North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

Synopsis: This is one of the earliest novels of industrial alienation, tellingly linked to the plight of 19th-century women. It tells of the relationship between Margaret Hale, a girl from the old rural south, and John Thornton, a mill owner from the new industrial north. (synopsis taken from Amazon).

Review: Although this was well written and made some important points about industrialisation as observed first hand by Elizabeth Gaskell it was let down by its lack of event. Despite being informative, and valuable as a realistic picture of the social landscape of the time, it lacked the plot to drive the reader to continue. Continue though I did, but it was a long and slow read. I found myself continually comparing it to Emile Zola’s Germinal which depicted the working conditions of the miners in France. It is a far more dramatic tale, again drawing on Zola’s first hand observations, but I found in making this comparison that I could see Elizabeth Gaskell’s strength in that she was able to tell the story from the point of view of both the industrialists and workers. I will read other work by Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South feels like a work with a purpose to inform rather than to entertain and my expectations are that her other novels may be more plot driven.  

LibraryThing rating: *****

Other books read by same author: None but hope to read more.

Reviewed by JudyB

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Date of Publication: 1843

Number of Pages: 114

Synopsis: This is a story that is well-known to almost all readers. Ebenezer Scrooge, that miserable miser, thinks that Christmas is  “humbug”. He does not see the worth in caring for his fellow men. He is visited by the ghost of his long-dead partner, Jacob Marley who informs him that he has one chance to escape his fate, which is to linger on the Earth for eternity, wishing desperately to help the people he refused to help in life, but being unable to do so. He must endure visits of three more ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come. He witnesses the joys of Christmas which are shared by all but him, even by his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit. He finds himself not only enjoying the Christmas celebrations of other people, but feeling pity and concern for those less fortunate. At the end of the night, he is a changed man and spends the rest of his life giving everything he can to others and celebrating Christmas better than anyone else.

Review: I read this book in honor of Christmas, and it really put me in the Christmas mood! It’s light, fun, sad, and presents an important message about Christmas. During this time of rampant commercialism and long lists to Santa, it’s easy to forget that the greatest joys of Christmas come from the giving. This book illustrates the euphoria that Scrooge feels when he finally is able to give gifts, either of time, money, food, or whatever, to other people. Christmas is not about what you can get…it’s about what you can give. If you want a story that will remind you of the real meaning of Christmas, this is it! In terms of story-telling, this book has classic Dickensian characters and ample humor and drama, making it a classic in its own right. If I had any criticism, it would be that the story seems to wander a bit and move even a little too fast. But it really doesn’t take too much away from the experience.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by Sarah

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

Date of Publication: 1994

Synopsis: “This long, dense novel, a bestseller in the author’s native Norway, offers a summary history of philosophy embedded in a philosophical mystery disguised as a children’s book. Sophie Amundsen is about to turn 15 when she receives a letter from one Alberto Knox, a philosopher who undertakes to educate her in his craft. Sections in which we read the text of Knox’s lessons to Sophie about the pre-Socratics, Plato and St. Augustine alternate with those in which we find out about Sophie’s life with her well-meaning mother. Soon, though, Sophie begins receiving other, stranger missives addressed to one Hilde Moller Knag from her absent father, Albert. As Alberto Knox’s lessons approach this century, he and Sophie come to suspect that they are merely characters in a novel written by Albert for his daughter. Teacher and pupil hatch a plot to understand and possibly escape from their situation; and from there, matters get only weirder.” -Publishers Weekly

Review: This book was recommended reading by my 12th grade Humanities teacher, who asked the entire class to read it the summer before school started. I duly purchased it, but couldn’t get past the long section on Plato, and put it aside for possible future reading. I picked it up again about two years later, and for some reason, forced myself through the long, sometimes tedious lectures that Alberto gives Sophie and found an extremely compelling story underneath. I have since read it two more times, and each time I find myself more and more fascinated by the philosophical material and find myself now enjoying the stories of the great philosophers and thinkers in history. Although some may feel that this book is dry and dense, it really speaks to me, and should appeal to anyone who is interested in history, philosophy, or has ever asked themselves the questions, “Who am I?” and “Why is the world the way it is?”

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviewed by Sarah

The Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Date of Publication: 1995

Synopsis: “A monster on the loose in New York City’s American Museum of Natural History provides the hook for this high-concept, high-energy thriller. A statue of the mad god Mbwun, a monstrous mix of man and reptile, was discovered by a Museum expedition to South America in 1987. Now, it is about to become part of the new Superstition Exhibition at the museum (here renamed the “New York Museum of Natural History”). But as the exhibition’s opening night approaches, the museum may have to be shut down due to a series of savage murders that seem to be the work of a maniac-or a living version of Mbwun. When the museum’s director pulls strings to ensure that the gala affair takes place, it’s up to a small band of believers, led by graduate student Margo Green, her controversial adviser and an FBI agent who investigated similar killings in New Orleans, to stop the monster-if the culprit is indeed a monster-from going on a rampage. Less horror then action-adventure, the narrative builds to a superbly exciting climax, and then offers a final twist to boot. With its close-up view of museum life and politics, plausible scientific background, sharply drawn characters and a plot line that’s blissfully free of gratuitous romance, this well-crafted novel offers first-rate thrills and chills.” -Publishers Weekly

Review: This intensely exciting thriller is the beginning of Preston’s and Child’s series featuring FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, the tall, ghostly-pale Southern gentleman who is half MacGyver half Oxford professor. Pendergast is one of the best characters I’ve ever read, and certainly the best law enforcement character. And I certainly wasn’t disappointed in the other characters either, especially the sardonic New York cop, Vincent D’Agosta and the tenacious grad student, Margo Green, who join Pendergast in his search for the truth. The premise of the book is not only breathtakingly frightening, but also breathtakingly believable. I gladly return to this book again and again, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the authors’ continuation of these characters in the rest of the series.

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by Sarah

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Date of Publication: 2004, Houghton Mifflin Company

Number of Pages: 111

Synopsis: “Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien’s children. Inside would be a letter in strange spidery handwriting and a beautiful colored drawing or some sketches.

The letters were from Father Christmas.

They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how all the reindeer got loose and scattered presents everywhere; how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house.

Sometimes the Polar Bear would scrawl a note, and sometimes Ilbereth the Elf would write in his elegant flowing script, adding yet more life and humor to the stories.

This updated volume contains a wealth of new material, including letters and pictures missing from early editions. No reader, young or old, can fail to be charmed by the inventiveness and “authenticity” of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas.” ~blurb from back cover

Review: This is a charming book, full of wonderful illustrations drawn by Tolkien himself. The cast of characters is wonderfully amusing, especially North Polar Bear, who gets into all sorts of mischief every year. There are even descriptions of wars between Father Christmas and the neighboring Goblins, reminiscent of the Goblin wars depicted in The Hobbit and The Silmarillion.

The book is also bittersweet, as it spans almost 20 years, and Tolkien begins to address his letters to fewer and fewer children, until only his youngest, his daughter Priscilla, still awaits her letter from Father Christmas. It shows how his children have grown, and Father Christmas himself seems sad as his children stop believing in Christmas magic. The last letter is especially poignant, as Father Christmas says goodbye to the children.

This is a great book to read during the holiday season, but it can really be enjoyed any time of year. It’s funny, magical, and made me feel like a child again. I recommend this book not only to fans of Tolkien, but to anyone who wants to get into the Christmas spirit.

Rating: 10/10

Reviewed by Sarah