Review: The Five Orange Pips + The Man with the Twisted Lip

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery 

The Five Ornage Pips:                                           A tale of mystery, scandal and murder that may have been committed by the Ku Klux Klan in London. Who else but Sherlock Holmes can solve these series of deaths?

The Man with the Twisted Lip:                     Holmes discovers Dr. Watson in the black shadows of a smoke-filled opium den in the basement of the very house where Holmes is investigating his latest murder case! But of course the good doctor is only there to hunt down the drug-addicted husband of his wife's dear, but distraught, friend. Sound confusing? For all but The Great Detective, it probably is. And we haven't even talked about the murder yet!

You can read my reviews of other Sherlock Holmes stories here. 

I found The Five Orange Pips fairly predictable and classic for Sherlock Holmes stories - weird sign, death threat by terrorist organization, family member of threatened party contacts good old SH. However I think there were two points of interest for this particular story - the first being some beautiful writing. The vocabulary and the flow of the sentences were enchanting in my opinion. The second was the not-neatly-tied-up-ending which I've found is not usual for these stories. I'll say no more there. 

The Man with the Twisted Lip was overall much more to my fancy. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that in BBC's Sherlock (one of my true loves) they do an almost perfectly loyal adaptation of this story's opening scene. So obviously, I was hooked right off the bat. Truthfully, even if I hadn't seen Sherlock's version I think this chapter in The Adventures of SH is great - it starts off with a bang and a funny surprise, and has some great quotes of Watson deciding to throw in in his lot with that of the detectives'. Also, the end was altogether surprising and amusing, and exactly what you'd look for in a short story. Loved it! 

“...I could not wish anything better than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular adventures which were the normal condition of his existence." 

Happy reading!
Love,
Esty

Review: A Case of Identity + The Boscombe Valley Mystery

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery 

A Case of Identity:
Miss Mary Sutherland, angry and beside herself with feelings of loss, asks Sherlock Holmes to solve the sudden, mysterious disappearance of a shy and attentive man she has grown to love upon the very day they were to be married.

The Boscombe Valley Mystery:
Lestrade summons Holmes to a community in Herefordshire, where a local land owner has been murdered outdoors. The deceased's estranged son is strongly implicated. Holmes quickly determines that a mysterious third man may be responsible for the crime, unraveling a thread involving a secret criminal past, thwarted love, and blackmail.

You can read my reviews on the other Sherlock Holmes stories here. 

In A Case of Identity, I got the point as quickly as Mr. Holmes himself. In one of the Sherlock episodes they do an adaptation of this one (very quick) and it's really similar. 

The Boscombe Valley Mystery was my favored of the two, because I liked that they traveled, and that there was a little bit of Mary in the beginning. Also, this story was complex- there is strong, substantial evidence pointing to a certain culprit, and yet the legendary detective comes up with ridiculous and complicated and absolutely brilliant deduction that explains all the findings with a completely different outcome. It was terrifically enjoyable, and a lot of build-up. I guessed the guilty party of this one, too, but I had no idea how he'd prove it so it was a definite page-turner. 

Rating:

 

Happy reading!
Esty

Review: A Scandal in Bohemia + The Red-Headed League

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Classics, Mystery

A Scandal in Bohemia:
Holmes is hired by the King of Bohemia to recover blackmail evidence, held by the woman whom the king once promised to marry, but who he abandoned for a woman of noble birth.

The Redheaded League:
Holmes is engaged upon two seemingly unrelated cases, a daring bank robbery and the disappearance of a pawnbroker's assistant. Using minute details of the small mystery, he is able to solve the larger one. 

Although it is EXTREMELY difficult for me to choose, my favorite episode of BBC's Sherlock is A Scandal in Belgravia. Therefore, I was looking forward to reading the story it was based on very, very much.

Indeed, it was my favorite Holmes story thus far. However, I don't think that means much as I've only read four(: 

Unlike the SH novels I had read before (A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four), these stories are part of the The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes collection, and are MUCH shorter and faster-paced. Naturally, this means they were funner to read. 

