The Seagull by Anton Korenev My rating: 4 of 5 stars Thank you NetGalley and Anton Korenev Entertainment for providing me with an ARC of The Seagull in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist It has been so long since I last read a play. Now that I’m thinking about it, it must be at least ten years. Probably even longer, since I finished my minor in Drama before 2010. Time certainly flies. Before I started reading The Seagull, I was sure I had heard of the title before. Unfortunately, I just never had the opportunity to read it. I had a difficult time…
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A Clockwork Orange
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Gist I have known about A Clockwork Orange as long as I can remember. As a literature student ten years ago I meant to read as many popular literary books as I could, but working 20 hours a week, going to school fulltime and being part of the school theatre tech group didn’t leave much spare time. I am slightly ashamed to say that I still have to read many well-known classics to this day. So, how did I come about reading A Clockwork Orange? Well, it’s kind of a long story that includes a very tenacious…
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Schweigeminute
Schweigeminute by Siegfried Lenz My rating: 4 of 5 stars About a week ago my computer crashed; blue screen, sad-face emoji and everything (apparently Microsoft added a sad-face emoji to soften the blow or whatever). Once my little laptop regained consciousness, I had the great idea to start a new bookmark folder containing links to German TV channels. Recently I have been on a German TV and book trip again, after I realized that I have neglected those language skills long enough and a friend asked me to practice her German with me. It would only be fair to brush up to make sure that what I told her was…
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Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I love Jane Austen. I love her work. I am a self-proclaimed Janeite. I wrote my graduate thesis on Austen’s six major novels and a term paper on NorthangerAbbey. I have to admit, Northanger Abbey is my absolute favourite. The satire, the gothic, Austen’s humour and her ability to create a naïve character without making her annoying is quite the accomplishment. I adore Catherine’s evolution from a sheltered country girl to being thrown into the fashionable society of Bath. The characters in…
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The Marquise of O-
The Marquise of O– by Heinrich von Kleist My rating: 3 of 5 stars I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I read this story twice. Once during my advanced German literature reading course I took more than 10 years ago and then again for this purpose of this review. It is strange to say I enjoyed it, but I kind of did. It certainly leaves a lasting impression on the reader, as it did for me. I remember it so vividly, most likely because we discussed it in detail, but also because of the subtle approach the author took…
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Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sanditon
Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, The Watsons, and Sanditon by Jane Austen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have now come to the part in my research, which requires me to read Austen’s works, finished and unfinished. I think this was my third or fourth time reading Northanger Abbey and I’m surprised and delighted how every subsequent read is just as entertaining and as fresh as the first read. I have to say, though, that having done as much research on Austen’s life and work, I’m baffled by the harsh critique some critics give poor Catherine Morland. She deserves a lot more credit than I have seen her receive throughout…
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Ligeia
Ligeia by Edgar Allan Poe My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another required reading for my zombie/vampire course, this short story had me on the fence until the very end.I am not really a fan of long-winded descriptions and overly prolonged suspense until the reader doesn’t even remember what the suspense was supposed to be for, but it absolutely work with this story. I was sitting at my desk, reading on my computer with my arms crossed defensively in front of me and leaning back, wondering when the “good” will start. By the end I was leaning into my computer, mere inches from the screen, clutching the edge of my…
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Christabel
Christabel by Samuel Taylor Coleridge My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was good. I mean this was really good. It was a great blend of horror, medieval, Gothic and the classic.Part of my required reading list for my zombie/vampire course, Christabel was an intriguing story to read. Written in verse, it took a few stanzas to get used to the style, but it was worth it in the end.A story filled with eerie descriptions, a spooky atmosphere, a seductress and an outcome I would not have suspected. In my accompanying course notes and commentaries, I read that the version we have now wasn’t even the complete narration and Coleridge…
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Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge My rating: 4 of 5 stars A required reading for my zombie/vampire seminar, this was my second time reading this poem; however, I can’t remember when or where I had first come across it. I can vaguely remember someone in a class-setting talking about the mariner and facilitating some sort of discussion, but the details elude me, which really bothers me.Anyway, I think I have always preferred Coleridge to Shelley or Byron. I appreciate his skill for creating an eerie mood in his poems that is just perfect for what he is trying to accomplish.The poem itself isn’t my favourite, but…
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The Death of Halpin Frayser
The Death of Halpin Frayser by Ambrose Bierce My rating: 4 of 5 stars Another required reading for my zombie/vampire seminar.For some reason this story reminded me of the movie “The Labyrinth” with David Bowie. It could be because I had recently watched it and it was still fresh in my memory, but I assume it had something to do with the dream like sequence in the story. It’s that almost fantastic and otherworldly always reminds me a bit of classic 80’s fantasy movies. Although, this story had quite a bit of blood in it, so I would suggest not reading it whilst eating.The writing was quite nonchalant with a…
