O. Henry: Genius of American Short Stories

I have fallen in love with the writing style of O. Henry. Perhaps it was the wit, perhaps the incredible way he could turn a story. Oftentimes, his story was comedic, sometimes they were philosophical. He could give his characters complex personalities, tell an amazing story and give it a wonderful ending all in the space of a few short pages. And, as a bonus, he lived for a time in my home town, San Antonio TX.

So for the next week (maybe more) I will have very informal posts appearing, "discussing my thoughts about his short stories. They don't take long to read, so get a copy and follow along. Here is a list of the stories that I will write about for the first week; from Wednesday, the 10th to Wednesday the 17th:

Springtime a la Carte

Schools and Schools

Defeat of the City

The Skylight Room

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Do read the stories...I'd really love to hear what you think!

To read a free copy of his stories click here.

Animal Farm

This witty satire by the British author George Orwell is a very intelligent and creative warning about the rise of communism and Stalin's regime.

The story starts with a wise patriarchal pig gathering the farm animals around him and telling about a dream he just had. Their human oppressors will be overthrown and the animals will live together in peace and cooperation. Not only does his vision divulge this veritable Utopia, but the ancient and long lost song "Beasts of England" is revealed to him. Soon after, the old pig dies, and the animals indeed do revolt against the humans, using this vision and song as their talisman. At first, though life is hard and full of work, the animals feel their freedom like an exhilirating breeze. But the remaining pigs start to subtly become more and more ambitious until things seem to be taking a U-turn back to the days of the humans.

Of all the books I've ever read, this book probably is most comparative to The Lord of the Flies in that they both express what a race would deteriorate into if there were nobody to hold it accountable. This book was definitely thought-provoking, interesting and entertaining.

Great Expectations

My mother once read aloud an abriged version of Great Expectations to my sisters and me. (My writing curriculum told me to start a book review with a startling statement, so there you have it.) All I could remember of the storyline was that it was rather dark and weird, in the truest sense of the word. I just went back and read the un-adulterated original by Dickens himself. It was absolutely incredible.

The story is about a young boy named Pip Pirrip who is living with his older sister, and her husband, Joe Gargery, a blacksmith. Pip lives a content life until one day when he is seven or eight, a convict sets in motion a string of events that promise--or threaten--to change his life forever. In front of a setting of fog, marshes and London, Pip meets with many individuals who open doors for him into a land which he thinks he wishes to enter; the land of wealth and influence; the land of the untouchable. He desires to be a man of Great Expectations.

The beginning and middle of the book are wonderful and enthralling: they seem to promise of an epic and renewing ending. But me and my sensibilities found the ending to be rather sad and disappointing, although it was anything but over-used. That being said, I implore you to read the book solely for the storyline and to prepare yourself to be content with the end.

Where Literature Ties in With Hypotenuses

Homeschooling is filled with wonders, many of which it is too easy to forget, so I am going write one before the afore-mentioned event occurs.

A few days ago, I was watching my math lesson about right triangles, the Pythagorean Theorem, etc. A right triangle is made up of two "legs" and one "hypotenuse."

A few weeks ago, I was reading the O. Henry story "Schools and Schools" (I'll have to write about O. Henry very soon--those are some stories that are not to be passed up). The story was about three cousins: Gilbert, Nevada and Barbara. Gilbert and Barbara were raised together, and they have a sort of a tacit agreement that someday they will marry. When Nevada enters the scene, however, that arrangement is upset. To cut a long story short, O. Henry called the trio a "triangle" and Barbara was relegated to the position of "the hypotenuse." I had no idea what that meant until I learned about the Pythagorean theorem. I love it when my educations dove-tails like that.

Sense and Sensibility

I have been told often and much of the merits of the Jane Austen books, of their delicate femininity and beauty. So at last, I decided that I wanted to see if the reports were true. I bought Sense and Sensibilty .

