"Show forgiveness. If someone in his youthful and impetuous spirit Addresses you foolishly, pretend not to hear him. For gods should be wiser th
"Show forgiveness. If someone in his youthful and impetuous spirit Addresses you foolishly, pretend not to hear him. For gods should be wiser than mortals."
Recently, I've been delving into Ancient Greek Comedy, and have emerged clutching my sides with laughter, but also with wonder that something written over 2000 years ago could appear so witty and lively to me today. And so I approached this - my first experience of Ancient Greek Tragedy - with low expectations. I thought it highly unlikely that some old guy's droning about the suffering and death of boring perfect heroes could ever entertain me as much as the fabulously ridiculous alternative by the young, controversial and exciting figure that was Aristophanes (whose works are our only surviving example of AG comedy).
Pleased to report that I was pleasantly surprised! I found this story very intriguing and fast-paced in its constant development, despite the lack of any action at all (with the exception of, you know, dying). The language in particular stood out to me, in a completely different but equally valid sense to the colloquial jokes of comedy. I was struck by this dialogue's grandness, passion and how simply quotable it sounded. Now might be a good time to mention that, yes, this is a translated work, so perhaps it's the translator (Ben Shaw) that I should be giving credit to. While of course I praise him for his work, I felt I got an amazing insight into the original language through the notes in this edition, especially when Shaw would discuss the possible meanings of the original Greek words and why he went with the interpretation he did.
In this and every other aspect I found the notes in here superb - definitely the best I've come across so far in my exploration of Ancient Greek literature. Explanations and comments were placed on the page adjacent to the part of the text they referred to, instead of at the back of the book where so many editors infuriatingly decide to put them. The notes were clearly headed and organised, so I could easily cast my eyes over them and decide which subjects I wanted more insight into, and which related to aspects of the text I wasn't so interested in, and thus could skip. Also provided in the notes were questions specifically aimed at literature and drama students, respectively. Nothing too demanding - but just enough to turn your analytical and/or creative brain on. As an English Lit student, the literature questions were exactly the prompt I needed to get thinking about this play in the context of the genre and time period, and as someone who is interested in Drama, I found the performance and staging ideas engaging and inspiring. Not only this, but this edition also comes with background information on the play, a summary of each scene, maps, a pronunciation guide and even a family tree of the characters. Top notch!
Back to the play itself, my knowledge of tragic plays was effectively entirely Shakespeare-based before reading this, which meant I had certain expectations. The most striking element of this plot-line for me then was the steady, almost painstaking sequence of character deaths (contrary to Shakespeare's tendency to blow up all his main characters at the end in an explosion of sudden violence and/or suicide). In fact, when the first character died and nobody dramatically jumped off a cliff in response I'll admit I was a little disappointed. But I think ultimately, yes, this is merely an issue of undue expectation on my part, and it actually turned out to be really riveting, seeing the themes of death, grief, shock and betrayal explored in actual detail in a drama piece - not simply used as a plot device to wrap everything up. The final death especially was definitely well-deserving of more time on stage, because of the reaction it created for the other characters (which I didn't see coming - what a great twist) and I'm sure for the audience too.
A fascinating psychological piece and insight into the social and religious opinions of this time period. I tripped over the story a little in the middle, but it ultimately came full-circle in a highly touching conclusion, impressively not sacrificing the complexity of the characters or situation for an emotional punch - instead combining the two....more
"Have you any idea who did do it, Miss Dove?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Frankly, he was an odious man. Anybody might have done it." "But peopl
"Have you any idea who did do it, Miss Dove?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Frankly, he was an odious man. Anybody might have done it." "But people aren't poisoned for just being 'odious,' Miss Dove. There usually has to be a pretty solid motive."
