By each spot the most unholy -- In each nook most melancholy, -- For the heart whose woes are legion 'Tis a peaceful, soothing region 鈥�
Another poem thBy each spot the most unholy -- In each nook most melancholy, -- For the heart whose woes are legion 'Tis a peaceful, soothing region 鈥�
Another poem that touches my heart so! As we walk through dream-land 鈥� a place dark and sad with memories around every corner 鈥� a dreary place 鈥� yet, the true dreamer finds a type of peace there, one they can鈥檛 get by day. As they wander through the swamps of regret and the dark forest of remembrance, the traveler feels at home here, for it is his life and his alone that he granted these choices to and has come to peace with his decisions on how he lived, righteously or no. So poignant and hauntingly beautiful, Poe does it again. ...more
Wow, just wow. This one really touched me. It was not published until after his death and it was inscribed in an autograph album. They weren't sure itWow, just wow. This one really touched me. It was not published until after his death and it was inscribed in an autograph album. They weren't sure it was his at first but then they verified it. I feel like it says a lot about Poe and anyone who loves Poe is going to have this poem resonate with them. I don't want to go into the meaning of this poem and take it apart. It's beautiful and needs to sit with me for awhile as a friend. I need to digest it. I've been looking for a quote from one of my favorite classical authors for a tattoo and I might have found it......more
Wow. Just wow. So the first book was subpar and if you read my review you'll see I liked it but wasn't impressed. I also said I'd admit if I was wrongWow. Just wow. So the first book was subpar and if you read my review you'll see I liked it but wasn't impressed. I also said I'd admit if I was wrong, and well, I was wrong. Maas came out with a bang in this one and did all the things I longed for in the first one. I'm guessing it was just a build up to introduce our characters? Well then, I can now appreciate that first book a little more.
First of all, I didn't feel a lot of heat in the first one. I kept thinking Rhysand was so much more of an interesting character and that's exactly where she went. The heat was palpable and even though it's been in the single digits here in Ohio temperature wise, I found myself fanning myself as I read. It was hot. So much sexual tension and build up it was amazing. The story is flipped on its head and makes soooooooooooo much more sense now. I can see why Maas did it this way, although she's playing a risky game hoping the first book was enough to pull people into the second one. In this case, it paid off. It was an interesting enough story that I was curious to how it would continue and let me tell you, I'm so glad I did because this second book was amazing. Just the romance alone was enough to keep me going. But there was so much more.
I don't want to give too much away for people who haven't read it yet, but the plot thickens, Feyre comes into her self and her powers and look out bad guys, cause you are in for a bloody treat! It's almost like Mass is walking up stairs with each book. The first step has Feyre falling in love and going through hell which allows personal growth. The second step is the same thing only on a more intense level. If this pattern continues I can only imagine how amazing this series is going to be. I'm already imagining the resolution of this story in so many ways. Some things I can guess coming, but I never know how exactly. And this author continually throws me for a loop on this one.
Some of the friendships and relationships in this one are so cool and I can't wait to see how they develop, especially as time goes on. I hope some of these other characters get their due in their own story as well. They really deserve it, they are all so interesting.
I have a guilty pleasure to admit as well. I've done something with this book that I never have before. Lots of these fantasy series talk about making TV series but for the first time I went on Pinterest and looked at the fan casting boards for this one if they make the TV series and I had so much fun going down the rabbit hole of which actors would play which characters. I think Henry Cavil was my favorite but I'm not sure if he'd play Tamlin or Rysand. I think in my heart of hearts I'd want him to play Rhys. I've always had a thing for the dark, broken, characters. They ones everyone always sees as bad, but I think are redeemable. I liked Rhys from the very first time we saw him at the festival in the first book. He just resonated with me.
Well, not much else to say without spoilers. Loved the book. Absolutely better than the first and can't wait for the rest. I immediately picked up the third book in the series when I was done with this one and started reading. Highly recommended....more
Oh Poe, you beautiful man! What a great work of art! This one is hard to describe. For lack of a better description, it's somewhat about doing wrong Oh Poe, you beautiful man! What a great work of art! This one is hard to describe. For lack of a better description, it's somewhat about doing wrong for wrong's sake. Poe takes a look into our psyche (not a pretty picture - especially his) using the "science" of phrenology, and attempts to analyze why we do the things we do. His writing style, is, as always, perfection - humorous and unique. From murder to procrastination, his way of looking at our actions as we go from realizing the desires to the fulfillment of our wishes, takes us on a journey of our own mind and allows us, for a moment, to wonder at our motivations. This is definitely one of my favorites of Poe's and will add it to my favorites list.
