''A Little Princess''- Book Review

Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published: 1905

Genres: Novel

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

Sara... She is probably one of the most memorable young characters that I've ever come across. ''A Little Princess'' was such a heartwarming, beautiful read that can evoke strong emotions. It is so overwhelming, inspirational charming book. It was so, so, so wonderful, so beautiful, overwhelming.

Sara Crewe was born and grew up in India. Her father, Captain Ralph Crewe, brings her to England, where she is enrolled at a boarding school.

The Headmistress of the school, Miss Minchin, apparently dislikes Sara, but treats her excellently, because of her father's wealth. Sara receives excellent behavior from Miss Minchin, she has a room and a sitting room of her own, but that does not make her arrogant... Instead, she helps the weak students (especially her classmate, Ermengarde). Life for Sara seems happy, perfect.

But tragedy strikes soon. Sara's father dies suddenly... and Miss Minchin is furious to find out that Sara is now a penniless orphan and is completely her (Miss Minchin's) responsibility. Just within a minute, the behavior of Miss Minchin towards Sara completely changes. The cordiality, affection turns into scorn, fury, and dislike. Sara is no longer allowed to stay in the luxurious bedroom, but she is sent to stay at the dark attic, in a room next to the scullery maid. The condition of the room is dreadful. Sara is reduced to the rank of a servant, compelled to run errands, she gets scorn from not only Miss Minchin, but also from the cook and the servants. Her clothes get torn, dirty and old. Her outward appearance becomes shabby and pitiable, but her strong imaginative power, her determination makes her capable to face all these challenges and difficulties. She makes herself think repeatedly that however pitiable her outward condition is, she is still a princess, a princess who is facing difficulties. Her strong imaginative power enables her to move on, face the hunger and cold winters...

And how wonderful it was to read this novel! It was just like an emotional, overpowering journey! 

Sara Crewe... Princess Sara. She is a strong, a very memorable protagonist! At the beginning of the novel, Sara is a girl who has received so much affection, so much love from her father, and has always lived in luxury. But she is not spoiled. Instead, she is a kind, a very gentle, charming girl who is eager and very willing to help people. And then though she faces hardship and suffering, her spirits remain, her imagination remains, she is still Princess Sara. Even in this pitiable condition, she has the wish to help people. This character is simply unforgettable.

Miss Minchin... she was such a vicious villain! Miss Minchin's change of attitude towards Sara, within a moment... it was so shocking!  She is a cruel, vicious antagonist. 

''A Little Princess'' is a very inspirational, heartwarming, overwhelming, emotional novel, an enchanting, beautiful story! Sara Crewe is a very, very memorable, determined, and strong character. I absolutely loved this novel!

5 out of 5 

'''The Horse and His Boy''- Book Review

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1954

Genres: Novel, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

''The Horse and His Boy'' is the fifth published book in ''The Chronicles of Narnia''. It is kind of a midquel, as it takes place within the events of ''The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe''. (''The Horse and His Boy'' is set during the Golden Age of Narnia, during the rule of the High King Peter and his siblings).

Shasta is a boy who lives with a fisherman, Arsheesh. One day, he comes across a horse, owned by a guest who has come to Arsheesh. To Shasta's great surprise, the horse can talk. The horse reveals that he is from Narnia, where different kinds of beasts can talk. He had been kidnapped from Narnia, when he was young. The horse wants to go back to Narnia, and it becomes apparent that Shasta is also originally from Narnia, as his complexion is much different than that of the Calormene people. Shasta decides to run away the horse (whom he calls ''Bree'') to Narnia and the North.

On their journey, they come across a mare, Hwin, who had also been kidnapped from Narnia when she was young. Hwin's companion is a girl, Aravis. Aravis is running away to Narnia because her marriage has been fixed with a person whom she doesn't wish to marry. Shasta, Bree, Aravis, and Hwin unite and start going to Narnia together. But then they come across a dangerous plan.  Prince Rabadash of Calormen is furious because Queen Susan of Narnia has refused to marry him. The Prince makes a plan to capture Queen Susan. Shasta and his companions decide to prevent the plot and make the High King Peter and his siblings aware of the plan. Their journey is dangerous and difficult...

