Here is a grading for the books on this site.
10 - A must-have in every bookshelf
9 - Close to perfection
8 - Excellent
7 - Very good
6 - Good
5 - Above Average
4 - Average
3 - Below Average
2 - Poor
1 - Very Poor
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
To Kill a Mockingbird (1960)
Author:
Harper Lee
Genre:
Courtroom Drama/Dramatic Fiction
Appeals to:
Anyone
What it is about:
Lee’s novel entails the story of widower Atticus Finch, who lives in the United States in the 1930s. The lawyer soon fights in a court-case for a coloured man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of rape. Meanwhile, his two children are investigating the mystery of “Boo” Radley, who never came out of the house ever since he reportedly stabbed his father with a scissors, while in a quest to understand the people around them and how they behave.
Lee’s novel entails the story of widower Atticus Finch, who lives in the United States in the 1930s. The lawyer soon fights in a court-case for a coloured man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of rape. Meanwhile, his two children are investigating the mystery of “Boo” Radley, who never came out of the house ever since he reportedly stabbed his father with a scissors, while in a quest to understand the people around them and how they behave.
Why read it?:
Lee’s only work is an extremely beautiful novel. The novel is good
for a variety of reasons. First, the novel is narrated by the tomboyish Jean
Louise “Scout”, and her innocent ways provides the novel with a character that
is easy to relate with young children. For example, she goes to school and dislikes
her teachers, a problem that some kids have today.
Second, the novel is a good example of an array of values, like justice,
courage, etc. How Atticus Finch defends Tom Robinson, and it is hard to reveal
other examples without actually giving spoilers. Atticus portrayal in the novel
makes him like an idol and a role model, and the fact that his wife has died
makes him feel even more pitiful. He became the voice of moral conscious in the
age that the book was written (the time when people like Martin Luther King and
Rosa Parks fought for equality) and Atticus clearly represented the ideals and
hopes of the liberal and discriminated classes who hoped to see the end of racism
in the United States.
Third, it has a very powerful driving message. The work discusses
the pain everyone feels during the Great Depression, and that feeling of loss
and unhappiness. A clear case would be Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, who,
despite insulting Atticus and his children, is still thought by the lawyer to
have her pains.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a must have for any collection.
Notes:
In order to understand this novel a little
better, it would be helpful to look through American history before reading.
There are mentions of historical events, like Ku Klux Klan, slavery, and most
of all the Great Depression and racism.
Other books like this:
Being Lee’s only novel, there isn’t really any other book like
this. Perhaps John Steinback’s “The Grapes of Wrath” is pretty similar on the
historical basis.
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History (1978)
Author:
Michael Hart
Genre:
Non-fiction History
Appeals to:
History buffs, of any age
What it is about:
Hart's work discusses who he thinks are the most influential persons in history are. He discusses the first 100 in detail providing historical facts, and another 100 honorable mentions. He also explains his list and why he had did not include several major figures in the top 100.
Why read it?:
The list is entertaining and easy-to-read for almost all ages. Hart's selections may be surprising to some due to his selections, leaving out figures such as Marie Curie, Benjamin Franklin, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and even Leonardo da Vinci.
Dozens of critics have slammed this book down for they felt that nobody should have the nerve to list the most influential persons on his own. Still remaining controversial to this day, Hart's work may be subjective, but whether one disagrees or agrees, it still does not fail to give the reader new knowledge and a feeling of being entertained.
Notes:
The book was revised by Hart in 1992, making some changed to his list. For example, he included communist figures such as Lenin and Mao Zedong, and replaced Pablo Picasso with Henry Ford. The 1992 revision is undoubtedly more up-to-date and hence more accurate.
Other books like this:
Michael Hart also wrote "A View From the Year 3000" (1999), where Hart listed the top 100 people, both in the past and the future. 44 people were real people, while 56 were from the future.
Michael Hart
Genre:
Non-fiction History
Appeals to:
History buffs, of any age
What it is about:
Hart's work discusses who he thinks are the most influential persons in history are. He discusses the first 100 in detail providing historical facts, and another 100 honorable mentions. He also explains his list and why he had did not include several major figures in the top 100.
Why read it?:
The list is entertaining and easy-to-read for almost all ages. Hart's selections may be surprising to some due to his selections, leaving out figures such as Marie Curie, Benjamin Franklin, Mohandas K. Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and even Leonardo da Vinci.
Dozens of critics have slammed this book down for they felt that nobody should have the nerve to list the most influential persons on his own. Still remaining controversial to this day, Hart's work may be subjective, but whether one disagrees or agrees, it still does not fail to give the reader new knowledge and a feeling of being entertained.
Notes:
The book was revised by Hart in 1992, making some changed to his list. For example, he included communist figures such as Lenin and Mao Zedong, and replaced Pablo Picasso with Henry Ford. The 1992 revision is undoubtedly more up-to-date and hence more accurate.
Other books like this:
Michael Hart also wrote "A View From the Year 3000" (1999), where Hart listed the top 100 people, both in the past and the future. 44 people were real people, while 56 were from the future.
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