Book Review: The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

I've completed another classic novel using my Serial Reader, and this time it was The War of the Worlds. This novel holds up surprisingly well for something that was written in the 1800s.

Most of you know the premise, I'm sure.  Martians land on earth and begin the wanton destruction of England. The first person narrator is unnamed, but he's a writer and a philosopher.  So he gives a "factual" narration of what happened to him and his brother, who was in a different part of England.

You can feel the mounting tension and at times panic of the narrator and those he encounters.  The story is brutal and doesn't pull any punches. The descriptions of the Martians and their fighting machines are vivid and many artists have attempted to depict scenes from The War of the Worlds.

As with most classic novels, the descriptions are at times a bit wordy, although I probably would have gotten more out of them if I were more familiar with that area of England. The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest science fictions works, and if you are a fan of the genre, you should not miss it.

Published by William Heinemann, 1898 (published in serial form in 1897)
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
287 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Blue Lagoon, by Henry De Vere Stacpoole

I chose The Blue Lagoon because I was browsing through my Serial Reader selections, and it said this was a romance.  Every description of this book says it's a romance.  While I really enjoyed it, I just don't consider it much of a romance.

Dicky and Emmeline are stranded on an island in the South Pacific after a storm sinks the ship they were sailing on.  They end up in a lifeboat with Paddy, one of the cooks on the ship. Paddy takes care of them and teaches them how to survive on the lush tropical island where they end up. After a couple of years, Paddy dies.

The romance doesn't even occur until we are well into the second half of The Blue Lagoon. It is fairly sudden.  They discover each other's bodies, fall in love, and have a lot of sex, but then they move on to surviving and other things that I don't want to spoil.

The Blue Lagoon is very much a survival story.  They run into all the potential dangers that one can think of in that situation.  Storms, sharks, whalers, savages, and more try to end them.  But they are surprisingly resilient even though very young.

I was stunned to find out that The Blue Lagoon is the first book in a trilogy.  I thought series books were a relatively new concept, but these books were written in the early 1900s. I'm already looking forward to the second book, The Garden of God.

The Blue Lagoon is easy to read, other than some of Paddy's dialect. It is a sweet story that teens and adults can enjoy, even though it was written so long ago.

Published by T. Fisher Unwin, 1908
Copy obtained from Serial Reader
328 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery

What an absolute delight Anne of Green Gables is.  I had thought I read this book when I was young, but now I don't think so. (I'm sure I would have remembered it.)

You would think a novel that was written over 100 years ago would be wordy and difficult and, well, boring.  But Anne stole my heart.

Anne is a spunky, smart, orphan who ends up at Green Gables, the home of Marilla and Matthew, by mistake.  They wanted a boy to help with the farm. Somehow the message got bungled, and they didn't have the heart to send her back.

Marilla and Matthew are siblings (I didn't realize that until after I finished the book!) Anne gives them a run for their money.  She's terribly talkative, and her imagination is so present all the time, that she often forgets what she's supposed to be doing. But her imaginative descriptions of her surroundings is part of what makes Anne of Green Gables special.

Anne is also very smart, and her competitions with Gilbert, the smartest kid in the class as well as Anne's arch enemy, is delightful. I loved how Anne slowly digs a place in Marilla's heart since it is very difficult for Marilla to show any emotion. Matthew, on the other hand, doesn't mind spoiling Anne a bit. Anne grows up in Anne of Green Gables, but I know there are more books in this series and I just might have to continue on to see what's in store for her.

For a classic, I'm surprised.  I think some of the reading is a bit difficult, but I would still recommend this book to young girls.  I think they will enjoy Anne as much as I did.

Published by L. C. Page, 1908
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
198 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

For a classic novel, Frankenstein is fairly easy to follow and kept my interest.

If you don't know the story, here are the basics. First of all, remember Frankenstein is the doctor that created the monster.  Many people mistakenly believe that the monster is Frankenstein.  Victor Frankenstein is a talented scientist and becomes obsessed with creating a living being from parts of other beings. He finally brings life to this hideous creature, who he then allows to escape (one of the fallacies of this plot, but just let it go.)

The reader gets the perspective of the creature, as he struggles to survive and become a part of society. No way that's going to happen, because he's too hideous.  He reveals himself to a blind man and is just about successful, but no, we can't allow that to happen or we wouldn't have a story. We also get the perspective of Frankenstein as he realizes this creature is wreaking havoc and is out to get Frankenstein and steal away everything dear to him.

Shelley does a good job of building tension and also sympathy.  But at the same time, I thought Frankenstein (the character) was really stupid at times.  And some of the monster's evolution was a bit far-fetched (Of course.  I get that is to be expected), and his abrupt change of heart at the end was not very credible. Frankenstein's evolution, however, is what makes the story a classic, I think.  His abject misery and eventual breakdown are utterly heartbreaking.

