Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: Little House in the Big Woods
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pages: 238
Published: 2004 (first published 1932)
Genre: Classics, Historical fiction, Young Adult
Rating: 4/5

Wolves and panthers and bears roam the deep Wisconsin woods in the late 1870's. In those same woods, Laura lives with Pa and Ma, and her sisters, Mary and Baby Carrie, in a snug little house built of logs. Pa hunts and traps. Ma makes her own cheese and butter. All night long, the wind howls lonesomely, but Pa plays the fiddle and sings, keeping the family safe and cozy. 

Thoughts: This is one of those books that you read when you were young and you come back later and read, either to your own child or by yourself.  While it reminds oneself how much simpler life was almost 140 years ago, it also reminds one that it was also a much harder existence because one had to make everything one ate and wore; there was no grocery store to get butter, cheese, milk and bread and one couldn't just hop in ones car to go and get a new outfit at the local store.  Its an enjoyable read at any age.

13835 / 15000 pages. 92% done!

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
Pages: 210
Published: 2000 (originally published 1818)
Genre: Classics, Gothic, Horror
Rating: 4/5

Mary Shelley's timeless gothic novel presents the epic battle between man and monster at its greatest literary pitch. In trying to create life, the young student Victor Frankenstein unleashes forces beyond his control, setting into motion a long and tragic chain of events that brings Victor to the very brink of madness. (via Amazon.com)

Thoughts: I quite enjoyed it.  I think that this book should serve as a cautionary tale about creating something that can get beyond our control and that man's selfishness often creates things that makes us feel as though we are god-like.

13597 / 15000 pages. 91% done!

Persuasion - Jane Austen

Title: Persuasion
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 250
Published: 2003 (originally 1818)
Genre: Classics
Rating: 3.8/5

At twenty-seven, Anne Elliot is no longer young and has few romantic prospects. Eight years earlier, she had been persuaded by her friend Lady Russell to break off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a handsome naval captain with neither fortune nor rank. What happens when they encounter each other again is movingly told in Jane Austen’s last completed novel. Set in the fashionable societies of Lyme Regis and Bath, Persuasion is a brilliant satire of vanity and pretension, but, above all, it is a love story tinged with the heartache of missed opportunities. (via Goodreads)


Thoughts:  This was my first time reading this book and I thought it was ok, especially after reading 3 other Austen books that I enjoyed.  As I said to my book club last night during our discussion, this book felt that a little slower than Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Emma because there were no secondary plot that was discernible to that of Wentworth and Anne.  I am not saying that it was a bad book, it wasn't, but I just felt that it was a lot slower than that of the three of Austen's books that I had already read.  Recommended for those that have read Austen's previous books or that enjoy reading classic literature. 

12334 / 15000 pages. 82% done!

The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: The Long Winter
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pages: 352
Published: 2004 (originally published in 1940)
Genre: Classics, Historical fiction, Children's literature
Rating: 4/5


The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as Pa, Ma, Laura, Mary, Carrie, and little Grace bravely face the hard winter of 1880-81 in their little house in the Dakota Territory. Blizzards cover the little town with snow, cutting off all supplies from the outside. Soon there is almost no food left, so young Almanzo Wilder and a friend make a dangerous trip across the prairie to find some wheat. Finally a joyous Christmas is celebrated in a very unusual way.

Thoughts: I really enjoyed it, but like the family, I found the winter to be a tad tiresome.  When I did find it tiresome, I went to the internet to find out how much of the story is true and actually is very faithful to the events of the winter of 1880-81 in the De Smet, S.D. area.  What I found fascinating was that nobody in the area died, although if it had lasted longer there probably would have been some deaths.  The reason that I classified the book as young adult because the book is longer and also Laura was 13/14 during the time period that the story takes place, despite the fact that the storyline is fairly simple and straight forward and is geared towards readers ages 8 to 12. 

1313 / 15000 pages. 9% done!

2011 Classics Challenge

Stilletto Storytime is hosting Classics Challenge 2011.  I am hoping to read a number of classics, although what I will read I have no idea.  I will aim for Student at 5 books.

Here is my list:
1. Persuasion
2. Frankenstein 
3. Little House in the Big Woods 
4. The Long Winter 
5. The Quiet Little Woman