Little Women

From Goodreads:    Generations of readers young and old, male and female, have fallen in love with the March sisters of Louisa May Alcott’s most popular and enduring novel, Little Women. Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

It is no secret that Alcott based Little Women on her own early life. While her father, the freethinking reformer and abolitionist Bronson Alcott, hobnobbed with such eminent male authors as Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, Louisa supported herself and her sisters with woman’s work,” including sewing, doing laundry, and acting as a domestic servant. But she soon discovered she could make more money writing. Little Women brought her lasting fame and fortune, and far from being the girl’s book” her publisher requested, it explores such timeless themes as love and death, war and peace, the conflict between personal ambition and family responsibilities, and the clash of cultures between Europe and America.

My Thoughts:

-    So, the edition I had growing up only had Part 1 in it. I knew there were other books, but I didn't know Alcott combined Good Wives with Little Women for a bigger book. It was my first time reading Part 2.

-    I enjoyed Part 1 a lot more than Part 2. When the March sisters were younger, they were fun and I could relate to them. I wanted to be their friend, and part of their lives. In Part 2, I felt a bit disconnected with the girls, and I got a bit frustrated with the author.

-    I feel like Louisa May Alcott tried WAY too hard to convince Jo and the reader that she didn't love Laurie and Jo loved Prof. Bhaer. It made me angry. Why does Jo need to convince herself that she loves someone? Shouldn't it be more natural? I feel like Jo and Bhaer's relationship was really forced.

-    Amy and Laurie didn't sit well with me either. Amy gave Laurie a lot of chastisement, and he takes it heart and grows up. Why couldn't he have done that for Jo? I feel like both Laurie and Jo could have grown in their own ways and ended up together. 

-    I also think Jo should have stayed single like Alcott. Since Alcott based Jo on herself, it would have made more sense for Jo to be single her whole life.

-    Okay, back to Part 1! I loved the simple happy lives the March sisters enjoyed and lived during their younger years. I love that they included Laurie in their games. It was so much fun to read, and it put a smile on my face.

-    I loved Marmee and her wisdom. She was very wise and caring mother, and I loved all the quotes and lessons from her. 

-    The story doesn't really have a plot or anything, but I still enjoyed reading the majority of the book. The characters are so real and enjoyable that I didn't mind the lack in plot. I just enjoyed reading about these 4 girls and their lives. 

David Copperfield

Goodreads Synopsis:    David Copperfield is the story of a young man’s adventures on his journey from an unhappy & impoverished childhood to the discovery of his vocation as a successful novelist. Among the gloriously vivid cast of characters he encounters are his tyrannical stepfather, Mr Murdstone; his formidable aunt, Betsey Trotwood; the eternally humble yet treacherous Uriah Heep; frivolous, enchanting Dora; & the magnificently impecunious Micawber, one of literature’s great comic creations.

In David Copperfield—the novel he described as his “favorite child”—Dickens drew revealingly on his own experiences to create one of his most exuberant & enduringly popular works, filled with tragedy & comedy in equal measure.

My Thoughts:

-    I've been wanting to read this for forever! I was always intimidated by it, but I didn't need to worry. I was captivated from page one. I really enjoyed reading this!

-    I love the way Dickens describes things. It is so vivid, and he makes everything so interesting. I love the way he describes Mr. Peggoty's house. It sounds amazing, and I want to visit there.

-    In the first half of the book I felt so bad for poor David! His whole world was turned upside down, and things just kept getting worse and worse. It made me want to hold my daughter and be extra kind to her. Why did David's mother marry such a creep!?

-    There were so many great characters in this story. I loved Mr. Peggoty, Mr. Micawber, Miss Mowcher, Traddles, Mr. Dick, Agnes, but my two absolute favorites were Peggoty and Betsey Trotwood. They were different, but they made huge impacts on David's life. I loved Peggoty's devotion and love. Betsey Trotwood made me laugh. I loved her stern kindness.

-    There were some unsavory characters as well. Uriah Heep was a creep from the beginning! His "humble" attitude and disposition just grated on my nerves, and I wanted to smack him. Steerforth bugged me, but I couldn't really say why until towards the end. He was haughty and wasn't a true friend. He was very self-centered.

-    I LOVED the old school illustrations. I want to frame one and hang it in my house. It would be so cool!

-    I loved when David broke the wall between author and reader and spoke directly to the reader. It was so interesting to see in a book this old. 

-    I don't understand David's devotion to Steerforth, even in the end. David idolized Steerforth and put him on an undeserved pedestal to worship. It was weird and drove me nuts.

-    David Copperfield is such a romantic. He romanticizes everything! He really sees the world through rose colored glasses, but he does get a few reality checks thank goodness. 

-    Dora bugged! I think David and Dora had a very shallow relationship. I don't doubt their devotion to each other, but it was a silly marriage. Dora was SO childish!