It sounds like I didn't enjoy Frankenstein, however, I did. With all it's plot holes and suspension of belief, I appreciated the feelings evoked and all the trials and tribulations associated with the story. Shelley is good at creating an atmosphere that gives you chills.  It's a classic and worth the read.

Published by Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones, 1818
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
280 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera is a tragic and exciting tale.

I've seen the musical a couple of times live, as well as the movie, so I have always wanted to read the book. For a classic, it's pretty easy to read and follow.  I'm going to assume you are at least familiar with the basic premise of the story.  (If not, click on the link for a summary.) The beginning goes much like the story in the musical, but after Christine is taken by the Phantom (although he is never called that in the book), it is much more exciting!

There is an additional character, the Persian, not in the musical, who along with Raoul are tortured and barely escape with their lives! We also learn about the Phantom's past, which helps explain why he is so evil. The reader is asked to have sympathy for him, but it is difficult, given what he put everyone through.

I'm glad I read the story, but I wouldn't read it again.  If you are a true fan, it's a must-read. If you enjoy macabre classics, this is a good one.

Published by Pierre Laie (originally), in 1910 (in English in 1911.)
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
270 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan

I chose The Thirty-Nine Steps somewhat randomly on my Serial Reader, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  I didn't realize it was a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and I'm looking forward to viewing that next.

It's 1914 and Richard Hannay has gotten himself in a spot.  An American journalist is staying with Hannay in his flat in London and he has information about a plot to assassinate the Greek Premier. This will plunge Europe into a war. But before he can do anything, he is murdered, and Hannay must run because he is being accused of the murder and also being chased by the people who killed the journalist.

Hannay takes to the English countryside and is assisted by a few people, but also comes very close to being caught several times. His ingenuity in eluding capture is entertaining.  In the end, the good guys win out, but war is inevitable.

Buchan's writing style is easy to read and he does a good job of mounting the tension and also creating the sense of desperation that Hannay feels at times. It is a classic, though, so it is somewhat genteel. The book isn't too long and ties up nicely.

If you are interested in a classic thriller, The Thirty-Nine Steps should be considered.

Published by William Blackwood and Sons, 1915
eBooks obtained from Serial Reader
90 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is Christie's first published novel.

It's an intriguing murder mystery with the usual red herrings.  Everyone is hiding something, so everyone seems guilty.  Poirot is quiet about his thoughts through most of the investigation, much to the chagrin of his sidekick, Hastings, who is certain Poirot is aged and losing his faculties. This only adds to the entertainment.

I did have to write down the character names at first.  They are introduced quickly and writing their relationships helped me keep them all straight.

While each of her mysteries follows a predictable pattern, they are unpredictable. If you enjoy murder mysteries, Christie will not disappoint.  They are classics for a reason. 

Her books are short and once the murder happens, they captivate the reader.

Published by John Lane, 1920
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
296 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

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Book Review: Persuasion, by Jane Austen

It's probably not accurate to call this a book review because when it comes to classics, I don't really consider my comments to be much of a review.  But, Persuasion was an interesting and enjoyable read.

Persuasion is a love story that takes place in the early1800s about a woman, Anne, who seven years ago broke off an engagement.  She now meets up with her former betrothed, and she still loves him. But he seems to be pursuing another. I was invested enough in the story that I found myself rooting for this couple.

The language is definitely different, and at times difficult to deduce the true meaning.  You do have to read slower, but for the most part, I didn't find it too cumbersome.  I enjoyed learning more about the customs of the time, especially when it comes to courtship and who you are allowed to marry.

I also had some difficulty remembering who the characters were.  Too many Captains and Elliots!

Persuasion isn't a long book (thankfully) and Serial Reader divided it into 33 parts, so it took me 32 days to read (I read the last two parts in one day.) As far as classics go, Persuasion was pretty good.

Published by John Murray in 1818
Copy obtained from Serial Reader
224 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Well, The Picture of Dorian Gray means another classic completed.  It's short.  It's a good story. But it's written like a classic.

Everyone is mesmerized by Dorian Gray.  It starts with Basil Hallward, who paints a portrait of Dorian that he feels is his best work.  He can't even stand to put it in a show for the public to see.  He then introduces Dorain to his friend, Lord Henry Wotton, who takes Dorian under his wing and "teaches" him his hedonistic views of society.

Dorian is taken by Henry, and falls into a life of debauchery, hurting almost everyone with which he comes in contact without a care. His path through this deplorable existence is enhanced by the fact that Dorian never ages.  It seems his age, as well as his sins, are only depicted in his portrait, which he keeps hidden.

It's a strange and entertaining story and gives an insightful look at life in late nineteenth century England. And, even though its a relatively short book, it is still filled with overly descriptive passages indicative of almost every classic I've read.

I'm glad I read The Picture of Dorian Gray. Once again, my Serial Reader app made it bearable.

Originally published in 1890 in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine
eBook obtained from Serial Reader
176 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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