Category: Classic Works
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Books I Read in 2020
As we embark on a new year starting today, it’s fun to look back on what we accomplished over the last year. In this case, I want to reflect on my reading in 2020 and see how many books I got through and what kind I gravitated to the most. Here’s the books I read…
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Classics: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (& Why Its Portrayal of Extreme Poverty Matters)
Of Mice and Men is a wonderful novel and movie many people have read or seen. I was so excited to check out another classic from the same author, and this turned out to be one of the most memorable, stirring, and important books I’ve ever read. Brief synopsis & formatting details Published in 1939,…
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Which Is Better? “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” vs. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Mark Twain authored these two books, which are absolute gems among American classics. Readers of all ages can digest and appreciate them. The question is, which one is better (and why)? The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) Though he’s a good kid deep down, Tom Sawyer is quite mischievous. He likes to go on adventures…
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Why “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins Is my New Favorite Victorian Novel
Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, Edith Wharton (who sorta-kinda counts)…these are a few of my favorite Victorian authors. But The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins now ranks as #1 on my list of the best Victorian novels. A bit about the book (no spoilers) This is a mystery novel. In the beginning, Walter Hartwright…
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Modern Classics: The Secret History by Donna Tartt (Plot Teaser + my Thoughts)
Hi, friends. Today’s novel, which has been deemed “a modern classic,” is a mysterious slow-burner that keeps readers turning the page. Plot Teaser (No Spoilers) This is one of those “flip-flopped” stories that provides a glimpse of a future scene in the beginning then spends much of the book building up to that point. In…
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Books I Read in 2019 (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Christian & the Bible + Best of 2019 in Each Category)
Hi, friends. As 2019 winds to a close, let’s look back on my reading this year! My habits fluctuated throughout the year. I didn’t spend enough time reading for the first few months…in my opinion, anyway (about 30 minutes a day, frequently skipping days). I grew weary because finishing books seemed to take forever, which…
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Modern Classics: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (Glimpse at Mental Illness + my Reaction)
Hi, friends. In today’s post, I’ll discuss one of the most renowned classics dealing with mental illness. I’ll give a general overview of the storyline then digress about my reaction to the book and its depiction of mental illness. The Bell Jar tells the story of a young woman named Esther Greenwood who loses grip…
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Discussing The Color Purple by Alice Walker & Comparing Book vs. Movie
Hi, friends. Today’s classic is well-known due to its major film adaptation. I’ll explain some background about the book and discuss my reaction to the film version. Classics: The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Color Purple (1982) is the story of a young American black girl (in the 1930’s) growing into a woman, told…
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Defending Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (& Breaking Down the Three Reasons It Swayed Hearts)
Hi, friends. Today’s post focuses on a classic novel that greatly influenced American thought on slavery on the cusp of the Civil War (1861-1865). I recently read the book and felt extremely compelled by it; however, its message has been distorted over time, and “Uncle Tom” is now a derogatory term. Thus, I’m writing this…
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Classics: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Hi, friends. Today’s classic is sweet and heartwarming, and the burgeoning of little girls into little women pairs well with the buds and blossoms of spring. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Little Women is aptly titled, as the novel follows the adventures and the mishaps of four sisters as they grow from little girls to…
Retrospective Lily 