Animal Farm by George Orwell

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Title: Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell

Genre: Political Satire

Length: 141 pages

Published: 1945 (original) 1996 (version I read)

Publisher: Signet

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) As ferociously fresh as it was more than a half century ago, this remarkable allegory of a downtrodden society of overworked, mistreated animals and their quest to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality is one of the most scathing satires ever published. As readers witness the rise and bloody fall of the revolutionary animals, they begin to recognize the seeds of totalitarianism in the most idealistic organization and in the most charismatic leaders, the souls of the cruelest oppressors.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was excellent! I am kicking myself for not reading it earlier in life. I could not stop reading it (which is a change from 1984 which took me forever to finish even though I was completely loving the plot). I found it amusing and terribly sad at the same time. It really shows how people (and animals) change when they are placed in positions of power. Definitely a must read for anyone who likes a good political satire.

You can purchase Animal Farm through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Animal Farm? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Title: The Scarlet Letter

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 272 pages

Published: 1850 (original) 2004 (version I read)

Publisher: Barnes and Noble Classics

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) America’s first psychological novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is a dark tale of love, crime, and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the punishment of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden guilt; and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband—a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for vengeance. The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are universal—the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the elegance of a Greek tragedy, The Scarlet Letter brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

The Scarlet Letter is one of those books that I've never read but I know and understand the majority of the storyline. (I've also never watched any of the movies made based off of the novel.) I've always managed to end up in the English classes in school that never read this book or a lot of the other classics. 

It is definitely a dark tale that shows a glimpse into a world that is not what we are used to today. The hardest part for me was the writing style, but I really try to ignore that with classics like this, as it's typical of the writing styles of the era in which the book was written. 

Warning!: the rest of the review has spoilers. I try really hard not to post spoiler so people can read the stories for themselves, but I feel this is an old enough book that has been made into several movies, that I can safely post a major spoiler. 

I did enjoy the story and felt heart-broken for both Hester and Pearl when the Reverend died. I was hoping they'd go off and be happy together elsewhere, but I should have definitely known better to hope for such an event. (Ever the romantic optimist...) I'm glad that Hawthorne added in the bit after the events on the scaffold that day to explain what is believed to have happened to Hester and Pearl. It was definitely nice to learn that they were able to have somewhat happy lives after they left New England.

If you're looking for a great classic to pick up, I'd definitely pick this one up.

You can purchase The Scarlet Letter through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Scarlet Letter? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

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Title: The Story of My Life

Author: Helen Keller

Genre: Biography/Memoir

Length: 400 pages

Published: 1902 (original); 2004 (version I read)

Publisher: Modern Library

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Story of My Life, a remarkable account of overcoming the debilitating challenges of being both deaf and blind, has become an international classic, making Helen Keller one of the most well-known, inspirational figures in history. Originally published in 1903, Keller’s fascinating memoir narrates the events of her life up to her third year at Radcliffe College.

Helen Keller’s story of struggle and achievement is one of unquenchable hope. From tales of her difficult early days, to details of her relationship with her beloved teacher Anne Sullivan, to her impressions of academic life, Keller’s honest, straightforward writing lends insight into an amazing mind. Like the original, this centenary edition of The Story of My Life includes letters Keller wrote to friends throughout her childhood and adolescence that chronicle her intellectual and sensory progression, as well as assistant John Macy’s commentary on her interpretations of her surroundings.

In addition to reprinting Keller’s long-lost original work, this edition contains excerpts from her little-known, deeply personal memoir The World We Live In, which give readers a detailed look into an otherwise unimaginable existence, as well as an excerpt from Out of the Dark, a political commentary Keller wrote during her years as a socialist.

Deftly edited and prefaced by scholar James Berger, this comprehensive anniversary edition celebrates a century of readers’ enthrallment with one of the most powerful figures in history.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was definitely a very interesting read. It's set out in three parts: Part 1 was Helen Keller telling her life story, Part 2 was a series of letters that she sent to friends and acquaintances, and Part 3 was a lot of supplemental information using letters from her teacher telling about how she taught Helen language, writing, history, and to speak. It was quite fascinating to learn about how Helen learned to do the things that come naturally to so many people. She was truly a very inspiring woman and very determined to be like everyone else and not be viewed differently.

