Tag: Classic Books Review

“Frankenstein” By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Review

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Frankenstein tells the story of gifted scientist Victor Frankenstein who succeeds in giving life to a being of his own creation. However, this is not the perfect specimen he imagines that it will be, but rather a hideous creature who is rejected by Victor and mankind in general.

Let me just start this review with saying that this one is a fucking classic and if you are a book reader and lover you just must read this one.

You won’t regret reading this one as long as you are into horror and gothic story which will drag you into the story and wont let you go until you finish the book.

This one have surprised me a lot because I was expecting a super hard book with very difficult old english in it but oh boy it had surprised me. But in fact it is the full opposite of it. The language in this one was super interesting and enjoyable, it was easy and it seemed like a mix between Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King. 

This one is just an incredible tale of horror which wouldn’t be written in a better way. 

The writing style of the author is fucking incredible and probably the best I have seen in my reading journey which really speaks for itself when it beats Stephen King and the rest. The writing style is completely beautiful and it really brings a lot into the story.

There were moments in this book which seemed a little bit as a drag but they are survivable.

This one beats most of the modern day horror books which also says a lot about how good this one really is.

However there are people who wont like this one because it has a huge gothic vibe to it and it isn’t scary as you may expect. This one is rather a thriller book than a horror book.

This one is a classic for a reason and you will know why when you read this one. 

This one is so far in the top 10 books Ive read so far in my life and I have read over 350 books.

I give this book 4 / 5

“Animal Farm” By George Orwell Review

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A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned –a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.

This book is one of the classics which everyone should read at some point in their life no matter what.

This book was writen in 1945, or at least published in 1945. This book reflects on events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Which means that every chracter in this book represents somehow someone in power during this time. You can look at it as Old Major = Karl Marx, Napoleon = Stalin, Snowball = Trotsky and finally Humans – The czar + the bourgeoise class + the Western countries.

This book sort of have a deeper meaning to it but also it is making fun of these people I’ve mentioned above. Which makes it even more fun and more enjoyable.

In this book the author criticizes the political maneuvers and totalitarian rule, using animals to explain what humans do. But he also beautifully portrays the way a revolution is started to stop what is happening and going full circle comes to the same point it started from.

The writing style is good and it actually blow my mind how good it was. The writing style is so good that it makes you picture in your head everything which is happening.

This novel is one of the best short novels ever written in the English language. This pretty much speaks for itself because there were dozens and dozens short stories written in the English language.

This story is also one of these stories which you cant really hate or dont like. Because no matter who you are and what you like and dont like you will find something in this story which will make you like and maybe love it.

However George Orwell leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination which I personally didnt like that much. Because I feel like authors should at least leave a little piece of their work to the imagination.

I give this story 3 / 5

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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It is the story of a man named Montresor who decides to seek revenge against a man named Fortunato, who has insulted him. He meets Fortunato at a carnival, lures him into the catacombs of his home, and buries him alive.

And yet again we are talking about another classic written by no other than Edgar Allan Poe. 

The writing style is okay for the most part. But it cant be compared with some other work by Edgar Allan Poe. You will know what I mean when you read it. 

The narrator here is Montresor. He is suffering from a huge level of madness. And it is very easy to see that the truth terror here is his behavior. But the final act is also very chilling. 

The plot is good because it involves friend betrayal and we all love that in books dont we ? 

It is a gothic revenge story. This is a story about revenge but there’s nothing particularly elaborate about the revenge itself. It is just the good old murder by burying someone alive.

This story is no less creepy and very thrilling. However it is another carnival story with a tragic ending, but this time the setting is 18th century Italy. It’s something about that right? Everything seems more scary when it happens in that era. But this tale needs to get its points for the tipsy jester, super creepy and the connoisseur of fine wine atmosphere in it. 

This tale is one of the tales which you will either love or hate, so be warned about that. Be also warned that this tale might be hard and heavy for people who have claustrophobia.

This tale can be very easy be read dozens times without you being tired of it, because every time you re-read it you see some new things in this tale which you didn’t notice before. 

The ending itself is very eerie ending, and for sure it has something to it which a lot of horror / thriller books miss now on days. 

This tale is short, but Edgar Allan Poe is able to write a fully-developed story of revenge which not a lot of authors doesn’t have the ability to do.

This story is unique and interesting but it might not be for everyone. Because you know details and these amazing descriptions in it.

I give this tale 2 / 5

“The Art Of War” by Sun Tzu Review

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This book is military strategy book which is based on Chinese warfare and military thought. Since that time, all levels of military have used the teaching on Sun Tzu to warfare and civilization have adapted these teachings for use in politics, business and everyday life.

Its important to say that for some people this book may be out of their comfort zone because it is a military based book which basically tells us how we should lead a military army in the right way. However this book is good to show us how a good leader should behave. No matter if that person is leading an army, a business or just a group projects at work or school.

