Common Sense by Thomas Paine

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, which was nicely narrated by Malk Williams.

Common Sense is a quick listen at 2 hours, 15 minutes. Common Sense is a 47 page essay, which was first published as a pamphlet anonymously in 1776. It advocated independence from Britain.

Common Sense combines both moral and political arguments to help persuade the common people living in the US Colonies to fight for social equality. Common Sense was a sensation upon its publication, which was at the beginning of the American Revolution.

This was the first time I've read Common Sense by Thomas Paine. I enjoyed it. Common Sense stands the test of time and still holds relevance today. I enjoyed that Common Sense touches upon so many genres, such as government,  politics, history, and political philosophy.

If you're interested in earlier American history, Common Sense may be the perfect read for you!

Below is the summary for Common Sense by Thomas Paine from Chirp's website:

The explosive essay that sparked a revolution. When Common Sense hit the streets in 1776, it ignited the American colonies like never before. With bold, plain-spoken language, Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British monarchy and made the urgent case for American independence. More than just a political argument, this short but powerful work gave everyday people the words to demand freedom—and the courage to fight for it. Radical, rebellious, and razor-sharp, Common Sense remains a landmark of political writing. Its message still resonates today: real change begins when ordinary people dare to speak truth to power.

I am giving Common Sense by Thomas Paine a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

 

I read Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin thirty years ago for the first time in college for a Russian literature course I'd enrolled. I have a BA in Russian language and taking a elective in the form of a Russian literature was part of earning my degree.

I wasn't a huge fan of this iconic Russian classic at the time. It wasn't that I disliked Eugene Onegin when I first read it. It's just that sometimes when you're required to read something for a college course, it isn't something that one ends up truly enjoying or appreciating at the time.

So, thirty years later I decided to give Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin another look with fresh eyes and a new perspective. Maybe, I thought to myself, I'd enjoy this novel more now than in my twenties.

What did I love about Eugene Onegin? It's entirely written in verse (aka poetry), which I found to be unique. Eugene Onegin covers the topics of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.

Alexander Pushkin is widely considered to be Russia's greatest writer and also the founder of modern Russian literature. I also learned from Google that Alexander Pushkin is often compared to William Shakespeare. Pushkin mastered multiple genres.

Although, I enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, I wouldn't say I loved this Russian classic novel. I'm not sure if it was due to the translation itself, as translating a novel in verse is difficult to do I would imagine. Or if it's simply due to the fact that a novel in verse isn't my thing.

Below is the summary for Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin from Chirp's website:

In this timeless Russian classic, the charismatic but aloof Eugene Onegin rejects love, friendship, and opportunity in favor of cynicism and self-isolation. When he returns to his rural estate, he crosses paths with the idealistic Tatyana, who falls deeply in love with him. But Onegin’s cold dismissal of her leads to a tragic sequence of events that changes all their lives. With sharp wit and vivid characters, Eugene Onegin is a rich exploration of love, regret, and the consequences of neglecting what truly matters.

I am giving Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading! 

The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes

 

I listened to the unabridged version of The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, which is nicely narrated by Anne Hancock.

The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes is a short story and a work of historical fiction set in London, England. 

Marie Belloc Lowndes is a new to me author. I was drawn to The Lodger, because it is about Jack the Ripper. I am fascinated by Jack the Ripper's true identity. Who really was Jack the Ripper? Marie Belloc Lowndes gives us a fictional look at who he might have been.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes from Chirp's website:

According to legend, in 1910, Marie Belloc Lowndes attended a London dinner party where a guest told her that his mother’s butler and cook claimed they had once rented rooms to Jack the Ripper, the notorious mass murderer. The idea for “The Lodger” was born.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunting have sunk their savings into their house with plans to let rooms. But no lodgers have materialized, and they are on the verge of penury when, one foggy night, a knock on the door brings Mr. Sleuth, an unassuming gentleman whose needs are perfectly suited to the suite of rooms the Buntings have to rent.

Gradually, relief turns into suspicion, then dread, as Mrs. Bunting notices their savior’s strange habits are not mere eccentricities. When his late-night forays seem to coincide with the lurid headlines her husband reads to her about the grisly murders in London, she slowly realizes she may be harboring a monster. And if he’s discovered, it will mean ruin for the Buntings.