"But out of this our cloud upon the precipice's edge, there grows into palpability, a shape, far more terrible than any genius, or any demon of a tale, and yet it is but a thought, although a fearful one, and one which chills the very marrow of our bones with the fierceness of the delight of its horror."
How can anyone not appreciate the genius of the way this man writes?!?
"I am the Angel of the Odd," said a voice. "I thought angels had wings?" I asked. "My Gott! Vhat am I, a chicken?" the Angel of the Odd replied.
And so "I am the Angel of the Odd," said a voice. "I thought angels had wings?" I asked. "My Gott! Vhat am I, a chicken?" the Angel of the Odd replied.
And so goes many a conversation with the Angel of the Odd, an angel of sorts with a German accent who is very silly and causes many unbelievable things to happen to our narrator. This happens only after our narrator reads something implausible in the newspaper and prides himself on his superior intellect for recognizing the poppycock. However, our angel has many lessons to teach, the main one being that sometimes impossible things DO in fact happen, and can happen for no explainable reason.
I found this story hilarious and entertaining, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions and wished it was longer. Just another example of the versatility of Poe's writing....more
This one was so interesting. If you're not reading creepy horror, you often instead get to see Poe's dry humor and forthcoming wit. Many don't get thiThis one was so interesting. If you're not reading creepy horror, you often instead get to see Poe's dry humor and forthcoming wit. Many don't get this piece, thinking it's just a silly writing about a woman who wants to be a writer. But like a few other reviewers on this site, I think there's more to this story. I think he likes to write the funny ones as a change once in a while, but I believe there's always a piece of himself in his writings, which makes them so good. I see the advice the man gives to the wannabe writer as mannerisms in the style of his own writings.
Besides that, the humor is so intellectual and often viewed as over the head of the reader, I think most people don't see that he's not necessarily trying to write over the head of the reader, but instead for the common man, showing him many different sides to the author. I believe, like many writers, Poe didn't necessarily wanted to be limited by the horror genre, instead showing he could be funny and have other facets to his works. Think about some other horror writers, Stephen King for example. He's considered one of the best horror writers of his time, but many people don't realize how many other things he wrote about. One of my favorites was Shawshank Redemption, a heart wrenching story about a man who was wrongly imprisoned.
I'm a big fan of Poe, and love to see the other techniques of literature he jumps into. I found this very funny, and even though I might not have gotten all the jokes (I don't presume to be one of the readers who didn't felt like it was over my head) I absolutely loved his style of writing on this one. I plan to read this one again and again. I wish I had a literary professor to discuss the whole thing with me. Highly recommended. ...more
This story just tickled me pink and had me chuckling all the way through. Although a word not used much anymore, Diddling was often directed at less tThis story just tickled me pink and had me chuckling all the way through. Although a word not used much anymore, Diddling was often directed at less than honest people, especially during Poe's time. Even though it might sound like something lewd, it actually means to swindle people out of their money in a dishonest way. Poe's dive into being a human dictionary along with the numerous examples he gave along the way made this one of my favorite Poe's in awhile. Well written and engaging, his tongue-in-cheek style is reminiscent of sarcasm when used as a weapon, teaching those ignorant souls who are attacked with synonyms of what the word represents. It's almost as if a librarian wrote it. I enjoyed it thoroughly and so far, it's one of my favorites....more
"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
One of the most iconic quotes of Dr. Suess"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
One of the most iconic quotes of Dr. Suess as well as my favorite, this book talks about the different ways in which to read and all the things you can learn about when you read. One of my favorites of his, Dr. Suess will always be on the top of my list of classical and influential authors of all time....more
An amazing piece of work by a humble but brilliant man. I read this for the first time as a teen and had no idea the man behind the poem or what it waAn amazing piece of work by a humble but brilliant man. I read this for the first time as a teen and had no idea the man behind the poem or what it was about but it immediately became my favorite poem and I proceeded to memorize it. As an adult, it's still my favorite poem and I can still recite it. I've been working my way through PLD's life works and biography for the past few years and have found so many other writings that I love. He had such an interesting life and such a sad end. Highly recommended, this author will always be one of my favorites....more
Never knew where this quote came from. Now I do. Just another example of why everyone should read some of the c鈥淎ll hope abandon, ye who enter here.鈥�
Never knew where this quote came from. Now I do. Just another example of why everyone should read some of the classics. Besides having a better understanding of literature and the world we live in, it helps us see through the eyes of the people who came before us, what was important to them and how they viewed the world. The Divine Comedy was actually almost a comedy for me. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the events and I found myself endlessly fascinated by what Dante perceived as just punishments for particular sins. I thought that his portrayal of the deepest part of Hell, in the middle of the earth as frozen, instead of hot, interesting as well.