It is save to say that this book will more or less help you to master some strategist which are mentioned in this book. But for some people this book might be boring or the stuff which are told in this book will not help you out.

The whole book goes around the idea of “The wise warrior and leader avoids battles and wars”. 

Sometimes books about war tactics or war in general might be harsh, boring, confusing, destruction, death and all sad things that are results of a war. However this one is different, I would recommend this book to people who wants to get into the war genre field. Because this book is unique and gives you new ideas as well as linking it to the war tactics theme. 

This book as well gives us an amazing insights to the war tactics field as well as the insights to the ancient Chinese military.

The writing style is amazing, it really sets the vibe to this book which drowse you in even more into this book. After reading this book, I really wish that more war books could have been writing like this one or even similar to this one.

Of course this book is one of the classics which everyone needs to read in their life time. 

You will learn few things while reading this book. You will also become a somehow better leader after reading this book, or must of you.

I give this book 4 / 5

“The Oval Portrait” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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A wounded man finds shelter in an abandoned chateau in the Appenines and with his valet settles into a small apartment in a remote turret. The oddly shaped room is full of paintings, and on his pillow the man finds a small book that appears to tell their stories. One painting in particular, of a beautiful girl, holds him spellbound, and, consulting the history book, he learns the startling secret of the oval portrait’s extraordinary execution.

This table cannot be described with nothing more than a beautiful, gripping and fascinating read.

This tale definitely needs to get extra points for the symbolism which it has. The the thing where fascination turns into obsession. This tale reminds readers why they love reading.

The theme of this tale about artistic obsession is just amazing. And this tale for sure gives the reader a good creep no matter if you get scared of it or just the feeling thrill mixed with the feeling of something being out of place or wrong. 

Yes this tale have only two pages, but the whole tale is more than this. This tale manages to pack so much more than just two pages. It will definitely leave you satisfying. However the ending of it feels take it comes too early together with being a little bit too obvious. It might leave some of you unsatisfied or give you the feeling that the ending leaves the whole tale losse its impact.

But definitely this table needs to get some points for the whole idea behind it. It’s a cool idea in the end no matter how it is interpreted.

However this tale may remind you of some scar Wilde’s work and “The Picture” by Dorian Gray.

The writing style itself is very on point here, its very moody. And of course the writing style is very gothic as in any other Edgar Allan Poe’s work. But that’s why people are reading Edgar Allan Poe’s work.

This whole story is a heart rending plot filled with love, death and neglect. But it is a sweet and fun way. Though it gives a decent creep, which much horror fans will appreciate.

I give this tale 5 / 5

“The Haunted Palace” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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The poem serves as an allegory about a king “in the olden time long ago” who is afraid of evil forces that threaten him and his palace, foreshadowing impending doom. The poem takes a marked change in tone towards the second to last stanza.

The plot is great as always when it comes to work of Edgar Allan Poe. However there are some plot holes in poem. I mean I don’t expect a poem to be written as a book but come on. How did the inhabitants of the palace die? Murder ? Sickness ? Were are the answers ? 

You will enjoy it, and you will enjoy even more the second time when you read it. If you are like me, you will appreciated it a lot.

The ending is memorable and great. The ending have definitely a creepy vibe to it, which every horror fan will appreciated. 

It is very short as a poem should be, the language is surprisingly easy. I said “surprisingly” because you know it was written in 1839 and since then the English language have changed a lot. 

This poem is disturbing, as you may have guessed. But it is what makes it fun in the Edgar Allan Poe’s work. However now on days it is a typical haunted house story in a poem format

The poem is creepy in every possibly beautiful way. At least it was for me. 

The writing style was something to talk about. It was amazing when it comes to the fact that this was a poem. 

It is important to say that this poem is an excellent example of Edgar Allan Poe’s masterful use of allegory. And it really shows how a brilliant writer Edgar Allan Poe was, but it also shows why Edgar Allan Poe is so huge legend in the storytelling field now.

The rhythm of this poem fits very well with the story which is told in it. 

This poem also have a lots of references to mythology which I at least appreciated.

However this poem might sound like a scene of heaven being taken over by something demonic. 

I give this poem 5 / 5

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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“The Fall of the House of Usher” recounts the terrible events that befall the last remaining members of the once-illustrious Usher clan before it is — quite literally — rent asunder. With amazing economy, Poe plunges the reader into a state of deliciously agonizing suspense. It’s a must-read for fans of the golden era of horror writing.

The whole tale is written in a very gothic and moody style, which a horror fan will enjoy. 

Characters, there are very few of them. There are only 5 characters if you count the narrator. Every character have something unique to it, and they are pretty much written in different perspectives which gives us a unique vibe to every character. 

This story predates the modern psychology that eventually is able to put a name to those illnesses which the main characters suffer from. Of course back then people knew very little about various illnesses and mental health which makes this story even more interesting.

