Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Can't Decide!

My English teacher (For the sake of this post we'll just call her... Ms. Snickerdoodle. Or whatever. )assigned a list of classic books today.  We have to read our chosen book cover to cover and do a project on it.  I've narrowed it down to these few.  I was wondering if y'all could help me decide?

The Ruby in the Smoke
Author:  Philip Pullman
Genre: Historical fiction, mystery
Summary according to Goodreads:
"Sally is sixteen and uncommonly pretty. Her knowledge of English literature, French, history, art and music is non-existent, but she has a thorough grounding in military tactics, can run a business, ride like a Cossack and shoot straight with a pistol. When her dear father is drowned in suspicious circumstances in the South China Sea, Sally is left to fend for herself, an orphan and alone in the smoky fog of Victorian London. Though she doesn't know it, Sally is already in terrible danger. Soon the mystery and the danger will deepen - and at the rotten heart of it all lies the deadly secret of the ruby in the smoke..."

The #1 Ladies Detective Agency
Author:  Alexander McCall Smith
Genre:  Mystery, comedy
Summary according to Goodreads:
"Precious Ramotswe in Botswana sits in the shade and ponders the wisdom of her cattle father, observes her neighbors, and cares for employers and subjects with humor.  A clinic doctor has two different personalities depending on the day of the week.  A Christian sect member vanishes.  A witch doctor may have the bones of a kidnapped boy in his magic kit."

Night of the Hunter
Okay, so I've already read this one, but it was AWESOME.  I finished it in one night.  And then couldn't sleep, because "Preacher" was such a terrifying character.
Author:  Davis Grubb
Genre:  Thriller, fiction
Summary according to Goodreads:
"Inspired by serial killer Harry Powers, "The Bluebeard of Quiet Dell," who was hung in 1932 for his murders of two widows and three children.  This best-selling novel, first published in 1953 to wide acclaim by author Grubb, (who like Powers lived in Clarksburg, West Virginia), served as the basis for Charles Laughton's noir classic.  Rnemaed "Harry Powell," the lead character in this book, with LOVE and HATE tattooed on his fingers, is remembered as one of the creepiest men in book and cinema history."

The Key to Rebecca
Mostly chose this one because my name's in the title...
Author:  Ken Follett
Genre:  Historical fiction, mystery, adventure
Summary according to Goodreads:
"A brilliant and ruthless Nazi master agent is on the loose in Cairo. His mission is to send Rommel’s advancing army the secrets that will unlock the city’s doors. In all of Cairo, only two people can stop him. One is a down-on-his-luck English officer no one will listen to. The other is a vulnerable young Jewish girl…."

Wuthering Heights
Author:  Emily Bronte
Genre:  Romance, literature
Summary according to Goodreads:
"Wuthering Heights is a wild, passionate story of the intense and almost demonic love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine's father. After Mr Earnshaw's death, Heathcliff is bullied and humiliated by Catherine's brother Hindley and wrongly believing that his love for Catherine is not reciprocated, leaves Wuthering Heights, only to return years later as a wealthy and polished man. He proceeds to exact a terrible revenge for his former miseries. The action of the story is chaotic and unremittingly violent, but the accomplished handling of a complex structure, the evocative descriptions of the lonely moorland setting and the poetic grandeur of vision combine to make this unique novel a masterpiece of English literature."

+So what do you think? Which one should I choose? 

+And also, how do you like the blog design?  Thank you so much to MorningTime4 for doing it!

6 comments:

  1. I think the first one sounds good.

    I LOOOOOVE your new design! Morning is amazing at designs. ;)

    ~Lydia~ <3

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    1. Ok! Great. I think I'll go with that one!
      I know, she is wonderful with designs. :)

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  2. Yep, I like the first one.

    I like your new design!!! Very summer-y. ;)

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    Replies
    1. I think "Ruby in the Smoke" wins, then! Yay!
      Thank you. I'm very much ready for summer!

      Delete
  3. Night of the Hunter sounds very intriguing!!

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    Replies
    1. It is. You should read it-- it's a very gripping novel! I could not put it down. Thanks for reading my post! :)

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Love,
Rebecca :)