Scathing Book Reviews of The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is one of those books that I bought, and tried to read. I read it in a circumstance where anyone would beg to have a book to while away the time, but you know, it just didn’t take. Perhaps I should have taken Linus Van Pelt’s advice [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is probably more often seen than read, with movie adaptations featuring Alistair Sim, Albert Finney, George C. Scott, Scrooge McDuck, the Muppets, and even Kelsey Grammer of Frasier for crying out loud.
The book itself is a quick read and quite enjoyable, at least to most. One surprise to [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte falls rather outside my reading circle, but its certainly one of those books that you’d like to be able pretend you’ve read, particularly when talking with women of a certain age, many of whom seem to use it as a touchstone of some kind.
Perhaps I will – but these Scathing [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens was the first “classic literature” in my experience, thanks to 9th Grade English with Mrs. Shively. I approached it with trepidation, and found it to be fairly enjoyable, and far easier to decipher than the Shakespearean English of Romeo and Juliet. The movie wasn’t bad either, and even [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein

Stranger in a Strange Land is probably both Robert Heinlein’s most famous work and catchiest title. But let me tell you, if you’re a young adolescent reading his famous juvenile science fiction novels and you come across this -old RAH can never be read the same way again. It’s not MY favorite Heinlein [...]

Scathing Book Reviews of Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Can you believe that Little House on the Prairie, the beloved television show, has been turned into a novel!?!
Just kidding, the beloved children’s books by Laura Ingalls Wilder has charmed millions, and for many, the versions featuring Garth Williams’ illustrations are definitive. Who wouldn’t like it? OK, Nellie Olsen, I grant you.  These Scathing [...]