This is the original 1911 short story. Jack the Ripper’s identity was never discovered but “The Lodger” offers a tantalizing possibility that has entertained and intrigued readers for more than a century.

I am giving The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Master of the World by Jules Verne

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Master of the World by Jules Verne and it is well narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was the first novel by Jules Verne I'd ever read. I loved it so much that I've read it at least twice! I've also read The Mysterious Island and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne. 

I recently learned about The Master of the World by Jules Verne, which was first published in 1904 and one of Jules Verne's last works. I decided to give it a try as it sounded intriguing and it is set in the USA. 

Honestly, I was truly hoping to love The Master of the World as much as I had enjoyed reading the three previous novels I'd read by Jules Verne. However, The Master of the World was a bit formulaic in that it was too much like Verne's other novels. The only difference to me were the specific details to fit the storyline and move the plot along. 

The Master of the World also fell flat in terms of capturing and holding my interest. It wasn't that the writing or storyline were awful or anything like that for The Master of the World... It just didn't live up to Verne's other works I'd previously read.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Master of the World by Jules Verne from Chirp's website:

One of Jules Verne’s final books, The Master of the World, which was released in 1904, is a science fiction classic. The novel was written as Verne’s health was deteriorating. The Master of the World is a “dark novel,” full of dread and anxiety about the emergence of totalitarianism and tyrants, embodied by the novel’s antagonist, Robur.

I am giving The Master of the World by Jules Verne 3 stars out of 5 stars. This is my fourth read of September 2025.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov, which is well narrated by Ben Allen.

I've been meaning to read more books written by Russian writer, Mikhail Bulgakov, for decades now. I first learned about Mikhail Bulgakov in college from my Russian language professor in the early 1990s. My professor absolutely loved Bulgakov's novel, The Master and Margarita. So, based on my professor's glowing review, I decided to read The Master and Margarita in the early 1990s. I absolutely loved this novel beyond words. The Master and Margarita is the only book I've ever read by Mikhail Bulgakov until now.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of when The Heart of a Dog was written. I figured the time was right for me to read this novella as my next choice for something to read that was written by Mikhail Bulgakov.

The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov is a political, satire set in Moscow after the Russian revolution has already occurred. There are a lot of references in this novella that flew over my head, so I was forced to do a lot of digging online to figure out some of the symbolism referenced throughout The Heart of a Dog. Doing the online research wasn't so bad, as it did add to my understanding of what the author was trying to convey.

As far as the storyline goes, it is fantastical as I'd imagined it would be considering the author. I enjoyed the storyline and interesting characters in The Heart of a Dog. 

Essentially, you have a professor who transplants the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man into a stray dog with consequences no one sees coming... The dog begins to transform into a human with a spectacular outcome and results that are less than positive.

These events portrayed in The Heart of a Dog seemed reminiscent of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley... You have a scientist playing 'God' (if you will) by trying to reanimate a dead body (Frankenstein) or in this case, transplanting human organs into dog's body (The Heart of a Dog). It all made for interesting reading.

If you are into Russian literature, classics, and political satire, then The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov may be your next read to devour.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov from Chirp's website:

A well-to-do professor working in Moscow strikes up an unlikely friendship with a stray dog and attempts a scientific first by transplanting the testicles and pituitary gland of a recently deceased man into the dog. With a wild, but alarmingly human animal on the loose, the professor’s previously respectable life becomes a nightmare beyond his imagination. A superb satirical novel, it is also a sharp and pointed criticism of Soviet society, especially the new rich that arose after the Bolshevik revolution.

I am giving The Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

As a side note, The Heart of a Dog marks my 50th read of 2025. It looks like I'll meet and exceed my reading goal of reading 52 books this year much sooner than anticipated, which is always good news.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

 

I initially read and reviewed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain back in March 2015. I've been meaning to read and review The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain ever since.

Earlier this year, I decided to finally listen to the unabridged audio version of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, which was well narrated by Eric G. Dove.

Personally, I found the first, eight chapters kind of slow for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain plot wise. Things FINALLY picked up in chapter nine and I found myself enjoying the storyline more with each chapter that followed.

Although I found The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain to be enjoyable, I actually liked The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain much better.

