Reviews Written by Anna Grady
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November 3, 2007
Lewis&Funk's "30 Days: More Powerful Vocabulary"
Pros: quick, actually makes the words stick
Cons: it needs some sequels its so good
This is a month long excercise book designed to give you a jumpstart on creating and maintaining a daily vocabulary building routine.
Such an excellent book. Besides all the interesting word origins and the evolution of dictionary entries, this book provides a gateway to getting into the routine of HOW to learn new words.
Excellent excellent excellent book. I cannot praise this book enough. True, at times, the date shows and you must overlook a few sexist undertones, but the value of this book can't be stressed enough. 9/10 ... -
July 29, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "Netochka Nezvanova"
Pros: deep and detailed
Cons: it was unfinished and it feels that way
This is the first attempt at writing Dostoyevsky ever did. Its an account of the life of a young girl and the not so wonderful life she led, including losing both parents at an early age, becoming obsessed with a peer, and her releationship with her new guardians as a teen. Her life is fraught with reminders of her dependent orphan status and the complexities and turmoil she had to deal with.
Wonderful, even though its a little unorganized and ends abruptly and somewhat unclimactic. Not recommended as an introduction to his work. But rewarding nonetheless for his signature personality analysis.
Great for fans of Dost. 7/10 ... -
July 22, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "Poor Folk"
Pros: dark and intense
Cons: long-winded
This is a series of letters between two close friends that details the life of each and the terrible poverty they both dealt with.
Wow, everything he writes is always so deep and intense, and really exposes the complicated nature of people and their sometimes contradictory beahvior. He is a master of creating an interesting set of characters. He also is able to show the poor main characters and their plight with great and seemingly sincere sympathy.
Excellent, worth a read. 7/10 ... -
July 6, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "House of the Dead"
Pros: detailed and realistic
Cons: Dostoyevsky can be very long-winded
This is a novel about prison life; what it was like to be imprisoned in Siberia in the nineteenth century. It contains minutely detailed accounts of every subject from clothing, work, and food, to the psychological impact of being a prisoner to the social decorum observed.
What an interesting read this was. It's like the Dummies Guide to Siberian prison, and there is seemingly no subject too trivial to be ignored. It is arranged thematically and not chronologically.
Recommended to lovers of the classics. Not a light read by any means. 8/10 ... -
The House of the Dead or Prison Life in Siberia
by Fyodor Dostoyevsky | BookPrice: $24.98 to $24.98 Compare PricesJuly 6, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "House of the Dead"
Pros: detailed and realistic
Cons: Dostoyevsky is very long-winded
This is a novel about prison life; what it was like to be imprisoned in Siberia in the nineteenth century. It contains minutely detailed accounts of every subject from clothing, work, and food, to the psychological impact of being a prisoner to the social decorum observed.
What an interesting read this was. It's like the Dummies Guide to Siberian prison, and there is seemingly no subject too trivial to be ignored. It is arranged thematically and not chronologically.
Recommended to lovers of the classics. Not a light read by any means. 8/10 ... -
June 11, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "The Gambler"
Pros: Dostoyevsky is always interesting to read
Cons: felt hurried and unfinished
This is a story about a man who falls into gambling addiction in the midst of a torrid and unpredictable love affair.
Usually, Dostoyevsky's story seems secondary to his intense psychological profiling of the characters and their personalites and motivations. Thats why hes my favorite author. This story, however, seemed the opposite of what Im used to. I find out this story was hurried and probably not as intricate as he wouldve liked it, and coincidentally, he had to satisfy a gambling debt of his own. It was still full of symbolic action, with the main characters engaged in behavior representing their inner turmoil.
Not recommended to anyone who hasnt already read his major, most famous works like Crime and Punishment or Brothers Karamazov. 7/10 ... -
A Tale of Two Cities Volume I [Easyread Edition]
by Charles C. Dickens | BookPrice: $23.98 to $23.98 Compare PricesJune 9, 2007
Chalres Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities"
Pros: timeless and purposeful
Cons: some of it was slightly boring
This is the monumental classic by Dickens. The story centers around several people during the time of the French Revolution. The gist of the tale is that two men are in love with the same woman, and one makes the ultimate sacrifice for her happiness.
This is the kind of book you do not sit down to read lightly. It takes quite a while to get started, as you learn about the various intricate backgrounds, personalities, and relevant information of all the major players. Once the stage is set, the suspense builds leading to the full blown chaos and violence that was the French Revolution, culminating in the charging of the Bastille and the consequent Reign of Terror.
Dickens seems to totter between matter of fact detailed documentary type accounts to poetic and abstract observation. This threw me off sometimes. I also never quite found myself as empathetic with the characters as I wanted to be. I failed to make the same emotional connection with the characters as I do with say Dostoyevsky.
This book is definitely a ten, and I see exactly why this complex tale has been such a monumental work that is so highly revered. But Im giving it my personal rating for my personal reading list, and for that reason, I give it 9/10. ... -
May 8, 2007
Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment"
Pros: a masterpiece
Cons: may be taxing to those unuse to his long-windedness
This is the classic novel about a man who murders two people in cold blood and his struggle with his own conscience and guilt afterwards. One woman stands by him regardless and helps him search for repentence and redemption and gives him hope to lead a better life.
WOW. I mean, wow, this is the pinnacle of everything I have ever read by Dostoyevsky. He has an uncanny ability to describe the complex and endless minute details and motivations behind our every acton. A complete examination of the human psyche and a profile of sin and redemption written in such an interesting and beautiful way.
Recommended to anyone, this is one of the absolute best books you will ever pick up. Absolutely perfect. 10/10 ... -
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
by Mark Twain | BookPrice: $11.98 to $11.98 Compare PricesApril 30, 2007
Twain's "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court"
Pros: novel idea at the time, one of the first time travel stories
Cons: none really
This is the classic time travel story of a man out of time. A "modern" man suddenly finds himself in the medieval England, circa King Arthur. He uses their superstitions to his advantage, gaining respect, and then slowly introduces modern advancements for their own good. However, the persistent power of the Catholic Church undermines his efforts.
The satire is brilliant, the story is fun.
Recommended to teens especially. 7/10 ...
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Aldous Huxley's "Doors of Perception"
Pros: immensely engaging
Cons: he never took a breath
This is basically the account of the author's experience with mind-altering drugs.
An immensely interesting read, very short, yet long-winded. He recounts his experice on drugs, and the effect it had on his mind's perception of time, space, spatial relationships, his priorities, his view of what's important in life, and his feeling of oneness with the universe. He describes very vividly and lucidly what his experience was like.
A great read, but so wordy and so deep, it's not for the casual reader and certainly not for entertainment. Still fantastic and recommended. 6/10 ...