"Alice in Wonderland," by Lewis Carroll

"Alice in Wonderland," by Lewis Carroll
 I gave this book: 4 stars out of 5


General thoughts
I was surprised with how different the book is from the movie. I had never read "Alice in Wonderland," but I had seen the movie starring Johnny Depp. I found them to be very different stories. I thought the book was good, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of story ... compared to the movie. Not sure how different my viewpoint would be though if I had read the book first and then seen the movie.


Book synopsis
After chasing a rabbit down a rabbit hole, Alice finds herself in a different world, where she discovers a little about herself. It's a world of extreme imagination and the characters are very colorful.


3  2 things I liked about the book
• The chapter about the Mock Turtle. This was probably my favorite part of the story.
• The characters were very colorful and their attitudes weren't far off from the movie.

I'm really having a hard time finding more than two things I liked about this book. Mostly because it was only 164 pages and also because I am distracted by how much was different from the movie. I know, I know, I'm a horrible person ... I enjoyed the movie more than the book. (((le sigh)))


My favorite part
I enjoyed reading the chapter about the Mock Turtle. I found the singing and dancing to be interesting and I also liked how they showed distaste for Alice constantly interrupting.


My least favorite part
The description of the world she found herself in wasn't as in depth as I was expecting. I was hoping to hear much more about her surroundings.


My favorite character
I'm not sure if I can pick just one character because I enjoyed everyone, rather than Alice. I found her a bit annoying in the book.


Would I recommend this book?
I think I would recommend it to someone who hasn't seen the movie. Mainly because I'd like to hear a point of view from someone who experienced the book before the movie to see if the movie really overshadowed the book.


“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
— Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland"



My next book from this challenge will be "An American Tragedy," however, since my husband is currently reading my copy of it, I'll be reading "Casino Royale," by Ian Fleming. I'm hoping to get back to the challenge in a couple weeks.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain
 I gave this book: 3 out of 5 stars


General thoughts
I found myself constantly having to force my way through this book. The story wasn't the problem, rather the writing style. Most middle school or high school students have read this book for a class. I read it in middle school and remember thinking it was good. Now that I've read it 15 years later, I find myself struggling. I can deal with a little southern speak, such as what's in "To Kill a Mockingbird," but the broken English in Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" I found was just too much for me.


Book synopsis
Huckleberry Finn finds himself floating down the Missouri River with a runaway slave, Jim. Along the way, they get into a few scrapes, but mainly make their trip an adventure. The book explores the difference between races before the Civil War, but also examines identity. There are a few times you can see Huck really struggling to find himself and who he will become.


3 things I liked about the book
• The adventures had to be my favorite part. I enjoyed hearing about what Huck would be getting himself into and wondering what would come along next.
• The relationship between Huck and Jim. Seeing as Jim was a runaway slave, there were many times Huck could have turned him in for a hefty reward, but he didn't out of respect for his friend and the friendship they were forming.
• The outrageous ideas of Tom Sawyer. He doesn't just go for the simple, rather for the ridiculous. Once again, this made me wonder what he could possibly come up with next.


My favorite part
Once again, my favorite part is the end. I liked the outcome for Jim. However, I would have liked to know if him being set free also included his family, because one without the other wouldn't be ideal.


My least favorite part
The Duke and King. I was not a fan of their storyline. I would have preferred more of a story about Huck and Jim's adventures. I didn't really think their storyline improved the book.


My favorite character
Tom Sawyer was my favorite character. I know he was only in maybe a third of the book, but I enjoy his antics; he keeps you on your toes.


Would I recommend this book?
I'm really not sure. I go back and forth on that. If you can stand to read broken English, then this book may be for you. I will probably encourage my kids to some day read it since it describes a different time in America's history, but other than that, I probably wouldn't go out talking non-stop about why the book should be read.


“After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people.”
-Mark Twin, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"



My next book will be "Alice in Wonderland."

"1984," by George Orwell

Yes, yes, yes ... it has taken me two years before I actually started my Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge. I'm a slacker. However, this year, I have changed my ways.
I don't normally do New Year resolutions, but this year, I decided it was the only way I would end up forcing myself to read. Don't get me wrong, I love to read, but as you may know by looking at your own life, everyday events get in the way.
So, this year, I started "No TV Mondays." This has helped tremendously with my reading and has actually made me look forward to Mondays. Sometimes I find myself not being able to wait until Monday to pick up my book and read more, so I end up picking it up a few times throughout the week.
Due to "No TV Mondays," I have read "The Historian," "The Book Thief," "The Hunger Games," "Catching Fire," "Mocking Jay," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I just finished my first book in the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge, "1984," by George Orwell.
I've been averaging a book per month this year — I tend to be a slow reader.
For each book I read, I'll do a simple "review." As to keep it short and to not give away too many details (for those who have yet to read the book), it's more of a bullet-point review.
Okay, on to the reasons we all came here ...



"1984," by George Orwell
 I gave this book: 4 out of 5 stars


General thoughts
It took me awhile to get into this book. It just didn't seem to catch my attention right away. That doesn't always mean I think it's going to be a bad book, rather I need to push through what seems to be a slow start. Once I got past the first few chapters though, things started to peak my interest.


Book synopsis
This story follows a man, Winston, through a period in time when society is controlled by "Big Brother." Everything you do — eating, working, talking, thinking — are controlled by those in charge.
While most seem to be brainwashed, Winston fights to keep his beliefs, his past and his future. He thinks freely and at times he acts freely. Although Big Brother tries his best to take away everything Winston knows and understands, Winston holds on to what's true to him.
It gives a startling glance into what society could possibly become if we keep heading in the same direction we're going. One all powerful being and little minions there to do his/her work, while they're brainwashed and scared of Big Brother.


3 things I liked about the book
• I'm a big fan of people standing up for what they believe. That is the majority of what I see from Winston throughout this book. That doesn't mean he falters in those beliefs, but I felt in the end he kept hold of them — even if it was deep down inside him rather than at the surface.
• I'm also a big fan of those who stare fear straight in the face. There's a period in the book where Winston is pushed to his breaking point. However, right in the middle of that breaking point, he looked Big Brother straight in the face and pushed through.
• The writing. I've always liked the way George Orwell writes. Every reader likes a certain type of writing. Some don't like a lot of description (because they prefer to use more of their imagination than the author's), while some like a lot of description. I'm somewhere in the middle. I like the author to give me an outline of what people, places and things look like, however, I also like for the author to give me a little room to use my imagination. That's what Orwell does for me.


My favorite part
My favorite part is the end. We all saw it coming. It was an ending that was foretold many pages before, but in my mind (some may not agree), Winston held tight to what he believes — all the way to the end.


My least favorite part
Repetition. I felt there was so much repetition when it came to describing how parts of the "government" worked, along with the ins and outs of newspeak.


My favorite character
There's only a few characters in this book and really only one main character, Winston. I'm not sure though if I can put my finger on one character because there didn't seem to be much character development ... and I'm a big fan of character development.


Would I recommend this book?
Yes. First, although it's slow to start, it's a good book and I enjoy Orwell's writing. Secondly, it's a classic and I'm a BIG fan of the classics.


“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”
— George Orwell, "1984"


My next book will not be off this list. I know, I know ... Valeri, you just started the challenge! Well, I've been looking forward to Harper Lee's new book release, "Go Set a Watchman" and I plan to start it as soon as it's out (next Wednesday). However, after that I will be right back to this reading challenge with "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," by Mark Twain.