The Children of the New Forest: A Brief Review

I recently read The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat. It is a very nice piece of literature.

Set during the English Civil War (mid-17th century), the events unfold amidst the conflict between the Royalist Cavaliers and the Parliamentarian Roundheads. No, LeBron James doesn’t make an appearance for the Cavaliers. He was not alive in the 17th-century. 

Bill Badger and the Wandering Wind: A Short Review

OKLAHOMA CITY – It cracks me up that I’m writing a review of a book called Bill Badger and the Wandering Wind. It is just a tad ridiculous. But, it is a book I read (somewhat) recently, and I wish to convey my thoughts.

The Island of Doctor Moreau: A Prodigious Review

This thrift edition costs like $3.

OKLAHOMA CITY – If you want to be creeped out by a really good book, read H.G. Wells’ The Island of Doctor Moreau. Talk about dark! Published in 1896, the novel is rather short but still manages to deliver an intense and troubling adventure story of a man stranded on an island of vivisection.

Yes, an island of vivisection.

Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Chimerical Review of a Book Wonderful for Both Bibliomaniacs and Non-bibliomaniacs Alike

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth is a great book. Quick and charming, the third entry in Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages manages to convey an exciting story with scientific elements that, while being quite out-of-date, manage to provide a wonderful scholarly spice.

The Dark Frigate: A Roystering and Recherche Review

OKLAHOMA CITY – I recently completed Charles Boardman Hawes’ 1924 Newbery Award winning novel, The Dark Frigate. If you enjoy brisk, swashbuckling, well-written young adult adventures, then I recommend it. If thou dislike ye olde archaic Englishe, mayhap thou wouldst discover thyself served better if thou didst peruse some alternate volume. More on this later.

The Greatest Review of “Gulliver’s Travels” EVER

I finally finished Gulliver’s Travels. Here’s the thing – I know it’s a renowned work of tremendous historical significance, but golly gosh is it boring. That’s why it took me nearly two months to get through it. Two months!! It’s a 226-page book and it took me two months! I usually knock those back in a matter of days. Whatever.

In the end, should you read it? Should you slog through Jonathan Swift’s masterpiece, culturing yourself up? Those are great questions; I’m glad I asked them. In an effort to be balanced and equitable, I’ve developed several arguments for reading it and several arguments against reading it and arranged said arguments into two lists. I’m pretty sure these lists will completely and definitively solve the question of should you or should you not read Gulliver’s Travels, and you’re welcome. Here they are:

The Prisoner of Zenda: A Zendariffic Review

Have you heard of Francois Brunelle? He is a French-Canadian photographer best known for his ongoing project, ‘I’m Not A Look-Alike.’ The photojournal consists of pairs of completely unrelated strangers who look strikingly similar, in some cases almost as alike as twins. It is really quite remarkable.  NOTE: My current doppelgänger seems to be Oklahoma City Thunder player Steven Adams. At least, that’s what people say. Anyway, if not for my familiarity with Brunelle’s work, I might find the premise of The Prisoner of Zenda to be completely fantastic and improbable. Instead, I come away from the book with a rather fond opinion; indeed, it’s one of my favorite reads in a long time.

The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses: A Sententious Book Review

By the rood!

I recently finished reading a book called The Black Arrow: A Tale of Two Roses. It is by Robert Louis Stevenson (of Treasure Island and Kidnapped fame), but it was originally published as a serial under the false name of Captain George North. Why he decided to publish under a false name I have no idea. By the way, why does anyone publish under a false name? That’s so weird!! If I used a fake name, I would use Paddy O’McSeamus.