Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

 

Book Review of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

 Jane Eyre was written by Charlotte Bronte who was born on 21^st April in 1816 in England. Her world-famous novel is Jane Eyre which was written and published in 16 October 1847.

Jane Eyre has everything that a typical book has, it has all the other elements. This book tells us about the struggle of a girl to maintain her self-esteem. The setting of this novel is in the Northern England countryside during the 19^th Century. Jane was 10 years old when her parents passed away and so she used to live with her aunt and her family. There she was not treated as she had expected by her aunt as well as her cousins. Later, she is sent to a boarding school where her life is full of ups and downs. She has to follow a strict school routine and has to face a cruel headmaster. Till the age of 16 she is a student there and remains there as a teacher till the age of 18, but one day she manages to leave her school and decides to be a governess at Thornfield Hall. Here Jane starts living happily and finds happiness as her day passes by.

She instantly falls in love with Mr. Rochester when she helps him after he is thrown from a horse. She starts talking with him by meeting him constantly though he is expected to marry Blanche Ingram. Rochester proposes Jane for marriage but on their wedding day Jane discovers that Rochester cannot marry her legally because he is already married to Bertha Mason who is a mentally challenged person now and is locked on the third floor of their mansion. Jane remembered that she used to hear noises from that floor but never paid much attention. Rochester tries convince Jane to marry him so that they can live peacefully in France but she refuses and decides to leave Thornfield.

Later she gets pressurized from St. John who a clergyman and her cousin. Jane agrees to live with him but not as his wife. However, she yet has a soft feeling for Mr. Rochester and goes to Thornfield. There she sees that the estate has completely been burned by fire which was set by Rochester’s wife who then jumped herself to death.  Rochester was blinded because he tried to save her. Jane and Rochester marry to each other and live happily with their son. 

Jane’s independent and mature attitude draws one’s attention and motivates us to also be the same no matter what and how the situation is. The book is full of roller coaster ride of emotions. It portrays the life of an independent women very well. Lastly, the story is well crafted makes the reader read more and more.

Roll No. 23 Liz Menezes

Bibliography:-

Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre, Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., 2003. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1803395.

Image: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.simonandschuster.com%2Fbooks%2FJane-Eyre%2FCharlotte-Bronte%2F9781416500247&psig=AOvVaw01WzJF6ZJmNWB_DvXLpDLL&ust=1634805291624000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjPkd-2ytjzAhULV30KHfAtBZgQr4kDegUIARD3AQ

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THE SCARLET LETTER - Nathaniel Hawthrone

THE SCARLET LETTER - Nathaniel Hawthrone

The Scarlet Letter is a love story in a Pure-Itanical form! It is a historical novel that takes place in a Puritan Massachusetts bay colony from the year 1642-1649. The book was published in 1850. The book is about a woman named Hester Prynne, who has become an adultress in the society that she lives in. The story is beautifully weaven into a kind of story that happens about a woman who ends up being pregnant by somebody else (The local minister Arthur Dimmesdale) without getting married. The book flows very easily in the time when it was written, when novels were just emerging out as a literary form. Especially in the USA; the Christian system was so strict that a woman was not supposed to be pregnant without being married.

Hester Prynne in the first place becomes pregnant with a child, and still she refuses to tell the public the name of the child‟s father. The punishment then was death! But because of the child it is decided that she lives, but punished and forced to wear the letter „A‟ on her breast all the time and always. The „A‟ stands for „adultress‟ because she has committed a sin, had sexual intercourse to the man she is not married to. Other thing to notice then is that, we talk about the time where sexual intercourse was seen only as a sign people did to have children, but even today if a woman ends up being pregnant without getting married, it turns out to be a hassle. So Hester Prynne‟s situation can be imagined. Hester Prynne is boycotted from the society that she belongs to, in the sense she has to live in a cottage cabin outside, where the

whole city lives; nobody wants to step in her shadow. She is a kind of woman who has to make her living by embroidering, stitching, etc. The most beautiful part is she becomes a self independent woman who thrives for her daughter, Pearl. The most disturbing part is how a woman then is thrown out of the society to survive on her own. She is humiliated in front of the public, she is made to stand in front of the pedestial, to face the whole society in general and say that “I have committed a crime, I am a criminal for becoming pregnant without getting married”. It beautifully brings into contrast to the kind of society we live in a society in terms of a woman. A few things that I noticed in general apart from the theme and plot line is that the male gays of the writer does not go.

