Tag Archives: classics

Pavilion of Women, by Pearl S. Buck

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Thistle

As Madame Wu reaches her fortieth birthday, she makes a decision that will change the life of everyone in her multi-generational housing complex. She decides that she will retire from being a woman, and bring a concubine to live with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protected: Sons and Lovers, by DH Lawrence

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Thistle

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Posted in 2012, Adult, Prose | Tagged | Enter your password to view comments.

Phantom Fortune, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Thistle

This book was okay, but mostly just gossipy fluff-intrigue. Stolen fortunes, hidden identities, societal corruption, etc. I can see why it didn’t stand out among the many books written at that time, and it didn’t really live up to Lady … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Adult, Prose | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cakes and Ale, by William Somerset Maugham

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Thistle

I have read quite a few books by Maugham in the last decade or so, maybe 15-16 in all. He’s one of my favorite authors. Having said that, I must admit that Cakes and Ale didn’t live up to his … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Adult, Prose | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Dream, by Émile Zola

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Thistle

In a small town outside of Paris, a nine-year-old orphan named Angelique sits outside a cathedral the night after Christmas. It’s snowing, and she has nothing on but rags. She stares up at the images carved into the cathedral’s wall, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, are Dead by Tom Stoppard

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Thistle

Hard to know what to say about this one. I saw the play about 18 months before I read it. I quite enjoyed the performance, though I felt a little lost every time they switched into Shakespeare-speak, because Shakespeare’s language … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Adult, Drama | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Mayor of Casterbridge, by Thomas Hardy

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Thistle

Of the four books by Thomas Hardy that I’ve read now, this is my least favorite. There were a lot of good points about it, sure. I liked that in the end, honesty won. I liked the statements it made … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Adult, Prose | Tagged | Leave a comment

Callback: We

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Thistle

I first read We back in early July 2008. I’ve gone back and read my review from that time, and it’s clear that I had no idea what to make of this book. It’s supposedly one of the three best … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Thistle

I first read this book in 1999, when I was 20 years old. I’d seen the movie version of it in theatre with some friends and decided to try the book version, because of course I usually figured the book … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lottery and Seven Other Stories, by Shirley Jackson (audio)

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Thistle

The Lottery was a fantastic story, probably the best short story I’ve read in a very long time. It was creepy and foreboding, especially when you couple the end with the innocent beginnings in the children’s actions. I loved it. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2011, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment