This reread was fascinating! I first read this in high school and found it even more compelling now. The story of animals taking over a farm in EnglanThis reread was fascinating! I first read this in high school and found it even more compelling now. The story of animals taking over a farm in England then slowly changing history, rules, and promises. As this can be read as an allegory about the rise of Communism in Russia, the story was even more intriguing for me. I recently read Katherine Reay’s The Berlin Letters and found the details in that book about communism to be similar to those in this allegory. The storytelling is simple yet profound. The characters are complex and surprising. And the overall message is powerful yet concerning. A truly thought provoking classic!...more
I read it for the first time several years ago and picked it up again after reading Cary Elwes memoir of his experiences making the mSuch a fun book!!
I read it for the first time several years ago and picked it up again after reading Cary Elwes memoir of his experiences making the movie adaptation of this book -- which I loved!
This is such a fun classic.
Things I love in this book: *the whole set up as S Morgenstern's classic tale and Goldman's asides in his abridging. It is so clever and so fun. *the characters are so well developed and memorable. Fessik the gentle rhyming giant, Indigo the revengeful sword wizard, Humperdink the hunter, Count Dugan the pain expert, Buttercup the beautiful queen to be and her Westley the mysterious pirate. *Great setting. so classic and medieval with a kingdom and princes and a mysterious fire swamp. *a great plot -- revenge, kidnapping, true love, miracles, this book has it all!
Loved this book and can't wait to read it with my kids when they are older....more
I am rereading all the Percy Jackson books to start this year. I loved this! I didn't remember a lot of the details and I think I've only read them onI am rereading all the Percy Jackson books to start this year. I loved this! I didn't remember a lot of the details and I think I've only read them once before probably when I was in high school. Very fun to revisit them!
Thoughts for review: *Love the Greek myth elements. We have the Gods of Olympus, mythic heros referenced like Hercules and Perseus, Chiron the hero trainer, Greek Myth monsters of all sorts, magical items, a camp for demigods. Its so fun! I love all that readers can learn about Greek myths from these books. *Percy is such a fun protagonist and narrator. I love how he makes even the most intense situations light hearted with his banter and fun voice. I loved his journey to accepting his identity and working towards helping his friends and family. He learns a lot and I know there's plenty more that he must discover and overcome in future books! *Annabeth and Grover are such fun supporting characters. Grover tries so hard and I loved how loyal he is. Also when he flies around on the Hermes shoes. Annabeth is so smart and determined. I'm glad they become good friends in the end. *Clever setting. Loved the way the mythic gods and creatures are set up in our world. Olympus on top of the Empire State building, Lotus Flower Casino, the underworld entrance in LA. It was really clever and fun to discover. The mist that keeps mortals from seeing mythical creatures and battles was also very clever. *Completely forgot the whole plot about Ares, the war God, and his role in the theft and war starting. Can I just say that the movie adaptation is only similar in name? They completely cut that out and it's not as good without it. *So much is coming and I can't wait to read more in the series!...more
What makes this story so fascinating is the fact that Marco and Celia are really more periphery characters than main cThe Night Circus is enchanting.
What makes this story so fascinating is the fact that Marco and Celia are really more periphery characters than main characters. We learn more about them from other characters. In addition to their competition and love story, we meet the original creators of the night circus, a brilliant German clock maker, an average American circus savior, and the talented and mysterious performers of the circus. Many of these characters take center stage during various scenes and it is often through others' eyes that we learn the most about the young magicians. I love the many points of view that we get of the circus and its development.
One of the most unique aspects of the novel is how Morgenstern manipulates time. It's a bit disorienting at first as each chapter jumps from year to year. We begin with an agreement between Celia's father, Prospero, and Marco's mentor, Mr. A. H--, regarding the magical competition to take place in the night circus. Then the reader is transported through the stages of development leading to opening night of the night circus. It took me a bit to orient myself to the way the chapters change, but once I got it, I loved it!
My one qualm with the novel is the ending is a bit abrupt. I feel that the story is so beautifully written and the detail is so precise throughout the first parts of the novel that the ending feels a bit underdeveloped. We get so much leading up to Celia and Marco discovering that they are both competitors and lovers, but the finale lacks that same emotional climactic build up. I would like to hear more about exactly what happened to Celia and Marco (their alternate reality living is a bit confusing) and how a few other characters truly play into the ending (the contortionist, for example, clearly has an intriguing past, but we do not learn much about her).
What sets this story apart is that readers not only experience the story through the characters, but we also experience the circus for ourselves. Throughout the novel, chapters are included detailing experiences of the reader as we walk through various tents and exhibits in the circus. It adds a further sense of reality to the story. ...more
I love this first book in the Harry Potter series for its simplicity (its so short and everyone is so innocent!), humor (seriously I laugh out loud!),I love this first book in the Harry Potter series for its simplicity (its so short and everyone is so innocent!), humor (seriously I laugh out loud!), endearing characters that I loved growing up with, and beginning of a truly epic story.
I am reviewing all these books as part of my Harry Potter Marathon 2016. My full review can be found at this link: ...more
I loved Jane the narrator. The language was exquisite but also accessible. The descriptions beautiful but concise. The story riveting and endearing. TI loved Jane the narrator. The language was exquisite but also accessible. The descriptions beautiful but concise. The story riveting and endearing. The flashbacks were a neat aspect to the story and I appreciated the simple and engaging way the story was told.
I loved Jane and Mr Rochester’s love. Yes, I understand he is way older than her. And he lied about his crazy lunatic wife. But when she returns to him at the end–oh my heart melts! Its beautiful to see a love that can blossom and grow amidst adversity and challenges. And I was just so happy he wasn’t mad at her for leaving him for a year. He was just overjoyed to have her back. Also, they just fit together. I loved that they were “meant to be� Yes, I’m a hopeless romantic.
I loved the story. The action was enough to keep me turning the pages and going onto the next chapter. But it wasn’t plot driven. The pace felt natural and positive. I felt like I was there with Jane along the paths of her life–eagerly traveling to Lowood School, anxiously moving to Thornfield Hall, desperately fleeing that same home after her almost wedding day, hoping against hope for relief from her starvation, discovering herself in Morton and finding family in the Rivers, suddenly finding the right moment to return to Mr Rochester. I just knew she would go back to Mr Rochester in the end. And that reunion did not disappoint.
I loved the characters. I found Jane to be a well written, complex, and engaging heroine. I appreciated her intellect, passion, and resolve to follow her heart. Mr Rochester intrigued me with his complex history, stony outer personality, and deep, unbending love for Jane. I loved little Adele and her sweet love for learning and belonging. I loved Diana and Mary Rivers–both for their kindness and their roles as sisters to Jane. I even found St John Rivers fascinating. Oh, he drives me crazy a bit with his religious fanaticism and loveless proposals, but his character is complex and rich. I must admit, I’m glad Jane did not marry him. But I kind of wish he would have married Rosamund Oliver.
It made me think. And I felt proud and happy when I finished it. A great read....more
I recently reread this book that I first encountered in high school. I really had forgotten a lot of the details of the story except the ending.
The wI recently reread this book that I first encountered in high school. I really had forgotten a lot of the details of the story except the ending.
The writing is beautiful. Fitzgerald turns a phrase so iconically and uniquely.
I must have been rather naive in my first reading to miss what is happening between the characters. Much more sexuality, drinking, and lying than I anticipated. And much shorter of a novel than I remember.
Not my favorite story but the language is gorgeous....more
Everytime I read this book, I remember how much I love it. there is something so special about the characters, the settings, the language.
Austen is aEverytime I read this book, I remember how much I love it. there is something so special about the characters, the settings, the language.
Austen is at her absolute best in this novel. I admire her beautiful writing and gorgeous character development. I like to think of myself as Elizabeth Bennett and think she is on of the best female characters in literature. Love the beautiful romance between her and Darcy.
I've seen adaptations of this novel dozens of times (love the 6 hr version with Colin firth.) but I was surprised on rereading the novel how many more details we get in the text and how beautiful the language is.
this is a novel that fills my soul and warms my heart. an all time favorite for sure ...more
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