In the beginning of the chapter we see how he describes the woman physically by the way they are standing; the description is entirely physical which is not entirely wrong, but it also brings into light that one cannot forget that the book is narrated from a man‟s perspective although it is a story by a man. Another thing to keep in mind is the narrator, the person who is telling the story is extremely conscious about the fact that he is telling the story to somebody who is listening to it. So he is constantly making sure that he knows what is happening. Neither does the narrator comment upon what Hester Prynne does in her wrong way, nor does he appreciate it. He simply narrates the story. It is majorly important to learn about The Scarlet Letter, not because the story that it carries but because the history that it entail, the history and backdrop of the novel that it is set into. Hawthrone rushes his ending and wraps all of the character‟s stories up too quickly. He kills off the main antagonist (Roger Chillingworth), Hester‟s child Pearl disappears without giving an explanation of what happened to her. The ending of the book is beautiful most part I liked is the ending and the confession that entails at the end of the book is very beautiful the whole perspective changed because I liked how the ending of the book turned out to be. The story ends with a description of Hester‟s gravestone. After her death Hester is buried next to Dimmesdale, her lover who was dead already and their joint tombstone is inscribed with “ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.”

33 Slavi Pereira

BIBLIOGRAPHY:-

http://www.emcp.com/previews/AccessEditions/ACCESS%20EDITIONS/THE%20Scarlet %20Letter.pdf

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.in%2FScarlet Letter-Illustrated-Classics

Om%2Fdp%2F9385031651&psig=AOvVaw0tO_7jFJVCe6U3mDdmhtL5&ust=163475131 2148000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCNj_ia

B1_MCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP

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A Midsummer Night's Dream: The 30-Minute Shakespeare by Nick Newlin, and William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream: The 30-Minute Shakespeare By Nick Newlin, and William Shakespeare 

Midsummer’s night dream is a famous play of Renaissance time. It is one of the most  popular play and performed many times. It is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. The  book A Midsummer Night's Dream: Shakespeare: The Critical Tradition, Volume 7 is  regarding how critic think about this play. The story has MANY important themes. The first  one is marriage if Theseus and Hippolyta. Second one is the conflict among four Athenian  lovers namely; Helena, Hermia, Demetrius and Lysander. The story has some fairy tale  elements too. Puck, Oberon and queen Titania are the most interesting characters of this play.  Hermia loves Lysander but her father Egeus want to marry her daughter to Demetrius.  Demetrius broke the heart of Helena, who is the best friend of Hermia. The particular reason  for circumstances created when the father refuse to marry Hermia with Lysander. Then she  decided to leave the town with Lysander. Hermia told this plan to Helena who then told to  Demetrius. Helena still is in deep love with Demetrius. As the story progress, the book  encounters the two groups of bands. The first group of Peter Quince plan to play the cruelest death of Pyramus and Thisbe. Whereas in parallel plot Oberon, who is the king of the fairies  and Titania, who is the queen of Oberon arrived at the same forest where Hermia and  Lysander go to. Later Helena and Demetrius followed the lovers and the entire character were  at the forest.  

We can find many interesting things in the story. The love angle between Hermia,  Demetrius, Lysander and Helena was the most attractive theme. On the other side the relation  with Oberon and Titania are not good as titania refuse to give prince to the king. The king decided to use a love potion in order to get Titania falls in love and agree on what king  Oberon wants. Oberon give the task to nick bottom who is the ugliest one. His body is turned  into ass due to the curse. The story took a sudden change when nick use the potion on the two  lover Demetrius and Lysander. On the contrary queen fall for nick due to the effect of potion.  The night in that forest had its own sparkle and charm. In the end Hermia and Lysander,  Demetrius and Helena became lover. The story end on the marriage of those lovers. Critic  had point out Helena is guilty of ungrateful treachery. 

Reviewed by SANA SHAIKH, ROLL NO:44 

BIBLIOGRAPHY: for image https://static.skyminds.net/2007/07/midsummer-nights-dream intro.jpg 

For book: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet 

ebooks/reader.action?docID=565616&ppg=22 

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Trick of the Light By Laura Elvery

Book Review of Trick of the Light By Laura Elvery 

The short story that gave this collection its name is a powerful allegory about dangerous inventions. Told lightly in the first person, it's a spine-chilling reminder of the impact of unintended consequences. Many other stories deal with students and teachers' relationships with students and youth. The protagonist of a verbal story has several partially remembered reincarnations. Topics covered by the stories include an unexplained suicide, memories of watching live broadcasts on television of the first people to walk on the moon, pregnancy, compassion for an injured fledgling bird, dealing with shoplifting, vulnerability, pollution, despair and failure.

Elvery has a fine eye for detail and his observation of human nature is shrewd. It is a pity that, with one exception, the stories in this collection are told in a single voice in the first person, giving the impression that Elvery is the person who is telling each story, rather than his fictional character. This is, of course, more noticeable if you read the stories one after the other than when reading for the purpose of this kind of review. As has often been said, short story books are not necessarily meant to be read like novels.

But there is a lot to like in this collection. The perceptive insights that accompany the ups and downs in family life and the complex relationships of parents with their grown children are explored with a depth of understanding. This is enhanced by Elvery's disposition for description, whether of scenes or actions:

There's a ladder behind closed cabinets with skulls, and I see dozens of people going back and forth and up and down escalators. Two identical security guards pass. Their hands hold their belts where they have sticks, not guns. They run, carry their shoulders forward.

