Week 29: Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

This book is fantastically entertaining! The main character has a lot of depth to her and the story line is full of twists and turns! It is about historians that travel back in time to record history.  However, every time they go back in history they cause problems and multiple things happen! The whole plot is full of accidents and problems, which keeps the reader enthralled in the story! Most of the characters are funny and are constantly making jokes! The author created a wonderful story that leaves you guessing throughout the whole book! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, historical, or comical books! Be aware however that this is a series, but it is quite inexpensive on Kindle!

Week 28: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome

This book is a about three men who take a boat ride up the Thames.  It is really funny and entertaining! The men have many silly adventures in their boat. They often make mistakes and cause problems.  On top of all of the adventures there is a good deal of philosophy in the novel.  The main character has many different views and is quite funny! He is constantly making obscure statements that often ring with truth!  I liked this book, and suggest it to anyone that understands British humorous! The book is a quick read and a funny little story if you can understand it!

Week 27: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

This summer was hard to keep up book wise! Yet I tried to keep up this month! I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne this past month.  I liked the book well enough, but it was not my favorite book.  I liked all of the adventures and the story line itself.  Yet the constant description of nautical terms, scientific animal names, and obscure geographical locations left me constantly floundered. I am by no means an expert at any of the subjects I listed,  however I did believe I knew enough to understand the majority of the book. I was wrong!  Honestly, I was often left at a lose and found myself checking terms in the dictionary frequently.  This was a good book foelr letting myself see just how much I still need to learn! And I am more than willing to learn it!

Besides my constant lack of comprehension, I did really like the book! I found it diverting and original! I understand now why Captain Nemo is such a known literary figure and the book itself is looked upon as a classic! Though some of the adventures in the novel are more or less impossible, many of the events are actually quite possible! The fact that this book was written 150 years ago yet contains things that are extremely plausible today is amazing! While reading I was often blown away by how advanced Verne's ideas were! I liked the book and may read it again in the distant future!

Week 26: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The Woman in White is a classic book I found on my Kindle for free.  I had never heard of it and found that the reviews were pretty good, so I thought I would give it a try! The Woman in White is a classic mystery that is fairly suspenseful and has many different plot twists in it.  The story is told from the first person perspective of many different characters.

Some of the characters were developed exceptionally well by Collins.  Marian and Count Fosco for example both are characters that have numerous different layers to them. They are both self assured, confident people, who help to drive the story.  I would say they are two of the main driving characters that have complex personalities that truly show their depth. However, Laura who is another main character was characteristically unimpressive for me.  She just seemed like a sniveling woman that had very little development. To be fair she is extremely loyal and truthful which helps her otherwise useless character.  She does go through many trials and challenges, but her character does not grow from any of them!

I would recommend the novel to anyone who likes classic literature, or mysteries.  The story is a wonderful mixture of suspense, thrill, mystery, and romance.  I am glad I read it and may read more from this author in the future!!!

Week 25: Persuasion by Jane Austen

I have read this book on numerous occasions and decided to read it again.  I really do love Austen as an author, and enjoy all of her books! This book is not as witty or entertaining as her others, however.  It was her last book that she published and it has a more serious plot line.  Yet I do like the book for all its solemnity. 

Out of all Austen's book this one has always been my least favorite.  However, reading it this time around it has grown on me.  I think because all the characters are a little bit older they are now easier for me to connect with.  I love the plot line and all the imagery that Austen has put in throughout the book.  The main character, Anne, has always been a little to bland for my tastes.  She seems to care little how she is treated by her family and is unbearably calm.  She still is very good and kind, but sometimes you wish she would stick up for herself more.  

If you like Jane Austen read this book.  It is one of the lesser known, but is still a wonderful classic!!! 

Week 24: The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Since I have already written two blogs about this series there is little more for me to say about them as a whole! However, this is the final installment to the series, and one of my favorites!

The book is comprised of the many endeavors of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel.  They are all fun, short, stories that tell the reader of the many deeds of the English protagonist.  I believe there are 12 stories all ranging in length in this book.  Overall, they were really fun reads and extremely well thought out!

I am glad I have read the whole series and believe that most people should read it as well! They are great historical classics! Though biased and fictional, they do paint an accurate picture of the French Revolution.  They are wonderful adventure books!!!

Week 23: Lord Tony's Wife by Baroness Orczy

Wow! I have so much catch up to do! These past few months have been a whirlwind of activities and events! However, I have kept on reading... just not as frequently!

I chose this book to read because I really love the Scarlet Pimpernel series! It is the 6th book in the series, and is full of adventure and daring!!! The book is about an aristocrat who is kidnapped from her husband in England and transported to France. The Scarlet Pimpernel hears about her kidnapping and follows her to Nantes.  The Pimpernel then tries to rescue her from her terrible fate!

The book is mainly told from the perspective of the bad guys.  Which creates the necessary suspense need to create the plot line.  However, I would like to more often read the story from the hero's perspective. Really none of the series is told from the protagonists point of view which means the reader cannot connect as easily with him! However, when all is said and done I really do enjoy this book immensely!