A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

     In what is probably Charles Dickens’ best known work we meet Ebenezer Scrooge, a rich old miser who loves money more than anything else. One Christmas Eve night he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who has been dead for seven years. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits in hopes that he will not be doomed in death. Scrooge is taken on a journey through past, present, and future Christmases… but will he learn anything?

This is what a true classic looks like. The ideas of this story stand against the test of time. They are as true today as they where when they were written over a century ago. This story is so effective in its telling that film after film has been made of this story, the most recent being Disney’s animated version (which I highly recommend, by the way). Every home should have a copy of this book.

1) Overall Plot = 5
2) Characters = 5
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5

Average of  score 5
Overall grade = A

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

This was book 50 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 11 in my Classics challenge.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

     In the middle of World War II, Gene and Phineas are coming into their last year of high school. Roommates, away at boarding school, they find themselves growing closer over the summer session. As Gene tries to find himself, he also senses a rivalry building between him and his friend. After a serious accident (or was it an accident after all?) neither of the boys will ever be the same.

This is an interesting read; seeing how the idea of being drafted or the decision to enlist into the military affects these boys. Especially since we no longer have the draft here, even in times of war most people don’t think about the military very often. Gene’s journey is interesting as well. He’s telling this story, so we understand everything from his perspective. You get to see his inner struggles and get insight into his reactions, which you sometimes want to smack him for… or maybe that’s just me. Overall, it’s pretty good. I would suggest reading it at least once.

1) Overall Plot = 4
2) Characters = 4
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 4
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 4.5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 3.5

Average of  score 4
Overall grade = B

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

This was book 49 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 10 in my Classics challenge.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

     Esther is a college student who has won an internship in New York city working for fashion magazine. The story follows the events of this trip, told by Esther herself. A few highs, lots of lows, and everything in between.

What’s funny about this novel, for me, is that I remembered liking it a lot more when I read it in highschool… I guess I was going through my deep, introspective, “Do we really exist, or is this all in our minds?” phase. I can’t say I enjoyed it at all this time around. This is an autobiographical novel, and though it is a fictional work it does chronicle the author’s own mental breakdown and suicide attempt. It is mostly dark and Esther’s behavior is sometimes manic. She is also somewhat obsessed with the idea of sex (and men) though she has never been intimate with anyone. There is no real plot to the story, it’s mostly just a retelling of events which jumps back and forth in time, as events cause Esther to remember things from the past. This may be a good novel to read as a study of a depressed, suicidal mind (Sylvia Plath did eventually succeed in killing herself), but I wouldn’t say that it has the entertainment value a novel should have.

1) Overall Plot = 1
2) Characters = 2
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 2
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 3.5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 1

Average of  score 1.9
Overall grade = D

Where to buy the book: Amazon | B&N

This was book 46 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 8 in my Classics challenge.

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

     After Margaret Murray and her baby brother encounter a strange visitor in their kitchen one night during a storm, they are whisked away on an incredible journey to find their missing father. Along the way, they will help fight a growing evil that threatens the entire universe. Some planets have already given in. Earth is in the middle of the struggle, though no one may realize it.

     It’s no wonder that this is a classic. A wonderful blend of sci-fi and fantasy with overt Christian themes. There’s no hiding the Christian message in this one. L’Engle’s descriptiveness is just enough to help you imagine her world, but not overdone to the point that it slows the story. The characters are excellent, and the story keeps you engaged. This one is no doubt intended for children, but I think anyone can enjoy it at any age.

1) Overall Plot = 5
2) Characters = 5
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5

Average of  score 5
Overall grade = A

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

This was book 43 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 5 in my Classics challenge.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

     It’s a classic tale of two unlikely friends. George is small and resourceful. Lennie is very large, and very strong, but short on brains. Lennie’s strength, coupled with his pure innocence, often gets him into trouble that George has to get him out of. They travel from job to job, but they have a plan. They’re going to save their money and buy their own piece of land. That’s if they can make it through their newest job on a ranch where a the flirtatious wife of the boss’ son makes life hard.

     The characters in this book are common, and their language reflects it. Lots of cursing in this one, but there’s something about the story that makes pushing through the language worth it. At a little over 100 pages it is not a long novel, but it has a large impact. Steinbeck was great at telling a simple story in a profound way. His characters are believable and identifiable, and you feel for them greatly, even in the span of just one hundred pages. This is a shining example of great storytelling.

1) Overall Plot = 4
2) Characters = 5
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 4.5

Average of  score 4.7
Overall grade = A-

Where to buy the book: Amazon | B&N

This was book 42 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 4 in my Classics challenge.

Saturday Sharing 4/30/11

All you have to do is share what you are currently reading. Tell us the title, author, a brief summary (no spoilers), and your thoughts on it so far. That’s it.

The Pilgrim’s Progress
by John Bunyan

An allegory of the Christian life, the story follows Christian as he makes his way to find eternal life.

Loving it so far. It’s not as difficult to read as I was expecting, considering it was written in the 1600′s.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

“The Pearl is an enduring and classic fable, sensitively told, in simple and beautiful language. It is the story of a fisherman who found a pearl beyond price, the Pearl of the World. With the pearl, he hoped to buy peace and happiness for himself , his wife, and their little son. Instead he found that peace and happiness are not to be purchased. They are, themselves, pearls beyond price.”

This is the description on the back of my copy of The Pearl. I posted it here because I couldn’t have said it any better. The story is simple and relatable. No fancy language. No long segments of dialogue. The Pearl is simply classic, descriptive story-telling.

This was book 9 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 1 in my Classics challenge.