One of the challenges for the short story writer is to find a title for each that encapsulates its essence or at least a teaser to whet the reader's appetite—but preferably both. The titles of the 24 stories in this collection do both.

What many stories have in common is that they feature young women and are told from their point of view. This makes them doubly worthwhile for men of all ages.

Name : Ruby Satish Sharma. Roll no. : 46 

Bibliography :

Website Address : https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Trick_of_the_Light.html?id=7tJFDwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

Website Address for Book Cover : 

https://www.uqp.com.au/books/trick-of-the-light

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The Cloak of Dreams - Béla Balázs

Book Review Of The Cloak of Dreams -Béla Balázs

Fairy tales is a collection of literacy fairy tales written by the Hungarian author, film critic, filmmaker, and political activist Béla Balázs in the early 20th century.he is best known for his fairy-tale-inspired collaborations with Béla Bartók, including the opera Bluebeard’s Castle (1911) and the ballet The Wooden Prince (1916), and a text written in his later years, Theory of the Film Character and Growth of a New Art (1949).

A man changes into a flea and in order to become human again he need to bring his future parents together. A woman convinces a river god for curing her sick son, but the remedy has many outcomes. In order to survive, the young man needs to choose whether to be close to his wife’s soul or body. And two deaf-mutes transform their physical existence in the garden of dreams.

The cloak of dream written in 1921,these fairy tales were originally published with twenty images drawn by mariette lydis,a chinese style by painter. The lydis’s splendid illustrations are present in the new edition.Together, the tales and pictures emphasize the motifs and themes that run throughout Balázs’s work: wandering protagonists, mysterious woods and mountains, solitude, and magical transmutation. His fairy tales express our desires and the hope that, even during misfortune, we can transform our difficulties and shape our destinies. Unusual, fascinating fairy tales that explore the world's evils and twists of fortune, The Cloak of Dreams will entertain and astonish.

The forces at work in Nai-Fe’s psyche shape the story’s results and explain the relationship between the emperor and his wife. It is a story about the erotic tug and pulls of uncontrollable debut ungraspable desire. Nai-Fe had a soul just like a dreaming soul because she had died too early in her former life. This is why her gaze always wandered far away beyond her husband. Nai-Fe reproached herself bitterly, but she could not do anyhing about it. In a dream, she saw her husband wearing a cloak on which all the pictures of her dreams had been decorated.When she wakes she tells her husband he must wear this cloak which she will decorate for him, to in blend her dreams with her husband’s ubiquity. Then for the next five years she embroiders the cloak to blend the desire of her soul with the desire of her heart. But as she thought it does not work out. Now visible to her, The entire spacious dreamland rested between her and the emperor, and she couldn’t come to him. The emperor has two choices “If you take off the cloak, you can hold me in your arms, but my soul will be far away from you. If you wear the cloak, I will not be able to propose you. But the longing of my soul will eternally cast its glances upon you. So the emperor chooses to wear the cloak.

Reviewer, 47 Sarwat Syed

Bibliography

https://books.google.co.in/books/about/The_Cloak_of_Dreams.html?id=l0QOnwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y (Cover Image)

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/reader.action?docID=557125 (Reading Website)

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Making It Real: Case Stories for Secondary Teachers By Julie A. Gorlewski and David A. Gorlewski

Making It Real: Case Stories for Secondary Teachers By Julie A. Gorlewski and David A. Gorlewski

The book Making It Real: Case Stories for Secondary Teachers is written by Julie A. Gorlewski , and David A. Gorlewski and they have described about the assessment of the teaching-learning process. They have used real life case studies to make abstract ideas concretely relative for the readers and to enforce reflecting thinking. It creates scope for the reader to place themselves in the situation and analyze the solutions. They emphasized the application of the acronym ‘EXPAND’ which stands for:

·         EXplaining the problem

·         Perspective’s identification

·         Assumptions to be discussed

·         Not there (missing information)

·         Do next (steps to be taken to resolve the case study.

The book is divided into 11 chapters where in-dept information about each chapter is provided. Various stages of development in a learner are discussed like the cognitive development, linguistic development, social development, emotional development. Also, there are various differences in the learners on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, age, language, etc. The authors have discussed about the different environments a teach collaborates with. The teacher is the one who has mastery of the content and creates learning experiences for the students. The teacher is the one who will enable the students to apply what is taught in school to real life to make learning effective.

The teacher uses varied methods of assessment to monitor the progress of the learners. They are the ones who constantly attend training and evaluation sessions to keep themselves updated with the current trends in education. There are no correct answers mentioned after the questions asked as everyone thinks differently and the writers believe that no answer is incorrect. This book aims to focus not only on the standardization of tests but on the time that teachers spend being in contact with the students. Along with this responsibility the teacher has to make decisions about various matters like planning, development of the learner, assessment of the students, etc.

