The Return of the King

 

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien | 432 pages | 1955

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

The Dark Lord has risen, and as he unleashes hordes of Orcs to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggle deep into his realm in Mordor.

To defeat Sauron, the One Ring must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way is impossibly hard, and Frodo is weakening. The Ring corrupts all who bear it and Frodo’s time is running out.

Will Sam and Frodo succeed, or will the Dark Lord rule Middle-earth once more?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Two Towers

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien | 448 pages | 1954

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien | 432 pages | 1954

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck

 Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck | 107 pages

They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation. Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. But George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own.

I've read Steinbeck before... I should know what to expect. But even still this wrecked me.

So many images and symbols, between the mice and rabbits and the dogs relating to the human experiences of George and Lenny. It's a heartbreaking tale.

The Phantom Tollbooth

 

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster  248 pages

For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams. . . .

Does anyone remember this movie??

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

305 pages

★★★★

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day, to whisk him away on a journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon…

I loved the adventure this book took me on and all the characters are so silly and loveable.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - 435 pages 

"Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. The story follows the main character, Elizabeth Bennet, as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of the British Regency. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman, Mr. Bennet, living in Longbourn."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it's inspired me to read more by Austen. Her writing is witty and each character is so distinct. I highly recommend; it's a classic that lives up to it's esteem. 
 

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster - 185 pages

Jerusha "Judy" Abbott, an orphan from the John Grier Home, is sent to college by an anonymous trustee.  He wants her to be educated to be an authoress.  The only stipulation is that she must write a letter each month to him about her studies.  

This book is composed entirely of the letters written by Judy other than the prologue that sets the story up.  It's interesting to see what college life was like in the 1900s for women.  It was also interesting to see how the one-sided relationship through letters changed over the course of the four years of college.  The book was also made into a movie starring Fred Astaire.

 

Moby-Dick or, the Whale by Herman Melville

 654 pages / 23 hrs, 58 mins

"'It is the horrible texture of a fabric that should be woven of ships' cables and hawsers. A Polar wind blows through it, and birds of prey hover over it.'

"So Melville wrote of his masterpiece, one of the greatest works of imagination in literary history. In part, Moby-Dick is the story of an eerily compelling madman pursuing an unholy war against a creature as vast and dangerous and unknowable as the sea itself. But more than just a novel of adventure, more than an encyclopaedia of whaling lore and legend, the book can be seen as part of its author's lifelong meditation on America. Written with wonderfully redemptive humour, Moby-Dick is also a profound inquiry into character, faith, and the nature of perception."  --from the publisher

I doubt I can say anything about this classic that hasn't already been said. Parts are funny and parts are thrilling, but most of it is truly an encyclopedia of whaling. The writing is exceptional, as expected. Unless you want every detail of whales and whaling, I would highly recommend reading an abridged version. I give it three out of five stars because so many chapters are informational and do not advance the story.

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 289 pages

This entry in the Little House books really focuses on Laura and Almanzo's courtship.  I decided to continue listening to the series on audio and chose this as my next book.  It has always been my favorite book in the series and that remains true in the audio version.

Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - 304 pages

I decided to listen to this classic book on audio in preparation for the upcoming Caroline Frasier visit.  This has always been one of my favorite books in the series and I enjoyed listening to it on audio.  It is interesting how certain aspects of the book stand out more when listening to it versus reading it.  I would highly recommend listening to the series if you're a fan.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell, 139 pages

I have wanted to read this book or 1984 by George Orwell for the longest time.  Mr. Jones owns Manor Farm.  But, soon the animals take over the farm.  Napolean and the pigs soon become the animals in charge.  They build a windmill and make the farm more productive.  I really enjoyed reading this book more than I thought I would!

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez - 233 pages

This book follows three boys in high school -- Nelson, Kyle, and Jason -- who are dealing with their sexuality and starting a Gay Straight Alliance Club in their school.  You could definitely tell this book came out in the early 2000s.  It is very typical of the LGBT books for teens from that time.  You have the characters on the various spectrum of coming out.  All the possible reactions are presented.  It also presents a lot of information through the GSA meetings.  It ends with several pages of resources for LGBT teens.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
320 pages / 9 hrs, 1 min

"'The Cost of Discipleship' is a compelling statement of the demands of sacrifice and ethical consistency from a man whose life and thought were exemplary articulations of a new type of leadership inspired by the Gospel, and imbued with the spirit of Christian humanism and a creative sense of civic duty." --from the publisher

I've always admired the faith and courage of Bonhoeffer, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this classic work.  I must say the book raised as many questions for me as it answered.  I just hope some of his brilliance soaked in as I plodded through.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orcey

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orcey -- 267 pages


Armed with only his wits and his cunning, one man recklessly defies the French revolutionaries and rescues scores of innocent men, women, and children from the deadly guillotine. His friends and foes know him only as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But the ruthless French agent Chauvelin is sworn to discover his identity and to hunt him down.

Definitely one of the most exciting classics I've ever read. 

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - 359 pages

It had been years since I read this so tried again.
Takes place in Boston, 17th century...among the Puritans.  Hester gets pregnant from someone who isn't her husband (a minister).  She faces a public shaming with a big "A" on her chest.  When her husband shows up on land..he keeps it quiet and tells her to keep quiet.
the lovers plan to leave for Europe but he dies.  Later the husband dies.  She leaves the area but later returns is is eventually buried with her lover, the tombstone containing a big "A".

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster - 219 pages

Jerusha Abbott has grown up in the John Greer Orphan Asylum.  She's about to graduate high school and have to make her way in the world when an anonymous trustee decides to send her to college.  The only stipulation is that she must write monthly letters on her academic progress.  Other than the first chapter, the entire story is told through letters.

I had read this book as a teen and absolutely loved it so when I found out we had a copy of it on audio I decided to listen to it again.  I still really enjoyed the story.  The narration was excellent.  The narrator put so much emotion into the reading without over-emoting.  I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Little Women or the Anne of Green Gables series.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte -- 507 pages


Jane grew up an orphan in her aunt's home, unwanted and unloved, but her spirit remained unbroken, even through boarding school. When Jane decides to finally leave the boarding school, after teaching there for several years, her life is ready to take on new colors.
Thornfield, where she is employed, soon makes its way into her heart with its grandeur, its work, and its master, Mr. Rochester.

Jane Eyre has always been one of my favorite classics.

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger, 302 pages, (3 stories read)

I have never read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, so I thought I would try a small sampling of his works in this book.   I started by reading two stories, and then went to read a third, Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut, after I heard it was made into a movie back in the 1940s under the title My Foolish Heart.  Salinger really held my interest with his varied characters and settings. Influenced by Ernest Hemingway, Salinger wrote truly classic literature.

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls -- 249 pages

Billy is an old man now, fondly looking back on childhood memories of his two little red coon hounds. The three of them were inseparable and made up the best coon hunting team in the Ozarks.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a sweet and tender story that I enjoyed revisiting. I listened to the playaway at Windsor.