After LOVING Murder on the Orient Express to the point of obsession when I read it a few months ago, I felt it only right for me to read another Agatha Christie book, just to make sure she wasn't a one-hit wonder, and that me telling everyone I know how much I love her wasn't actually a complete lie. Luckily for me, A Pocket Full of Rye did not disappoint. This being my first Marple mystery, I was surprised at how little she was in it (and that she's elderly - awesome!), but in every other respect - intriguing characters, a picturesque setting and a spine-tingling batch of murders - it fulfilled my expectations.
Though the plotline did go through development with new revelations and unexpected action, this story takes the form more of a detailed character study and a digging up of past events. But it's by no means simple - Detective Inspector Neele has to peer through the misty glass of hushed-up disgraces and the secretive natures of his suspects in order to uncover the truth. This mystery fascinated me and I fell for all its red-herrings. I enjoyed following the inspectors on the case, Miss Marple was very entertaining, and the other characters, though not necessarily very likeable, all played a part in setting up this imposingly opulent but deeply unhappy household which becomes the scene of our eerie whodunit.
I felt an engrossing atmosphere to this book every time I picked it up, even after long breaks in between sessions and times when I only read a page or two. The discoveries didn't feel placed or dragged out, and I absolutely loved the clever use of the nursery rhyme. But most importantly, I didn't guess who the murderer was. The denouement was completely unexpected up until the very page it took place, and it packed a real emotional punch for me (my precise reaction being, (view spoiler)[ "Aw, man, I didn't want it to be him! I liked that guy!!" (hide spoiler)]).
I didn't rate this fives stars because, though it was meticulously structured and consistently absorbing, I didn't find it quite as intense as Murder on the Orient Express. A bit more urgency and emotional tension could have taken it to even greater heights in my opinion. Nevertheless, a fantastic mystery and a great read....more
"I suggest, gentlemen, that the real difficulty is not so much to escape death; the real difficulty is to escape from doing wrong, which is fa
"I suggest, gentlemen, that the real difficulty is not so much to escape death; the real difficulty is to escape from doing wrong, which is far more fleet of foot. In this present instance I, the slow old man, have been overtaken by the slower of the two, but my accusers, who are clever and quick, have been overtaken by the faster."
This is Plato's reconstruction of his mentor Socrates's defence speech in the court of Athens. Socrates was on trial for heresy and corruption of the youths of the city. However in this speech he explores a wide breadth of ideas such as Athenian political discourse and the power of language, what wisdom truly is versus what we think it is, the ways in which ingrained beliefs and relentless rumours can cloud the truth, how acting justly is more important than living or dying, and how his roaming the streets humiliating people all day is a selfless way of life. He puts forward questions such as, is death really something to be feared? What is it to do good? What is duty? Do people ever purposefully corrupt those around them?
All of these themes can seem a little far out, scattered, or just plain daunting at first sight. But this is actually a very accessible piece of reading (one I'd highly recommend as a break-in to Ancient Greek literature - it's short too!). Socrates's flawlessly patient clarity of speech makes this not only an easy text to get through, but an enjoyable one to read aloud too. I find it funny that I tried unpicking the structure of The Apology after I'd finished it, but the way that each layer builds upon those before it made it just too overwhelming - yet while I was reading it, it made perfect sense. It's like Socrates says at the very beginning; it won't do you well to overthink HOW he makes his points, you must simply play close attention to WHAT he's trying to get across to you. When I read through this, just letting the ideas sink in and later reflecting on my favourite parts, I gained so much more insight and food for thought than when attempting to analyse it meticulously.
Not only are the ideas insane and the way they are put glorious in this speech - the character of the man behind it adds yet another layer of fascination to it. Socrates was an extremely controversial figure in Athens. Most citizens resented him and despised his methods, but the few followers he gained (one of whom being Plato, the recorder of this speech) adored him like the one speaker of sanity in their society. This is just one example of the complete contradiction that was his life. He was seen as a rude troublemaker by the majority of people, but in his view he acted more selflessly for Athens than any other citizen. He refuses to conform to the flowery rhetoric used in Athenian law courts, saying he wants to speak honestly and plainly, yet easily outsmarts all his opponents with a delightfully organised charisma. And despite being exceptionally sombre about his loyalties to God, he takes on a playful, mocking tone at many points during his defence. At one point he actually suggests his punishment - instead of the proposed death - should be for him to be given free meals for the rest of his life (a luxury usually reserved for athletes and other champions of the state).
