To Kill a Mockingbird

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Year: 1960

Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

What a great book. It is a tale of small town USA, prejudice, discrimination, and one mans fight against it in the 1930’s. It is told through a child’s eyes, which gives the book a sort of innocence even when it’s awash in racism.

The images and characters, from Atticus Finch to Scout, that Lee creates will never fade from your mind.

Everyone should read this book. It is a great book for school, both for its entertainment values and the issues that it deals with. I wish that I had read it in English class.

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The Sword of Honour Trilogy

Title: The Sword of Honour Trilogy
Author: Evelyn Waugh
Year: 1886

The hallucination was dissolved, like the whales and the turtles on the voyage from Crete, and he was back after less than two years’ pilgrimage in a Holy Land of illusion in the old ambiguous world, where priests were spies and gallant friends proved traitors and his country was led blundering into dishonour.

This series is not quite what you would expect for material relating to WWII. It is humorous in many parts, but it does have sober moments of tragedy and suffering.

The three books in the Trilogy are Men at Arms, Officers and Gentlemen, and Unconditional Surrender. It tells of a gentleman whose family is extremely old and respected, and now broke. He joins the army for his own glory and experiences many events over the war.

What I really liked about the novel was how it presented the British army. Many times the solders were moved around in chaos, and most of the operations were cancelled in the eleventh hour. The bureaucracy of the military, in all of its strange glory, is brilliantly presented throughout the series. A good read; funny, well written and engaging.

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Rob Roy

Title: Rob Roy
Author: Sir Walter Scott
Year: 1817

For Why? Because the good old rule
Sufficeth them; the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can.
Rob Roy's Grave. - Wordsworth

If you have seen the move, forget it. The book has very little to do with the movie. In fact, Rob Roy is only in about 1/3 of the book.

The novel is about a young man who defies his father and refuses to take on the family business. His father is a successful merchant and the son wants to be a poet. The father sends his son to his brother and the book tells of this journey and the consequences of it.

I enjoyed the book but some sections were hard to read. When the Scotts are speaking in their native dialect, the novel is hard to understand. In my copy, there was a glossary in the back, but flipping back and forth seemed to break the flow of the story so I soon stopped. I think this is one of the first historic Fictions, as Rob Roy really existed, which is kind of cool. Other than the dialogue problems, it is a good book to read and I recommend it.

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The Scarlet Letter

Title: The Scarlet Letter
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Year: 1850

On a field, sable,
The letter A, gules.

This was probably America’s first classic. If you have watched the movie with Demi Moore, forget it! The book is worlds better, and except for the characters names and the basic story, it is completely different. How could Hollywood produce such filth, and then tarnish the book by sharing its name?

My biggest beef with the book is the horrendously long, boring and meaningless preface. Take my advice, don’t read it! Skip right to the story. The preface is nearly ¼ of the length of the story, and it is some of the worst drabble I have ever read.

The story proper, is a gripping tale of adultery in a puritan colony. In it you will find a soul tormented by long-kept secrets, and another whose strength bears the weight of the world.

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Robinson Crusoe

Title: Robinson Crusoe
Author: Daniel Defoe
Year: 1719

All these things, with some very surprising incidents in some new adventures of my own, for ten years more, I mat perhaps give a farther account of hereafter.

This book has no chapters! It is one continuous tale from start to finish. I found this very strange, but it adds to the overall tone of the book.

Almost everyone knows something about Robinson Crusoe. There have been movies and it is one of the most popular books in English literature, with good reason.

The book is short, but it seems longer because there are no breaks in it. I enjoyed this book and even if you know the story before you start, it is enjoyable.

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Moby Dick

Title: Moby Dick
Author: Herman Melville
Year: 1851

Call Me Ishmael!

I found this book OK. The emotional struggle between Ahab and the White Whale was written very well. When the book was telling the tale it was riveting. The only problem is that the author frequently sidetracks to inform the audience about various whaling practices. These tend to be overly-descriptive, long-winded and boring. In one section, when he is talking about the measurements of the whale I actually fell asleep reading it!

One interesting thing about the book is it sometimes takes a Shakespearean twist with play-like soliloquies. Often times these are used to reveal information about the characters that needs to be told.

The chapters in the book are very short. There are 135 chapters for a 590 page book! It is great for reading on the train, as it allows you to have convenient breaks in regular intervals.

