Uncle Tom's Cabin

After reading The Book of Negroes, I thought I would re-visit Uncle Tom's Cabin. I read it years ago while at school, and at that time I thought it was a great book, even if it dealt with slavery and made me angry. I know that because I wrote that in pencil on the book.

Well, I can honestly say that the anger is still there. But would I consider it a great book? No, I don't think it was. It must have been something quite different when it was first published, 1852. It does give you an idea on how slaves were treated by slave owners. The story was enjoyable in a bittersweet way, it was hard to read already knowing the ending.

The book will back to my keepers shelf. I'm sure it will be read again.

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Re-read) Classic Literature; Published: National Era - as a serial, John P. Jewett & Company - in two volumes (1852); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (90); Celebrate The Author (6);

The Hound of the Baskervilles

I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes (Watson, too!), and with the upcoming movie I just couldn't resist re-reading one my favourite books, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Here's a short summary of the book (taken from Amazon.com):

The curse of the Baskervilles began in the 17th Century, when Sir Hugo swore he would give his soul to possess the beautiful daughter of a yeoman. He captured her, but she escaped. He saddled his horse and chased the girl over the moors until she dropped dead from exhaustion . . . and then a black hell-hound appeared, with eyes like fire, and ripped out Hugo's throat.

Now, years later, the Hound has returned. Already it has caused the death of Hugo's descendant, Sir Charles Baskerville. Can Sherlock Holmes stop the curse before it claims Henry Baskerville, the heir of Sir Charles?

It's a wonderful gothic tale! Dark and mysterious cries from the moors, a monster hound on the lose, an escaped prisoner, a butler that is hidding a secret, candlelight signals, foggy nights, and a beautiful woman who know more than she is telling.

It was just what I needed. It was a perfect book to read during a lazy afternoon.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (5/5) Mystery; Published: George Newnes (1902); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (60); Celebrate The Author (5); Spring Reading Thing (6); Keeper Shelf;

To Kill A Mockingbird

There are several books that I read in high school that I still consider favourites: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Pearl by John Steinbeck, Othello by William Shakespeare, Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence (just to name a few). But the one that started it all (Grade 9 English - thank you Mr Bedford!) was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. That book opened my heart...It's the first book that I remember brought tears to my eyes. I had an emotional connection to it.

It was like visiting an old friend. I laughed and cried, and cried some more, but at the end I had a huge smile on my face. Scout tells the story so beautifully through the eyes of a child that sees more than what adults think. To grow up in such a time must have been a wondrous experience, you have the simplicity of life, but also the ugliness of social and racial injustice. But somehow this little girl has the ability to see the good in people and situations, and has no qualms about it. She is my favourite character of the book. And Boo rocks!

And after so many years, I happy to say that I still have that connection to To Kill A Mickingbird.

I hate to admit this nut this is one book I don't have in my collection, but that will soon be remedied. It's on the shopping list.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (5/5) Classic Fiction; Published: J.B. Lippincott & Co. (7/1960); Pulitzer Prize Winner (1961); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (54); 2009 Support Your Local Library (49); Book Awards II (6); Spring Reading Thing 2009 (4); Celebrate The Author (4);

Black Beauty

I love horses. Always have. They're graceful and beautiful animals, and also very kind. Because of my allergies and asthma I had to stop riding, but my love for horses has not diminished. When my daughter chose to read Black Beauty a few months ago, I just had to put it on my list. I hate admitting this, I never read this book before...it's one of those books I've always wanted to read but never got around to it.

The story is told by Black Beauty, it's his memoir/biography. It begins with him as a colt, and follows with various owners, some good and some bad and it ends with his retirement. It a beautifully written story, it's straight forward and entertaining. I think that being written in the first person adds to the experience, it makes it real. And I know from my daughter reading it, that it teaches children sympathy, compassion for animals of any size. And the message does not change when you read it as an adult.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (4/5) Children's Classic; Published: 1877; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (38); 2009 Support Your Local Library (33); Celebrate The Author (3); Young Readers Challenge (2); Spring Reading Thing (1);

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

This is one of those books that I've been meaning to read since, well, since I heard of it. Jules Verne is one of those authors that you hear a lot about, you either love him or you hate him. He was considered to be a very forward thinking man back in his day. I have read Around The World In Eighty Days, which I enjoyed but I never read his more science fictiony (is that even a word?) works. When I was deciding on which authors that I would read for Celebrate the Author Challenge, I chose Jules Verne.