The examples of students, teachers, educators, parents from the case studies are taking into consideration from daily situations, the relationships and conflicts existing in all schools. Unlike any other book, here, the authors haven’t mentioned any secrets or formulas to be implemented as a teacher rather they have left that to the readers to come up with their own ideas.

Reviewer,

50. Cheryl Viegas

Bibliography:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3034717

https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Making_it_Real/k0Pjgv-qHloC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

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Now I See You By Priscilla Holmes And Priscilla Holmes

Book Review Of Now I See You By Priscilla Holmes And Priscilla Holmes

In the start of this book the story goes like a gunman bursts into a restaurant in Johannesburg where Julia McEwen and her abusive husband,Magnus, are dining with heavyweight politicians and mining executives. The gunman demands all the patrons give him their cellphones, wallets and jewellery,grabs Julia by the neck and escapes ,using her as a human shield.

Three months later ,the narrative switches to the first person in the form of the DI Thabisa Tswane who is the member of the Eagles ,the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit Divisional Commissioner Matatu orders her to Eastern Cape to Investigate the serious robberies that have been sweeping the area. She tries to refuse because she had sworn never to return to Nguni Intile , the ancient valley to the west of Umtata, where she grew up. She had left after the ritual punishment ordered by her grandfather ,chief of the area. Apparently her grandfather is the witness to one of the robberies but refuses to speak to anyone but her. Matatu insists that she go.

As much as this is a detective story or crime novel ,it is also a story of a woman with a secret in her past, a banishment and a journey in which she is forced to confront herself and reclaim that past .Why does she have grey eyes ? Why is it that she can still read the beads that record the history of the valley?

The parallel story is of two criminals that are terrorising the Eastern Cape.They are both tall and thin ,dressed in masks ,dark coats and gloves. They seem to disappear into thin air after their hits ,like spirits into space .This feeds into the superstitions of those who witness it. All is not as it seems as the motivation for their crimes is not for gain but for more twisted reasons than one could imagine and they are linked to some of the highest ranking politicians in the land.

The action moves between Grahamstown and the rural valley just as Thabisa wrestles with her contemporary self and her roots , all the while trying to decipher the mystery surrounding the robberies . The description of the way of life in the village and certain ceremonial rites that are performed are presented in a respectful way and add wonderful color to this novel. At the same time, it is a gripping ,fast moving crime novel that keeps the pages turning. I suspect we will be seeing more of the DI Thabisa Tshwane .

Reviewer - Rupal Tiwari

 https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4543943

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This Place I Call Home By Meg Vandermerwe

Book Review Of This Place I Call Home By Meg Vandermerwe

Publisher: ‎ Modjaji Books

Language: ‎ English

Print length:  ‎ 148 pages

The book is written by Meg Vandermerwe who was born in South Africa in 1978. She studied English at Oxford University and is a graduate of the MA course in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. She teaches English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of the Western Cape and lives in Cape Town.

The book is a fine compilation of stories, grouped well above its weight. Humanitarian, concerned, compassionate and inflexible, luminous with spirit and beauty, and written with an extraordinary mixture of discipline and exuberance, it shows the debut of a talented writer.

This Place I Call Home is a book with ten stories or we can say ten different voices. Ten assorted viewpoints of what home has been to South Africans. The life of these people created a challenging history. In this book the author focuses on the life style of the other people who have struggled a lot. Through this thought provoking collected works we are brought closer into the lives of those people.    

1. A hijack story.
2. The leopard hunter.
3. Hottentot Venus girl.
4. The holiday.
5. Exile
6. A Sea Point widower speaks.
7. The red earth.
8. The dictionary.
9. The mango tree.
10. But this place is my home.

A Hijack Story is a quick, fuming representation of an affluent Indian doctor who lies, He was diligent enough that hijackers move violently to steal his Mercedes-Benz. The Mango Tree story tells the story of a primary teacher who defends child victims against a principal of her school. The Holiday is one of the most prevailing stories, here we find a domestic worker, who was once promised a tour to Europe by her madam and ends by going herself to Paris.

Though the book has got only 150 pages but in it Vandermerwe portraits beautiful, Magnificent the ten forceful portrayals of South Africa’s past, present and future.

When I selected the book I was very much fascinated by the name. But as I started to read I was filled with both the emotions I was happy and sad. I appreciate the pain gone behind writing such a wonderful book and sad to know the pathetic condition of the people of South Africa. This teaches me to love and respect all whatever may be the situation of other we must respect them.

SUJATA VINCENT THOPELYA, Roll No.: 48

Website address from where I read the book. I downloaded from N-List to the PC.