The publisher's summary for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain from the Goodreads website:

With The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, not even Twain could have known that when he introduced readers to the inhabitants of the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, he would also be introducing two characters - one a clever and mischievous scamp, and the other a carefree, innocent ragamuffin - whose stories would ultimately shape the course of American literature. But whereas its sequel and companion piece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, would harken an end to childhood, the story of Tom Sawyer is one that depicts the excitement and adventure of boyhood along the Mississippi.

Revisit this enduring classic and you will be struck not only by Twain's skill at capturing a time and place so vividly but also by his uncanny ability to crystallize those oftentimes tumultuous and conflicting emotions that a child experiences at the precipice of adulthood: a longing to be free from the rules and obligations of adults while enjoying the laxity inherent in childhood; a love of all things macabre, like blood oaths, cemetery cures, and haunted houses, that reveal a true innocence - an unawareness of real-life consequences and one's own mortality; and the pangs of guilt when knowing the right thing to do and doing the right thing appear to be at odds.

I am giving The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins and it is excellently narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.

Listening time for Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins is 4 hours.

I first became acquainted with the 1971 movie version of 'Harold & Maude', starring Ruth Gordon as Maude, in the mid-1980s during a high school drama class. I never knew there was a novelization of the movie until very recently.

I haven't seen the movie version of 'Harold & Maude' in decades, but I remember liking this quirky, cult classic back in the day!! So, I knew I had to read the book when I discovered it earlier this month in audio format. 

I enjoyed the storyline, plot, characters, and writing very much for Harold & Maude. Harold, a 19 year old young man, is obsessed with death. His many attempts to shock his self-absorbed mother with his fake suicide attempts are something else! Harold loves to attend funerals and he even drives a hearse. Harold meets life-loving, free-spirit Maude at a funeral. Maude is a 79 years old woman and she and Harold form a deep bond. Maude imparts many important life lessons to Harold throughout the novel, which is the beauty of this novel.

Below is the publishers summary for Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins, which I discovered on Chirp's website:

Nineteen-year-old Harold Chasen is obsessed with death. He fakes suicides to shock his self-obsessed mother, drives a hearse, and attends funerals of complete strangers.

Seventy-nine-year-old Maude Chardin, on the other hand, adores life. She liberates trees from city sidewalks and transplants them to the forest, paints smiles on the faces of church statues, and “borrows” cars to remind their owners that life is fleeting—here today, gone tomorrow!

A chance meeting between the two turns into a madcap, whirlwind romance, and Harold learns that life is worth living, and how to play the banjo.

Harold and Maude started as Colin Higgins’s master’s thesis at UCLA film school before being made into the 1971 film directed by Hal Ashby. The quirky, dark comedy gained a loyal cult following, and in 1997 it was selected for inclusion on the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Fans who have seen the movie dozens of times will find this a valuable companion, as it gives fresh elements to watch for and answers many of the film’s unresolved questions.

I am giving Harold & Maude by Colin Higgins a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Red Pony by John Steinbeck and well narrated by Frank Muller.

Listening time for The Red Pony by John Steinbeck is 2 hours, 55 minutes, which made for quick reading!!

I have mixed feelings about The Red Pony by John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck definitely had a way with describing characters, scenes, and situations that were simple, yet vivid. I love that John Steinbeck didn't have to use a lot of fancy language to convey his ideas. I think this is why I originally fell in love with Steinbeck's novel, East of Eden, back in 2008.

However, I was expecting something different with The Red Pony. I thought this novella was going to solely be about Jody Tiflin's (a young boy and main character) relationship with his red pony throughout the entire novella. Instead, The Red Pony is a set of four vignettes about Jody Tiflin, his parents, and their ranch hand, Billy. The red pony is only part of the first vignette. The rest of the novella shares other stories and themes. I think I would have enjoyed the storyline for The Red Pony more if the entire novella was entirely about Jody and his red pony, as a coming of age story, instead of how it was written and presented in its current form. Also, there is some animal cruelty in this novella, so if this is a trigger for you, then skip on reading The Red Pony.

