that, but I was hoping for more analysis of literary history, fairytale story structures, classical writing influences, Greek philosophy, etc…
In short, I wanted it to be more intellectual than it was.

But the devotional style of the book was good too! I enjoyed reading it so much, and I was even brought to tears a couple of times.

View all my reviews