Book: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12luSEKWVvkkXZfFkqfF5LYhRpO-xFDdw/view?usp=drivesdk

Website from where I copied the image:

Book Images:  https://www.amazon.com/This-Place-I-Call-Home/dp/1920397027

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THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP - CHARLES DICKENS

BOOK REVIEW OF THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP - CHARLES DICKENS

            This book is the story of Nell Trent- a girl who is beautiful and virtuous ‘not quite fourteen’. She had no parents but her maternal grandfather (nana) was her only family. He owned a shop where bizarre incidents took place. This shop was full of odds. Grandpa (name is still a secret) loves Nell dearly but she had no friends. She lived a life of a lonely. Though she never complained, she had no one of her age around her. A boy named Kit who was an employee at the shop was the only friend Nell had. She use to teach Kit to write. Her grandfather didn’t want Nell to die of poverty like her parents and so started gambling of cards and made sure that Nell was away from this fact. For gambling, grandpa took loans from an evil dwarf moneylender named Daniel Quilp. Unfortunately, grandpa loses everything and the evil moneylender seizes their property. Nell and grandpa are forced to move to a new place Midlands (England) and live the life of beggars.

            Nell’s wastrel brother, Frederick, convinces the good man Dick Swiveller that Nell’s grandpa has a huge wealth planned for Nell. He makes a deal with Dick that if he helps Fredrick they can both share the wealth and Dick can marry Nell. These two later encounter with Quilp who dramatically agrees to help them find Nell. Quilp knew they had nothing but wanted to see how miserable he had made them. Nell knew the trouble that could arrive. She took her grandpa off to a secret place where nobody could find her. He knows that Fredrick and Dick are on the wrong track still plays coy. Shifting places and the journey kept costing Nell her health. Meanwhile, Kit who lost his job at the shop due to the sudden turn of events was now employed with Mr. & Mrs. Garland. Here, a single man contacted him. He was the younger brother of Nell’s grandfather (revealed as the story progresses). Kit’s mother and this man start hunting Nell and her grandpa for their good.

            Quilp when comes to know about this all, starts holding grudges towards Kit. He traps Kit in a robbery case and puts him behind the bars. Kit is then sentenced to transportation. Dick finally realizes the evil intentions of Quilp and proves Kit’s innocence. They look for Quilp and find him dead in a try to escape. At the same time, Mr. Garland gets a tip about Nell’s location and Kit and the single man set out to find Nell. When they reach, they find Nell dead and her poor grandpa in a mental trauma. The poor man doesn’t accept her death. The old man sits at her grave every day. He keeps asking her to come back and that he is waiting to meet her. Finally, on one such day, he himself dies at her grave. In search of good life, he loses two lives.  

            This book is all about family love and love of true friends. Life is fickle and few wrong decisions can turn the events upside down. Don’t be blinded by love. Sab Moh Maya Hai…

Reviewer: Dhruti R. Sharma, Roll no. 45

Bibliography: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=2122422

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Oliver Twist By Charles Dickens

Book Review Of Oliver Twist By Charles Dickens

This book was chosen because I believe it’s a classic. After knowing about half of the story in my class 8^th curriculum, I was motivated to read the remaining part of the story which has an intriguing appeal to it. The story explains about the social evils prevalent during the Industrial Revolution which took place in the 19^th century. The evils were differences in the class, child labour and the exploitation of the poor. The book speaks volume about the conditions of the poor and the power of the rich, it throws light on the society which was patriarchal; where women were used as objects of gratification for men. The story revolves around ‘Oliver’, who is poor as well as an orphan. The impact of the social evils on Oliver’s life makes one think about the humanity of humans. The plight of Oliver who was orphaned and made to work in a warehouse with little to no pay at the tender age of 9 and then the rounds and turns his life takes from there is truly astonishing.

Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse and sold into apprenticeship. He escapes and travels to London, where he meets "The Artful Dodger" who is a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the senior most criminal, Fagin. Oliver Twist is stricken by poverty and misfortune, raised in a workhouse in the town of Mudfog, near London. He is orphaned by his mother Agnes' death in childbirth and his father's mysterious absence. Oliver is taken care under the Poor Law and spends nine years of his life living at a baby farm under the 'care' of Mrs. Mann. Oliver gets little to no food and few comforts. When Oliver is almost about to be nine, the parish beadle who is Mr. Bumble, removes Oliver from the baby farm and sends him to work, picking and weaving oakum at the workhouse. He slogs for very little food and stays in the workhouse for six months. The hungry boys decide to bet one day and the one who loses must ask for another portion of food. Oliver gets trapped and at the next meal comes trembling with a bowl in hand. He begs Mr. Bumble for gruel with his request. A great commotion occurs and the board of gentlemen who administer the workhouse offer £5 to any person who takes Oliver as an apprentice. A brutal chimney sweep, Mr. Gamfield had almost claimed Oliver but Oliver begs not to be sent away with him. Then, Mr. Sowerberry who is an undertaker employed by the parish takes Oliver with him. He treats him good and uses Oliver as a mourner at children’s funerals. However, Oliver’s life takes unprecedented turns from here and he is forced to run away from Mr. Sowerberry’s house. The book subtly describes the problems Oliver faces as a child and the revelations which he has to go through.

