Around the World in Eighty Days is Jules Verne’s classic adventure tale. I was thoroughly entertained as I read about Phileas Fogg and his servant, Passepartout, attempting to win a high stakes bet. Continue reading
Category Archives: Classics
Book Review: Watership Down by Richard Adams
Watership Down is an epic tale of a group of rabbits who encounter danger, treachery, and hope as they try to find a new home when theirs is leveled for a housing development. Although written for the author’s young daughters, Watership Down is one of those “children’s” books that adults will also find engaging. Continue reading
Book Review: Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Mere Christianity is a classic Christian apologetic based on a series of talks C. S. Lewis gave on BBC radio from 1941-1944 while Great Britain was embroiled in World War II. Lewis uses logic and approachable language to convey theological concepts common to all Christian religions (rather than focusing on theological differences). Continue reading
Book Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God, first published in 1937, is a story of a southern black woman seeking love and self-fulfillment in 1930’s Florida. It’s considered to be a standout among African American literature due to its affirmation and celebration of the culture as well as the fact that it has a strong female protagonist, which was unique for its time. Continue reading
Book Review: For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
For Whom the Bell Tolls tells the tale of a band of communist guerrillas, led temporarily by American Robert Jordan, who have been tasked with blowing up a bridge during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. The writing style took some getting used to, but I ended up really liking it. Continue reading
Five Interesting Things I Learned Because I Read “Things Fall Apart”
“Things Fall Apart”, by Chinua Achebe, was on the syllabus for my daughters’ (yes, plural) world literature class. As I like to do sometimes, I read it with them. First published in 1958, it tells the story Okonkwo, a respected warrior, and his village in Nigeria as they both struggle to adapt to colonization. I’m not going to review it because I feel silly reviewing classics. I’ll just say I’m glad I read it and I encourage you to read it, too. It’s a short book and written in simple, but meaningful, language. It doesn’t require a big time investment and you’re likely to learn some interesting things. Continue reading