The story is about the Dashwood sisters, their romances and their follies. Elinor, the eldest, is a wise girl, more level-headed than any of the rest of her family. Marianne is a few years younger, with a intense and loving heart. They live in the perfect setting for timeless romance: an English cottage in the beautiful and quaint English countryside of rolling hills, downs and dew. Now that I have got that in your head, dear reader, here are the romances. Elinor, who is cautious to a fault, though not wholly without heart, has found herself falling hesitantly in love with Edward Ferrars, an equally quiet young man. Though no real, legal attatchement occurs, everybody, even Elinor, are sure of the impending marriage of the two. For Marianne’s part, she falls passionately in love with the handsome and heroic John Willoughby, and it seems that he truly loves her in return. The two girls’s story is full of twists and turns, unexpected incidents and rivalry.

I was simply not expecting a lesson in the wisdom of courtship from this book, but there was one, and that surprised me quite a lot. Although it is not overt, the "moral" (if you must picture me as Mary Bennet, you must) is that a wise mentor to help guide you through the most important decision of your life is most definitely not to be scoffed at. The Dashwood sisters had no wise person to counsel them as to their courtships, the only interested, qualified people in their lives were just as impressionable and gullible as themselves. This made me realize that because not everybody is going to have a wise person to counsel them, having one should truly be counted as a blessing.

This book was Jane Austen's first novel, and as such I found that it often had trouble moving forward. Especially in comparison to Pride and Prejudice (which Austen herself called "her own darling child"). It tends to feel as if it is dragging in some places. However, this does not take away from the overall slendidly colorful portrait of regency England.

Top 10 Must-Reads

As what should be a requisite for all avid readers, I am now doing my very first Top 10 Must-Reads. I'm sure that it will not be my last. But for 2009, I must say that these are my favorites:

1.The Sherlock Holmes Series: the brightest, smartest, most brilliant, incredible detective of all time is Sherlock Holmes. If your mother asks why you are reading it in the middle of the week, just tell her that it is a wonderful logic course. I have found my unreasonable mind actually trying to observe and deduce. Amazing. I just finished the second volume (not a happy moment) and am very sad that all those wonderful mysteries are solved. If only Conan Doyle hadn't wasted so much time on other matters. This has become one book that I really could not live without. (Note: I was about to consider petitioning Sir Conan Doyle to resurrect Mr. Holmes yet again when I realized that--well--he's dead so it would be rather useless.)


2. A Tale of Two Cities: by Charles Dickens. Though this book starts out slowly, the supreme sacrifice and love in the end is worth anything. I am putting an excerpt here from the ending because it can certainly speak for itself. The setting is in a cart headed for the guillotine, the speakers are a young woman and a man.

"It cannot be, my child; there is no Time there [in Heaven], and no trouble there."

"You comfort me so much! I am so ignorant. Am I to kiss you now? Is the moment come?"

"Yes."

She kisses his lips; he kisses hers; and they solemnly bless each other... She goes next before him--is gone; the knitting women count Twenty-Two.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."

...it swells forward in a mass, like one great heave of water, all flashes away. Twenty-Three.

Yes, this is a must-read.

3. David Copperfield: Arguably one of Charles Dickens' best novels, David Copperfield is loosely based on the author's own life. After surviving an abusive boyhood, David Copperfield narrates his journey to manhood, with many loves, losses and lessons .The plot is stellar and each character has a memorable personality--for good or bad.

4. Ivanhoe: is the well-known historical fiction novel by Sir Walter Scott. Set in the time of Richard Couer de Leon, this book paints a remarkable and exciting picture of life during the Middle Ages. With many memorable heroes and heroines, a dilemma between reputation and unrequited love, and many rousing fight sequences, this book ranks high.

5. Watership Down:Though a visceral reaction to this tale by Richard Adams might be "it's about...rabbits???" it really is a book that no library of the brain ought to be without. It is the tale of the journey of a band of dauntless rabbits who leave the safety of their home warren at the seeming whim of a young one who predicts tragedy. They make the harrowing journey to a paradise for rabbits. For more, please read my review.

6. The Mystery of Edwin Drood: a murder mystery written by Charles Dickens--up to the twenty-second chapter. It was sadly interrupted by the poorly-timed death of the author (after all, we'll never know how it was really supposed to end). It has been concluded many times but my favorite one (and dare I say the only one I've read) is by Leon Garfield. The ending is very startling yet--I'm just going to shut up now.