The following is the publisher's summary for The Red Pony by John Steinbeck from Chirp's website:

John Steinbeck’s masterpiece celebrates the spirit and courage of adolescence. Steinbeck draws on his memories of childhood in these stories about a boy who embodies both the rebellious spirit and the contradictory desire for acceptance of early adolescence. Unlike most coming-of-age stories, the cycle does not end with a hero “matured” by circumstances. Reversing common interpretations, The Red Pony is imbued with a sense of loss. Jody’s encounters with birth and death express a common theme in Steinbeck’s fiction: They are parts of the ongoing process of life, resolving nothing.

I am giving The Red Pony by John Steinbeck a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck

 

I absolutely adore East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I read it back in 2008 and have been meaning to reread it again, but I have yet to do so...In the mean time, I decided to read other novels written by John Steinbeck I've never before read. I picked up the unabridged audio version of The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck and narrated by George Guidall.

Listening time for The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck is 3 hours, 43 minutes, making it a very quick read!

The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck is an interesting read. This book take place in an unnamed town that has been invaded by war and occupied by outsiders. It showcases the horrors for both the soldiers occupying this town and the residents forced to work in a coal mine and also starved if they don't work in the coal mine. 

Philosophical ideas are also presented through the dialogue between some of the characters in this novel.

According to the publisher's description, Steinbeck labelled this work as a "celebration of the durability of democracy."

Below is the publisher's summary for The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck from Chirp's website:

Occupied by enemy troops, a small, peaceable town comes face-to-face with evil imposed from the outside–and betrayal born within the close-knit community. Originally published at the zenith of Nazi Germanyâ’s power, this masterful fable uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war–and about human nature. Steinbeck’s self-described “celebration of the durability of democracy” had an extraordinary impact as Allied propaganda in Nazi-occupied Europe. Despite Axis efforts to suppress it (in Fascist Italy, mere possession of the book was punishable by death), The Moon Is Down was secretly translated into French, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian, and Russian; hundreds of thousands of copies circulated throughout Europe, making it by far the most popular piece of propaganda under the occupation. Few literary works of our time have demonstrated so triumphantly the power of ideas in the face of cold steel and brute force.

I am giving The Moon Is Down by John Steinbeck a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Great Gatsby is 100-Years Old This Year!!!

 

I remember reading this classic novel decades ago. I don't remember much about the plot details about it... Let alone the writing. 

I remember not liking the novel very much overall. Maybe I was simply too young to appreciate it?

The Encantadas by Herman Melville

 

I've wanted to read a novel written by Herman Melville for quite sometime. Melville's novel, Moby Dick, seemed a bit too daunting too start with. 

So, I decided instead to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Encantadas by Herman Melville, which is decently narrated by Mark Owen. The Encantadas is the first thing I've read by Herman Melville.

The Encantadas by Herman Melville is a novella with a listening time of 2 hours, 30 minutes. 

The Encantadas is a set of sketches that read like a travelog about The Galapagos Islands. I wasn't impressed with The Encantadas at all. The first half of this novella is so boring that I almost gave up on this novella entirely. The second half of The Encantadas was the most interesting part of this novella. However, I still feel like The Encantadas wasn't really worth my reading time.

Below is the publishers summary for The Encantadas by Herman Melville, which I discovered on Chirp's website:

The Encantadas (or Enchanted Isles), is a series of ten descriptive sketches, and a reminiscence from Melville’s sailor days revealing the ecologically pristine Galapagos Islands as both enchanting and horrifying. Containing some of Melville’s most memorable prose, The Encantadas were a critical success at a time when Melville’s fortunes were down. After publication, the New York Dispatch cited the chapters as universally considered among the most interesting papers of that popular Magazine, and each successive chapter was read with avidity by thousands. The reviewer called the sketches a sort of mixture of ‘Mardi’ and ‘Robinson Crusoe’–though far more interesting than the first named work.

I'm giving The Encantadas by Herman Melville a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters

 

Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters had been on my reading wishlist for a longtime. I'm so glad I finally listened to the unabridged audio version of this classic. 

Listening time for Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters is 4 hours, 24 minutes, which makes for a quick read if that's your thing!

The audio edition I listened to of Spoon River Anthology was dramatized by a full cast of narrators, which I truly enjoyed. I almost felt like I was listening to an old-time radio broadcast due to the different, unique narrations for each character in this book.

Although, I enjoyed Spoon River Anthology, I initially found it difficult to follow the flow of various monologues written in free verse poetry. It's a unique way to write a book. It was pretty easy to grasp the concept right away and go with the flow of the book shortly after I began listening to it.