I know there is so much symbology in this piece of work, but it would take years to sort it all out. I wonder why Virgil was his guide of choice for Hell and Purgatory and why he wasn鈥檛 allowed into Heaven. Many believe Beatrice, his love and guide into Heaven, is really a representation of his faith. I don鈥檛 agree. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 all deep as that, and the love of his life makes his way into his work like she has in some of his past works. Regret can sometimes have more hold than sin, or become a sin in its own right when obsession kicks in.
鈥淭he more a thing is perfect, the more it feels pleasure and pain.鈥�
I love this quote. It鈥檚 so apt to this piece of work and something everyone can relate to. At the heart of the sin in this story is the pleasure and pain we derive from it and its punishments. Again, a common human condition.
鈥淭he Devil is not as black as he is painted.鈥�
Probably my absolute favorite quote, suggesting that the Devil, is really more like us than we suppose. Drawn to sin, struggling to survive, wrestling with moral dilemmas, we often see the Devil as the epitome of all evil, but here Alighieri suggests that he is nothing more than a creature who also struggles with the human condition, and his incessant need to be closer to God, using rebellion for attention instead of good works.
Overall, I thought this poem was much easier to understand than I anticipated, and quite enjoyable. It reads more like a story than a poem, it鈥檚 something everyone can relate to, and it鈥檚 obviously withstood the test of time. A classic in its own right, this is one I鈥檒l be digesting for a while, piecing it apart, and relating it to other works. I also see myself reading it again someday. Highly recommended and very well written....more
I absolutely loved this story. Great for an around the campfire spooky tale, this author has a wonderful way of drawing you in and wondering what is rI absolutely loved this story. Great for an around the campfire spooky tale, this author has a wonderful way of drawing you in and wondering what is really real and what isn't. The story starts out with a teenage type girl answering her front door to an already nervous man here to see her aunt. She starts by telling him she'll be down in a minute. They make small talk and then she asks him if he knows why their window is always kept open. She begins to weave a tale of extreme sadness which horrifies the man. Events get sticky when they begin to spy moving objects outside the window. The man grows pale and panic ensues. A tale of horror or amusement? You decide....more
First published in 1892, The Yellow Wallpaper got much acclaim as well as much discouragement. Many doctors and other experts wrote Miss Charlotte Pe First published in 1892, The Yellow Wallpaper got much acclaim as well as much discouragement. Many doctors and other experts wrote Miss Charlotte Perkins Gilman, telling her that making a woman who has an anxious disorder to stop working would never result in such extreme madness as the woman in her story. In fact, the story itself was so horrific that it would endeavor to make people crazy just by reading it. Gilman of course, disagreed, but her story continued to get a lot of attention.
The woman, like many during her time, who complained of anxiety and depression, was not allowed to work, and even forced to take naps after each meal. She didn鈥檛 want to sleep, she wanted to write and go back to work, but her husband, Richard who was a doctor, told her no and forbid it. They went to reside in the country side for a small getaway, even though her husband still occasionally went back to work while she was there. She asked to sleep in the bedroom on the main floor, so she could see the beautiful roses, but again, her husband said the upper bedroom was better, even though it obviously had belonging to some children, being their nursery and possible doom, considering the faded yellow wallpaper that hung there. She stared at it day after day and eventually, it began to move. The smell, the color, and the pattern all induced this woman to go slowly crazy.
She began to imagine women coming out of the wallpaper and creeping through the gardens she could see from each window. She began to think her husband was acting queer and maybe even having an affair. Eventually she locked herself in the room and proceeded to tear it from the walls.
This amazing story was beautifully written and touched me in a way the other stories I have read lately, didn鈥檛. I, too, suffer from anxiety and depression, although with every other person claiming the same milady in recent years, it probably doesn鈥檛 mean much. But I could see this woman in my mind鈥檚 eye wasting away not only physically but also mentally and emotionally as well. When she began to creep around the room as the woman in the wallpaper did, I could see the grotesque disfigurement of her slim body as the patterns on the walls distorted her movement. I could see how her husband didn鈥檛 listen to her at all and saw her condition as nothing more than a fancy that she made up in her head. A fancy that she could just will away if she had wanted to.