 The other characters in the story help interact as if they are real. One can actually imagine the era and the atmosphere of those times. This is the excellence of Dickens, who puts his heart and soul in the words he writes. Each scene is the experience of Dickens life. Dickens was also forced to work when he was a child. His father got arrested for not paying back his debt and Dickens paid

it by working through his tender years. Although he worked in the latter years, this experience left an indelible mark on his mind. The young characters in Dicken’s books often suffer great pain and hardships.  He has acknowledged his childhood and expressed it in almost all his books. The story lays the foundation for a brilliant vocabulary. It weaves the words into beautiful prose. One is subjected to an early access to the truth of human nature through Oliver Twist!

Reviewer: Shaikh Anam, Roll no. 43

Bibliography: Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist, Open Road Integrated Media, Inc., 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1938829.

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Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen

Book Review of Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen

Pride and prejudice a 1813 novel is based on romance written by Jane Austen. It is character driven and focuses on the leading protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, a strong and intelligent woman. The plot mainly highlights the need of women to get married to rich men to attain high social status and economic security.

Elizabeth and her family consist of her parents and her 4 sisters Jane, Mary, Lydia and Kitty. They belong to a middle-class family residing in Hertfordshire.  The ultimate aim of her mother is to get the adolescent daughters married in rich affluent families. The plot begins with the arrival of the Bingley’s in Hertfordshire. Mr. Bingley and the Bennet sisters meet at a dance party and Mr. Bingley is at awe on seeing Jane. Mr. Bingley along with Mr. Darcy, who is a close friend is also present there. He has a quite reserved and unusual nature and is understood by the public as arrogant and rude, especially by Elizabeth. But to the contrary he likes her. Over the time, Mr. Bingley falls in love with Jane. But to the contrary Mr. Darcy feels that Jane is not in love with him rather is after his money.

Due to long period of no interaction between the two families, the Bennet family give up hopes of Jane’s marriage. Mr. Wickham and Mr. Collins enter the Bennets’ life and create nuisance. Mr. Wickham lures Lydia into his trap by showing fake love. He runs away with her and demands money for their marriage in order to avoid disgrace. Mr. Darcy eventually finds out the truth about Elizabeth and asks for her hand in marriage. But Elizabeth plainly refuses him as she hates him and is unaware of the truth. Mr. Wickham finally agrees to marry Lydia. Elizabeth finally comes to know the truth and regrets her past decisions and marries Mr. Darcy.

The story brings about the various aspects as romance, misjudgements, relationships and gossips. It focusses on love and marriage without any violence. The novel depicts the author’s critical review on the typical gender roles and society. It shows that women at that time were portrayed as mere objects of beauty. While men were financially independent, women had to depend on them. It was difficult for women to survive alone without marriage as they would be dependent on their relatives and parents without any financial security. So Mrs. Bennet forces Elizabeth to marry Mr. Collins for a better future.

The marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy is an ideal one as there is respect, understanding and independence along with financial security. While the one between Mr. Collins and Charlotte and Lydia and Mr. Wickham has a negative impact on our mind. At that time women were deprived of higher education and were taught by governesses and home tutors. Elizabeth was a forward-looking woman who had broaden her thinking through extensive reading.

The novel reveals the narrow-mindedness, pride and emotions of the people at that time. The author has used irony throughout the book especially from Elizabeth’s perspective. The other character’s feelings are revealed though the letters mentioned in here. Human weakness is the major theme be it Miss Bingley’s jealously or Elizabeth’s prejudice.

The warm welcome and other formalities towards the guests as mentioned in the book are rarely seen in today’s society. But even now families face similar difficulties and societal humiliation due to their daughter’s elopement. There is practical and moral advice that provokes our own thinking. A woman should be more practical than greedy while choosing her husband. The book mentions the common things that happen in the society such as awkwardness at relatives’ stupidity, the uneasy feelings of falling in love, and the irritation after suddenly realization of a big mistake.

The novel is interesting and keeps us engrossed. The title “Pride and Prejudice” is apt. The plot is well built with unforgettable characters and depicts true nature of the society. The story is beautifully narrated and leaves an impact on our minds. One can literally visualize the chain of events in front of their eyes. The language used is free indirect speech which is quite simple and easy to understand. The book has diverse and well narrated characters with deep understanding of human nature. It is feminist novel. The writing is not dull as with other classics and one enjoys reading every page. The book is recommended for anyone who is a fan of romance, family-oriented and classic novels.