Compared to the earlier books in the series, ''The Horse and his Boy'' actually had less magic and also, less charm in it. I didn't really love it like I had loved the earlier books. While ''The Horse and his Boy'' is exciting and adventurous, I thought that the previous books had been more magical and engrossing. However, it was good to read about Susan, whom we hadn't met since ''Prince Caspian'', and Lucy and Edmund, who had last appeared in ''The Voyage of the Dawn Treader''. (Peter is mentioned, but never appears in this book). Susan, Lucy and Edmund make brief appearances here.

The four lead characters, Shasta, Bree, Aravis and Hwin, were really quite interesting. The characters were quite well developed, especially Shasta and Aravis. I found Lasaraleen really amusing. Prince Rabadash is the main antagonist of this novel.

The adventures, and the goal and attempt of the lead characters to try to save Narnia and Archenland from a disastrous attack, was really interesting to read. Overall, while ''The Horse and his Boy'' was certainly a really enjoyable read, I think I liked the previous books more, much more, than this one.

3 out of 5


 

''The Silver Chair'' - Book Review

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1953

Genres: Novel, Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

The Silver Chair is the fourth book (in publication order) in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Eustace Scrubb, whom we first met in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is transported, along with his classmate Jill Pole, to Narnia. They are informed that King Caspian, whom the Pevensies helped to come to the throne in ''Prince Caspian'' and with whom Eustace traveled to the end of the world in ''The Voyage of the Dawn Treader'', is now an old man, and he has no heir. He had a son, Prince Rilian, but ten years ago, he had disappeared. Eustace and Jill now have the duty to find the lost prince. Aslan tells Jill some signs which they should follow in order to find the lost prince.

In this book, Eustace and Jill come across a variety of adventures. They come to know how the Prince had disappeared. Their companion in their adventures in Puddleglum, a Marsh-wiggle, a creature with long arms. 

''The Silver Chair'' has many new settings, and some new creatures are introduced. The readers get to know about the Underland. 

Puddleglum was such an interesting character! And I obviously liked Eustace and Jill.

The Silver Chair was such an enchanting, such a magical, such an entertaining novel! I loved it. I loved all of the adventures. My favorite chapter in this book was ''The Queen of the Underland'', because it was such an intense, such a suspenseful chapter! 

4 out of 5

''The Voyage of the Dawn Treader''- Book Review

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1952

Genres: Novel, Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

Edmund and Lucy are living with some relatives. Their cousin, Eustace, is a nasty boy. One day, Edmund, Lucy and Eustace are transported to Narnia through a painting in the wall of the house! They find themselves in a boat called Dawn Treader. They are reunited with their friend, King Caspian, whom they helped to get his right to the throne, in the previous book of the series, Prince Caspian. King Caspian is sailing towards the east. There are two different aims of this journey. Caspian aims to find the seven friends of his father. Secondly, going towards the east, they plan to travel to the World's End, where nobody has been to before. They believe that Aslan's country might be there. During their travel, they come across many adventures and dangers.

Though just a year has passed in our world, in Narnia three whole years have passed. At first I felt this a little odd, as in the previous book, a thousand years had passed in Narnia though in our world just a year had passed. But later C. S. Lewis explained that you never know how much time has passed in Narnia until you get there.

Only a few characters that appeared in the earlier books appear in this one: Edmund, Lucy, Caspian, Reepicheep, and Aslan. Several new characters are introduced.

I really liked Voyage of the Dawn Treader. So far, the Narnia series has absolutely fascinated me. I must admit that I did feel a bit more homely with the first two books, but this one was splendid as well. I really liked the adventures. You never can guess what the characters will come across! And also there was a suspense as the reader is not sure what they might find at the eastern end of the world. Among the adventures my favorite was the one where Eustace learned his lesson. I also loved the description of the sea people! I liked Ramandu as well.

''Prince Caspian''- Book Review

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1951

Genres: Novel, Fantasy, Adventure

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

Our four protagonists, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, are waiting at the train station. They will soon be starting for their schools. One year has passed since their adventures at Narnia. Suddenly, everything around them starts to change, and they are transported to Narnia once again! Though, in their world, just a year had passed, more than a thousand years have passed in Narnia. They discover the ruins of the castle where they used to live when they had been the kings and the queens of Narnia. But why have they come back to Narnia? That's because Narnia needs their help again.

Prince Caspian is the second book in the Chronicles of Narnia series. In this novel, our four protagonists again have the responsibility to bring back peace and justice in Narnia. Narnia has no peace, no magic. The magical creatures are mostly destroyed- though some still survive by hiding. Cruel kings rule the land. And the four children have the responsibility to restore the throne to the rightful king of Narnia, Prince Caspian, and to bring back the magic, the enchantment, the beauty, back to Narnia.