Men, for many years, and even in today鈥檚 age, often don鈥檛 take a woman鈥檚 words at face value. I could see the disappointment and feel the languid wasting away of this woman鈥檚 intellect with no one to value or believe her. The story was so vivid, I sometimes could imagine that I would see that wallpaper at night around my room as it shimmered and waved. Eventually, according to an afterword by the author, she got through to at least some other doctors and a few began to change their practices and treatment of the same illness she had. According to this afterword, this was her intention, and not to cause anyone to go sick with madness. She herself never went mad, but her intention was to create a story of what would happen to one of these women who were left unchecked by a self-important doctor of such symptoms.
I loved this story and felt Gilman did a fabulous job of getting her opinion across, so much so, that it came close to being labeled as horror. It was written well and the imagery fantastic. Can鈥檛 wait to read more by Gilman. Highly recommended. ...more
I have to admit, I laughed out loud at the end, totally not expecting it, and so delighted with the conclusion. A short one, but so worth it, and perfI have to admit, I laughed out loud at the end, totally not expecting it, and so delighted with the conclusion. A short one, but so worth it, and perfect for the spooky Halloween season. It's my last read for Halloween this year, but definitely the best. A man visits a teen girl's aunt, who is upstairs and will be down in a minute. So he has an interesting, if not stilted, conversation with the girl. She talks of the open window and why it is open until dusk everyday. Turns out the family has a heart wrenching, pitiful story, one that draws you in, in a matter of minutes, perhaps even seconds. This adds to the horror the man must feel when the end events happen. I really don't want to give it away, but it was so good. This is one I will remember the next time I'm asked to tell a spooky story around a campfire. Highly recommended....more
As the story started out, I could somewhat see where it was headed. A tale of caution for those not willing to open their hearts. But the ending had mAs the story started out, I could somewhat see where it was headed. A tale of caution for those not willing to open their hearts. But the ending had me flabbergasted. I had thought that Wilde was not a Christian, at least I had never read anything that indicated that he was. But this story hints differently. I'm still not completely sure, but it's interested me enough to learn more about the man Wilde and have begun searching for some biographies and other works from him. This story was amazing, and touched me in a way I hadn't by books for some time. Highly recommended....more
Our dear Edna goes the way of many women during this age - when hopelessness sets in after struggling to come to terms with who she is and what she w Our dear Edna goes the way of many women during this age - when hopelessness sets in after struggling to come to terms with who she is and what she wants out of life - she feels like there are no options left for her in life. In a time when toxic masculinity was real, and men used polite gestures and platitudes to make their wives conform to their wishes, women often were left with no real choices in what they could get out of life. Mrs. Edna Pontellier goes through the motion of a good wife and mother, deferring to her children's wishes and her husbands expectations until suddenly one day she is awoken by desire. A passion she's never before experienced engulfs her and she doesn't quite know what to do about it. She starts to rebel in little ways, doing more of what she wants and less of what society expects of her.
In doing so, her husband gets increasingly irritated, and even goes so far as to announce her sick in the head she is behaving so abnormally. She begins to paint and ignore her responsibilities, and for the first time in her life, considers what she wants instead of everyone else. This book was scandalous and disparaged when it first came out, as a woman thinking for herself was unheard of and quietly discouraged.
Any women who is married or has children will understand and relate to Edna's plight. This book touched a chord with me that I haven't acknowledged in awhile. While women have the same feelings and passions and wants and needs of all humans, we often put them aside as caregivers. Whether it's society's view urging us on to be a good wife or mother, or internal guilt that makes us give our whole lives to the upkeep of others wellbeing, it often takes over our whole life and we forget to take care of ourselves or view it as not as important. Hopelessness and despair set in quickly when you feel like your backed into a corner.
I loved this book and felt Chopin did a good job putting Edna through all the emotions from Ennui to desperation. So many women suffer in silence and place all their self worth in the caring of others. Many hide in this purpose, unwilling and fearful to explore their own feelings. I could absolutely relate to this book and think there are many others out there that would relate to it as well. The story touched my heart in a way I haven't in awhile and would recommend this to anyone looking for better understanding of a wife and mother. It's withstood the test of time and relates on many common themes - a definite classic. ...more
This is my first Howard and I've never been much into Conan the Barbarian, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What a delightful surprise! I found myselfThis is my first Howard and I've never been much into Conan the Barbarian, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What a delightful surprise! I found myself laughing heartily throughout this story. In the beginning I was like, this guy is an idiot, but what a fun story! It makes me think of the stories where the main character is an idiot but always seems to come out on top like The Pink Panther or Mr. Bean. You have to give the main character a chance because there's a little buildup with him and where the plot is going but it gets there. So much happens to the poor man who only had to go to town to pick up a letter for his father. Truly a most enjoyable story....more
Wow. I forgot how eloquently Fitzgerald writes. I just fall into his stories and never want to come out.