In Scandal, it was really enjoyable to see Holmes upstaged by a common woman. Irene Adler was new, ridiculously intriguing and of course, as smart as Sherlock himself(; However, she is not a main a character and as totally badass as she is on the TV show, which was admittedly a bit of a let-down. 

The Red-Headed League had such an amusing premise that I was smiling right off the bat, and I had NO IDEA where the story was going. HOW THE HECK Conan Doyle came up with these crazy mysteries is beyond me.

I had a lot of fun reading these. They were quick and easy, and I highly recommend them! Rating:

Happy weekend! What are you reading?
Esty

Review: A Study in Scarlet + The Sign of Four

The Sherlock Holmes Novels
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
Classics

Apparently, these stories are so famous they were denied a blurb from Goodreads(;

So last summer I fell totally, absolutely, and irrevocably in love with BBC's Sherlock (and um, Benedict Cumberbatch), to the point where I now know all 9 episodes by heart. Various members of my family, after being horrified that a huge reader like me has fallen in love with a tv show having never read the iconic stories, started buying me copies. 

I now have 3 collections, one of them full (all 54 on kindle!).

I came at A Study in Scarlet with minimal expectations. I was right to do so. 

As a reader, I'm more a people person than a plot person (hence, why I love Cassie Clare's Shadowhunter books. No one could possibly attribute literary genius to them but BEST. CHARACTERS. EVER). Anyway, as opposed to the tv show that explores Sherlock's character development and his relationship with the rest of the crew, the original stories are truly all about the mystery. My favorite bits are when Watson marvels at Holmes, but those are few and far between.

Another thing that was difficult for me to get into were the background chapters towards the end of each novella. In both A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, there are a good few chapters devoted to the murderer's history with the murderee. This SOUNDS fascinating but in both cases was slow, long-winded, and most annoyingly, NOT ABOUT WATSON AND HOLMES. 

Also, these stories were written over 120 years ago. THEY ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND. A lot of times after the big reveal my response was like, 'WHAT are you talking about??'

YET SOMEHOW, I really enjoyed them! And I never really like short stories! It's truly bizarre. There is something intriguing about them - maybe because each story is new, so you never know what to expect. That is almost a guaranteed way of making me read all of them. 

Rating: 

Review: The Chosen

The Chosen
Chaim Potok
Historical fiction? Hardly.  I'll go with 'Hard to Classify'

"Anyone who finds it is finding a jewel. Its themes are profound and universal."
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
It is the now-classic story of two fathers and two sons and the pressures on all of them to pursue the religion they share in the way that is best suited to each. And as the boys grow into young men, they discover in the other a lost spiritual brother, and a link to an unexplored world that neither had ever considered before. In effect, they exchange places, and find the peace that neither will ever retreat from again....

I'm a little bit speechless, to say the least.

This book was thrust in my hands A MILLION TIMES by one of my best friends and I kept saying I'd get to I'd get to it. We sell hundreds of copies of it at the bookstore I work at because everyone studies it in school. I myself almost studied it last year but it was changed last minute to A Separate Peace. My grandparents are friendly with the author.

And yet, my friend's copy sat on my bookshelf for about a year now. 

When someone says, 'it's a book about friendship between a Hasidic boy and a Modern Orthodox one' you're like, Oh, that's nice. I didn't imagine for a second that it would move me the way it did. 

The Chosen was written with EXPERT skill. Whole periods of time were described in two sentences and yet you FEEL the time passing. All the stress and worry that any of the characters go through comes straight to me as if it was I who was living it. 

And the build up. Dear Lord. All throughout the novel, you can FEEL the climax coming. I had no idea what it would be- the conflicts are subtle and at times aren't noticed. The tension grows and grows until you're ten pages away from the end and you know SOMETHING is going to happen but you don't know what or how and then it's upon you and you're shocked and you cry and OH MY GOD. 

I'll tell you right now- there's no dramatic secret or plot twist. But it was the most AMAZING climax I've ever read. 