7. Mere Christianity: a book written by C.S Lewis--not a novel, yet a gripping read. It is written so well and so down-to-earth that you can almost hear Lewis' kindly English accent talking to you. It explores the many different facets of the Christian life, bringing new insights to dilemmas and discussing commonplace topics that everyone knows but doesn't give much intelligent thought to.

8. Around the World In 80 Days: the classic written by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days will ring in your memory for many a year. It follows the extremely punctual (if not slightly eccentric) Englishman, Phileas Fogg on an impromptu journey round the world--with a return date exactly 80 days from departure. The book details the culture and geography of many countries in the world.

9. The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, The Lantern Bearers: these three books are a series written by Rosemary Sutcliff. Starting with the Eagle of the Ninth, which is about a young Roman centurion, the books covers the history of Ancient Britain from the height of the Roman Empire's power over Britain to its fall and the rise of the real king Arthur. These books really fascinated me with the history of England, especially her Ancient times.

10. The Scarlet Pimpernel: This book by Baroness Orczy tells the tale of an Englishman who takes condemned Frenchmen from under the guillotine's shadow during the French Revolution. The rebel government employs an Englishwoman living in the center of London society to search out and reveal this man. A fascinating story, it has quite a lot of the flavor of A Tale of Two Cities and a dash of the mysterious content of Sherlock Holmes.



I hope that you've enjoyed this post, and I hope that it has inspired you to want to read these books.

I am also advertising for people who also have read and truly enjoyed these books...I would LOVE to discuss them!

Rebecca and Rowena: Rebecca

When Rebecca is captured along with the household of Cedric the Saxon, an invalid and her father, Isaac, she withstands a harrowing experience in the castle of their captors. Because of her nationality and faith, her very life is often at risk

As a Jewess in medieval England, Rebecca is despised on account of her rank in society, not withstanding her extraordinary beauty. She is the loyal daughter to her father, Isaac of York, a moneylender. When troubles rear up about her, she proves that although she is a pariah, she possesses a laudable amount of mettle. After being captured with her father, the wounded Ivanhoe and the whole of Cedric's household, she is separated from her father. Only by entreating an old resident of their prison is she able to attend to Ivanhoe. While doing so, she begins to fall in love with him, knowing that there is no hope because by all accounts in medieval England, he is above her ethnicity; when Ivanhoe discovers that his healer is a Jewess, he treats her with coldness inherent to his breeding and the culture of his land. Throughout the book, she shows that she is kind, ready to help and has a very humble nature.

Many readers and critics regard Rebecca as more interesting than Rowena. Perhaps it is because Scott develops her role and personality in the story, making her seem warmer and more inviting than her counterpart Rowena, who comes off as cold and pious. To amend the rather discouraging finale to the story (when Rowena marries Ivanhoe) another Victorian author, William Makepeace Thackeray even wrote a sequel entitled Rebecca and Rowena, in which Ivanhoe is remarried to Rebecca. I suppose that that is one of the advantages of fiction; you can find a way to change it if you don't happen to like the outcome of the story!

Rebecca and Rowena : Rowena

As the beautiful and delicate protagonist in Ivanhoe, Rowena is the ward of Cedric the Saxon and the lady-love of the heroic Wilfred of Ivanhoe. When she is captured along with her guardian's household, two Jews and a mysterious invalid, she hopes for Ivanhoe to rescue her, but will he be able to?

After being taken captive, she is imprisoned in a Norman lord's castle. The way even her captors treat her in contrast to the way her counterpart, Rebecca is treated is striking. Though only a Saxon woman in the power of Normans, her wealth and rank hold sway over their conduct toward her. They are respectful and treat her with a semblance of the way they would their own, whereas Rebecca is regarded as little more than a slave. Over the course of the book, however, she is shown to have a compassionate nature, even toward what was thought of as the dregs of society: the Jews.

It can be argued that she is much too frigid and perfect to make a satisfactory heroine and bride of the hero; even after she is kidnapped en masse with her guardian's household, the two refugee Jews and their patient, she remains (only figuratively), above the fray. I can not say what her deeper personality could have been, this facade that is discernible could possibly only be because Sir Walter Scott did not see fit to put her in circumstances that were as desperate as Rebecca's. Therefore, her personality remains what I, the reader chooses: the icy, pious angel or the rather quiet heroine, misinterpreted because of lack of personality.


