Jacksprat Gets Lost in Fiction

Review of The Wolf By: Leo Carew             During the first battle with the Sutherners, Roper’s father, the Black Lord, is killed leaving Roper, his son, to become the new Black Lord. Not only is seen as just a boy, but he has enemies within and without.  Roper must prove himself to his people and take back their land from the Sutherners.             This is a pretty good debut.  Carew creates a beautiful and deadly wilderness and fills it with two different races of people that are warriors through and through.  The Anakim feels like a race of people who have been around for a long time and that they are part of the wilderness around them.  I don’t understand their love for battle, but it is fascinating to read about it.  Their actions on the battlefield determine who they are amongst the Anakim and at first Roper ma...

Review of The Mysteries of Udolpho By: Ann Radcliffe             While traveling to visit her Aunt Madame Cheron, Emily’s father dies and she must live with her, but the pair don’t connect with each.  Her aunt’s new husband Count Montoni tries to arrange Emily’s marriage to a Count Morano, but he turns out to not to be as rich as he led them to believe.  Montoni uproots them to his Castle, Udolpho, in the Italian Mountains and holds them hostage, trying to force Emily’s aunt to give up her fortune.             This was quite the read and a page turner, but it was also an exhausting read.  I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t absolutely love it.  Emily is sensible and isn’t completely naïve, but I did get frustrated and annoyed with her in the last part of the story. The last part of the novel also felt like a whole another story. ...

Review of Jane Austen in Real Life:  A Life in Small Things By: Paula Byrne          Last year, for Jane Austen July, I read Jane Austen: Her Life and Letters by William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh, which was a sort of biography composed of letters written by Jane Austen or letters written to her.  Each section centered around her main novels and the progress of her life and career. It was one that showed Jane Austen’s real voice through the surviving letters. While Jane Austen in Real Life is a work that does something different by focusing on items that were used by her and the family members such as shawls from India, miniature portraits, Barouche carriages, writing desks etc.….  Byrne introduces each chapter talking about that item and then using it to lead into talking about the family and the author herself.  It is a fun take on exploring who Austen was, because these objects are ...

Review of Everybody was so Young By: Amanda Vaill             The Fitzgerald’s, Hemingway, Picasso, and Cole Porter are famous for their art and often studied in school, but not a lot is heard about Gerald and Sara Murphy, the caretakers of this group.  Sara was adored by all with Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Picasso all falling in love with her.  Gerald was a father figure and guide to them.  He was fascinated with how mechanics worked and became a painter known for his artwork such as “Watch” with shows the mechanism of a watch along with similar things.  He and Sara were involved in everything such as throwing lavish parties for their group and were always there for them.  They were supportive, but also honest with them, but didn’t appreciate it when their friends used them for inspiration for their work, especially when the work was disrespectful and unkind.  One of ...

Review of Time and Again By: Jack Finney Simon Morley is not satisfied with his life, and he gets the opportunity to travel back in time to New York City 1882 for a government sanctioned project.  He goes back in time to investigate a mysterious note that refers to a great fire and a blackmail scheme.  While in the past, he meets and falls for Julia, who might be caught in the crossfire. Like all time traveler stories, it begs the question of us interfering with the past.  Can we altar the past just by being there and can a small change in the past effect the present?  Simon must decide what to do and if his choices will have dire consequences.  It also becomes personal when he falls for Julia and she’s involved with the antagonist, unaware he could be committing a dangerous crime.  I felt Simon was relatable in the sense that he desired a simpler time, and he just appreciates this unreal experience he’s privileged to have....

Review of Merchant of Venice By: William Shakespeare             Bassanio wants to marry his beloved Portia, but to do this he must pass a test.  Her suitors are presented three caskets: a gold one, a silver one, and a lead one and they must choose the one with her portrait in it, and if they don’t pick the right one, they cannot marry anyone else.  Bassanio also must help his friend Antonio make a deal with the moneylender Shylock, but Shylock doesn’t trust Antonio, because he is a Christian, while Shylock is a Jew.  Antonio also wants to elope with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. This play isn’t as popular and talked about like  Hamlet  and  Romeo and Juliet.   One of the reasons I’m guessing has to do with Shakespeare villainizing a Jewish character, showing the ignorance of Christians towards Jews.  Ironically, I think this makes you more sympathetic towards Shyl...

Review of Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome By: Anthony Everitt             Most people, unless you’re a historian, are only familiar with Julius Caesar thanks to Shakespeare’s play and all the information on Cleopatra, while Hadrian isn’t as known.  According to Everitt, Hadrian did plenty of beneficial things for Rome, even lessoning the military ambition of Rome during his reign as Emperor.  Though, Hadrian proved to be a great military prowess when his adopted father, Trajan made him one.   The first part is about Trajan’s rulership as it is about Hadrian growing up, especially since he raised Hadrian after his father died, but took his sweet time to declare Hadrian next in line for Emperorship. It was the interference of Trajan’s wife; he was on his death bed when she arranged for Hadrian to become the emperor when his adopted father died.  He did a lot for the Empire, but Hadrian...