Have you ever wondered what someone say if they came back from the grave? The Spoon River Anthology answers this scenario in its own unique way by having the characters from the fictional town of Spoon River, discuss their life here on Earth after they've already died. Each character is quite colorful. Some of the characters were horrible people, while others were good people.

Below is the publisher's summary for Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters from Amazon's website:

In 1915, Edgar Lee Masters published a book of dramatic monologues written in free verse about a fictional town called Spoon River, based on the Midwestern towns where he grew up. The shocking scandals and secret tragedies of Spoon River were immediately recognized by readers as authentic. Masters raises the dead “sleeping on the hill” in their village cemetery to tell the truth about their lives, and their testimony topples the American myth of the moral superiority of small-town life. Spoon River, as undeniably corrupt and cruel as the big city, is home to murderers, drunkards, crooked bankers, lechers, bitter wives, abusive husbands, failed dreamers, and a few good souls. The freshness of this masterpiece undiminished, Spoon River Anthology remains a landmark of American literature.

I am giving Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather, which was nicely narrated by Pete Cross. Listening time for Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather is 7 hours, 35 minutes.

Death Comes For The Archbishop is the second book I've read by Willa Cather. I had enjoyed this novel so much more than I did My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather.

I enjoy reading the classics and historical fiction and Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather fits this bill very well. 

Death Comes For The Archbishop is loosely based on the life of Jean-Baptiste Lamy, a French-American Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

I loved how Willa Cather chronicles what life may have actually been like in the US Southwest during a time period where life was still greatly influenced by Mexican and Native American customs and beliefs despite the fact that the area was governed by American Law. Plus, I read about the lives of the bishops infiltrating the US Southwest and what life was like for them during this time as well. It all made for interesting reading that felt like reading the actual, real life historical events as they unfolded.

Below is the publisher's summary for Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather from Chirp's website:

In 1851, Father Jean Marie Latour becomes the Apostolic Vicar to New Mexico. While the area is American by law, it’s still Mexican and Indian by custom and belief. During the years that follow, Latour tirelessly but gently spreads his faith while facing external and internal obstacles. Loosely based on the life of Jean-Baptiste Lamy and the construction of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, this novel chronicles the events that occur after the capture of the southwest by American forces during the Mexican-American war.

I am giving Death Comes For The Archbishop by Willa Cather a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick

I have never seen the movie version of 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir', but I never knew the movie was based on a novel until recently!! With this new bit of information, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick, which was well narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki.

I enjoyed The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick!! What a fun read!! I enjoyed the storyline and characters for this novel and the writing too. Lucy Muir, is the main character, and she is a strong, confident woman for during the time period in which this novel was set. She's a widow with two young children and she sets out to start life over in a new town where she can afford to live. The house she moves into is apparently haunted and no one has rented it. But Lucy takes the rental and moves into the home with her children. Yes, there's a ghost, but Lucy and the ghost, sea Captain Daniel Gregg, form a special kinship with each other. I adored reading about their relationship! I also enjoyed reading about Lucy's life in general and her relationship's with others during a time period that held different views and conventions on what was expected of women.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick found on Amazon's website:

The basis for Joseph L. Mankiewicz's cinematic romance starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison.

Burdened by debt after her husband's death, Lucy Muir insists on moving into the very cheap Gull Cottage in the quaint seaside village of Whitecliff, despite multiple warnings that the house is haunted. Upon discovering the rumors to be true, the young widow ends up forming a special companionship with the ghost of handsome former sea captain Daniel Gregg. Through the struggles of supporting her children, seeking out romance from the wrong places, and working to publish the captain's story as a book, Blood and Swash, Lucy finds in her secret relationship with Captain Gregg a comfort and blossoming love she never could have predicted.

Originally published in 1945, made into a movie in 1947, and later adapted into a television sitcom in 1968, this romantic tale explores how love can develop without boundaries, both in this life and beyond.

I am giving The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin

A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin had been on my reading wishlist for roughly a couple of years after hearing an author I'd been watching during a virtual event state that A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin was one of their favorite novels. I can't remember now, which author it was that said, A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin, was one of their favorite novels. I am simply thrilled that I made a note of this novel for future reading.

