This is the first time I have read Tolkien. This is the story of Bibo Baggies, a hobbit, and his adventures with Wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarvThis is the first time I have read Tolkien. This is the story of Bibo Baggies, a hobbit, and his adventures with Wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves.
This is all new to me. I had not read any of his books or seen the movies. I had heard of “The Lord of the Rings” but did not know what it was about. This type of book is difficult to review. Tolkien had a magnificent imagination. I am looking forward to reading more of Tolkien.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. It is eleven hours and five minutes. The book was published in 1937. Rob Inglis does a good job narrating the book. Inglis is an actor and audiobook narrator. ...more
I read Scaramouche in the 1950s. Scaramouche was originally published in 1921. I was unaware there were a number of books published as a series. This I read Scaramouche in the 1950s. Scaramouche was originally published in 1921. I was unaware there were a number of books published as a series. This book “Scaramouche: A Romance of the French Revolution” was originally published in 1947. I remember I enjoyed the story but cannot remember much about the storyline; so, I decided to read this book instead of Scaramouche.
Our protagonist is André-Louis Moreau, a lawyer raised by nobility. The story is set in the French Revolution. Moreau is accused of sedition. He joins a troupe of traveling players as a clown to hide from authorities. This is a famous swashbuckling novel full of sword fighting, humor and romance. This will soon be one hundred years old and it is as good today as then.
Rafael Sabatini (1875-1950) was an Italian-English writer. He is famous for his adventure stories. He is best known for his worldwide best sellers such as Scaramouche, Captain Blood and Sea Hawk to name a few.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eleven hours and fifty-two minutes. Simon Vance does an excellent job narrating the story even though he could do better, in my opinion, with the pronunciation of French words. Vance is one of my favorite narrators and is a multi-award-winning narrator. ...more
Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) wrote his autobiography and gave instruction to his son to have it published after his death. Trollope was one of EnglandAnthony Trollope (1815-1882) wrote his autobiography and gave instruction to his son to have it published after his death. Trollope was one of England’s pre-eminent and most prolific novelists. Trollope said “the novelist must please, but also teach and preach, conveying his system of ethics just as the clergyman does.”
Trollope starts with his early childhood and the problems he had in school with the bullies. His father was an attorney who quit to be a farmer and lost all his money. His mother wrote novels to support the family. He was the youngest of nine children.
Trollope worked for the British post office for 33 years. In the book he tells about his routine of starting writing at 5:30 a.m. and would write for three hours, have breakfast and go to work at the post office. When he was stationed in Ireland by the post office he met and married an Irish girl in 1844.
The book tells little of his personal life and that of his family. The book covers mostly about his writing, how he developed a plot from things he saw or places he went to. His wife proofed his manuscripts before they went to the publisher. I was surprised at how many books he wrote before they began to sell.
Overall, I found the book a most interesting insight into a writer. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Flo Gibson narrated the book. I think a male narrator, such as John Lee, would have been better. ...more
On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar fell to the knives of Brutus, Cassius and perhaps 21 other senators. Strauss’s book covers only a three year span On March 15, 44 B.C., Julius Caesar fell to the knives of Brutus, Cassius and perhaps 21 other senators. Strauss’s book covers only a three year span of time. Starting the year before the ides of March to the battle of Philippi two years later, when Brutus, defeated by pro-Caesar forces, took his own life.
The author of this historical study tries to capture the tension of an unfolding crisis but also runs into strong headwinds when it comes to questions of character and motive.
The author points out that thanks to William Shakespeare, the death of Julius Caesar is the most famous assassination in history. Shakespeare shows Caesar’s assassination to be an amateur and idealistic affair. Strauss points out that the real killing was a carefully planned paramilitary operation; a general’s plot put together by Caesar’s disaffected officers and designed with precision.
The author tells of a key person, Decimus. He was the mole in Caesar’s entourage, one of Caesar’s leading generals and a lifelong friend. According to Strauss it was he, not Brutus, who truly betrayed Caesar. Strauss sheds new light on this fascinating pivotal moment in Roman history.
The book is superbly researched and well written. The author paints clear portraits of all the main characters such as Mark Antony, Decimus, Brutus, and Octavian. The book raises as many questions as it tries to answer. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Robertson Dean narrated the book. ...more
February is Black History Month. I usually attempt to read a book about black history or read a book written by a black author or both. This year I deFebruary is Black History Month. I usually attempt to read a book about black history or read a book written by a black author or both. This year I decided to read a novel I read back in 1971 when the book first came out. Since then the book has become a classic. A movie was made in 1974 starring Cicely Tyson. I sort of remember the movie was good. I think I shall check to see if Amazon has the movie and will watch it after I finish the book.
The book is fiction but is written in the style of oral history. The author’s brilliantly crafted book interweaves historical references and recollections into an overall framework of the life of a woman born into slavery who survived to the point of the beginning of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The story is told as seen through the eyes of a 110 year old woman who had lived though it all; with simplicity and immense dignity Jane Pittman speaks of the Reconstruction period in the deep South, with its struggles for black self determination and betterment. The constant terror of the Ku Klux Klan to thwart those efforts, and the legacy of racism that white Americans use right up to the present day.
