This is a first for me at ‘Bout Books – an author profile on an author that I haven’t read! James Joyce is an incredibly respected, highly influential Irish author of the 20th century; however, for the time being, he’s not on my list of favorite people.
This past Saturday, my father asked me if I wanted to run a 5K road race with him. I’m no runner, but I’ve done one timed 5K before, and it’s not unusual for me to do the same on the treadmill at the gym. Called the James Joyce Ramble, this particular run was
The Picture of Dorian Gray
by Mackenzie M. May 3rd, 2012 | Classics
Penned by Oscar Wilde in 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray, also known as The Portrait of Dorian Gray, was featured in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine in June of 1890. After making several edits, Wilde published the final edition in 1891. Naturally, the book debuted to questionable reviews, but continues to be read and critically acclaimed today. Considered a work of classic Gothic fiction, the book is filled with drama and contains many dark moments. Through all of the darkness facing Dorian Gray, the reader is sent off with a dark, yet fulfilling ending. The Picture of Dorian Gray is
Young Adult Mystery Greats
by Louise April 13th, 2012 | Classics, Fiction, Young Adults
During grade school, I loved to read mystery novels. The Hardy boys, Nancy Drew, and Encyclopedia Brown were my heroes. I'd recommend them all for young readers looking for some mystery (and perhaps a bit of suspense as well). The three different series bring a lot to the table:
- The Hardy Boys. Frank and Joe Hardy are a couple of teenage amateur detectives. They have a father who is a real detective and sometimes asks them for help on a case, but the boys often stumble upon clues and villains (that happen to be connected to a case that their
Murder on the Orient Express
by Mackenzie M. April 6th, 2012 | Classics
Author Agatha Christie is known the world over for her fantastic novels. Published in 1934, Murder on the Orient Express is a perfect example of Christie’s escapist writing style; a style that lacks the hard realism found in the real world. The setting for this 1934 novel is aboard the fantastic and luxurious Orient Express train. When a crime is discovered aboard the train mid-journey, all hell breaks loose while the passengers attempt to figure out who is behind such an egregious murder on the fabulous train. Packed with mystery, well-placed plot twists, and a tantalizing story, Murder on
Mr. Pip
by Kaitlin April 5th, 2012 | Classics, Fiction
A show of hands, please: how many readers out there were assigned Charles Dickens' Great Expectations in school? It's a standard inclusion in many literature curriculums and if so, it means you already have something in common with Matilda, the main character in Lloyd Jones' novel, Mr. Pip.
If you're lucky, that is where your similarities end. Matilda is a 13-year-old girl living on the Pacific island of Bougainville during the early 90s, when the island was in the throes of civil war. She is introduced to Dickens' iconic novel through Mr. Watts, the only white man still on the island,
If you're lucky, that is where your similarities end. Matilda is a 13-year-old girl living on the Pacific island of Bougainville during the early 90s, when the island was in the throes of civil war. She is introduced to Dickens' iconic novel through Mr. Watts, the only white man still on the island,