Last month, I ended up listening to the unabridged audio version of A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin, which was well narrated by George Newbern.

I was rather surprised by this novel and how much I enjoyed listening to it. I loved the pace of it. A Kiss Before Dying is definitely a plot driven novel and I enjoyed the plot twists. The characters were nicely developed too.

I also learned that A Kiss Before Dying is an award winning novel. It won the 1954 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Usually, I find award winning novels to be hit or miss, but this one hits the bullseye. 

If you like modern classic, suspense novels, then you may enjoy reading A Kiss Before Dying.

Below is the publisher's summary for A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin from Amazon's website:

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME.

Iconic author Ira Levin’s Edgar Award-winning debut novel set a new standard in the art of psychological suspense. A modern classic published to rave reviews, and twice adapted for the screen, A Kiss before Dying is a darkly thrilling, twisting tale of criminal psychopathy.

Known for his looks and charm, a young man obsessed with wealth and status will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He sets his sights on a beautiful and innocent college student named Dorothy, intent on marrying her for her family’s money. But when Dorothy becomes pregnant, his careful plans start to unravel, and he begins to take cold, calculating, and drastic measures to protect his future.

A Kiss before Dying, told from multiple points of view, has thrilled millions with its perfectly constructed plotting and is an acknowledged masterpiece of crime fiction.

I am giving A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Psycho by Robert Bloch

It's been a few decades since I've watched Alfred Hitchcock's classic horror movie, 'Psycho', which was based on the 1959 novel of the same name and written by Robert Bloch.

With autumn upon us and the Halloween season rapidly approaching, I decided to read some horror themed novels to celebrate the approaching holiday. 

I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Psycho by Robert Bloch and narrated by Richard Powers earlier this month while on vacation with my husband. Psycho is a super fast read and was excellently narrated by Richard Powers. I was actually very surprised at how much I enjoyed Psycho. It's a tightly written novel. I enjoyed the characters, the writing, and the storyline. There are some differences between the movie and the novel as to be expected.

Listening time for Psycho by Robert Bloch is 5 hours, 24 minutes.

Below is the publisher's summary for Psycho by Robert Bloch from Chirp's website:

It was a dark and stormy night when Mary Crane glimpsed the unlit neon sign announcing the vacancy at the Bates Motel. Exhausted, lost, and at the end of her rope, she was eager for a hot shower and a bed for the night. Her room was musty but clean, and the manager seemed nice, if a little odd.

Norman Bates loves his mother. She has been dead for the past twenty years, or so people think. Norman knows better, though. He has lived with Mother ever since leaving the hospital in the old house up on the hill above the Bates Motel.

One night, Norman spies on a beautiful woman who has checked into the hotel. Norman can’t help but spy on her. Mother is there though. She is there to protect Norman from his filthy thoughts. She is there to protect him with her butcher knife.

This classic horror novel, which inspired the famous film by Alfred Hitchcock, has been thrilling people for more than fifty years. It introduced one of the most unexpectedly twisted villains of all time in Norman Bates, the reserved motel manager with a mother complex, and has been called the first psychoanalytic thriller.

I am giving Psycho by Robert Bloch a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars. I really want to watch the movie again now that I've read the novel.

Until my next post, happy reading!

A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson and narrated by Scott Brick. 

Listening time for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson is 6 hours, 44 minutes.

A Stir of Echoes is the 3rd book I've read written by Richard Matheson. I can officially say I am now a HUGE fan of Matheson's writing and look forward to reading more of his books in the future. A Stir of Echoes is very well narrated by Scott Brick.

What did I love about A Stir of Echoes? Just about everything! There were only a couple of minor issues, which didn't deter from my overall rating. 

Richard Matheson is a masterful writer. He really knows how to pace his novels and build intrigue and suspense. With each passing chapter, I found myself wanting to keep listening to see what transpire with the characters, the plot, and storyline. 

A Stir of Echoes was published in 1958 and is set in the 1950s in Hawthorne, California. The main characters are Tom and Ann Wallace. They are a young couple with a young son and Ann is pregnant with their second child. 

At the start of A Stir of Echoes, Ann's brother, Philip, is visiting Tom and Ann. Tom, Ann, and Philip go to a neighbor's dinner party early on in the novel. After dinner, Philip hypnotizes Tom as a party trick as a way to entertain the dinner guests. 