Overall, a highly engaging work by a wildly intriguing individual. If you're looking for a fast-paced but deep insight into Ancient Greek attitudes that will make you reconsider your own, go read this now!...more
"That, to me, is the interest of this case," he said. "We are cut off from all the normal routes of procedure. Are these people whose evidence
"That, to me, is the interest of this case," he said. "We are cut off from all the normal routes of procedure. Are these people whose evidence we have have taken speaking the truth or lying? We have no means of finding out - except such means as we can devise ourselves. It is an exercise, this, of the brain."
I felt very sophisticated when I started reading this, a classic murder-mystery novel. But when I finished it I was grinning to my ears and mouthing silently in suppressed shock, which soon burst out in a flurry of excited jumping up and down and squealing as soon as I reached the end of the last page. I think it's safe to say any sophistication of mine was short-lived.
This book, on the other hand, is timeless in its craftiness and suspense. It fascinates me how there's arguably zero action and zero drama in this story, just intricate information-untangling and intense character observation. Usually I hate stories with a slow pace and not much happening, but here the enticing clues and gradual uncovering of the facts kept me on the edge of my seat. It was pure mystery - no messing around, no distractions - and it completely sucked me in.
Some have said this book has a slow beginning, but I think that's where the setting really helps it out. An isolated luxurious train with secrets lurking in every decadent corner. I was enchanted from page one.
I appreciated how Christie repeated and summarised the clues throughout the book, and didn't think it was overdone. Just one more reason why I think this book is the perfect introduction to the Crime genre - it handles a large group of suspects with the intriguing sense that you don't truly know any of them, but allows you to keep up with what might be true at the same time. I admit that some details of the killing seem to have been impossible for us to guess (view spoiler)[the bag covering the lock and the scarlet kimono, for example (hide spoiler)] but personally I didn't mind that. It was enough for me to be given lots of clues and try to puzzle out pieces of the mystery, then to enjoy my head exploding as Poirot came out and slammed down revelations I'd never even considered all over the place.
This story kept me hooked from start to finish. It succeeded in gradually feeding me enough clues to get me interested, and it excelled in making me desperate to know who did it, think I'd worked it out, then knocking that out of the park with the real answer. In short, I can see why this is such a classic. Very much looking forward to sinking my teeth into many more Agatha Christie books in future....more
27/10/2017 re-read: As I'm studying this book for my English Lit A level, I picked it up to re-read pretty much directly after I finished it. This lea27/10/2017 re-read: As I'm studying this book for my English Lit A level, I picked it up to re-read pretty much directly after I finished it. This lead to quite a strange re-reading experience, to say the least - sometimes I was really digging the intimate insight I was getting into this novel, and sometimes I was totally bored and craving a new world and story to immerse myself in. Ultimately though I think this really helped me, not only to gather important quotes I was underlining along the way, but to really get to grips with the story in general. I noticed a couple more things than last time that I didn't like that much, but also gained a lot of appreciation for the genius themes and morals which Jane Austen so fabulously wove into this charming little book. In the end the latter definitely outweighed the former (what books doesn't have flaws anyway?) and I'm excited to delve into analysing such a well-constructed book. Can't deny I'm glad not to be reading it for a third time though!
11/09/2017 read: This was such a fun story! Jane Austen's timeless wit and playful sense of humour cannot be beaten. The constantly developing characters, enchanting settings and eloquent writing were honestly a delight. I'll admit I did often have to read sentences multiple times to really take them in, but that's definitely my wandering attention's fault, not Austen's.
