Reading The 1000 Books to Read Before I Die

A Review of The Song of Sacrifice By Janell Rhiannon  Hello 1000 Bookies.  I hope life is treating you well.  The latest book I have read is The Song of Sacrifice by Janell Rhiannon.  This is the first novel in a projected four book series revolving around the exploits of the Trojan War.  The point of view is told through the phenomenal female characters in the Greek Tragic Saga, although rest assured all your favorite male protagonists and antagonists are involved.  I loved every second of this novel. At 550 pages, it's a sizable book but an easy and quick read. The story is NOT boring. Many high school students would have rather read this version as opposed to The Iliad or The Odyssey .   The book follows the original Homeric legend of the Trojan War with a heavy reliance on Greek Mythology,  specifically the Greek gods and goddesses of the time—You will meet all your favorites—Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Hera. However, Th...

The First Gervase Fen Mystery Novel…two more to go… By Jim Romano Hey 1000 Bookies!!  This week I finished a fun murder mystery, The Case of the Gilded Fly .  One of its sequels is included on the 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die , ( The Case of the Moving Toyshop ). The author, Edmund Crispin, would write a total of 9 in this series, involving the literature professor turned detective, Gervase Fen.  Our “hero” is a literature and language professor who fancies himself a detective. His good friend, Sir Richard, is a detective who fancies himself a poet.  Fen is the head of St. Christopher’s School at Oxford which is a fictional school at the august university. As a hobby, Professor Fen loves to solve murders. The Moving Toyshop was the third in the series, with The Case of the Gilded Fly is the first.  Before we get to the third, I decided to read the first two, to get a feel for the author and style prior to moving to number 3.  In my research...

My Kind of Book Store….A Review of Parnassus on Wheels  The next stop on the 1000 Books to Read Before You Die takes us to 1917 Long Island, New York.  Written over a century ago, the Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley is a fun, whimsical book .  This novel and its sequel, The Haunted Bookshop are both on the 1000 Book list .   The book is an easy read at only about 100 pages.  I like to think the novel has two themes. The first theme—you are never too old to find love.  The second, you are never too old to have an adventure. So, what is a Parnassus? This reference comes from Greek Mythology—which instigates the reflection—most of our culture derives from Greek Mythology.  Mount Parnassus in mythology was the mountain where the Muses lived. The Muses inspired the dreamers, the poets and the storytellers. We all have a Muse in our lives. I myself have a 45 year old blond Muse at home.   The Parnassus on Wheels is an adven...

What would you do for a Klondike Bar…of Gold?   A Look at the The Call of the Wild By James Romano  Greetings 1000 Bookies!   I have finished another book on the life-changing List of 1000 Books to Read Before You Die .   In this post, our book portal opens into the late nineteenth century during the Gold Rush in the Klondike of Alaska and Western Canada.   The Call of the Wild is one of the classic novels and short stories written by Jack London.   From a quick reading of the life of Jack London, he seems to have been a nomad in search of getting rich quickly and of adventure.   As a teenager, London was an oyster pirate and a hobo touring the country.   He spent time in jail in Buffalo, NY for vagrancy.   After the Gold Rush began in Alaska, London spent a year prospecting and The Call of the Wild was based on his experiences.   The American Poet, Carl Sandburg once said that The Call of the Wild was, “The greatest...

The Ten Thousand Doors of January By Alix E. Harrow. “Stories may change the world” Hello 1000 Bookies!   For my book club at my office, I recently selected and then read The Ten Thousand Doors of January.   This is the debut novel of author, Alix E. Harrow.   First and foremost, I enjoyed the story very much.   So much so that I messaged the author, Ms. Harrow through twitter and asked if she was developing a sequel or continuation of the story.   Alas she was not but currently working on a historical fiction story for later this year.   Her writing was great, and I look forward to reading that book when the novel is published.   The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a science fiction/fantasy novel about doorways to other worlds.   The story is about two opposing forces trying to close the doors on once side while the other is attempting to keep open those doorways.   The story is well written.   The tale is not slow and doe...

“I know they will remember all I said to them, that they will be loving children to you, will do their duty faithfully, fight their bosom enemies bravely, and conquer themselves so beautifully that when I come back to them I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women." Mr. March Happy Holidays 1000 Bookies! I hope everyone had a great holiday and I wish you a healthy and productive New Year!   I wish you a New Year where you make the time to read.   The next stop on the 1000 Books to Read Before You Die is a classic tale of love, family and loss, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.   I chose to read this timeless novel because of the release of the new film. I wanted to be able to compare the classic book with the latest movie.   I thoroughly enjoyed reading Little Women .   As the father of three daughters and the uncle of several nieces I recommend to any father or uncle with young ladies in their lives to read Little Women . The story ...

Hey 1000 Bookies-- Happy Holidays! As we travel through  the holiday season --we have a guest blogger--our good friend Jonathan Hanson.  Jonathan is discussing the granddaddy of holiday books--A Christmas Carol.  To me, this is the greatest book ever written.  Charles Dickens literally invented or reinvigorated the modern holiday season with his book.  I read A Christmas Carol every year to my kids and watch every version from the original talker with Sir Seymour Hicks to the version with Reginald Owen (Admiral Boom from Mary Poppins) and Alistair Sim, from the musical version with Albert Finney (Hercule Perot & Daddy Warbucks) to the more haunting version with George C. Scott.  Last Year the BBC Show Dickensian featured characters from Dicken's novels trying to solve the murder of Jacob Marley.  Literature is complete with references and allusions to the Christmas Carol.  Merry Christmas!!!  A Christmas Carol by Charles D...

“Learn to love your failures, Marcus, because it is your failures that will make you who you are. It is your failures that will give meaning to your victories. ” Harry Quebert Hey 1000 Bookies!!  I recently finished the murder mystery, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker.  Mr. Dicker is a Swiss novelist.   I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.   I discovered the book on a Buzzfeed list, 21 Thought-Provoking Books That Will Stay on Your Mind for Days.   The book did not disappoint.   Although the book is over 600 pages long, the story did not feel overly long nor did I lose interest.   I found the book a pretty quick read and I almost did not want the book to end.   However, I wanted to find out what really happened.   The story has many twists and turns.   Everything centers around the disappearance in 1975 of Nola Kellergan, a 15yo waitress and high school student.   What...

"And Don't Laugh.  As you have seen, within the walls laughter doesn't enjoy a good reputation" Umberto Ecco, The Name of the Rose Hey 1000 Bookies!!!! Our current stop on the 1000 Books to Read Before You Die takes us to the 1300s, in Italy by way of the novel, The Name of The Rose by Umberto Ecco.  This historical fiction story is approximately 600 pages long, a very long 600 pages long.  The story is narrated by the character of Adso.  Adso is recounting the take many years after the events of the book.  Adso is the sidekick/monk novice of William of Baskerville.  William is an English Franciscan monk who is sent by the Holy Roman Emperor to advocate on behalf of the Franciscans Monks who are accused of being heretics by Pope John XXII.   In 1327,   friar   William  and  and Adso , travel to a  Benedictine monastery in  Northern Italy  to attend a  theological disputation . This abbey is bei...