The second installment to this two-part post--Rebecca-- is due out sometime by next week. Please check back.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

By Charles Dickens CONCLUDED BY Leon Garfield
Rating: 10+
Recommended Reading Age: 15

This was the last book that Charles Dickens wrote, and he had only reached the twenty-second chapter when he died in 1870, leaving this book far from finished.

After Edwin Drood disappears, suspicion of murder is harbored toward two men: John Jasper, Edwin's uncle, and Neville Landless, a mysterious young man who has recently settled in the the town with his twin sister, Helena. For the next 11 months, dread and conjecture circulate in this book. Did someone kill Edwin Drood? If so, who and why? Or did he leave of his own accord?

As I neared the the twenty-second chapter of this book, I got the feeling that I get when something that I really love is about to be gone. As that chapter was the termination of Dicken's writing, I felt as if no great expectations could be held for the writing skill of this person Leon Garfield. However, I feel that he did an excellent job of simulating the signature style and wit of Dickens in his writing. At times I could not tell if it was the added author, or Dickens himself. Also, Mr. Garfield did an exceptionally imaginative job of resolving the mystery. I couldn't have done it myself.

Please note that there are other conclusions to this mystery, done by other authors, and I only review the one done by Leon Garfield.

Little Women

by Louisa May Alcott
Rating: 10
Recommended reading age: 10

This is a book that a book review blog really can't be without. I first read it at about the age of nine or ten. Though this is not one of my very favorite books--it's not a terribly challenging read for me at my age--but it still has a certain
amount of whimsy that is very refreshing. I could have some reserve because the author was a Unitarian, but most of the hints that are spiritual don't really lean that way, as far as I can tell. Even so, I would be on my guard when reading this book for false doctrine.

Many of the lessons in this book are useful, but more true-to- life than many a book written in that era. There are some hilarious parts, such as the one in "Amy's Will" where an impertinent parrot squawks out some very well-timed insults to various persons concerned. I found that very funny.

For those of you who have not read this book, and don't know the general story plot, here it is:

Taking place during the civil war, the book opens to the four March sisters complaining and being generally discontented about a meager Christmas. The rest of the book outlines various instances, trial and experiences that the March family goes through-- particularly the girls-- to come out as lovely "little women." This is, I think, a worthwhile read, if only for the interest of watching a semi-fictitious family go through their semi-fictitious life together. Of course, don't get stuck on this reading level or genre for ever, as other posts on this blog suggest. All the same, don't forget to read this one if you haven't.

Julius Caesar

by William Shakespeare
Rating: 10+++
Reading age: 14

Now, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays apart from this one: I just don't need to know all the sordid details...*ahem*. However, this one is completely void of that, because it is about politics in ancient Rome. (There is one inappropriate mention in the beginning from the notes of "the Annotated Shakespeare" copy, but it may or may not be translated from old English correctly).

Anyway, I devoured this play in about two days--it was that interesting. It is, as the title says, about Julius Caesar, but instead of stopping with the assassination, it goes on through the decisive battle of Philippi (Brutus and Cassius vs. Octavian and Antony). It is very interesting to read of such well-known events as the Triumvirate and the soothsayer who is said to foretell the happenings of the Ides of March as written by somebody who lived 400 years ago.

All in all, this book was a satisfactory read: well written (of course, it is Shakespeare) and void of the inappropriate intrigue and debauchery.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

By Baroness Emma Orczy
Rating: 10++
Age: 13


I suppose that before I read this book, I had preconceived notions about its storyline, partly from a Looney Tunes that is called The Scarlet Pumpernickel and from an old movie with Hermione-something-or-other. Neither of these even bordered on the suspense-full storyline of this book. Especially not the Looney Tune.

