A Christmas Carol

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: Signet Classic
Publication Date: October 10, 1984 (first published winter 1843)
Rating: 4 Stars

This is the first Dickens book I've read and I think it was the perfect one to start off with. For starters, it's short, it's only a little over 100 pages (by my copy), and the first part is really funny! I can't even count how many times my sister has read me that first part, Dickens puts a lot of thought into the phrase "dead as a door nail", you'll have to read it to get it. I'm not explaining it well.

I love Scrooge's complete willingness to change the way he is, he sees the way he is and as soon as he gets the chance he has a complete change of heart. I started tearing up when he's begging the Ghost of Christmas Future to tell him that it's not too late for him to change. My favorite Ghost was the Ghost of Christmas Future. In my opinion that's the most powerful part of the book, filled with horror and sadness. It really drives the point home.

By the end of the book I was crying, I couldn't help myself, it was such a great ending. I walked away from that book with a warm feeling in my heart and I intend to read another Charles Dickens book when I get the chance.

Happy (late) Birthday Charles Dickens!

Little House in the Big Woods (Little House #1)

Title: Little House in the Big Woods (Little House #1)
Author: Laura Ingalls-Wilder
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Publication Date: Published 1960 (first published 1932)
Rating: 4 Stars

Meet Laura Ingalls, the little girl who would grow up to write the Little House books. Wolves and panthers and bears roam the deep Wisconsin woods in the late 1870's. In those same woods, Laura lives with Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Pa hunts and traps. Ma makes her own cheese and butter. All night long, the wind howls lonesomely, but Pa plays the fiddle and sings, keeping the family safe and cozy.-GoodReads

I can't believe this is the first time I read this book. I loved it. If your looking for a book about everyday life in the late 1800's you won't find any better than this book. I loved reading about making maple sugar, and smoking meat, and..... just everything. It was absolutly fascinating. I was suprised to find myself laughing at some of the things also, and I don't laugh aloud when I'm reading. My dad asked me if I was laughing because is sounded like my sister tripped over something in the kitchen(CRASH!) or my book. It turned out to be my book.

Life back then was so different than life now. Everything could be used for something and nothing was ever wasted. It's amazing when looking at it from my perspective, someone who lives in a wasteful world. I think that was why she wrote the books. The Industrial Revolution was booming and the world had changed so much, I think she wanted people to remember the way things used to be and give people like us a taste of something we will never see.

Happy Birthday Laura Ingalls-Wilder!

Celebrating Dickens and Ingalls-Wilder

Today is Charles Dickens 200th birthday! Could you imagine a world that didn't have his books? So many of his books are titles you've probably heard of if even if you have not read them: A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, Little Dorrit, Hard Times, and probably most well known of all A Christmas Carol. I am ashamed to say that I have never read a book by Charles Dickens, today that is going to change. In honor of his birthday I am going to read A Christmas Carol. It is one of my sister's favorite books and she has been bugging me about reading it. So, Happy Birthday Dickens! You will not be soon forgotten.

Another birthday today is Laura Ingalls-Wilder. She turns 145 today. She is another author, like Dickens, that you cannot imagine the world without. Her Little House books are always there to remind us what it was like in the days before the Industrial Revolution. You may be shock to hear that I had not read any of her books before today either. I used to watch the movie and the TV show and I started the first book a few times but never made it through. I just finished reading Little House in the Big Woods this morning and will later be posting my review. Happy Birthday Laura!

Northanger Abbey- by Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey was Jane Austen's first novel; though it was not published until after she died in late 1817. It tells the story of Catherine Morland, a young, sheltered, country girl, who loves Gothic novels.
The book begins when she is invited to go to the bustling city of Bath with family friends, the Allen's. There at Bath she meets Henry Tilney and his sister Eleanor and is later invited to Northanger Abbey by their father, the book continues from there.
It was a fun and enjoyable book to read. I find it funny that in 200 years people really haven't changed much at all; the only thing that teenage girls think about are clothes and boys LOL.

Emma- By Jane Austen

I first saw the movie a few years ago, it was hilarious. The main character is a girl named Emma who trys her hand at matchmaking. Lets just say things don't always turn out how she plans :P

I finally finished the book. it's hard to believe that, even with the 200 years difference, people are exactly the same. Characters like Emma, Mr. Woodhouse, Mrs. Elton, Miss Bates, are so real, you really know people that are like that. Unfortunately there are not enough people like Mr. Knightley, out of all the Jane Austen books I've read (this is my 3rd) Mr. Knightley is my favorite Jane Austen guy. I thought the first half of the book was a bit boring, but as soon as I hit the halfway mark I started really liking the story. It's a good story. If your a Jane Austen fan it should definitely be on your list of books to read.

Pride & Prejudice- By Jane Austen

The story is centered on the five daughters of a country gentleman, Mr. Bennet. Jane, the oldest, is sweet tempered and unwilling to believe anyone to be capable of wrongdoings; always giving everyone more chances then they deserve. Elizabeth the ‘next in age and beauty’ is strong willed and outspoken for a girl of her age. Mary prefers to be alone with her music and books. Kitty, a giggly airhead who always follows Lydia’s lead. Lydia, the youngest and the most shallow.

Throughout the whole book Mrs. Bennet is trying to get her five daughters married, preferably to a rich man, enter Mr. Bingly, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Collins.

I love this book, the characters and storyline are great. Definitely my favorite Jane Austen book that I've read so far. I would suggest watching the movie first; it’s easier to read the book when you are familiar with the story and language. I like the version with Kiera Knightly, but a lot of people I know like the 8 hour BBC version.

‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.’ you’ve just read the first two lines of Pride & Prejudice, go pick it up at your local library or a book store and continue it.

Interesting facts:
Pride and Prejudice was first published in 28 January 1813.

It was originally titled First Impressions.