Professor Von Hardwigg finds a rare manuscript on a Icelandic saga, in that book he find a note that is written in a cryptic way. He gets his nephew Harry to decipher the message. From that note he comes to find out about a way to travel to the centre of the earth through a volcano in Iceland. The Professor, along with his reluctant nephew travel to Iceland, there they find a willing guide to take them to the volcano crater. And that's when the adventure starts.

The way the book is written, like a diary or travel log style was easy enough to follow, but I found certain parts harder to read than other. Some were dry and boring, and others exciting and moving. I didn't care much for the Professor, I found him mean. Harry on the other hand was either a pessimist or a optimist his moods would change all the time, and he also had the knack for getting lost. My favorite part of the book was the way the author described the surroundings. I felt like I was there along with them. He made it so believable, I found that fascinating. I just devoured the book.

My least part of the book: the ending. I didn't care for it! Along the way the story kept on building and I found the ending anti-climatic.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne (4/5) Science Fiction; Classic Literature; Published: French (1864), English (1871); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (18); Celebrate the Author (2); Keeper shelf;

Alice In Wonderland

Do you have a book from your childhood that you look back at with wonder and delight? I have several, I loved (and still do) Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, but the one book that I found the most magical and the one that really got my imagination rolling was Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland.

When I signed up for Young Readers Challenge and Celebrate The Author, I had an inkling that I would be (re)reading this book. I read it now, and my daughter will be reading it very soon, and I cannot wait to hear what she thinks of it. She has yet to watch the Disney movie, so I'm hoping that she will be blown away just like I was when I first read it. And then, we may rent the movie. Still thinking about it.

The book is a classic. You know that it's surreal, funny, confusing, but always entertaining. It's the story of a young girl who is bored with what her sister is doing and wonders off, only to fall in a rabbit hole, and discover a new land. In that new land she meets interesting characters, like the White Rabbit, Mad Hater, March hare, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the Duchess and the Queen. She has these wonderful, albeit strange, adventures and when she thinks that end is near, she's waken up by her sister.

I don't know what else to say about this book, other that it's enchanting. It's a must read for everyone!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (5/5) Classic Children Literature; Published: Macmillan (1865); 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (4); Celebrate The Author (1); Young Readers Challenge (1); Keeper Shelf;

Another Challenge: Celebrate the Author

Yes, I realize I have a problem.

Hello, my name is Leya and I'm addicted to book challenges...

And my latest: Celebrate The Author. This challenge is being hosted by Becky of Becky's Book Reviews.

Basically "the challenge is designed to “celebrate” author birthdays. Choose one author for each month of the year. Read at least one book a month. 12 authors. 12 birthdays". You can find more info here.

Here are my choices:

January - Lewis Carroll (27/1832) - Alice In Wonderland ** Completed on January 12th, 2009

February - Jules Verne (8/1828) - Journey to the Centre of the Earth ** Completed on February 8th, 2009


March - Anna Sewell (30/1820) - Black Beauty ** Completed on March 30th, 2009

April - Harper Lee (28/1926) - To Kill A Mockingbird ** Completed on April 29th, 2009

May - Arthur Conan Doyle (22/1859) - The Hound of the Baskervilles ** Completed on May 26th, 2009

June - Harriet Beecher Stowe (14/1811) - Uncle Tom’s Cabin

July - Margaret Laurence (18/1926) - Stone Angel

August - Sir Walter Scott (15/1771) - Ivanhoe

September - Edward Rice Burroughs (1/1875) - Tarzan of the Apes

October - Timothy Findley (30/1930) - Pilgrim

November - Louisa May Alcott (29/1832) - Little Women

December - Jane Austen (16/1775) - Mansfield Park