A couple of elements really stuck out for me in this novel, and if I had one complaint about this book, it would be that we did not see enough of them! Catherine and Henry talking (and by extension more development of the romance in general) and the Gothic parodies (these seemed to be dropped halfway through?) were the main things I was desperate for more of, but I suppose I should be grateful they were there at all. Other genius things were the ridiculous relatives, engrossing snapshot of the time period, unpredictable mysteries, sincere girl-girl friendship and the way Jane Austen literally seemed to be talking to you through the narrative - more things I couldn't get enough of, though maybe that's because I will never stop wanting more of this amazing storytelling!!
Oh, and I should also mention this is my second Jane Austen book, and the second time I have somehow completely MISSED the proposal moment. Again this is my fault, but how this keeps happening to me I really don't know. Setting aside all that... reading this book was a pretty smooth (and very enjoyable) ride!...more
I enjoyed this more than the first Holmes story. A cool mystery with some stand-out classic moments. I don't think I'll ever tire of how Arthur Conan I enjoyed this more than the first Holmes story. A cool mystery with some stand-out classic moments. I don't think I'll ever tire of how Arthur Conan Doyle throws incomprehensible random facts at you, then Sherlock finds the answers in such an obvious way, of course told through Watson's narration, who's just as amazed as us. Stephen Fry's narration of the audiobook again carried the story along in such an entertaining way (though I'm not sure his voices have the flawless distinction they have in the past). I particularly loved the mystery of where the pearls were and the romance. One thing I didn't really like was the giant chunk of confession at the end. It probably was better than the random change of perspective flashback from A Study in Scarlett, but it still felt drawn out and a lazy form of exposition to me. However, it was still interesting to read and I would recommend this book overall....more
I really wasn't expecting much from this play, and honestly wasn't that interested in reading it in the first place from the impression I got from theI really wasn't expecting much from this play, and honestly wasn't that interested in reading it in the first place from the impression I got from the one vague synopsis I'd heard. But since I'm aiming to finish reading all of Shakespeare's comedies this year, I decided to give a shot and actually ended up really enjoying it. This being a later play, and sitting in the timeline alongside epics like Othello and King Lear, the writing was fittingly very lyrical and precise in my opinion, and the themes not just light-hearted but deep at times too - the complete opposite to the crude humour and rough prose I was expecting (not that you should expect that in general with Shakespeare, but I have had a couple of experiences with it in a few of the comedies I've read).
My favourite thing to see in Shakespearean comedies is a running joke or storyline that is genuinely funny to me, even though I'm reading the play two-hundred years after it was written. And such happened here; the Paroles storyline literally making me laugh out loud and eagerly turn the page to see what happened next. Then there's so many other things classic to Shakespeare I love seeing which cropped up in here, like...
-the proactive 'I-can-do-just-fine-without-men-ruling-my-life' female character (Diana, I love you!) -the crazy fool character who I'm sure would be the cleverest person in the play if I could actually understand anything they say -the concerned but kind of bumbling old man character who honestly doesn't really do anything (Lafeu reminded me so much of Polonius from Hamlet, I love it) -the regal European settings -the high authority figure who means well but really ends up making everything worse, only nobody dares to tell him that in case he chops off their head
Anyway, it's probably just me who finds it interesting to gush over all this stuff, so I'll stop now. Suffice it to say this play made my inner Shakespeare nerd very happy! On the flip side I can definitely see why others may be underwhelmed or unimpressed by this play - most of the main characters are pretty unlikable and it's a weird plot to say the least - so I hope to read it again sometime to ascertain my definite opinion of it. As I said above, the writing was perhaps more flowery than some of the other comedies, so while reading the first few acts without summaries I was very confused, and missed out on some key little details. So I do recommend reading some kind of explanatory notes alongside this one. They really helped me appreciate the cool parts of this play and enjoy the funny, poetic, chaotic and in some places just plain odd ride this story turned out to be. Very glad I gave this one a try, actually!...more
Loveloveloved this book! Being not much of a fan of the Regency era (translation: I hate it - just the thought of corsets and balls... *shivers*) and Loveloveloved this book! Being not much of a fan of the Regency era (translation: I hate it - just the thought of corsets and balls... *shivers*) and having heard about the love interest being not the politest guy in the world (translation: a jerk), I really wasn't sure if I would like this book. But as soon as I started it and experienced its gloriously writing, flawlessly multi-layered characters and timeless humour (seriously, this book is SO. FUNNY.), I couldn't help but fall in love with it.