Overall, I recommend this book. The story is very good, only a little wordy in sections.

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Metamorphoses

Title: Metamorphoses
Author: Ovid
Year: circa 8 A.D.

Of bodies chang’d to various forms, I sing:
Ye Gods, from whom these miracles did spring...

The message that Ovid is trying explain in his Metamorphoses can be summarized in two words: omnia mutantur, ‘everything changes.’ It is one of Ovid most famous works, and is a true classic that has stood the test of time.

Many of the tales told in the book are very well known. There in the story of Daedalus and Icarus, Narcissus and Phaethon to name a few. Ovid takes these myths and uses them to tell his tale. Having a basic understanding of Greek and Roman myth will definitely help a lot in understanding Ovid’s points.

This book is not a light read! I found some of the tales hard to understand, since I did not have a basic idea of how they were supposed to go. For these sections, I often had to read the verse multiple times. The version might have contributed to the problem since it is written in rhyme. If you want to see if you will enjoy reading and epic, read Dante’s Inferno first. If you can’t handle that one you won’t even finish Metamorphoses.

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The Mayor of Casterbridge

Title: The Mayor of Casterbridge
Author: Thomas Hardy
Year: 1886

'For my part, I don’t see why men who have got wives and don’t want’em shouldn’t get rid of’em as these gipsy fellows do their old horses.'

What a unique beginning! The first chapter of the book takes place around 18 years before the rest of the book. It tells a very important story that affects the rest of the novel, in fact without this event there would be no novel.

Essentially this is a book of a man falling in and out of love. It also tells how easy it is to fall into and out of a fortune and favour in society. The novel can also be looked at as a cautionary tale about temperance and alcohol consumption.

I found it very hard to sympathize with the main character. All of his misfortune is largely self-inflicted, with quite a bit of bad luck. Hardy spends most of the novel attacking Henchard’s character, and then expects the reader to feel sorry for him in the last few chapters of the book. Other than my complete ambivalence to the fate of the main character, I found this book an easy read that is neither too long nor too short.

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Ulysses

Title: Ulysses
Author: James Joyce
Year: 1922

Davy Byrne smileyawnednodded all in one: - liiiiichaaaaaach!

That's right, no stars! Boy did this book take me a long time to read. To be fair, I was really busy at work and my leisure reading time dropped significantly. I can safely say however, that this novel almost stopped me from reading.

I would describe the plot, but there really isn’t one. The description and the detail of the novel are amazing. Joyce is able to create visual imagery that is outstanding. I did find the novel difficult to read. Sometimes the story was some complex and the passages so heavy that I had to read them twice. I often found myself drifting to sleep after a few pages of reading, which almost never happens.

As you can probably tell from the tone above, I did not really enjoy this novel. I think that it is a novel written for critics, not readers. If you like to critique books, or you are an English Major, you will enjoy this book. If not, you probably won’t.

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The Lost World

Title: The Lost World
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Year: 1912

I have wrought my simple plan
If I give one hour of joy
To the boy who's half a man,
Or the man who's half a boy.

This a quaint little book. It is short (it took me a day to read), but it is pleasurable none the less.

The narrator is a journalist, E.D. Malone, who takes part in a fantastical journey to the depth of South America. He partakes in this expedition to impress a girl, but in it he grows as a man. His little troop comes upon a plateau that has been left in time, so much so that dinosaurs still roam around freely.

While the book is too short to develop the characters to any depth, the author is intelligent enough to only introduce four main characters. It is a delightful romp through a fantastical world that is described wonderfully. I recommend this read to anyone with a little time not wanting to tax themselves with a heavy plot.

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The Great Gatsby

Title: The Great Gatsby
Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Year: 1926

It's the funniest thing Old Sport...

This book is very short (140 pages). It is narrated by a third party observer, Carraway, who observes the events that happen between Gatsby, Tom and Daisy. Gatsby is a self-made millionaire who is deeply enamoured with Daisy.

This book is set in the 1920’s and shows the extravagance of that age. The parties that Gatsby throws reflect the fast pace industry and wealth of America at the time. There is also a cynical overtone to the book which culminates at Gatsby’s fate.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I recommend that you read it.

