I picked this up to listen to on a LONG trip with my husband, and we both loved it. It's been many, many years since I've read an Agatha Christie, andI picked this up to listen to on a LONG trip with my husband, and we both loved it. It's been many, many years since I've read an Agatha Christie, and we were both pleasantly surprised. There's not a lot of action (it all takes place on a stranded railway in 3 cars or less), but trying to sort through the various clues and figure out who murdered millionaire Samuel Ratchett in his bed, with Hercule Po...more
I think this was the first time I actually READ P&P. I've seen several of the film adaptations and listened to the audio, but not actually read the boI think this was the first time I actually READ P&P. I've seen several of the film adaptations and listened to the audio, but not actually read the book. It's harder to follow the language in print, but no less of an interesting story.
2021 - 52 Book Reading Challenge #27 - First chapter ends on an odd page number...more
Again, not something I'd previously been aware Twain wrote, but interesting. Read a manuscript on Project Gutenberg, so possibly not this edition.Again, not something I'd previously been aware Twain wrote, but interesting. Read a manuscript on Project Gutenberg, so possibly not this edition....more
Not something I was even aware Twain wrote, but an interesting take on what Eve might've thought about Adam and being in the Garden.Not something I was even aware Twain wrote, but an interesting take on what Eve might've thought about Adam and being in the Garden....more
Henry enlists in the Northern Army during the Civil War. The book talks about his first two days of actual battle and how he reacts to being under firHenry enlists in the Northern Army during the Civil War. The book talks about his first two days of actual battle and how he reacts to being under fire.
Very fast moving, easy reading. A little too long to be totally good....more
Pippi Longstocking is an orphan with supernatural strength who goes to live in her house Villa Villekulla. She had spent her childhood on the seas witPippi Longstocking is an orphan with supernatural strength who goes to live in her house Villa Villekulla. She had spent her childhood on the seas with her father. She makes friends with her neighbors - Annika and Tommy Settergren. Together with her monkey Mr. Nilsson, they have all kinds of adventures. Each chapter is a story in itself.
The characterization of Pippi is good. Illustrations good....more
Peter Pan - a boy that never grows up, comes and takes Wendy, Michael, and John to Never Never Land. Wendy plays mother to all of the Lost Boys. It tePeter Pan - a boy that never grows up, comes and takes Wendy, Michael, and John to Never Never Land. Wendy plays mother to all of the Lost Boys. It tells of their adventures with the Pirates, Indians, and mermaids. When the children go home, their parents adopt all the boys except Peter, who promises to come and get Wendy each year for spring cleaning. But, Wendy grows up and Peter takes her daughter back with him. The story isn't as fast moving as it could be, but very enjoyable.
The illustrations are pretty good. Told in the author omniscient point of view. ...more
Read short story "A Mystery of Heroism" from this. A soldier under direct fire is goaded into risking his life to get some water from a well. He goes Read short story "A Mystery of Heroism" from this. A soldier under direct fire is goaded into risking his life to get some water from a well. He goes and makes it back with the bucket, only to have two lieutenants spill it while they fought over it. Suspenseful with medium level vocabulary.
Read short story "The Upturned Face". Four men are burying a fellow soldier while they are being shot at. Tells how they feel while they actually bury him. Medium level vocabulary....more
This first book in the series introduces the Ingalls family in the first home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. It covers a one year period, telling of tThis first book in the series introduces the Ingalls family in the first home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. It covers a one year period, telling of the many things that happen with some detail - smoking venison, curing ham, making maple syrup, storing vegetables, making hats, what happened on Sunday, etc. This is seen through Laura's eyes (the 2nd daughter).
Four children sent to stay in an old house in the English countryside, discover a land by walking through an old wardrobe. They become kings and queenFour children sent to stay in an old house in the English countryside, discover a land by walking through an old wardrobe. They become kings and queens of the land by defeating the evil white queen.
