From the first sentences of The Life of Pi, I knew I was in the hands of a masterful artist. The writing style is witty and crisp, and the story itself kept me wanting more. It reminded me of Robinson Crusoe or The Swiss Family Robinson—except on the ocean. It has so many things I love in a novel, suspense, adventure, deep truths dawning on the protagonist.
Even though I had seen the movie, I couldn't really remember how it ended, so I kept wondering how this was considered magical realism. But when I got to the final chapter, I understood. What a twist!
After the sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a wounded zebra, an orangutan—and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.
Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi Patel, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with the tiger, Richard Parker, for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his…
The gut-wrenching emotion of this story just completely swept me off my feet. I felt angry at the injustice the main characters suffered. I felt what it must have been like to be in their situation. That's what a really great story does. And on top of that, the scenes and scenery were so vivid. Reading this was like watching a screenplay in my mind.
There's not much more I can add other than to say, what a powerful story.
"There it lay, the great pearl, perfect as the moon."
Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security....
A story of classic simplicity, based on a Mexican folk tale,…
This was a reread for me, but somehow, I enjoyed it more than the first time through! What an incredible story. I love how Emily Brontë makes use of two characters, both somewhat removed from the central actions of the story, to tell the central story.
Sometimes, when a story changes main characters half-way through, I get lost as a reader, or stop caring so much; but with Wuthering Heights, it's the opposite. Because of the way the first half of the novel plays out, I couldn't help but want to know what happened to the two, new characters—these descendants of the originals. It's heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.
One of the great novels of the nineteenth century, Emily Bronte's haunting tale of passion and greed remains unsurpassed in its depiction of destructive love. Her tragically short life is brilliantly imagined in the major new movie, Emily, starring Emma Mackey in the title role.
Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition of Wuthering Heights features an afterword by David Pinching.
One wild, snowy night on the Yorkshire moors, a gentleman asks…
At the far edge of town stands a dwelling the villagers call Haggard House—a place as decayed and strange as the family inside.
1859. The village of Nomaton, Michigan. After a reclusive childhood within the dank walls of Haggard House, Adam Bolton, at the age of eleven, is finally allowed to attend the village school, providing he obeys his mother, Sarai's, injunction. Against all outward influence, he must: “Keep to the straight and narrow.” An easy bidding, until Adam meets Penny, his bright-eyed, bright-spirited classmate. Frightened of the consequences their friendship threatens, Adam builds another Haggard House—only this one in his mind—and keeps Penny there, safe from his zealot mother; safe from himself.
Only, secrets, Adam ought to know, belong to God. Restless and heartsore, Adam’s narrow path suddenly widens. Now a young man, he finds himself traveling West, meeting the world for the first time, a difficult place to keep promises.
Burning with the flame of free will, Adam can no longer restrain himself from the woman he loves. But as he returns to Nomaton, so does Sarai’s dark influence, and Adam is forced to face the decaying house within—a house ready to collapse at any moment.