Reviewer: Rohini Save

Roll No: 42

Bibliography: Austen, J. (1991). Pride and prejudice. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

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THE STORY OF PROPHET ABRAHAM BY MUHAMMAD NAGA

Book Review Of THE STORY OF PROPHET ABRAHAM BY MUHAMMAD NAGA

I always wanted to know the difference between the prophets in the Bible and the Quran. The names of prophets were different in each of these holy books but their characters were described similar. When Ma’am asked us to review a book from ebrary I got a chance to select a book of my own choice and I came across this book and so I got curious to know whether Abraham or Ibrahim had the same mentions in both the Holy books. While reading the book I came across many things that were similar while some things that were new too came to my notice like the book couldn’t really answer if Abraham lived with his father or his uncle. It said maybe he lived with his uncle or with his father. The book mentions how Abraham or Ibrahim grew up with people around him worshipping false Gods or as we say idols. His father or his uncle were the one who used to actually make these false Gods and people worshipped them. Abraham however on the other end didn’t really believe in any of these things. He found these things really funny at the beginning but later on started getting angry on how foolish these people behaved. Ibrahim believed that there is only one true God who he mentioned as ‘Allah’ and he had chosen Abraham as a messenger. Abraham tried to tell this to his people many times but no one ever believed him. Later on, one day after getting really annoyed by all the nonsense that the people worshipped Abraham entered the temple of the false deity and broke the statues when the people who worshipped these false deities were busy in some festival. When the people returned to the temple, they knew who it was who had done that to their idols. When they called for Abraham and asked him if he it was him who had done this, he said yes and asked them if their was true why couldn’t he stop Abraham from breaking the statues. The people knew that Abraham made sense but didn’t want to show him their defeat due to their big egos, so they decided to put Abraham in a pit of fire as a punishment. When they did so they seen that Abraham came out of that fire as cool as ice. Allah had saved Abraham and did not let him burn. After seeing this the people were astonished. Some became his followers while some were afraid but believed in him secretly. When king Namrud heard that Abraham had safely come out of the fire, he became angry as he realized that Abraham was not ordinary and called for him. Abraham told him that it is Allah who gives life and death and not you. Abraham had finally left his people as he knew no one believed except for two one of which whose name was Sarah became him wife and the other was Lot who became a prophet. With the help of these two he travelled to different places and told them about Allah and began spreading the truth and word of God. This book helped me to understand that it is not the religion that creates division but it is the people who follow the religion that create division. All the books speak about spreading the truth but people tend to lie and that is why we sometimes fail in spreading love to one another. The books made it easy for me to understand that I must always follow the path of the truth no matter if the entire world stands against me because no matter how long it takes but the truth always come into light. It also cleared my doubt of whether the Quran and Bible are similar or not.

REVIEWER: Pearl Rozario, 40.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/reader.action?docID=6375549

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The Lily Of The Valley - Honore de Balzac

Book Review Of The Lily Of The Valley -  Honore de Balzac

 Have you ever read a tragic love story? Or a love story with a happy ending. Well, this love story is a bit different from them. This story keeps one thinking about what kind of love different individuals want really want in life, some choose pure love above all that could be termed as friendship.

 This story revolves around the main characters Felix and Henritte, the year is 1835 and starts with a letter. In the beginning of the story Felix is seen writing a letter to his present girlfriend. He starts by explaining his tragic childhood and how he was the sidelined one among all his siblings. He describes that his childhood was not at all a pleasant one and his parents gave him a hard time. He grew up as a timid shy boy who was always in want of some love and affection. When he was in his late teens about 20 years old, he shifted to France for completing his education. This move was destined to change his destiny. Here in France he attended a ball party. At this party he later was really tired and felt sleepy. A woman thinking that the poor child needed some, gave him a shoulder. But later after the ball Felix was very desperate to see the woman again. He gives a brief description about her and at this point he realizes that he’s fallen the woman. One fine day as fate had it, he did meet the woman of his dreams. He accompanied with one more person were to visit a house where he saw the woman. The woman came from a wealthy family and was related to the king of that time. But there were more facts about her life that Felix learned here. She was a married woman and a mother of two who used to fall sick often. Her husband due to some past incidents and crisis had turned into a furious man. He often scolded her and put the blame on her. She was nothing different than the obedient wives who never back answered her husband but tried to keep the family happy. Felix wasn’t sure whether she remembered the ball night and him. Felix often had to visit their place. He got along with her and her husband well and she told Felix that she had recognized Felix. One fine day as Felix and Henritte along with her children walked in a garden where Felix confessed about his feelings for her. To that she replied that she saw Felix as someone closer to her as they both shared a tragic fate. She further added she only wanted a pure relation between and a pure love, someone who could understand her. She asked him if he could be the person she wanted him to be. He agreed. After that there were many twists and turns in the story. Felix had left for Paris. Felix got a job here and had now frown into a mature man. But his love for Henritte never faded. He would often visit her. But due to some medical conditions Henritte later dies. Felix went to visit her and was very much devastated after that. But later he finds a woman (same one that he has been writing the letter to) and they get along well and fall in love with each other. The letter ends with the woman reading his letter and in response writes to Felix and says that she feels like a third wheel. But she insists that they remain good friends. Though Felix was clearly in love with the latter woman, his pure love for Henritte never failed. Fate chooses our destiny. Everyone is in want of love and affection. This story might seem a tragic one but Shades light upon the different wants of people that we don’t normally think of.

Bibliography:

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Book: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=870524

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The Time Machine by H. G. Wells.

