Week 31: A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor

This is the 2nd book to the Chronicles of St. Mary's books! This book was just as fun and diverting as the first. The author does great at constantly making the story move forward.  Which is ironic cause most of the characters are going back in time the majority of the time!  

Anyways this time the characters travel to 16th century Scotland, 600BC, and 19th century London.  The creepiest part is the 19th century and that is with Jack the Ripper.  I didn't like that part much at all.  However, besides that part I really enjoyed the book and liked the different historical periods.  This book is just an overall exciting read, for adults.  I wouldn't recommend it for young adults or children, some of the content is a little to mature for them! Yet it is educational and humorous!

Week 30: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

It is somewhat surprising that this was the first time I read this book! It is such a classic that I felt I should read it! Also since it is close to Halloween I thought that a monster book was a fun idea! 

To begin with this book is far from most movies and their depictions of the Frankenstein monster! An example being that the monster speaks exceptionally well.  In fact he is incredibly intuned with his feelings and is a persuasive orator.  The main character is Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster.  During the entire book you see him slowly losing control.  In away this novel is a study of the human intellect when faced with difficult challenges and our coping mechanisms in times of despair.  It plays with your emotions and makes you realize the unkindness of humans. 

This book is one that will keep you pondering human nature and all that we do.  Shelley portrayed many different traits into every single character!

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!!!