You can purchase The Story of My Life through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Story of My Life? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Sun Gate by T.M. Williams

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Title: Sun Gate

Author: T.M. Williams
Series: Bohemian Grove Trilogy (#2)

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy

Length: 358 pages

Published: October 2013

Publisher: Half-Light Publishing

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) No one can be trusted in T.M. Williams’s heart-pounding new novel, Sun Gate. The second book in the popular Bohemian Grove trilogy finds Carter doubting everything she thought she knew while knee deep in the Peruvian jungle.

Carter, a descendent of the alien race Anunnaki, is in the fight of her life. The only one with the potential to communicate with the Anunnaki on their home planet of Nibiru, Carter’s survival hangs in the balance. She is being targeted by the Vaticates, also known as the “protectors of the faith,” whose existence relies on the suppression of the Anunnaki. Discovery of the Anunnaki would ultimately lead to the end of religion and faith, and the Vaticates will stop at nothing until the only link between this world and the Anunnaki is killed.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I had been anxiously awaiting the release of the second book in the Bohemian Grove Trilogy, and boy, it did not disappoint. Much like the first book (Bohemian Grove), I could not put this down. It's been quite some time since I read the first book, but I was able to easily pick up the sequel and start reading without wondering "wait, what happened in the first book again?!". Usually I re-read all the books in a series when a new book comes out, but I figured this one was still pretty fresh in my mind and I'd be OK. I was right about that.

I loved watching Carter try to decide between Jack and William. I'm Team Jack, so it broke my heart every time he'd catch Carter and William "having a moment". The love triangle isn't the main focus of the book though. Throughout there were a lot of little clues and just enough danger to keep you yearning to read and learn more. I felt that it was easy to identify with Carter, and that makes the story much more compelling. I can not wait for the conclusion of the trilogy, especially after the shocking end to Sun Gate.

You can purchase Sun Gate through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Sun Gate? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

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Title: Johnny Got His Gun

Author: Dalton Trumbo

Genre: War Fiction

Length: 309 pages

Published: 2007 (version I read)

Publisher: Citadel

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) This was no ordinary war. This was a war to make the world safe for democracy. And if democracy was made safe, then nothing else mattered--not the millions of dead bodies, nor the thousands of ruined lives...This is no ordinary novel. This is a novel that never takes the easy way out: it is shocking, violent, terrifying, horrible, uncompromising, brutal, remorseless and gruesome...but so is war.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This is a pretty brutal story. It's written from the point of view of an American soldier who was grievously injured during WWI. First is his horrifying discovery that his left arm is missing...and then he keeps discovering the rest of the truth of his condition. Through flashbacks as he lays trapped in his condition, you learn the sort of guy Joe is, and about his family and friends. Eventually he manages to convey to military officials that he wants to travel the world so people can see what war is really like. 

Just reading each time he discovers something new about himself after he was shot was like a punch to the throat. I definitely felt a sense of pity for this man, who was conscious and aware, yet could not make the nurses and doctors aware that he was still mentally there. This is definitely a great anti-war novel and worth the read.

You can purchase Johnny Got His Gun through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Johnny Got His Gun? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka

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Title: When the Emperor Was Divine

Author: Julie Otsuka

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 144 pages

Published: 2003

Publisher: Anchor

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) On a sunny day in Berkeley, California, in 1942, a woman sees a sign in a post office window, returns to her home, and matter-of-factly begins to pack her family's possessions. Like thousands of other Japanese Americans they have been reclassified, virtually overnight, as enemy aliens and are about to be uprooted from their home and sent to a dusty internment camp in the Utah desert.

In this lean and devastatingly evocative first novel, Julie Otsuka tells their story from five flawlessly realized points of view and conveys the exact emotional texture of their experience: the thin-walled barracks and barbed-wire fences, the omnipresent fear and loneliness, the unheralded feats of heroism. When the Emperor Was Divine is a work of enormous power that makes a shameful episode of our history as immediate as today's headlines.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was a sad glimpse into a part of American history that many people forget even happened. During WWII, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Japanese-Americans were rounded up and shipped to internment camps or arrested as suspected spies. The story follows a mother and her children as they were forced to leave their home and live in one of these camps. Their father is not with them as he was arrested by the FBI sometime prior and living in a prison camp in Texas. Definitely worth picking up!