Edgar Allan Poe takes us through the darkest corners of the human mind in this tale. Which we need to give him points for, because there are a lot of horrors / thrillers authors now on days who are failing to do so. However if you read other works of Edgar Allan Poe in the past you will have no problem with getting  in and getting out of this tale. Because it is written in the typical Edgar Allan Poe style. 

This tale is very good at showing the reader that our imaginations can always conjure up worse horrors than those we can actually see.

This story is at some point very unique because it is all about This short story the last days of two survivors of a prestigious family, which we don’t read a lot about in books. Of course it is fiction but it doesn’t make it less interesting or less realistic in your head while you are reading this tale. 

There is a huge dark atmosphere to this tale, and it is very clear to see that this tale is one of the best works by Edgar Allan Poe. 

This tale might be hard for someone people to get into, because it starts a little bit confusing, and you sort of don’t know what’s happening at the beginning. 

This tale can be read in one short sitting, which is amazing. Especially when you are struggling to focus on reading for some reason. 

Another thing which may be a little bit of topic is that this tale is perfect to read while quarantine. Because the story of this book focuses on a man who has been in isolation for an extended period of time and is deteriorating into madness. Which is always better to read about when you need to be in quarantine or isolated. 

There are some good and deep gothic elements in this tale. Which for the most part are a haunted  house, a mysterious illness, madness, death, entombment, a dungeon, a violent storm, a cursed family, resurrection and much more. There are a lot of elects in this tale which somehow Edgar Allan Poe puts together in a perfect way, where everything makes sense. 

I give this book 4 / 5

“The Phantom of the Opera” By Gaston Leroux Review

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95First published in French as a serial in 1909, The Phantom of the Opera is a riveting story that revolves around the young, Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine’s childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous ‘ghost’ of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster.

One of these famous classics from way back in the day. There are a lot of good things about this book out on the internet and they aren’t wrong.

This book has around 360 pages, which are pretty much readable in around 3 days.

The old timely language makes reading this book to a pleasure, and it takes it to a whole another level. And together with the setting of the story is just priceless, and it is definitely a must read. The whole mystery of Opera Ghost who lurks in the shadows of an opera is amazing.

When you first begin to read this book a chilling paranormal tale with an element of friendship in it. In the end this book is a dark tale of a man’s descent into violence and madness, and the woman who forms the obsession at the centre of his life.

If you want to read a book about greatest tragedy in life then consider reading this book. Because this book is a fantastic ghostly tale of love with so much more depth and evilness to the storyline than you almost cant forget about it when you read it.

Most of these characters in this book felt like they were overdramatic but they are likeable and fun to follow throughout the story.

However if you decide to read this book then be prepared for murder by hanging and a lots of cries of terror from death in this book.

I give this book 3 / 5

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe Review

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A murderer is convinced that the loud beating of his victim’s heart will give him away to the police.

Another incredible tale written by no other than Edgar Allan Poe.

It is more or less a perfect haunting short story that will allow you to examine madness and wickedness at the depths of the human soul. I wouldn’t call this tale a horror story, because it is more a psychological tale.

It is a strange story, but it is an easy and good read. And no less it is a quick tale, which again can be read in just 1-2 hours.

This tale is a written from the first-person storytelling. And the writing style is almost too perfect to be true.

The story itself is intense and will make you ponder for a long time. The whole tale is a typical Edgar Allan Poe tale.

An unnamed narrator who is telling this story plots to kill an elderly man because he hates his horrible and scary “vulture eye” makes this story unique at least .

More or less this tale is a dark tale, which is about a man’s descent into madness

I give this tale 3 / 5

"A Doll’s House" by Henrik Ibsen Review

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100A Doll’s House portrays the disintegration of the marriage between Nora and Torvald Helmer in the wake of a major revelation. Nora, a seemingly frivolous housewife, has secretly been working to pay off a loan she took out illegally in order to save Torvald’s life.

This book is sort of a three-act play written by Norwegian author named Henrik Ibsen. This book shows a landmark in the development of truly independent female heroines, rejecting the patriarchy they were socialised to accept unconditionally.

This play or what else you want to call it shows some very incredible and realistic characters. The main character Nora have some huge transformation as the play goes on. She went from never making decisions over herself or anything to began to take the action for herself and decide over herself. That’s who a real character development should be like.

The end in this play may be controversial for some people, because of the action and decisions which Nora takes.

We have very few characters in this book. And again we go back to the “quality over quantity” rule.

Writing style is old timely and fun to read. It defiantly sets the mood in this book and makes it even more fun to read. Descriptions are good too.

The language as you may think is very old, but it also sets the mood even more than the writing.

Dialogs, when we look at the dialogs now, almost 150 years later, were pretty good. There were some dialogs which made cringe but for the most part you could survive them.

I give this book 4 / 5