I liked Prince Caspian more than I liked the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I had loved the first book as well, but I think the first book was too fast paced, and didn't have too much time to develop the characters (Peter, for example, had not much depth). But Prince Caspian has much more depth and emphasis on the characters. Edmund and Lucy had been well-developed in the first book, and I loved how Susan and Peter's characters also got depth and emphasis in the second book. I also loved Prince Caspian! This book is also quite fast paced, but I think it had more depth. And it was also very engrossing and exciting, an adventure-filled page turner! I also loved the short history that Aslan describes near the end of the novel. We get more insight of Narnia and the magical worlds in the second book. I loved the overall concept and the story. And I can't wait to read the next books in the series!

5 out of 5

''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''- Book Review

Author: C. S. Lewis
Published: 1950

Genres: Novel, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was really a magical read for me. Absolutely magical. It was a quick read, but it was indeed a wonderful reading experience.

Siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent, during the World War II, to live with an elderly professor, to a huge and mysterious house. The professor himself has suspicions that this house is filled with odd and fantastical things.

One day, in a spare room, Lucy finds a wardrobe, and entering it, she finds herself in a separate world! A world with magical creatures: fauns, giants, centaurs, and many, many other magical creatures. She meets a faun, who tells her that the name of this world is Narnia. He also tells her that the world is being ruled by an evil witch, who claims herself as the Queen. It is because of the witch's magic that it is always winter in Narnia; summer and spring never arrive.

None of Lucy's siblings believe about her discovery of a world at the other side of the wardrobe, but eventually, circumstances make ALL FOUR OF THEM to get into Narnia. There they come across the fact that it had been predicted long ago that four humans will one day come to Narnia, and they will become the Kings and Queens of this world. And the witch is after them to kill them, so that they can't seize the power from, her. Moreover, Edmund gets on the witch's side because of his greed for the delicious food that the witch had given him. Will Peter, Susan and Lucy be able to save Narnia from the cruel hands of the evil witch? Will Edmund understand his mistake? Will the the witch be ever defeated?

This was a quick read and was really fascinating. Narnia's description is so wonderfully given. (The change from winter to summer as the Witch's magic was weakening- was really fascinating). The characters are so interesting. My favorite characters were Lucy and Aslan. The evil witch is well portrayed, and readers grow to hate her. I loved the overall story. It was magical and suspenseful. I loved the ending. And I eagerly look forward to read the sequels soon!

4 out of 5!

''Heidi''- Book review

Author: Johanna Spyri
Published: 1880

Genres: Novel

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

I hadn't read Heidi for a while (the last time I read it was in 2009 or 2010), so it was definitely a joy to read this beautiful novel again! I love Heidi. It is such a comfortable, such a nice little story! 

The story is about Heidi, who is only a little orphan girl when she is sent to live with her grandfather, a man who lives all by himself in a little hut and doesn't quite mix with the society. However, Heidi begins to love her grandfather and the hut, and everything around her. She loves the mountains, the flowers, the goats. She becomes friends with Peter, a goatherd. She also becomes close to his family. Life in the beautiful place becomes extremely peaceful and happy.

But then things change as Heidi's aunt- who was her previous guardian- come and take her to Frankfurt, to be companion of Clara, a girl who cannot walk. Heidi longs for going back to home. But she also becomes close to the members of the household, particularly with Clara, a servant called Sebastian, and Clara's grandmother, who occasionally comes to Frankfurt for a long visit. But her heart longs for going back to home. And ultimately, because she experiences sleepwalking and weakness and weight loss, Clara's father sends her back to live her grandfather.

Heidi's life becomes as it had been before she had gone to Frankfurt. She talks with Grandfather, plays with the goats, visits Peter's Grannie. But however, the friendship she had made while she had been in Frankfurt will always remain intact, and in this beautiful, green place full of natural beauty, a miracle waits for Clara...

This was a simple and comfortable read. I absolutely loved it! I loved the characters. I loved Heidi. I liked Clara. I liked Grannie. I haven't much to say about WHY I loved this book. I loved this book simply because it was a simple, touching, and wonderful story! I loved it because the characters, especially Heidi and Clara, were so loveable! Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this book!

5 out of 5!