The story is about a mysterious English man who seems to spirit condemned aristocrats right from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The rebel "French government" has worked itself into a tizzy over the fact that even their wittiest spies are unable to apprehend the elusive character. This is why they send over Chauvelin, a spy disguised as a diplomat, to try to find out who the man is. Through a series of events, Chauvelin uses threats about Marguerite Blakeney's brother to force her to help spy out the Scarlet Pimpernel. Marguerite is the wife of Lord Percy Blakeney, an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales and therefore the center of London society, making Marguerite a likely person to be of help spying. This task sends Marguerite into a whirlwind of agony over whether to betray the national hero, or save her brother from death. I could go on and on, but I don't want to ruin the story!

This was such a wonderful book that I could not bear to put it down. Even at 1:30. AM. I had had some Mountain Dew the evening before, thinking it an innocent equivalent of Sprite in regard to caffeine (lol. ahem). So I was up all night. What a perfect time it was to finish the novel!

Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Recommended Reading Age: 14
Rating: 10+

Oliver Twist was probably one of the best books I have ever read. The literacy was great and the plot was enthralling.

The story starts with the main character, Oliver, being born in a parish workhouse. He lives in squalor there for the first years of his life. Through a series of events, he goes to London. While on the road there he meets a boy who is part of a gang of reprobates which is made up of pickpockets and a harlot. They try to lead young Oliver into their life but he escapes, for a time. All to soon, however, he is recaptured and held by the gang. Eventually, he is saved yet again and he goes to live in happiness. The grand finale is wonderful for him, yet justly awful for the criminals.

This book was clearly written for an adult audience, so you're going to come across drinking, smoking, murder and harlotry (there are no details on this, I think that it was included so that the woman could have an occupation befitting a criminal). There were also some bad words. However, all of these things were clearly explained by Dickens in his preface. He said "As I saw no reason, when I wrote this book, why the dregs of life (so long as their speech does not offend the ear) should not serve the purpose of a moral..." I was struck by this reason and I think that it is a very good one. In this book, the criminals are not to be envied. They are painted in such a way so as to reveal just how frightening they are and how undesirable their life is.

Don't get me wrong, that is not the bulk of the book. I don't want to paint it as all bad, because it wasn't. I haven't told half the story, so that it will be just as suspenseful if and when you read it. There were some touching and humorously sarcastic parts. It also reflects well the general views of the different classes in Victorian England. A wonderful read.

A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Rating: 10+
Age: mature 13 and up

A Tale of Two Cities is a wonderful book written by the illustrious 19th-century author, Charles Dickens. It is a thrilling, fast-paced story set in England and France both before and during the French Revolution. While off to a rather slow start, do not let this discourage you. Press through, trust me. It's worth it.

It is a very exciting story, but it does do a good job *ahem* describing the cheerful and nonchalant blood-thirstiness of the French Revolutionaries. It has a very touching climax which is very sad and shows real love. It is, as the back of the book published by Cathay Books, "a story of injustice and betrayal, but also of love and supreme sacrifice."

The way Charles Dickens weaves together a plot with the use of wit and good writing, truly does make a story worth reading. I strongly recommend this for everyone. You'll see what I mean.

David Copperfield

David Copperfield: by
Charles Dickens
Rating: 10+
Age: mature 12 up

David Copperfield was a great book! A trifle long, perhaps,but I was by no means eager to see it end. This book started out very nicely, and the slower bits that I mentioned that were in The Tale of Two Cities, were virtually non-existent, so if you have never read Dickens, this is the book to start with (I've only read a few, so I reserve the right to change that!).

The gist of the story is this: a little boy grows in a normal childhood setting for the first few years of his life, with his sweet, young mother and doting maid, Peggotty. All to soon, however, his mother marries a hard, angry man and David's new father, Mr. Murdstone, hates him as does the latter's sister. They persecute David until his mother dies and after that, they send him off to work in a factory. Eventually, he runs away to an old aunt. He grows up in a happy family enviroment with his aunt and her rather eccentric companion, Mr. Dick, who is all but crazy. (This actually brings many chances of comedy to the story line.) This is just part of the beginning of the book, and the rest is very entertaining. There is some romance, and one time when he falls in love with a girl and her father is strongly against it, but they follow through and marry after the father died ( I thought that that was sad). There is one other part when David's friend runs away with a girl, but the author did a very good job portraying just how devastating it was to all concerned. On the whole, this was an excellent book, well worth reading.