Not really interesting at first, but grew more so. Good read as chapters to children. Illustrations are interesting....more
New lawyer, Jonathan Harker, is sent to Transylvania from England to complete some legal transactions for his office. Nearly as soon as he arrives in New lawyer, Jonathan Harker, is sent to Transylvania from England to complete some legal transactions for his office. Nearly as soon as he arrives in the area, he senses that all is not normal. When he meets Count Dracula and begins to live in his castle, he knows there's something wrong, but held captive, he can't do much about it. After Count Dracula and his many boxes of dirt leave for London, Jonathan is able to escape. Meanwhile, Mina Murray and her best friend, Lucy Westenra, are spending time together in Whitby, when the ghost ship conveying Dracula to London arrives. Lucy has had three proposals of marriage from Dr. John Seward, American Quincey Morris and the Hon. Arthur Holmwood and accepted Arthur's proposal. Mina is concerned when Lucy starts sleepwalking, with good reason, because Dracula has discovered Lucy. When Mina discovers Jonathan's in hospital in Europe, she goes to him and they are married. Meanwhile, Lucy is not doing well, and her former suitors all band together to help her bringing in Dr. Seward's learned friend, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing from the Netherlands. Van Helsing with help from all of the others puts together the truth after Lucy's death and together they work to uncover the Count and destroy him.
This was amazingly readable for having been written in 1897 and wasn't nearly as scary as I expected it to be. Had an interesting book club discussion of it - appropriate for an October read....more
Karana is a young girl whose tribe was killed by hunters, and the rest go away by ship. Karana swims back to the island, when she realizes her little Karana is a young girl whose tribe was killed by hunters, and the rest go away by ship. Karana swims back to the island, when she realizes her little brother is still on the island. He is killed, and she lives alone for many years, until she too is taken away. Story is about her life during these years.
Adaptation from a story that was first published in "Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates" of a boy whose resourcefulness and courage saved his country fAdaptation from a story that was first published in "Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates" of a boy whose resourcefulness and courage saved his country from being destroyed by the ocean. He plugged a hole in the dike with his finger.
Good story (I love Hans Brinker) but the pictures, a mixture of collage and painting are too busy - they confuse....more
The true account of Elie's family being taken from Transylvania in 1944 to the concentrations camps. He and his father go first to Birkenau/Auschwitz,The true account of Elie's family being taken from Transylvania in 1944 to the concentrations camps. He and his father go first to Birkenau/Auschwitz, then to Gleiwitz and finally to Buchenwald where he stayed until it's liberation by the Americans in April 1945. He's only 15 during the year he was imprisoned and watched his father die in Jan 1945. He later won the Nobel Peace Prize. The book is very highly reviewed, but I was not overwhelmingly impressed. His family seemed to be totally unaffected by the war until 1955 - an amazing feat and then he was in the camps less than a year. Didn't seem like they went through as much comparably to other survivors.
The Hobbit Frodo, his servant Sam, and his companions Merry and Pippin set out on the first stage of the quest to destroy the One Ring of Power in theThe Hobbit Frodo, his servant Sam, and his companions Merry and Pippin set out on the first stage of the quest to destroy the One Ring of Power in the forge of its creation. They are joined by the wizard Gandalf and a mysterious man called Strider, later revealed as Aragorn, King of Gondor. These two are the most formidable of the heroes leagued against Sauron. Along the way they are hounded by the Black Riders, Sauron's agents, and the party splits up.
I struggled for years to read this series. The movies gave me a starting point to understand the story and identify the characters and plot. One of the first times I've been glad I say the movie before reading the book!...more
Tom Canty, a pauper from Offal Court, part of the slums near London Bridge, was born on the same day as Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales. One day in his Tom Canty, a pauper from Offal Court, part of the slums near London Bridge, was born on the same day as Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales. One day in his early teens, Tom chanced to be passing the palace when Prince Edward was outside. Seeing the boy being abused by the guards, he invites him in. They notice their physical similarities, change clothes, and then the prince runs out to yell at the guards and is thrown out. They both find it impossible for anyone to believe they aren’t who they appear to be and the adventures begin. Finally, in the middle of the coronation, the two are able to reunite and switch back, both made better people for the experience.
Time period is 2nd quarter 16th Century when Henry VIII dies and Edward VI is made king. Language is Shakespearian type English when there is dialogue - may be difficult for some teens to plod through....more