I get that this book won't be for everyone, but something about it really clicked with me, and I just had the best time reading it. Elizabeth was an outstandingly real and spirited main character in my opinion, and I felt like I could relate to even tiny aspects of her personality which is obviously such a cool thing to see in a fictional character. All the side characters were enormously entertaining too, and Jane and Lizzy's relationship really touched my heart.
Okaaaay I feel this review is getting slightly too gushy, so the negatives? As with many classics, the writing required quite a lot more concentration than most of the books I read, which I was fine with - except in the long exchanges of dialogue or just long recounts involving multiple people, which often mentioned very few actual names, making it hard for me to keep up much of the time. Also, I thought some of the pacing towards the end was a little... uneven? Looking back, I feel like there was segment in which not much happened. The (view spoiler)[Jane and Bingley (hide spoiler)] storyline, for instance, seemed to be a main part for the first half then faded pretty much into non-existence for a while, before being thrown back in later, which just felt kind of weird to me.
Honestly though, I have so few things to complain about with this book and so many things to praise I would describe it as damn near perfection. There were so many things I didn't expect to like; (view spoiler)[Darcy and Lizzy (hide spoiler)]'s relationship (so utterly compelling and they bounced off eachother so well - I totally ship it!), seeing the both the major and subtle effects of this harsh society on its members, and repeated appearances of insanely annoying characters (which I have to admit Jane Austen pulled off masterfully to create not only conflicts you can't help but take sides on passionately, but also humour). As well as this, there were a ton of tropes I'm always up for; banter-filled but supportive sibling relationships, complex family ties, and easy, mutual friendships - just to name a few. They all came together to make this a fun, heart-warming, thought-provoking and unpredictable read. AMAZING....more
I'm really interested in John Steinbeck as a person and his opinions, and have steadily been making my way through his books for the past year or so. I'm really interested in John Steinbeck as a person and his opinions, and have steadily been making my way through his books for the past year or so. When I saw this in the library it occurred to me it had been a while since my last Steinbeck endeavour, so I thought I'd give this a shot. As with all Steinbeck's works I've read so far, here he writes about real situations and real injustices with an honesty that's hard to find from many other authors, so that these stories felt like proper glimpses into real people's lives and struggles in the rural farm area of the Salinas Valley during this time. I might even go as far to say that it was too realistic - or rather, too realistic for a reader like me, used to fictional stories where all the ends are tied up, and if they're not, it's for mysterious effect. Whereas these stories felt like they ended like things end in real life; often just stopping after the climax occurred - or when they did have a wrapped up ending, not having one that felt all that profound or conclusive in harmony with the story before it, if that makes any sense. I'm not saying this is necessarily bad, but it infallibly threw me off with every story, and afterwards I found myself wondering why they each felt incomplete in some way.
Because of my struggle with the endings (I seem to be the only one who has struggled with this, so it might be a case of it's-not-you-it's-me), the middle of each story was definitely where I felt I was fully experiencing them. I can imagine some people finding them boring, but that never crossed my mind - the writing was engaging and subtly poetic enough in a way that meant I was always caught up in what was going on at that moment. I felt involved in every story from some warped outside perspective, and they all captivated me, which I think this collection deserves praise for.
