I had never heard of Serviss before. I鈥檓 shocked! I had no idea how important he was to science fiction. I listed to this on audiobook and I really enI had never heard of Serviss before. I鈥檓 shocked! I had no idea how important he was to science fiction. I listed to this on audiobook and I really enjoyed it. The story was full of interesting elements: science, politics, and adventure. I loved Andrew Hall! Such a great character! ...more
It鈥檚 so rare for me not to love a Poe story, but it does happen. 鈥淢ystification鈥� is so focused on a satirical twist that the build can feel taxing to It鈥檚 so rare for me not to love a Poe story, but it does happen. 鈥淢ystification鈥� is so focused on a satirical twist that the build can feel taxing to read. The story focuses on the Baron Von Jung and how amazing he is. All of the other university students are in awe of him. One night, the Baron and a group of friends, including the narrator, are discussing things when one of them starts to talk about duels. Poe did not approve of duels and wrote some satirical pieces about it and this is one of them. The story continues with the narrator as the go-between for the Baron and the friend who loves duels. The Baron then teaches the other man a lesson through a certain coded text. It鈥檚 not really the most entertaining piece and the twist isn鈥檛 so amazing to make a reader think long and hard about it....more
One of those rare Poe comedic stories that most readers haven鈥檛 experienced. It鈥檚 a weird little tale with social commentary and some pretty gross, hoOne of those rare Poe comedic stories that most readers haven鈥檛 experienced. It鈥檚 a weird little tale with social commentary and some pretty gross, horrific descriptions. I would recommend reading this story if you are interested in exploring the more unknown side of Poe. ...more
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is amazing! He can do wonders with very few pages. 鈥淥ne of These Days鈥� is about a dentist who doesn鈥檛 want to pull the mayor鈥檚 Gabriel Garcia Marquez is amazing! He can do wonders with very few pages. 鈥淥ne of These Days鈥� is about a dentist who doesn鈥檛 want to pull the mayor鈥檚 tooth. What happens when he is forced to do it is nothing short of brilliance as Garcia Marquez reveals history, political concerns and human nature with sophistication. ...more
I鈥檓 a sucker for Langston Hughes鈥� poetry but this short story is also a favorite. 鈥淭hank You M鈥檃m鈥� is about a young man who has the audacity to attempI鈥檓 a sucker for Langston Hughes鈥� poetry but this short story is also a favorite. 鈥淭hank You M鈥檃m鈥� is about a young man who has the audacity to attempt to steal a purse from a woman. She won鈥檛 put up with that and proceeds to show him just how wrong he was. The best part is that she teaches him so many other things than just not to steal. That鈥檚 the beauty of this story....more
I fell in love with Ray Bradbury when I was in middle school. His stories and novels made you think long after you finished reading them. When I becamI fell in love with Ray Bradbury when I was in middle school. His stories and novels made you think long after you finished reading them. When I became a teacher, I added many of his stories or novels to my curriculum. One of the textbooks had 鈥淭he Golden Kite, the Silver Wind,鈥� which I had never read before. I loved the fable/parable. It was a great way to introduce my students to a different type of fable than Aesop鈥檚 fables, which are great but I needed to elevate for my audience. This story is about rival cities that reshape their city walls to symbolize different things that will metaphorically hurt the other city. It鈥檚 a story about how humans will hurt themselves in trying to beat someone else. Ultimately, it鈥檚 about learning that we all succeed if we cooperate and work together. ...more
What a fun piece that clearly was an initial run for Bradbury to play with his ideas that would later find themselves in Fahrenheit 451. I really enjoWhat a fun piece that clearly was an initial run for Bradbury to play with his ideas that would later find themselves in Fahrenheit 451. I really enjoyed the dystopian future he鈥檚 able to paint in so few pages. Very few authors like Ray Bradbury, which is why he鈥檚 one of my favorites. ...more
Saki is a great author who loves his twist endings and so do I. I used to have my freshman classes read this story and they loved the gruesome cliffhaSaki is a great author who loves his twist endings and so do I. I used to have my freshman classes read this story and they loved the gruesome cliffhanger ending. I love the Hatfield and McCoy-esque feel to this story, which says so much about the futility of the conflict. ...more
More philosophy than story, 鈥淭he Handsomest Drowned Man in the World鈥� is classic Gabriel Garcia Marquez at his finest. The social commentary of this sMore philosophy than story, 鈥淭he Handsomest Drowned Man in the World鈥� is classic Gabriel Garcia Marquez at his finest. The social commentary of this small fishing village blends beautifully with the philosophy on how to live a meaningful life. I am biased - I love everything from Garcia Marquez. ...more
My daughter had to read Oedipus for her English class this year. To help her get into it, we started to do a dramatic reading of it together. Once we My daughter had to read Oedipus for her English class this year. To help her get into it, we started to do a dramatic reading of it together. Once we started, she was hooked pretty fast. Obviously, I already knew the 鈥渢wist鈥� that faced Oedipus but she didn鈥檛 so it was to see her figure out the mystery from the hints Oedipus gets along the way. It such a classic tale of fate, it鈥檚 consequences, and abuse of power. I decided to read the other two plays in this selection: Antigone and Electra. Both plays are perfect companions to Oedipus as they deal with many of the same themes in addition to betrayal and fighting for what believes is right. Sophocles could really tell a fantastic tragedy. ...more
Gorgeous in both languages! Pablo Neruda certainly had a way with words that take root in your mind, your lungs, your soul. Whisper his words and I beGorgeous in both languages! Pablo Neruda certainly had a way with words that take root in your mind, your lungs, your soul. Whisper his words and I become a puddle. I took my time reading his love poems, first in English and then in Spanish. I paused to sigh over so many of his phrases. Such feeling packed into so few words. Some of the most unique descriptions of a woman and his love for her. Most beautiful poetry!...more
Beautiful description! The narrator describes the New York countryside and a road he finds along his travels. He follows it through to a vale with a cBeautiful description! The narrator describes the New York countryside and a road he finds along his travels. He follows it through to a vale with a cottage near a lake and small river. The details are gorgeously described and it has such a peaceful effect on a reader. The narrator meets the occupants of this singularly lovely cottage and he describes the layout and simple furnishings of the cottage. The ending is abrupt, stating the only purpose was to describe the cottage and perhaps the narrator will develop another description of Landor himself but we are left to wonder who Landor is and if the narrator and Landor鈥檚 daughter, Annie, will develop a relationship. I am sure many rate this story low because there is essentially no story, no plot. However, I do love it for the showcasing of Poe鈥檚 descriptive powers. It鈥檚 beautiful, peaceful, luxurious. I wish there was more. ...more
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