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wanderlustlover's reviews
3763 reviews
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
5.0
2018 Spring:
Another read for my Seniors off the 35 Most Read AP Lit Test books, and this one for the 2nd/3rd time in my life. While I understand why people deeply love this as the most tragic love story (that isn't Romeo & Juliet), I don't really see much of a truly helpful romance or even filial tale: except by the merits of doing the opposite of everything you see within these pages.
Though, as a premier note that earns it's own full star for me, I adore the level of vocabulary used in this novel and it definitely shows how much more used. It makes my soul feel soothed while running my fingertips over them as I pass them by.
Another read for my Seniors off the 35 Most Read AP Lit Test books, and this one for the 2nd/3rd time in my life. While I understand why people deeply love this as the most tragic love story (that isn't Romeo & Juliet), I don't really see much of a truly helpful romance or even filial tale: except by the merits of doing the opposite of everything you see within these pages.
Though, as a premier note that earns it's own full star for me, I adore the level of vocabulary used in this novel and it definitely shows how much more used. It makes my soul feel soothed while running my fingertips over them as I pass them by.
King Lear by William Shakespeare
5.0
Spring 2018 -
Another read through of this one happened this year for teaching it to my Seniors. I enjoyed it about as much as normal. It's not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, but I can definitely recognize and respect why it is on the top 35 texts references on the AP Lit Test.
(Also, I absolutely recommend watching Ran after reading it.)
Another read through of this one happened this year for teaching it to my Seniors. I enjoyed it about as much as normal. It's not my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, but I can definitely recognize and respect why it is on the top 35 texts references on the AP Lit Test.
(Also, I absolutely recommend watching Ran after reading it.)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
5.0
Jim Dale Audio's 2011:
This one continues to expand. I, also, feels like so much happen in this book that there is almost too much happening for it be all kept in mind all at once. It's so very stacked all together.
We have more about the power of love from all edges. About the choice of whether to believe in prophecy or not, the importance of blood over anything else. Home's are in danger, people become prisoners. We start having to choose what is worth dying for as a whole group of people, especially everyone in the school.
Parents and bloodlines begin to matter, and the students talk about their relationships to their elder family members. They talk about their opinions, and we begin to find the divide between what ones family believe and what you have to choose for yourself. And how scary and pricey that choice can be.
It's one of the first times we find that Dumbledore is not all White-Perfection, which I like, because realistic people are so much more compelling.
This one continues to expand. I, also, feels like so much happen in this book that there is almost too much happening for it be all kept in mind all at once. It's so very stacked all together.
We have more about the power of love from all edges. About the choice of whether to believe in prophecy or not, the importance of blood over anything else. Home's are in danger, people become prisoners. We start having to choose what is worth dying for as a whole group of people, especially everyone in the school.
Parents and bloodlines begin to matter, and the students talk about their relationships to their elder family members. They talk about their opinions, and we begin to find the divide between what ones family believe and what you have to choose for yourself. And how scary and pricey that choice can be.
It's one of the first times we find that Dumbledore is not all White-Perfection, which I like, because realistic people are so much more compelling.
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
5.0
This book was brilliant. I love all the surprised, good and bad. Seeing Jon and Ary and Danny and Tyrion, what happen. Then, thankfully it went on from book four's time period, too. Bringing us more surprises and cliffhangers.
I truly deeply loved this. Can't wait for the next.
I truly deeply loved this. Can't wait for the next.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
5.0
Jim Dale Audio's 2011:
This went so unimaginably fast. Everything is coming together.
I loved the witness to Dudley's goodbye. The witness to the amazing character turn-around of Kreecher, from one who hates to one who makes a home to one who leads a battle charge. I love the whole of the trip story, of the trio going through everything together, but also the sights we get of everyone else.
Those who help. Those who run radios. I still wish I could hear the story of the children in Hogwarts who dared to stand up to everyone, who hid in a room in Hogwarts forever. Luna's father's chapters are always harrowing.
The whole of the last stand. The fact that Harry makes the same choice for everyone in the whole wizarding world that Lily made for him -- that he saves them through the love of sacrifice first, before the grand duel. That he still seeks for some remorse, some understanding.
This went so unimaginably fast. Everything is coming together.
I loved the witness to Dudley's goodbye. The witness to the amazing character turn-around of Kreecher, from one who hates to one who makes a home to one who leads a battle charge. I love the whole of the trip story, of the trio going through everything together, but also the sights we get of everyone else.
Those who help. Those who run radios. I still wish I could hear the story of the children in Hogwarts who dared to stand up to everyone, who hid in a room in Hogwarts forever. Luna's father's chapters are always harrowing.
The whole of the last stand. The fact that Harry makes the same choice for everyone in the whole wizarding world that Lily made for him -- that he saves them through the love of sacrifice first, before the grand duel. That he still seeks for some remorse, some understanding.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
5.0
Jim Dale Audio's 2011:
Three and four have been in my head much lately, in relation to each other (even though I'm in the middle of listening to five). If three was 'the distant darkness,' four is the first time we're plunged into present darkness.
Oh the first three books hold of 'distant darkness growing' holds, fighting to keep obliviousness, even after the name is called, even through the first two challenges. Distracting us with school and Elves, and childhood rows, but the end of the book tells us better.
This time there is no miracle to take back the death, or the birth. No magical way to make people understand or unafraid. And yet in this book, even through those sudden plunges of darkness we see true courage and depth of characters shown, too.
This is the first one I teared up in several places through the last fourth or fifth of it. I'm certain as we plunge further and further into the darkness it will become quite normal.
Three and four have been in my head much lately, in relation to each other (even though I'm in the middle of listening to five). If three was 'the distant darkness,' four is the first time we're plunged into present darkness.
Oh the first three books hold of 'distant darkness growing' holds, fighting to keep obliviousness, even after the name is called, even through the first two challenges. Distracting us with school and Elves, and childhood rows, but the end of the book tells us better.
This time there is no miracle to take back the death, or the birth. No magical way to make people understand or unafraid. And yet in this book, even through those sudden plunges of darkness we see true courage and depth of characters shown, too.
This is the first one I teared up in several places through the last fourth or fifth of it. I'm certain as we plunge further and further into the darkness it will become quite normal.