My favourite stories were The Snake, Johnny Bear and The White Quail - I reckon I could read Steinbeck examine strange, inexplicable people's actions all day long. My least favourite was The Murder. In agreement with what many other readers have said, to me it seemed the only point of it appeared to be a justification for beating your wife which is like... why.
Anyway, glad I read this, not a new favourite. I'm sure if you're a John Steinbeck fan you'll get something out of it though. ...more
I really enjoyed the beginning of this play but as it went on I had a couple of problems with it which led to me giving it a three-star rating rather I really enjoyed the beginning of this play but as it went on I had a couple of problems with it which led to me giving it a three-star rating rather than four. The main one was that, as this is Shakespeare's second-longest play, towards the end I got quite bored with it. The ongoing tellings of deaths and action scenes rather than showing them played a part in this I think, plus I don't think I connected to these characters as much as I often do in Shakespeare's plays. It felt quite obvious to me that Shakespeare was restricted by history in his development of them - in many cases he would mould a character in one way then they would have a rapid change of heart that didn't really make sense with the character they'd been portrayed to be (Anne and Queen Elizabeth for example). At first I loved Richard's self-indulgent creepiness but his two-dimensional motivations got more and more obvious to me as the play went on. I know this was probably done intentionally, given the monarch at the time of writing and all that, but all it did for me was make Richard a not very exciting character.
Though I thought the writing throughout was very eloquent and expressive, I also found this play a lot harder to follow than many of the others. I think Shakespeare probably wrote it with an audience that had some prior knowledge of these events in mind, which I didn't really, so that was a shame. Looking back I do think this was a cool story (plus I haven't mentioned yet - the ghost scene was awesome!), but I don't think the characters will stick in my head for very long, and it was definitely more of a heavy read. Glad I read this, but don't think I will again....more
I went into this book not knowing anything about it, just wanting to try out more John Steinbeck, but I think approaching it like that actually hinderI went into this book not knowing anything about it, just wanting to try out more John Steinbeck, but I think approaching it like that actually hindered how much I got out of this book. Though it is very short, there are many characters to follow and for me it required a lot of concentration to read. Not knowing on the outset anything about the concept, I found the plot quite hard to follow and the characters difficult to familiarise with. However, having now read the afterword (by Donald V. Coers), I think the history of this book and its importance in building resistance during the Second World War are really cool and would like to read it again sometime with that context in mind....more
Really enjoyed this play! Oscar Wilde never fails to deliver encapsulating, humourous writing with a good dose of his casual (yet often groundbreakingReally enjoyed this play! Oscar Wilde never fails to deliver encapsulating, humourous writing with a good dose of his casual (yet often groundbreaking) observations on life. I loved the way the story progressed - it never felt too quick or dragged out - and the characters were really easy to picture. I found the ending a little underwhelming, as it felt like it just stopped rather than ended if I'm honest, but I guess it probably would've worked better on stage, and I'm still very glad I read this....more
My new favourite Shakespeare tragedy! I loved very nearly everything in this play, but to point to some specifics, I found the politics and manipulatiMy new favourite Shakespeare tragedy! I loved very nearly everything in this play, but to point to some specifics, I found the politics and manipulation of the public very complex and cleverly done, the speeches were seriously brilliant, and I loved how the plot didn't end with the (view spoiler)[murder of Caesar (hide spoiler)], but dug deep into the aftermath, which actually turned out to be far more interesting. I am again impressed by how Shakespeare continually creates outspoken, individual female characters in his plays and all the characters in general were very interesting to read about. I would have liked to see more of (view spoiler)[Caesar's ghost (hide spoiler)] but apart from that, epic story, characters and writing. A great read!...more