After everyone goes home for the night, Tom begins to experiences strange things throughout the rest of the novel... Like reoccurring ghost sightings of the same woman in their home, premonitions, nightmares, the ability to sense what other people are thinking and feeling, automatic writing, and so on.

Initially, both Tom and Ann don't understand what's going on with Tom since the hypnosis session. Ann is concerned and scared that Tom's losing his mind, which causes stress and tension in their marriage. 

As Tom and Ann both try and figure out what's going on with Tom and why he's experiencing what he is, there's also the mystery of the ghostly apparition that keeps reaching out to Tom and who she is. Come to find, the ghost is a woman who was murdered in the very home in which they live. Tom and Ann eventually figure out who the murdered woman was and who murdered her.

There's so much more to A Stir of Echoes. I simply gave broad brushstrokes to the storyline to prevent giving away too much of the plot twists and finer details for those that may want to read this novel for themselves.

Below is the plot summary for A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson discovered on Amazon's website:

This eerie ghost story, from Richard Matheson, the award-winning author of Hell House and I Am Legend, inspired the acclaimed 1999 film starring Kevin Bacon.

Tom Wallace lived an ordinary life, until a chance event awakened psychic abilities he never knew he possessed. Now he's hearing the private thoughts of the people around him-and learning shocking secrets he never wanted to know. But as Tom's existence becomes a waking nightmare, even greater jolts are in store as he becomes the unwilling recipient of a compelling message from beyond the grave!

I am giving A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly and narrated by Rebecca Gibel. Listening time for Ten Days in a Madhouse is 3 hours, 25 minutes.

I enjoyed this work of nonfiction/investigative reporting very much!! It's a quick listen and well narrated. Nellie Bly was an American journalist and also a pioneer in her field as she "launched a new kind of investigative journalism" according to Wikipedia.

One of Bly's more famous antics was going undercover at a women's insane asylum for ten days to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and brutality towards the woman patients on Blackwell's Island. This meant that Bly herself had to be committed in order to witness firsthand the activities of the staff towards patients on Blackwell's Island. What Nellie Bly witnessed is horrific and is the topic of her book, Ten Days in a Madhouse.

Below is the publisher's summary for Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly from Chirp's website:

In 1887, Nellie Bly had herself committed to the notorious Blackwell’s Island insane asylum in New York City with the goal of discovering what life was like for its patients. While there, Bly experienced firsthand the shocking abuse and neglect of its inmates, from inedible food to horrifyingly unsanitary conditions. Ten Days in a Mad-House is Bly’s expose of the asylum. Written for Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World, Bly’s account chronicles her 10 days at Blackwell’s Island and, upon its publication, drew public attention to the abuse of the institutionalized and led to a grand jury investigation of the facility. This series of articles established Bly as a pioneering female journalist and remains a classic of investigative reporting.

I am giving Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Star by H. G. Wells

 

The Star by H. G. Wells is a science fiction, short story roughly 34 minutes in length. I enjoyed the narration for this short as well as the storyline and writing overall. Essentially, the plot involves a star that passes by Earth and causes catastrophic climate disruptions.

I am giving The Star by H. G. Wells a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner

 

It wasn't until last year that I first learned about Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner. I went on to do further research online and learned that this classic novel was first published in 1926. According to Wikipedia, Lolly Willowes was well received by book critics and subsequently became the very first Book Of The Month for the Book Club. This novel is both a satire and feminist classic with fantasy elements.

So for Women's History Month this year, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner, which is well narrated by Sarah Nichols.

I enjoyed listening to Lolly Willowes. This novel gave an interesting glimpse as to the author's view on women during the day and the cultural views of women at the time as well. The storyline, characters, and writing were also good. Lolly Willowes is a short read and I recommend it to other interested readers. I love the fantasy aspect of this novel too.

Below is the plot summary for Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner from Chirp's website:

Tabbed as one of the 100 best novels of all time by the Guardian, this “witty, eerie, tender” tale (John Updike) was originally published in 1926. Spinster Lolly Willowes yearns for freedom from her family. When she finally escapes to the hamlet of Great Mop, she realizes she’s wound up in a village of witches!

I am giving Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!