And the friendship. All I wanted was MORE. Truly one of the most beautiful relationships ever written. Can I get a sequel?? Pretty please?? 

There were so many crazy and genius themes and ideas that I almost wished I HAD learned it in class. The backdrop of the Holocaust made the story even more real to me, watching how the different groups dealt with the trauma of 6 million of their people dead while you were oblivious and the world was silent.

Need I say more? Do yourself and the world a favor and savor this story.

Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee
Classic

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

Oh my gosh, is my short response to this book. I kinda wanna smack myself for not reading this years ago. On the other hand, I'm glad I read it now with my literature class because I better understood it at this age and was able to ask my teacher questions. 

I don't think I've read a story told from the POV of an eight year old since I myself was that age. And yet, I was so REFRESHED by Scout's perspective on things. The issues in the novel were so simple to her- she and her brother (and children in general) are able to cut through all the prejudice and rumors her community has drowned itself in and see things clearly. The candidness in which she describes things and her matter-of-fact way of life was so beautiful and so FUNNY. I'm beginning to understand why adults laugh at many things kids say. 

There were multiple wonderful themes in this book. My favorite was how growing up is slowly sewing your mind shut (you can see this especially when Jem and Scout are talking about different types of people and Jem says something along the lines of 'I used to think like you, when I was your age..'). Another was the theme of family- Atticus' strict but loving education, the childrens' respect of Aunt Alexandra although being opposed to her views. Not to mention Jem and Scout's relationship. Another, obviously, is criticism of society who is blinded by racism. About that, I liked how the author showed us (through Atticus pointing it out a few times) how even the prejudiced were very good people sometimes. There was even a little bit of a feminist statement. Scout remarks on how the women of Maycomb are hypocrites and gossipers, but when it really came down to it, they're each hiding the secrets. In the end, you see how their little parties are really them putting on a brave face for each other. 

Also, I developed a little crush on Jem(:
All in all, I was totally blown away by this book. I loved every minute of it and plan to revisit the novel every once in awhile. Rating:


In other news, Kayla has won my giveaway for the signed copy of Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mylnowski! Congratulations, Kayla! I have sent her an email and she has 48 hours to get back to me, at which time I'll choose another winner. Thank you all for participating!!
Love,
Esty

Review: The Little Prince

The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Translated by:  Katherine Woods
Classic

Moral allegory and spiritual autobiography, The Little Prince is the most translated book in the French language. With a timeless charm it tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to travel the universe, learning the vagaries of adult behaviour through a series of extraordinary encounters. His personal odyssey culminates in a voyage to Earth and further adventures

Hello, lit class reading. Yeah I've been doing a lot of that lately. We had spring break so I'm catching up. Anyhoo, I have just read for said class The Little Prince for the second time, but I'm reviewing it because the first time I was in elementary school and I didn't remember a word from then.

I must say,  I actually liked it a little bit. I was only in class for the discussion of the first part, so naturally that was the part I understood the most- the baobab trees thing. Those tree start as sprouts like any other, but must be recognized for what they are early on and pulled from the root to prevent them from destroying the planet. It's a metaphor for human qualities - things like pride and jealousy start small and look harmless, but if they're left unattended they take over the person. 

What I loved most about the book was the dedication- the author apologizes to children for dedicating it to an adult, and then takes it back and dedicates it to that person when he was a child. The whole theme of the book is how as people grow up their minds become closed and they busy themselves with supposed 'matters of consequence', but lose sight of what's really important. In My Sister's Keeper Jodi Picoult says something like that too, about how growing up is just the process of the mind slowly being sewed shut.

There was a lot that went over my head though - I think it was the love theme with the fox and the rose... oh well. I guess I'll have to show up to Lit class now(: I'm not going to bother giving it a star rating- it's just not one of those books that you like or dislike, it just is. 

Have a great weekend!! And last chance to enter my giveaway- please do, it means a lot(: Top tab^^^^
Love,
Esty

Mini Review: The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros
Latino Classics

Told in a series of vignettes stunning for their eloquence, this memoir is Sandra Cisneros's greatly admired story of a young girl's growing up in the Latino section of Chicago.

