Hello everyone!
I read The Call of the Wild, by Jack London for school last year, and I remember that I absolutely hated it. After skimming it, and reading an in-depth synopsis, I can perfectly recall why. Set during the 19th century Klondike Gold Rushes the main character, a dog, named Buck, is the pet of a well-to-do judge from Santa Clara, CA, who allows him anything. Later, he is "dognapped" and forced to become a sled dog for some cruel, greedy men who are planning to mine for gold in Alaska. Finally, he is rescued by a kind owner. This story doesn't sound so bad, does it? Wrong. His kind owner is killed, Buck goes literally berserk and becomes the savage leader of a wolf pack. That is pretty brief, but considering the storyline, there really is not much to write about. I found this book extremely boring and had entirely too much detail about everything. The men are extremely cruel and the book hardly lets go of gloom. I would not suggest this book to anyone. Animal lovers would freak out and probably never read a Jack London book again. Romantics would give up two chapters in, and even adventure people would say that this has a poor storyline. (I won't go in to science geeks...) If you need more specific reasons, then ask in a comment, and I will do my best to explain! Of course, this is my own opinion, and I hope to hear other people's thoughts. I would not give up entirely on Jack London, however, because he has written some fine stories. Thanks for listening!
~ Tony Dewhurst
1/5 Recommended
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Tempest by Shakespeare
Hey guys,
I read the comedic play, The Tempest (W. Shakespeare) a while ago.
It's been rather difficult for me to decide whether I liked it or not. In the end, I would probably say, comparing it the other Shakespearean plays I've read, "just OK." This is partly because I'm not a huge fan of Shakespearean comedies in general and also because it was queer. It was unlike the other Shakes plays I've read. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but some people say the reason he wrote The Tempest was because his friends dared him to try something new and different. So some say he wrote it to prove he had the ability to write fantasy. Whether this is true or not, I did notice a slight difference of style in this play. That's not a bad thing; it was just something I noticed.
The story line wasn't all that attractive to me. It's basically about a sorcerer who tries to avenge his enemies who arose a tempest in order to banish him. Some of the characters are sprites and jolly fairies that make the storyline more playful. It was funny, amusing, and playful, and I consider it good literature, but it didn't amaze me.
I'm anxious to see what everyone's opinions are on this one. I rate it #2.
By the way, I'm sorry all I've done so far is Shakespeare. Next time I will write about a book on the book list, and it won't be another Shakespeare. Thanks, amigos!
I read the comedic play, The Tempest (W. Shakespeare) a while ago.
It's been rather difficult for me to decide whether I liked it or not. In the end, I would probably say, comparing it the other Shakespearean plays I've read, "just OK." This is partly because I'm not a huge fan of Shakespearean comedies in general and also because it was queer. It was unlike the other Shakes plays I've read. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but some people say the reason he wrote The Tempest was because his friends dared him to try something new and different. So some say he wrote it to prove he had the ability to write fantasy. Whether this is true or not, I did notice a slight difference of style in this play. That's not a bad thing; it was just something I noticed.
The story line wasn't all that attractive to me. It's basically about a sorcerer who tries to avenge his enemies who arose a tempest in order to banish him. Some of the characters are sprites and jolly fairies that make the storyline more playful. It was funny, amusing, and playful, and I consider it good literature, but it didn't amaze me.
I'm anxious to see what everyone's opinions are on this one. I rate it #2.
By the way, I'm sorry all I've done so far is Shakespeare. Next time I will write about a book on the book list, and it won't be another Shakespeare. Thanks, amigos!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Treasure Island
Hey People,
I recently read for the first time Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Honestly I loved it! Since this is a pretty well known book I won't give any background. I thought that the storyline was well thought out and beautifully articulated from beginning to end. He did an excellent job at grabbing your attention early on in the story and holding it there until the last page.The whole story is action packed and a real thriller. There were parts in the book that made my blood run cold, it was that good! It was creepy in parts, yet not so bad that you didn't want to read it anymore. Despite the previously stated points , there was enough humor throughout the book to keep it from getting depressing. Another thing I enjoyed about the book was that the language was much easier to understand than many other books I have read by Stevenson. I guess there weren't many things that I didn't like about the book, I was pretty well satisfied all the way around. Well thanks for listening to me gab.
$x Dodge x$
4/5 recommended
I recently read for the first time Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Honestly I loved it! Since this is a pretty well known book I won't give any background. I thought that the storyline was well thought out and beautifully articulated from beginning to end. He did an excellent job at grabbing your attention early on in the story and holding it there until the last page.The whole story is action packed and a real thriller. There were parts in the book that made my blood run cold, it was that good! It was creepy in parts, yet not so bad that you didn't want to read it anymore. Despite the previously stated points , there was enough humor throughout the book to keep it from getting depressing. Another thing I enjoyed about the book was that the language was much easier to understand than many other books I have read by Stevenson. I guess there weren't many things that I didn't like about the book, I was pretty well satisfied all the way around. Well thanks for listening to me gab.
$x Dodge x$
4/5 recommended
Friday, May 1, 2009
List of Suggested Books and Who's Turn it Is
Ok guys, here is the list of recommended books for you to review, proposed by Dewhurst and edited extensively by me.
The Hobbit, Tolkien
The Cricket on the Hearth, Dickens
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Verne
Thank You, Jeeves, Wodehouse
Treasure Island, Stevenson
Captains Courageous, Kipling
Roughing It, Twain
Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare
Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery
Jane Eyre, Bronte
The Man Who was Thursday, Chesterton
Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis
The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde
The Spectre Bridegroom, Irving
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Orczy
The Call of the Wild, London
Ok, here is the order in which we will tentatively go:
Artful Dodger
Laura
Lady Arwen
Lord Anthony Dewhurst
Me
And if anyone else joins the blog, they can go to the back of the line. Start reading a book ahead of time so that you're ready to go when it's your turn.
-Tini
The Hobbit, Tolkien
The Cricket on the Hearth, Dickens
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Verne
Thank You, Jeeves, Wodehouse
Treasure Island, Stevenson
Captains Courageous, Kipling
Roughing It, Twain
Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare
Anne of Green Gables, Montgomery
Jane Eyre, Bronte
The Man Who was Thursday, Chesterton
Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis
The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde
The Spectre Bridegroom, Irving
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Orczy
The Call of the Wild, London
Ok, here is the order in which we will tentatively go:
Artful Dodger
Laura
Lady Arwen
Lord Anthony Dewhurst
Me
And if anyone else joins the blog, they can go to the back of the line. Start reading a book ahead of time so that you're ready to go when it's your turn.
-Tini
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