-    Mr. Micawber's letters were a bit tedious to read at times. He is SO wordy! But at the same time, it makes him so endearing.

-    I loved how ALL the character's individual stories were wrapped up. It was a nice and tidy ending. 

-    Great read! I'm not going to shy away from large Dickens books anymore!

Dracula

Goodreads Synopsis:    The most famous of seductive evil in Western Literature, blood-thirsty Count Dracula has inspired countless movies, books, and plays. But, few, if any, have been fully to Bram Stoker's best-selling novel of mystery and horror, love and death, sin and redemption.

Written in the form of letters and diary entries, Dracula chronicles the vampire's journey from his Transylvanian castle to the nighttime streets of London. There, he searches for the blood he needs to stay alive - the blood of strong men and beautiful women - while his enemies plot to rid the world of his frightful power.

In Dracula, Stoker created a new word for terror, a new myth to feed our nightmares, and a character who will undoubtedly outlive us all.

My Thoughts:

-    Haunting, creepy, and seductive! This book is definitely worth all the attention it has received.

-    They say there are two types of horror lovers. The vampire lovers and the monster lovers. I happen to be on team monster. I love Frankenstein and zombies! However, I did enjoy Dracula.

-    I didn't love any of the characters. They all seemed shallow and distant, and I thought some of things they did or missed was dumb. I did enjoy the predicaments and Gothic tones of the characters though.

-    The beginning of the novel really pulled me in. I loved the setting and intrigue. I liked the diary entries. I also liked the letters, and I thought the whole way this book was written was unique and fun. I got bored towards the end though. When they were looking for dirt and chasing Dracula around the country, I struggled to keep reading. I just wanted them to finally catch Dracula and kill him. Get it over with already!

-    I was bothered by a couple of the remarks made towards Mina. I'm not huge on the feminist bandwagon, but I was bugged that Van Helsing and others were impressed with Mina's mind. They referred to her as having a man's mind. Women are intelligent too Stoker! I get that this was written a long time ago, but it still bugged. I was also bugged that ALL the men were in love with Lucy and quickly turned around and fell in "love" with Mina. Get a grip dudes!

-    Overall, it was good. I would read it again, but probably not for a while. It is one of those books you have to be in the right mood for. 

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Goodreads Says:    In the year 1792, Sir Percy and Lady Marguerite Blakeney are the darlings of British society—he is known as one of the wealthiest men in England and a dimwit; she is French, a stunning former actress, and the cleverest woman in Europe—and they find themselves at the center of a deadly political intrigue. The Reign of Terror controls France, and every day aristocrats in Paris fall victim to Madame la Guillotine. Only one man can rescue them—the Scarlet Pimpernel—a master of disguises who leaves a calling card bearing only a signature red flower. As the fascinating connection between the Blakeneys and this mysterious hero is revealed, they are forced to choose between love and loyalty in order to avoid the French agent Chauvelin, who relentlessly hunts the Scarlet Pimpernel.

My Thoughts:

-    This wasn't as good as I had hoped, but it was still good.

-    I wanted there to be more action and scheming. I wish the book had been from Marguerite AND The Scarlet Pimpernel's perspective. I really wanted to read about some of the rescues.

-    This was pretty easy to read for a classic. There wasn't a lot of the old English language and phrases. 

-    Even though the book was very predictable, I still enjoyed it, especially the end. I liked how Percy and Marguerite grew more as a couple.

-    Chauvelin was a fun villain. He reminded me of Javert from Les Miserables. 

-    I liked that the story didn't have a ton of politics in it. It was more about blackmail and love. I really appreciated that.

Persuasion

Goodreads Synopsis:    In her final novel, as in her earlier ones, Jane Austen uses a love story to explore and gently satirize social pretensions and emotional confusion.Persuasion follows the romance of Anne Elliot and naval officer Frederick Wentworth. They were happily engaged until Anne’s friend, Lady Russell, persuaded her that Frederick was “unworthy.” Now, eight years later, Frederick returns, a wealthy captain in the navy, while Anne’s family teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. They still love each other, but their past mistakes threaten to keep them apart. Austen may seem to paint on a small canvas, but her characters contain the full range of human passion and moral complexity, and the author’s generous spirit renders them all with understanding, compassion, and humor.

My Thoughts:

-    It took about 50 pages for the story to get good, but after that I was hooked.

-    There were a lot of characters, and it was hard to keep track of who was who. There were so many in-laws and in-laws of in-laws. Watching the movie helped a lot with figuring out the characters.

-    I love Anne! She is so plain and kind. I loved seeing a meek female protagonist. I could relate to her shyness.

-    I LOVED the letter in the end. Letters are so personal and intimate, and I just love that is how Captain Wentworth chose to express himself. 