''Good Idea, Amelia Jane!''- Book Review

Author: Enid Blyton

Genres: Short stories

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

After a busy week full of class tests, I really needed something light and funny to read! Good Idea, Amelia Jane! is just what I needed!

Enid Blyton is one of my favorite children's authors, and I've read several of her adventure novels. Good Idea, Amelia Jane! is the first non-adventure book by Blyton that I have read!

Amelia Jane is a naughty doll, living in a toys' cupboard with various other toys . She always irritates and troubles the toys with her naughty pranks. The book is filled with stories about the pranks of Amelia Jane, and about how the other toys teach her a lesson! In some stories, Amelia understands her mistakes and repent for it. A few stories also tell how Amelia Jane is also, along with being naughty, a helpful doll.

This was certainly a funny and enjoyable book! I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one sitting! 

4 out of 5

 
 

''Five Have a Wonderful Time''- Book review

Author: Enid Blyton
Published: 1952
Number of pages: 176

Genres: Novel, Adventure, Suspense, Mystery

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

Five Have a Wonderful Time is the eleventh novel of Enid Blyton's ''Famous Five'' series. I liked reading this children's adventure/mystery novel. It was a quick and smooth read filled with suspense and adventures!

The Famous Five- Georgina (George), Dick, Julian, Anne, and the intelligent dog, Timmy- go to stay in a carnival for their holidays, near an old castle. A fair is to be held in the place, and the people of the fair- some very strange people, a fire-eater, a person with two pythons, etc- arrive. They are not friendly and are quite mean to the children. To the surprise of Dick and the others, Jo, a traveling girl whom they had met at one of their previous adventures, makes her appearance. It turns out that Alfredo, the fire-eater, is the girl's maternal uncle. As a result, the fair people change their attitude towards the children and treat them nicely.

One day, the children see a face at one of the towers of the castle. They are surprised. No one is supposed to be at the castle at this time. They come to suspect something. Two famous scientists have recently disappeared and it is suspected that they will fly to another country and sell their secret experiment. Because of resemblance, the kids think that the face could belong to one of those scientist. And they investigate, going to the castle, checking around, but there doesn't seem to be a way to get up to the tower...

It was an enjoyable and pleasant read. I like spending time with Enid Blyton's characters. Her novels, filled with creepy adventure and fun, are very imaginative and well-written. The mystery is not quite deep in this book. What is deep is the suspense. The adventure as well. Another reason I liked this book is that I am fascinated by old castles, hidden paths, dungeons. The book provided me an oppurturnity to be thrilled by these. The investigations were also engrossing and made me curious. In the end, I was satisfied because I read it. It's a smooth and pleasant suspense novel, and yes, recommended!

3 out of 5

 


 

''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''- Book review

Author: L. Frank Baum
Published: 1900

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: 5 out of 5

Review

L. Frank Baum's ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' is a magical and brilliant novel, and is an excellent example of children's classic literature. How I loved this book! It's an absolutely brilliant, pleasant book that while reading it, I felt as if I was transported to the Land of Oz with Dorothy.

I remember watching the world famous 1939 film version, but that was a long time ago, and I hardly remembered any part of the storyline. So, it can be said that the storyline was almost new to me- I loved it. I loved the story, the details, the scares, the imagination, and the beauty, the presentation, the everything. 

Dorothy is a girl who lives in a little house with her Uncle and her Aunt. One day, a terrible storm blows the house away, and takes the house, along with Dorothy and her dog Toto, to the Land of Oz. There, people inform her that her house fell upon the wicked Witch of East, who died as a result. The people are grateful to Dorothy for killing the wicked Witch. But now Dorothy wants to return home to Kansas. How will she return? The people advise her to follow a path to the Emerald City, and ask the powerful Wizard of Oz to help her.

On her way to the Emerald City, Dorothy encounters a Tin Woodman who wants a heart, a Scarecrow who wants a brain, and a lion who wants courage. Dorothy thinks that the Wizard of Oz can help them as well, and tells them to accompany her to the Emerald City. 

But on her way there are lots of obstacles. The wicked Witch of East may be dead, but the Wicked Witch of West is still there. Plus, there is a twisting revelation about the Wizard of Oz. And there are other problems as well.

This is a classic of children's literature. I loved all the characters, be it the lead characters or the supporting ones. I loved the imagination, the descriptions, and the hard work that the author put on this book. This was a smooth, pleasant, and wonderful read, and I'd recommend everybody to read this book. It's so magical!

5 out of 5!