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Gulliver's Travels

Title: Gulliver's Travels
Author: Jonathan Swift
Year: 1726

When bending mine eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature noy six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back

This tale is also very well known to most people. An abridged version can usually be found being told to children throughout the world.

Most people know about Lilliput and Brobdingnag, but these are only half the novel. Gulliver also spends time in Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and the country of the Houyhnhnms.

I really enjoyed the parts of the book where Swift is clearly attacking society and its values. There is a particularity good chapter where he blasts lawyers and there profession. This novel is a light read, even the full version, but it is enjoyable and fun none the less.

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A Farewell to Arms

Title: A Farewell to Arms
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Year: 1929

'What do you think of the war really?', I asked.
'I think that it is stupid'

What is with Hemingway and his depressing endings?

The basic plot of the story is an American, Lieutenant Frederick Henry, fighting for the Italians against the Austrians in World War 1. It is a story of tragic fatalism where the entire novel foreshadows the events of its ultimate conclusion. The novel brings us through Fred’s pivotal events of his wartime experience. He becomes injured early on, finds love, recovers and eventually abandons the war altogether.

Overall I find Hemingway to be an enjoyable read. I find his prose clean and succinct. This book is probable his best.

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Title: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Year: 1941

No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man
is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a
Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse,
as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor
of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans
death diminishes me, because I am in-
volved in Mankinde; And therefore
never send to know for
bell tolls; It
tolls for thee.

I really like this book. For the most part, it tells of the brutality of oppression and war. It also attacks the morality and actions of both sides of the war. I have a particular sympathy for the book, since I visited the Spanish Civil War exhibit at the Imperial War Museum. Hemingway was a journalist for the Americans, and spent some time in Spain during the war.

It tells of a soldier, Robert Jordan, who is fighting for the republic in the Spanish Civil War. It takes place over two days, and is filled with suspense, action, love, and politics.

Sometimes, Hemingway romanticizes the war and Jordan’s place in it. But most of the time the war and its perils are brutal and clear. I defiantly recommend anyone to read the book. Word of caution: it might be a little heavy for younger readers.

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Don Quixoté

Title: Don Quixoté
Author: Miguel de cSaavdra
Year: 1605

If in case the gentlemen should want to know who the valiant hero is who put them to flight, your worship may tell them, that he is the famous Don Quixoté de la Mancha, otherwise surnamed the knight of the rueful countenance.’

What is there to say about this novel? From the painful first chapters, to the excellent ending it is a most unique read. The author continually makes mistakes in his tale, and sometimes is completely diverted from telling the real story.

This is the tale of a haphazard knight-errant and his loyal squire. The main issue with the knight is that he is completely mad when it comes to chivalry. In all other regards, he is perfectly sane and even wise. There is quite a bit of comedy surrounding his adventures, or more accurately his misadventures.

This novel is pretty long. It drags in some sections, and some of the areas that are supposed to be humorous are just pathetic. There are quite a few blaring mistakes in the novel that adds to the overall tone of the tale. It is also easy to see the progression of the author throughout the book, as he moves from an inexperienced to a professional tale-weaver. Overall, a good read but I did not find it as good as I was expecting.

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The Divine Comedy

Title: The Divine Comedy
Author: Danté
Year: circa 1300 A.D.

Then Beatrice regarded me with eyes
So full of sparkling love and so divine,
That all my strength was overwhelmed and fled,
And I with downcast eyes was almost lost.

This book is not light reading. It is a long poem, where the poet, Danté, is guided through Hell, Purgatory and Paradise in order to save his soul. Since it is written in prose, it does not rhyme, but even when it is translated into modern English, the reading is sometimes heavy, requiring a few pass-throughs to absorb.

There are a lot of mythical and religious overtones to this poem. The imagery is very vivid, and Danté is an exceptional storyteller. There is no doubt about this being a classic!

I recommend this book if you enjoy such works as The Iliad or The Aeneid. It is also important to get a good version, so that you can understand everything that Danté is trying to convey. In the version that I read, there are a lot of endnotes explaining some of the more obscure references and imagery.

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The Count of Monté Cristo

Title: The Count of Monté Cristo
Author: Alexandre Dümas
Year: 1844

Wait and hope.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The characters are deep and multi-faceted. At various times in the novel you feel pity, sorrow, envy, joy, dislike and other emotions towards Edmond Dantés (the main character.)