-    I wish there was a prequel. I want to know exactly what happened in past. How did Anne and Wentworth meet? How exactly did Lady Russel break them up? It is so intriguing.

-    I love the idea of these two people rediscovering their love for one another. We need more second chance love stories.

-    I want to know what happens to Mr. Elliot and Kellynch. I also want to know what happens to Anne's father and Elizabeth. 

-    Great story! Why did it take me so long to read this!?

Les Miserables

From Goodreads:    Victor Hugo’s tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free, however, for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine, driven to prostitution by poverty. A compelling and compassionate view of the victims of early nineteenth-century French society, Les Misérables is a novel on an epic scale, moving inexorably from the eve of the battle of Waterloo to the July Revolution of 1830.

My Thoughts:

-    It took me 2 weeks, but I did it! I read Les Miserables!!! 896 pages!!! It was an amazing journey! 

-    There are no words to describe the depth and feeling this story holds. I will try to do my best, but there isn't enough time for me write ALL my thoughts for this book.

-    If this is the abridged version, I don't even want to see the original. Can you get an unabridged version of this book in English? 

-    The whole theme of redemption and soul searching is powerful and moving.

-    I thought this would be hard to read and hard to understand, but it wasn't. It was actually a really fun and great read! There were some slow parts mixed in with the exciting and interesting parts, but it wasn't too bad.

-    The story would have gone smoother without a back story of EVERY character. I enjoyed learning the history of a lot of characters, but there were some I just thought tedious. 

-    There was a lot of French politics, and I didn't understand or care about a lot of it.

-    The characters were wonderful! Each one was so well thought out and so complicated. I loved them all! All except Thenardier, I hate that awful awful man!

-    I feel so bad for Javert. He is one of my favorite characters because his personality is so complicated. He isn't a bad guy; he is just doing his job and what he feels is right. He wants to bring justice. He doesn't believe in forgiveness or redemption at all! It is so sad! His confusion at the end is so heart breaking. 

-    Jean Valjean is an amazing man! One can only hope to be a man/ human being to his equal. 

-    I kept singing/hearing the music from the the play in my mind while I read different scenes. 

-    I wish there had been more Eponine. She wasn't in the book very much. I wish we got to see some of the story from her perspective. 

-    The emotions and descriptions were very deep and thorough. I felt so much during this journey, and my heart just ached! I didn't mind how descriptive most things were, but I just didn't care for the politics and other things.

-    If you have the courage and time to read this novel, I highly recommend it!! It was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is worth the time!

-    I feel like my thoughts are insufficient for this masterpiece. I really just can't put how I feel about this story into words.  It is a beautiful tale!  

-    I just want to go out into the world and do some good now! 

Aesop's Fables

Goodreads Synopsis:    As legend has it, the storyteller Aesop was a slave who lived in ancient Greece during the sixth century B.C. His memorable, recountable fables have brought amusing characters to life and driven home thought-provoking morals for generations of listeners and modern-day readers. Translated into countless languages and familiar to people around the world, Aesop’s fables never tarnish despite being told again and again. 

This collection presents nearly 300 of Aesop’s most entertaining and enduring stories from The Hare and the Tortoise and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse to The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs and The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. Populated by a colorful array of animal characters who personify every imaginable human type from fiddling grasshoppers and diligent ants to sly foxes, wicked wolves, brave mice, and grateful lions;these timeless tales are as fresh and relevant today as when they were first created. 

Full of humor, insight, and wit, the tales in Aesop's Fables champion the value of hard work and perseverance, compassion for others, and honesty. They are age-old wisdom in a delicious form, for the consumption of adults and children alike.

My Thoughts:

-    I'm sure everyone has heard an Aesop tale or two.  They are so common, yet not a lot of people know it is an Aesop fable.

-    Some of my favorites are:  The Peacock and the Crane, Mercury and the Woodman, The Ass The Fox and The Lion, The Crow and The Pitcher, The North Wind and The Sun, The Bear and the Travelers, The Bee and Jupiter, Father and Sons, The Two Bags, The Blacksmith and His Dog, The Farmer and The Fox, The Farmer and The Viper, The Lion and The Hare, The Crow and The Raven, and The Miser.

-    Some of the fables were a little hard to understand because I don't have a vast knowledge of Roman mythology or places.

-    These are the classic comedy or tragedy type tales.

-    There is a lot of wisdom and great advice in these little fables.  I loved pondering the message of a lot of them.

-    I really enjoyed reading these.  

-    I liked how Aesop used animals to explain people and their demeanors.  He was a clever guy.

-    I would have loved to me Aesop.  He would have been a fun person to hang out with.

-    I love how these Barnes and Noble Classics have added information on the authors and time period.  I also liked the little glossary at the end.  It helped me.