Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Title: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Pages: 144
Genre: Classic, Mystery
Book Description: 
In this harrowing tale of good and evil, the mild-mannered Dr. Jekyll develops a potion that unleashes his secret, inner persona—the loathsome, twisted Mr. Hyde


Get it here | Good reads


My Opinion:
This is a classical novel about Multiple Personality Disorder in which one character is good and the other is evil. This is a psychological topic that really fascinates me so it was great to read about this!

I was actually surprised by the length and how short it is. From what I'd previously heard, it sounded like it'd be a longer book but it's actually very short, meaning I was able to whiz through it in a day!

I really enjoyed reading this. There was an interesting mystery, although slightly predictable, that's understandable due to the time period it was written. I also liked the fact that we, as an audience, knew about the event (I'm trying so hard not to say spoilers hahaha!) but the characters didn't, so it was good to watch them unravel it.

The characters were well-written and I really enjoyed the differences in their personalities. The writing in this novel is fantastic. Because it's a classical novel and written in the late 1800s, I assumed that the writing would be old-fashioned and difficult to understand but it really isn't.

I certainly recommend this to anyone interested in psychological disorders as well as those that enjoy classics, short stories and mystery novels!


Favourite Quotes:

"If he be Mr. Hyde" he had thought, "I shall be Mr. Seek"

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There comes an end to all things; the most capacious measure is filled at last; and this brief condescension to evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul

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Some day...after I am dead, you may perhaps come to learn the right and wrong of this. I cannot tell you

Rating ★★★★★ 

5 out of 5 stars 

Next book I'm going to review:
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Pages: 444
Genre: Contemporary, History
Book Description:

Enter a vanished and unjust world: Jackson, Mississippi, 1962. Where black maids raise white children, but aren't trusted not to steal the silver . . .

There's Aibileen, raising her seventeenth white child and nursing the hurt caused by her own son's tragic death; Minny, whose cooking is nearly as sassy as her tongue; and white Miss Skeeter, home from College, who wants to know why her beloved maid has disappeared.

Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny. No one would believe they'd be friends; fewer still would tolerate it. But as each woman finds the courage to cross boundaries, they come to depend and rely upon one another. Each is in a search of a truth. And together they have an extraordinary story to tell...

Get it here | Good reads

My Opinion:
This book focuses on the treatment of black women in the 1960s, zooming in on maids of white, rich families especially. The issues raised in this novel are very important and I strongly believe everyone should read this at least once!

It's narrated by many of the different characters, which is a powerful attribute to the novel since we get to hear everyone's point of views. Also, the writing changes for each character because it's written how they speak, so the educated narrators have been written differently to those that are from other areas of Mississippi. This is a unique, linguistic feature that really helps bring the characters to life.
My favourite character was Aibileen because she's such so strong and willful, despite the hardships she's suffered. She's such an inspiration.

When I began the book, I found it to be a little slow. I stopped and started it a lot but when I had the chance to just sit down and read it, I found it very enjoyable. I read it quickly after the struggle at the beginning and would suggest that when starting this you need to be able to concentrate and have the time.

I would recommend this to perhaps an older audience, not due to the content, but so that you can fully appreciate the message. This was such an important historical event to write about and I feel that it needs to be recognised more.


Favourite Quotes:

A bitter seed was planted inside me. And I didn't feel so accepting anymore

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She like one of them baby chickens that get confused and follow the ducks around instead

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You is kind. You is smart. You is important

Rating ★★★★

4 out of 5 stars

There's also a movie based on this novel. It's a fantastic film that I saw it before I read the book. I think the film was amazing and their cast was really well chosen. I definitely recommend seeing this if you haven't already!

Next book I'm going to review:

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Title: More Than This
Author: Patrick Ness
Pages: 480
Genre: Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery
Book Description: 
A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.

Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.

How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?

As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

Get it here | Good reads

My Opinion:
I've heard many fantastic things about Patrick Ness so I decided to pick up this book. Especially when I saw John Green, one of my favourite authors, had recommended it I knew it had to be good! And it was!

Straight away I was hooked. It's about a boy that dies but wakes up in another world. Here he meets some other people and together they try to discover where they are and what's going on. The constant mystery running through this book is so gripping, I couldn't put it down. Just as one mystery is revealed, another is discovered. In fact, I think I read this in almost 1 day, it's that good!