You can purchase When the Emperor Was Divine through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read When the Emperor Was Divine? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

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Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson 

Genre: Children's Fantasy

Length: 191 pages

Published: 1977 (original) 2008 (version I read)

Publisher: Harper Teen

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This is a classic and most kids end up reading this in school. For some reason I think I was always in the class that did not read this. I've always known the gist of the story but do not remember ever actually reading it. This is a great story of imagination and a deep, lasting friendship. Definitely worth the read (or re-read), but keep the tissues nearby.

You can purchase Bridge to Terabithia through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Bridge to Terabithia? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Defending Jacob by William Landay

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Title: Defending Jacob

Author: William Landay

Genre: Mystery

Length: 432 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I was going to give this 4 stars because it seemed to drag on a bit and it felt like it took forever to read (only a few days but I think I was coming down from a "book-a-day" craze since I was reading a ton of shorter books right before this). There were a lot of legal terms used since the narrator is a lawyer, but the author made sure that they were explained to the other characters who were not lawyers. He managed this pretty well, seamlessly inserting definitions of some of the more complicated terms without making it seem like he was solely explaining them for the reader.

Because of the ending, which was honestly a little bit of a shocker, I had to bump it up to five stars. After I finished the book, I realized that there were a ton of extremely subtle hints throughout the book that were placed to lead up to the ending. You don't even really realize that they're there until after you finish the book. This was a well-written, incredible novel. Definitely worth the read!

You can purchase Defending Jacob through Amazon in either hard copy or kindle format. 

Have you read Defending Jacob? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Death in Venice by Thoms Mann

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Title: Death in Venice

Author: Thomas Mann

Genre: Classic Literature

Length: 79 pages

Published: 1912 (original), 1986 (version I read)

Publisher: Buccaneer Books, Inc.

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Gustav von Aschenbach is a revered author whose work is known for its discipline & formal perfection. At his Venetian hotel he encounters the strikingly handsome young teenager Tadzio. Aschenbach is disturbed by his attraction to the boy. Although he watches Tadzio, he doesn't dare speak to him. Despite warnings of a cholera epidemic Aschenbach stays in Venice. He sacrifices his dignity & well-being to the immediate experience of beauty as embodied by Tadzio. After exchanging a significant look with the boy on the day of Tadzio's scheduled departure, Aschenbach dies of cholera. As in his other major works, Mann explores the role of the artist in society. The cerebral Aschenbach summons extraordinary discipline & endurance in his literary work, but his private desires overwhelm him.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This is a short, flowery tale of an older artist who travels to Venice for vacation. While at his hotel, he spies a young, "god-like" boy who throughout the tale he finds himself in love with. The two never speak, merely exchange fleeting glances.

The writing style is reminiscent to me of Henry James, especially considering that the ending is rather tragic. It's a nice, short story that really allows the reader to appreciate the main character's attraction to this young man.

You can purchase Death in Venice through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Death in Venice? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer

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Title: How to Breathe Underwater

Author: Julie Orringer

Genre: Short Stories

Length: 226 pages

Published: 2005

Publisher: Vintage

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Nine brave, wise, and spellbinding stories make up this award-winning debut. In "When She is Old and I Am Famous" a young woman confronts the inscrutable power of her cousin's beauty. In "Note to Sixth-Grade Self" a band of popular girls exert their social power over an awkward outcast. In "Isabel Fish" fourteen-year-old Maddy learns to scuba dive in order to mend her family after a terrible accident. Alive with the victories, humiliations, and tragedies of youth, How to Breathe Underwater illuminates this powerful territory with striking grace and intelligence.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I have to admit, the first short story in this collection made me say "what the heck am I reading?!" because it was just a little bizarre with the way it ended. However, I really did enjoy each tale. They were each unique with a different underlying theme. Each story follows a girl (or two) and her emotions and feelings as to events happening around her. Definitely a nice, quick read.

You can purchase How to Breathe Underwater through Amazon in either hard copy or kindle format. 