Book Review of The Time Machine by H. G. Wells.

Herbert George Wells (1866-1946) was a prolific English writer and is remembered for his works in science fiction. He wrote dozens of novels and short stories which encompasses themes such as time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, utopian future etc. The Time Machine was published in 1895 by Wells. 

The Time Machine revolves around the story of the time traveller who is an English scientist and inventor living in Richmond, Surrey in Victorian England. He designs, invents and travels in his time machine to the year 802,701 AD to test his time machine. He observes that the world has changed drastically and cities no longer exist. He encounters with future humans who call themselves Eloi. The Eloi are small, child-like adult with no sense of discipline. They live on the surface in the ruins of futuristic buildings and have a fruit-based diet.

The time traveller returns back to where he left his time machine but on arriving there finds it missing and assumes that it has been stolen. He is relieved that the person will not be able to use the time machine as he removed the levers of the machine before leaving. At night, the time traveller is attacked by creatures that the Eloi refers as Morlocks. Morlocks are ape like creatures who live underground and stroll at night and feed on Eloi.

The time traveller realizes that humanity has evolved into two different species Eloi and Morlocks. The Eloi are descended from leisure class of humans whereas the Morlocks are descended from working class. He begins to search for his time machine by looking into Morlock structures. On his way back to the Eloi he rescues an Eloi woman from drowning named Weena and who develops a fond relation with him. He vows to find the time machine so they both can return back to his time.

The time traveller and Weena set out to find the time machine but they are attacked by Morlocks on their way and Weena faints. In order to distract the Morlocks the time traveller starts a fire however the Morlocks and Weena are lost. The Morlocks know that the time traveller is searching for his time machine and set a trap for the time traveller by placing the machine out in the open, not realising that the time traveller can use the machine to escape them. The time traveller reattaches the levers and travels 30 million years into the future and witnesses the earth dying. As he continues to move ahead in time and sees that the sun grows larger and dimmer and the last things on earth die as the planet get colder. This revelation causes him to return back to his time but three hours after he left. He narrates his story to guest at a dinner party and shows them strange wilted flowers that Weena placed in his pocket.

Reviewed By: Felicita Rodrigues. Roll No, 38. S. Y. B. Ed

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Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte

Boor Review of Wuthering Heights By Emily Bronte

“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte describes of Heathcliff’s and Catherine Earnshaw’s devastating love and passion. Heathcliff was taken upon by Catherine’s father as a child, but upon Mr. Earnshaw’s death, he was bullied by Catherine’s family. Under the incorrect supposition that his love for Catherine isn't honest, Heathcliff suddenly leaves the household only to return later as a fat man, poised to exact his vengeance for his former suffering.

 “Wuthering Heights” is a chaotic novel, beautiful in its complexity but wicked at the same time. It is almost unpleasant to read but still keeps the reader hooked. It is a gothic novel disguising as a romantic story which is nothing but toxic.

The novel is exceptional in a way that none of its characters are likable. From the narrator to the retainers to the main characters, each is presented in a manner that highlights his or her flaws. The characters’ monstrosity draws the summary in. One can’t help but search for redemption to be planted within the characters and, upon being disappointed, pity their actuality.

As the novel came to an end, I found myself wanting Heathcliff to compensate for all of the harms he had committed against the people around him. He tricks a naive girl into marrying him by pretending to watch for her and treats her cruelly after she has served her purpose. At the same time, the torment Heathcliff appears to suffer from isn't pleasant to read about. Towards the end, there is subconscious wishing that the situation could be different, that Heathcliff could be kind and loved in return.

After the first glimpse, “Wuthering Heights” appears to have no relatability to today’s pupil but it won’t be fair to compare two different eras. It's set in late 18th century England and tells the story of a man who seems recollected. Still, the story explores themes of vengeance, preoccupation, passion and loneliness that are applicable to the today’s reader. The characters, each portray a certain darkness that is captivating. The full read of “Wuthering Heights” might be worthwhile to scholars who want to release their own analogous heartstrings.

Evaluating “Wuthering Heights, the layered history and interspersing time frames of “Wuthering Heights” appear to have inspired the layered situations of reality plant in “Worlds of Ink and Shadow.”

 The chaotic nature of “Wuthering Heights” is reflected in Emily Bronte’s personality in “Worlds of Ink and Shadow.” In Coakley’s novel, Emily Bronte is portrayed as wilful and passionate, just as “Wuthering Heights” could be described as a wilful and passionate novel.

 It's disingenuous to wholeheartedly say “Wuthering Heights” was a pleasurable read. The atrocity and lack of form displayed by numerous of the characters made the novel unlikable in retrospection, despite the characters’ appeal as the story unravels itself.

“Wuthering Heights” is an animalistic masterpiece that left me both impressed and distressed.

Book Review by Sweven Rebello, Roll No: 36

Reference:

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Citation:

Brontë, E. (2014). Wuthering heights. New York, New York: Open Road Media Integrated Media.

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