Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on January 29, 2010
Posted in Books Read B/4 2007ClassicsHistorical Fiction  | 10 Comments

 
There were a few books that I contimplated using for the letter “D” in this challenge but I finally decide to go with a classic.
I read The Picture of Dorian Gray back in 2005, before my blogging days, with my Classics reading club on Yahoo.  The story has stuck with me all of this time.  Sometimes I’ll see something or think of something that makes me think of this book.
For those of you who don’t know the basic story, Dorian Gray is very vain.  He looks at himself in the mirror a lot and admires his handsome looks.  He has wishes never to age and his wish comes true.  However the portrait of him does age.  It is a reminder of Dorian’s ugliness on the inside.
I really enjoyed this story for the era and the mannerisms of the characters.  Wilde captured a time when social etiquette was everything.  With the importance that society puts on beauty, this story is still very relevant today.  I also enjoyed Wilde’s beautiful prose.  I can certainly see why this book has stood the test of time and is considered a great classic.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 5, 2007
Posted in AustraliaBooks Read B/4 2007Historical FictionKate Grenville  | 13 Comments

Historical Fiction at it’s Finest!

The Secret River by Kate Grenville is historical fiction at it’s finest. It starts off as a quiet pondering story of the toils in poverty-stricken 19th century England where most must resort to stealing to survive. Here Grenville focused on her central character, William Thornhill who got caught thieving to feed his family. He was sentenced to death, however that was commuted to life in New South Wales.

The story then turns to the survival of the Thornhill family in a new world, with a harsh hot climate and struggles with it’s original inhabitants, the aboriginals.

Grenville writes in a quite meditative style until the Thornhills encounter the aboriginals. Then she breaks out as she shows the brutal price that must be paid by both the new inhabitants and aboriginals of New South Wales. The Secret River is a very satisfying read that will make you hungry to read more by Kate Grenville! 5/5

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Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.