Dystopians are one of my favourite book genres, so when I saw that this had elements of that, I was over the moon. The deserted landscape, lack of civilisation and over-advanced technology are just some of the features described.

Another reason this book is amazing is due to characters. I really felt like they came off the page with their realistic personalities and deep pasts. Discovering the characters bit by bit was an interesting technique used by Ness and I feel this worked really well with the theme of the book.

Although I didn't want the book to finish, the ending was amazing. It's ambiguous and leaves the decision to the reader, which is something I really enjoy. There is definitely the potential for a series to form here ;)

This is a serious recommend from me. It's perfect for any audience, especially young adults. I loved every aspect of this and definitely indent to read more novels by him!


Favourite Quotes:

A book… it’s a world all on its own too. A world made of words, where you live for a while

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Know yourself and go in swinging

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There's always beauty, if you know where to look

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It was solitude, but it was solitude that wasn't lonely. Solitude that could sort things out. And he hadn't had that in ages.

Rating ★★★★★

5 out of 5 stars

Next book I'm going to review:
The Help by Katherine Stockett

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Title: The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Author: Richard Flanagan
Pages: 448
Genre: Historical
Book Description:
A novel of the cruelty of war, and tenuousness of life and the impossibility of love.
Richard Flanagan's story — of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor haunted by a love affair with his uncle's wife — journeys from the caves of Tasmanian trappers in the early twentieth century to a crumbling pre-war beachside hotel, from a Thai jungle prison to a Japanese snow festival, from the Changi gallows to a chance meeting of lovers on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Taking its title from 17th-century haiku poet Basho's travel journal, The Narrow Road To The Deep North is about the impossibility of love. At its heart is one day in a Japanese slave labour camp in August 1943. As the day builds to its horrific climax, Dorrigo Evans battles and fails in his quest to save the lives of his fellow POWs, a man is killed for no reason, and a love story unfolds.

Get it here | Good reads

My Opinion:
My English teacher recommended this book to me and I'm so glad he did! I have rather mixed feelings about it but aside from easily changeable structural factors, it was amazing! Set during the 17th century, we follow the life of Dorrigo, seeing his life as an Australia war surgeon as well as his adventures in a Japanese death camp on the Burma railway.

Because the writing in this novel is so deep and thought provoking, I found that in order to understand it, I needed to stop and then continue. The writing was phenomenal. I loved how the perspectives of the characters switched so we got to hear everyone else's experiences/feelings, not just the main protagonists.
Although I found it difficult to get into at the beginning, things began to pick up quickly and after that it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

There were a few things I disliked however. I've encountered this in very few books but when the characters speak to one another, that author hasn't used speech marks or indentations. You only know they're spoken if it follows with 'he said' which took me a while to get used to because I'm not a fan of this type of structure.

Overall, this book was a fantastic read and rightly deserved to be the winner of the Man Booker Prize of 2014. The writing is beautiful and I felt I could really connect with the characters! Plus, there were so many meaningful and wonderful quotes that really made me think about life. I'd certainly recommend this to any one that is looking for a deep read or enjoys historical fiction like myself.


Favourite Quotes:

There are words and words and none mean anything. And then one sentence means everything

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A good book, he had concluded, leaves you wanting to reread the book. A great book compels you to reread your own soul

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He believed books had an aura that protected him, that without one beside him he would die. He happily slept without women. He never slept without a book

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Virtue was vanity dressed up and waiting for applause

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Tis not too late to seek a newer world

Rating ★★★★

4 out of 5 stars

Next book I'm going to review:
More Than This by Patrick Ness

I'm Back!

Hello everyone,

I'm awfully sorry that I haven't been active these last months. I'm still in college at the moment so I've had many exams to revise for. I'm in my last year at college now, so although I still have exams in June to study for, I feel that I have more time to read and review books! Besides, I haven't stopped reading so I have many pre-written reviews to publish, meaning I'll hopefully still be posting content despite not having enough time to read later in the year!

Book blogging is a hobby of mine however I found that trying to write and post weekly reviews, reading and studying for 4 subjects was becoming a lot of effort and this started to get stressful. I decided to take a break but now I feel like I have the time! I hope you understand.

If any of you are still around and following me, I really appreciate your faith. I'm going to be posting reviews weekly from now on! Please share and remind people that I'm still alive;)

Thanks again, see you next week with a new review!

Jennie