As a huge Oscar Wilde fan I had high hopes for this play, and I was definitely not disappointed by the first two acts. It was witty, engaging and I thAs a huge Oscar Wilde fan I had high hopes for this play, and I was definitely not disappointed by the first two acts. It was witty, engaging and I thought everything was perfectly set up for a really memorable comedic scenario. Then the third act happened... and that was a complete and utter let down. What I will say about the first two acts is that they were pretty predictable, so I was in a position where I was pretty sure I knew the directions the story was heading in and was looking forward to reading it. Maybe it was just the sexist comments at the beginning of act three that put me off but to be honest I felt that the story I was expecting to unfold kind of wrapped up at the end of act 2, or at least reached the comical climax. The third act then just felt like more of an aftermath scene than anything else, making it quite boring for me. Then some random storyline suddenly cropped up about (view spoiler)[Jack's parents (hide spoiler)] and I was really confused as to what it was doing in this play. It was relevant to the characters' lives, but it didn't feel relevant to the story I thought was being told, so as a result it felt out of place for me, and made for a very unsatisfying ending. My problem isn't that it tied up every single loose end and made the situation seamlessly perfect and convenient - more just the general cliche of the whole thing and the fact that it was trying to create drama which really passed by me as I guessed every reveal way before it happened. Despite the disappointing ending, I still enjoyed this and am looking forward to trying more of Oscar Wilde's plays....more
This was an interesting, original book and I enjoyed reading it, but honestly I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I appreciate the historic relevThis was an interesting, original book and I enjoyed reading it, but honestly I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I appreciate the historic relevance and moral message of the plot, but I felt the way it was presented was very in your face and not at all subtle. The bad guys and the escalation of their corruption just felt quite two-dimensional and lacking in depth for me. I knew where it was heading so really the story lacked any sense of conflict and it just felt like a story to teach you (view spoiler)[how horrible people (or in this case, animals) can get when put in power (hide spoiler)]. That was fine and all but from such a well-loved modern classic I was expected something a little more complex. Like maybe if it was from the bad guy's perspective or if they had more development. (view spoiler)[As it was, it felt like they were pretty bad people (sorry, pigs) in the first place, so their decent into evilness wasn't so impactful to me. (hide spoiler)]
Despite my criticisms this was an engaging read and there were some creepy moments ((view spoiler)[when Napoleon's favourite sow paraded out in a dress... *shiver*(hide spoiler)]). I thought Simon Callow's narration of the audiobook was great and I enjoyed the way he would adopt characters' voices even when the narrative was only saying they'd said something, instead of it being in speech marks. A good book, but not a new favourite....more
A good little book. Well done characters, interesting story, nice ending. I especially liked the commentary on human nature and what it does to a persA good little book. Well done characters, interesting story, nice ending. I especially liked the commentary on human nature and what it does to a person to be trapped in poverty. Pepe Balderrama's narration of the audiobook was enjoyable. Yep, this book was good....more
My only complaint about this book is that it should've been longer. An awesome book!My only complaint about this book is that it should've been longer. An awesome book!...more
I enjoyed this play, but I think the title ruins it somewhat. As a play about the Trojan war with a side plot about Troilus and Cressida, I think it wI enjoyed this play, but I think the title ruins it somewhat. As a play about the Trojan war with a side plot about Troilus and Cressida, I think it would have been a great, well-rounded play, but by putting the main focus on their romance (which took up only about 2 scenes of the play and wasn't very deep at all), it made most of the play feel kind of aimless. Also, I found the countless soldier characters a little hard to narrow down and connect to as individuals, and let's not even go into how annoying Pandarus was. Having said that, I did like the little element of politics thrown into the play, and the language, as always, was exquisite.
The fact that the direction of the play didn't feel clear to me was really my only major problem, and as the ending was really good (that's excluding Pandarus's weird concluding speech, which thankfully wasn't in my edition), I decided to rate this play four stars. If you're interested in the Trojan war and you like Shakespeare, I'd recommend this play - just don't expect the romance to be as big a part of it as the title suggests. ...more
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