The book is pretty large (over 1000 pages), but it reads well and never drags. The final chapters of the book are exceptionally exciting as events and plans come into fruition. There are even a few unexpected twists that are vaguely foreshadowed at the beginning of the book.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a thrilling tale with action, suspense betrayal and revenge.

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The Catcher in the Rye

Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Year: 1945

If a body catch a body comin' through the rye.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a little quirky, and I can see why this book is supposed to be well liked by schizophrenics. The narrator is a 16 year old boy who never seems be able to keep focused on one topic.

The book is pretty short, I finished it in 2 days. There is a dark humour in the writing that I particularity enjoyed.

A good book. Read it if you have a little amount of time, it's over before you realize it.

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Catch-22

Title: Catch-22
Author: Joseph Heller
Year: 1961

There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to.

This novel spends most of its time mocking war and its institutions. Even the title makes fun of the ridiculous bureaucracy of the military. Mixed in with the comedy is a dark tale of death and the realities of war which adds tremendous depth to the read.

The primary character in the story is Yossarian, a man who is afraid that he will be killed in the war. The book takes us through his plights, his adventures and his realisations regarding the war and his place in it.

Catch-22 is a great read. Some of the humour and paradoxes that Heller creates are brilliant, but they are tempered with occasional moments illustrating the horror of war.

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Atlas Shrugged

Title: Atlas Shrugged
Author: Ayn Rand
Year: 1957

Who is John Galt?

Atlas Shrugged is one of my favourite books. Not only does it tell an excellent story, the philosophical premise behind it is intriguing and thought provoking.

The main character in the book is Dagny Taggart, who is an industrialist struggling to survive in an anti-industrial world. The story is used to explain and illuminate Ayn Rand’s intriguing philosophy of Objectivism.

I highly recommend that everyone read this book. In fact, in 1991 in a joint survey by the Library of Congress and the Book of the Month Club, Atlas Shrugged ranked second (to the Bible) on a list of "books that made a difference" in peoples' lives.

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The Art of War

Title: The Art of War
Author: Sun Tzu
Year: circa 6th century B.C.

To win without fighting is best.

This book is deep. Everything that Sun Tzu says can be interpreted at least three different ways. Most of the information that is passed has a lot of relevance in today’s business world. It is no wonder that this book has been intensively studied by successful businessmen all over the world.

When you choose an edition to buy, try and find one that has commentators with the work. This way you can see a few interpretations by other people to each of the passages.

This is a great book, any like any great classic, it seems to reveal more of itself the more times you read it. This would be a great book to take a university course on.

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn

Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Year: 1876



Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Year: 1883


Author: Mark Twain

Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.

I placed these two books together because it seems natural. Even though they are very different books, they are also very similar.

Tom Sawyer is a book about youth for youths. It is written in a narrative style with Mark Twain transcribing the adventures of young Tom. There is no real character depth; Twain is content to move the reader from adventure to adventure. The novel has a lot of darkness to it, mixed with mirth and happiness.

A good introduction to Mark Twain, and I think it is used a lot in schools.


Huckleberry Finn is a much better book. It is a book for adults about youth, written in the first person perspective. Twain also seemed to want to distinguish it from its predecessor, but the novel assumes at least a working knowledge of Tom Sawyer. The book is a lot more serious and it is also quite a bit darker.

In short, a good read. Even though it isn’t as gripping as some of the other novels that I have read, it flows nicely and is worth reading. If you found Tom Sawyer good, but not great, you will like Huckleberry Finn much more.


An interesting note: The year that Mark Twain died (1910), American literacy reached a new low, 7.7%!

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1984

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Year: 1949

Big Brother is Watching You!

Wow, what a book. In 1984, one of the twentieth century’s great authors, George Orwell, takes a cold look at the future. In it, Winston is a member of a socialist/oligarchic society where every aspect of you life is monitored and controlled. It’s ability to arouse and disturb the consciousness is still as strong as ever!

The most disturbing part of the book is its realism. It is easy to imagine this sort of thing happening.

I thoroughly enjoyed the terminology and the world that Orwell created in the book. Like newspeak, doublethink, Victory Gin, Hate Week, and Oceania.

Bottom line: A great read; both for entertainment value and the issues that it makes you think about.

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