Have you read How to Breathe Underwater? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

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Title: The Yearling

Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Genre: Children's Books

Length: 513 pages

Published: 1930

Publisher: Scribner Book Company

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Young Jody adopts an orphaned fawn he calls Flag and makes it a part of his family and his best friend. But life in the Florida backwoods is harsh, and so, as his family fights off wolves, bears, and even alligators, and faces failure in their tenuous subsistence farming, Jody must finally part with his dear animal friend. There has been a film and even a musical based on this story.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was a really good coming of age story about a young boy who is carefree (and whose father permits him to shirk his chores much to his mother's chagrin), and raises a young fawn who was orphaned by his father when he had to use her organs to try to get some of the rattlesnake poison out of his veins. Jody spends the entire book learning how to grow up and eventually having to part with his pet and how to take care of the family's needs. 

Some parts of the story were a little slow and it took a long time before Jody finds the young fawn, but everything was definitely important to the build up of the story: understanding the neighbors, understanding the way his father and mother act, the reasons they do things, etc. In the end, Jody learns a lot of valuable lessons and grows up to be a man.

You can purchase The Yearling through Amazon in either hard copy or kindle format. 

Have you read The Yearling? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir, Michèle Fitoussi

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Title: Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail

Author: Malika Oufkir, Michèle Fitoussi

Genre: Biography, Memoir

Length: 294 pages

Published: 2002

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Born into a proud Berber family in 1953, the eldest daughter of the King of Morocco's closest aide, Malika Oufkir was adopted at the age of five by King Muhammad V to be brought up as the companion of his daughter, Princes Amina. When he died, his son Hassan II became King and took charge of rearing the two girls as well as his own children. Malika spent eleven years living at the court, in the seclusion of the harem, until she left the palace, at the age of 16, as one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom and tasted a couple of years of a heady jet-set lifestyle. On August 16th, 1972, her father, General Muhammad Oufkir, was arrested and executed after an attempt to assassinate the king. Malika, her mother, and four siblings were imprisoned in a penal colony.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This is the tale of a girl and her family who have everything, and how that was ripped away from them the day their father tried to assassinate the king. Malika tells their story and gives voice to her siblings, mother, and the two women who chose to go with them, in this memoir. For their father's botched attempt at assassination, the Oufkir family was made to "disappear", for twenty years. 

At first it was closer to a house arrest, they still had advantages: books, radio, clothing, fresh food. Eventually they got moved to a horrible place where they were separated, lived in horrible conditions, ate rancid meat and rotten vegetables, received no medical attention, and somehow survived for years through their own ingenuity and hope. Malika became a mother figure to her siblings as well as a teacher and confidant. 

Then the day came where Malika, one of her sisters, and her two brothers managed to escape. Together, the Oufkir family managed to stick together, stay strong, and escape their bonds. This was definitely a great memoir to read.

You can purchase Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail through Amazon in hard copy format. 

Have you read Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Monthly Update - November 2013

Another month of reading down! Unfortunately my "to-read" list never seems to get smaller. Maybe I should stop entering giveaways on Goodreads...NAH! I'd rather keep trying to win free books. It's my way of knowing what's coming out and what seems to be trending, too. For awhile it was nothing but zombie books...I really had to keep from that set, because zombies are my guilty pleasure.

At any rate, here's what I'm currently reading:

• Anna Karenina (still...I am enjoying the story, it's just a 700 page novel and that's very daunting. I am making it a priority right now though. I think the other problem is because I have it on my Kindle I don't have a deadline forcing me to finish it like I do with many of the other books I read since I get those from the library.)
• Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir & Michèle Fitoussi

What's coming up next:

• The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
• How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
• Defending Jacob by William Landay
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
• Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
• Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories by Washington Irving
• When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
• y1 by Sherrie Cronin (won't be reading this until after Anna Karenina is finished)
• z2 by Sherrie Cronin (won't be reading this until after Anna Karenina is finished)

I realize it looks like a long list, but chances are some of these are going to flow into December's reading list. I actually had to pull from November's reading list for some of the books I read in October (which is a good sign!) Hopefully most of these will be done before the end of November. I'd love to be ahead of schedule!