I AM NOT against classics. Really. I just read A Separate Peace and loved it, right? Click on the classics label. But what can I say? This one just flopped for me. Honestly, I couldn't see what the big deal was.

It was told in little, disconnected anecdotes about a page and a half long. In truth, it was all the kept me reading. The fact that it was a new story each time. Unfortunately, that means even the good ones were over before you know it.

I was hoping I'd get to read about the rich Latina culture, but it wasn't the case. The book follows the different people who live on Mango Street. Each one is highlighted in a little scene that reflects who they are. Interesting as that was, a collection of annoyingly dialogue-less scenes is not enough to keep a 21st century teenager engaged, sorry.
Rating:

So yesterday was my first blogoversary, everyone! I can't host anything special right now, but hopefully soon! Love you all and thanks for reading!
Esty

Review: A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace
John Knowles
Classic

Set at a boys boarding school in New England during the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of adolescence. Gene is a lonely, introverted intellectual. Phineas is a handsome, taunting, daredevil athlete. What happens between the two friends one summer, like the war itself, banishes the innocence of these boys and their world.

What can I say? I was blown away by this novel. Considering it is a classic, I probably would not have picked it up on my own and for that, dear English Teacher, I thank you. 

The writing is extraordinary- throughout the story there is an eerie sense of darkness; you can just feel something bad waiting to happen. The descriptions really helped you BE there, get the feel of the scene. There were also some amazing quotes and nuggets of wisdom like these:

“What I mean is, I love winter, and when you really love something, then it loves you back, in whatever way it has to love.” 

“Sarcasm... the protest of those who are weak.” 

“Never say you are five feet nine when
you are five feet eight and a half" was the first one I encountered.
Another was, "Always say some prayers at night because it might turn
out that there is a God.” 

And many more that Goodreads didn't list and I don't have my copy on me to find... this book was pure beauty. The whole story was like a metaphor, and a heartbreaking one at that. There are so many questions to ask and things to discuss- but I guess I'll just have to wait till my class finishes the novel because I read ahead, I was so enamored by the novel.

Recommended to everyone. Rating:

Review-ish: Lord of the Rings

The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings part 1) 
J.R.R Tolkien

The dark, fearsome Ringwraiths are searching for a Hobbit. Frodo Baggins knows that they are seeking him and the Ring he bears—the Ring of Power that will enable evil Sauron to destroy all that is good in Middle-earth. Now it is up to Frodo and his faithful servant, Sam, with a small band of companions, to carry the Ring to the one place it can be destroyed: Mount Doom, in the very center of Sauron’s realm.

Well. It's been 4 FREAKING WEEKS, and I am proud to say I FINALLY finished. Halleujah. 

Now it's not that I didn't like it, but this books was clearly written in another time, for another generation. For a teenage 21st century girl, who's used to getting any information she wants at the click of a button, the details of every meal and every landscape were agonizing. 

Which is not to say the genius of this book didn't shine through; I saw elements of Harry Potter, of Eragon, of the Books of Pellinor and more (even Percy Jackson). You can see how this became the daddy of all fantasy books- albeit with ONE FEMALE CHARACTER. (Hey, that's one more than The Hobbit) Seeing as this is a classic, and I'm not really qualified to really review a classic, I've decided to feature this book mainly in my favorite quotes: (to it's credit, there were many good ones)

"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." 

"I will not give you council, saying do this, or do that. For not in doing or contriving, nor in choosing between this course and another, can I avail; but only in knowing what is and what was, and in part also what shall be. But this I will say to you: your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true."

"But do not despise the lore that has come down from distant years; for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know."

Torment in the dark was the danger that I feared, and it did not hold me back. But I would not have come, had I known the danger of light and joy."

(See? I learned how to make quote boxes!) So I made it through the big guns. In truth, I saw it's brilliance, but it wasn't for me. I plan to watch the movie and read the other two, but probably in a long time.
So what are you reading? Ever read/watched LotR?
Love, Esty