Sally Carol is a beautiful southern girl who Wow. I forgot how eloquently Fitzgerald writes. I just fall into his stories and never want to come out.
Sally Carol is a beautiful southern girl who falls in love with a northerner and travels north to her fianc茅s' home to see where she will be living. It's not what she expected and no matter how hard she tries, she can't make it feel like home. Still so much animosity between the north and the south, no one is really welcoming to her except a professor she talks to one night. She makes a great effort, to try all the cold things, from skiing to snowshoeing but realizes that the other adults think the excursions are childish and are only humoring her. Then one night her fianc茅s' true feelings about southerners come out and it's their first big fight.
The climax of the story happens at the Ice Palace, a beautiful creating of ice walls formed into a sort of maze for the winter carnival. Sally Carol is faced with the truth, herself, and a decision; which her heart and soul end up making for her of their own accord.
Beautifully written and so explicit in detail the story draws you in. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Fitzgerald and have made a mental note to add more of his works to my list for next year....more
鈥淚t is the object of life to produce good people and good books鈥�, the society of young women say, as they sit around drinking tea. It is the conclusio鈥淚t is the object of life to produce good people and good books鈥�, the society of young women say, as they sit around drinking tea. It is the conclusion they come to after realizing that maybe they should bare children anymore until they can figure out if the men are producing something meaningful. An amazing story, Virginia Woolf鈥檚 storytelling abilities surpass those of normal classical authors in the way in which she portrays the immediate thought of each character as it comes to her mind. Almost as if there were many different thoughts in a jumble of different conversations, but they come together to form a unique style of writing and a cohesive theme throughout. I鈥檝e never read Woolf before and a story about the importance of reading (as well as other things 鈥� such as perhaps a commentary on the evolution of woman鈥檚 role vs. men in society?) was a great first read for me. It took me a bit to understand her methods and I went back several times going over the words, only because they were so quotable! This whole story could be seen as excellent literary quotes. I can see why she鈥檚 deemed a classical author and I鈥檇 have to agree. I very much enjoyed this and highly recommend it. I鈥檒l leave you with one of my favorite parting quotes:
鈥淲hat shall I teach my daughter?鈥�
鈥淥nce she learns how to read, there鈥檚 only one thing you can teach her to believe in, that is herself.鈥� ...more
Well, if all of Chopin's stuff is this good, she's going to move to the top of my classical favorites real fast. The Awakening has been on my list forWell, if all of Chopin's stuff is this good, she's going to move to the top of my classical favorites real fast. The Awakening has been on my list for a while but I'm going to have to add it to next year's "to read" list. Seriously, this was just as amazing as The Story of an Hour. Chopin has a way of writing that speaks to a woman's soul. Maybe it's because I've been married with kids for 20 years or maybe it's just because I find myself in a rut lately, but this one really touched me. Our Little Mrs. Summers unexpectedly comes across an extra $15 one day and, like a good mom, immediately begins to make a mental list of all the things her kids need. Then, suddenly, as she is shopping, something comes over her, and without thinking she begins to buy things. This is so much more than a story of a woman who is in desperate need of some self care, and without giving too much away, I have to say my favorite part was the end. Again, I loved this mostly because Chopin has a way of writing that really spoke to me and I have a feeling she might get under the skin of other women readers as well. It's sad she wasn't more appreciated during her time....more
Beautiful collection of short stories by a number of different classical authors. A joy to read. Found some authors in here I had never read before anBeautiful collection of short stories by a number of different classical authors. A joy to read. Found some authors in here I had never read before and can't wait to read again. I think so many people discount collections of short stories as not as important as the popular works, or too easy. But to have such a great collection of so many great authors really helps in finding those you will enjoy reading. And the plethora of diversity makes for such fun. I couldn't wait to start the next story. Everyone was a surprise. Couldn't find the list of these stories anywhere, so hopefully someone looking to read this book can reference this list to see what's actually in the book.
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