Gaines’s description of the plantation is authentic and spellbinding. The story gripped my attention right from the beginning and kept it throughout the story. This is a book that I enjoyed the first time I read it and have enjoyed it even more on the second reading. Gaines was born on a Louisiana Plantation but was educated at San Francisco State and Stanford University. This is a must read book for everyone. Lynne Thigpen did an excellent job narrating the story. ...more
This is a mainstay in the teaching of Latin in School Children as it is simple, direct prose. In discussing this book with my some members of my familThis is a mainstay in the teaching of Latin in School Children as it is simple, direct prose. In discussing this book with my some members of my family, my husband said he read it in Latin when he was in elementary school in Greece. He said when he was young he could read and write Latin as well as he could Greek. My sister remembers reading it and having to translate it in her Latin class in high school. But I do not remember reading it. I only took Latin for one year then we moved and the next school did not teach Latin. (The problems of frequent moving as a military brat)
The Commentaries is Julius Caesar’s firsthand account of the Gallic Wars. It is written as a third person narrative. Caesar describes the battle and intrigues that took place in the nine years he spent fighting local armies in Gaul. What amazes me is that I am reading something written over two thousand years ago by one of histories greatest military commanders. Needless to say I am reading a translated edition but to have a book survived this long is amazing and it is still being read today. I can just picture Caesar sitting in his tent after a day of battle writing his book. Gaul is what today we know as France, Belgium and part of Switzerland. The Helvetii from Switzerland were feeling constricted in their valley so they started migrating over into what was a northern Roman province. Caesar pushed them back into their traditional land. Then King Ariovistus along with some Germanic mercenaries try to move into Italy and again Caesar ventured out to meet them and so it goes for nine years.
The book is interesting in its descriptions of Gaulish customs, religion and the comparison between the Gaul and Germanic peoples. The geography descriptions I found interesting also. Overall I enjoyed the book but even after reading it I still cannot remember if I read it in elementary or high school. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Charlton Griffin did a good job narrating the book. ...more
Of the first fifteen chapters of the book, twelve are reprinted from “The Atlantic.” In the three introductory ones which precede these, the physical Of the first fifteen chapters of the book, twelve are reprinted from “The Atlantic.” In the three introductory ones which precede these, the physical character of the river is sketched. The book was published in 1883. The book begins with a brief history of the river beginning with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto then on the French Marquette and La Salle.
The most engrossing section describes the author’s education as a steamboat pilot. Vivid details and anecdotes link the story of life on the River. He tells of the odd habits of the steamboat pilots. There is a section on how to read the river including the conformation of the banks, sandbanks, islands and inlets as well as sudden cut outs of the river after storms.
The rest of the book is an account of Twain’s trip down the Mississippi decades later as an old man. He describes the changes in the river and of American during his lifetime. The book is hilarious, fascinating, meandering tour of the Mississippi River most of all the book is entertaining. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Grover Gardner does an excellent job narrating the book. ...more
I got this book with my Audible coupon that was recently given to me by Audible. I remember we read this book in high school way back in the early 50’I got this book with my Audible coupon that was recently given to me by Audible. I remember we read this book in high school way back in the early 50’s along with Sherlock Holmes stories. This is a book about the French Revolution. It also illustrates that you cannot judge a person by their appearance. Lord Percy Blakeney is a fancy dresser often starting current fads and plays the general flakey fancy party boy who married a famous French actress Marguerite St. Just. It turns out that Lord Percy is the Scarlet Pimpernel who rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine. Percy is a master of disguises and he and is merry ban give the French agent Chauvelin the slip as they continue to escape from his clutches. The book has lots of humor, action, and romance written in the style of the 19th century. Over all it is an interesting story placed in the middle of the French revolution. The book was written by Hungarian Baroness Orczy who lived in England. David Thorn did a good job narrating the story....more
When Rudyard Kipling was staying in Vermont in February 1896 he listened to the stories of the local physician telling about his time on a schooner thWhen Rudyard Kipling was staying in Vermont in February 1896 he listened to the stories of the local physician telling about his time on a schooner thirty years before. That gave Kipling the idea to write “Captains Courageous.” Kipling said he tried to change his writing style for the book using allegory, parable, and metaphor to suit his subject.
The story of “Captains Courageous” like that of the earlier “Jungle Book” is of a boy who finds himself in a new environment and is profoundly affected by the experience. The protagonist, Harvey Cheyne is a fifteen year old and has acquired bad habits as an over-indulged son of a millionaire. When he falls into the sea from an ocean liner he is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman, Manuel and is taken to the schooner “We’re Here” whose Captain is Disko Troop. He is made a member of the crew and whipped into shape as a sailor and fisherman. At the end of summer the schooner returns to its home port of Gloucester and Harvey is reunited with his parents.
I believe the book was made into a movie in 1937 starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. I had read “Kim” by Kipling last year and I do not remember reading this book when I was a kid, so decided to give it a try. Kipling has always been one of my favorite poets. I got this free book from iTunes and read it in iBook's on my iPad. ...more
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