Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Stacy King | Book Review #161

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Please Send Help by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin

Are there spoilers?

Nope.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (St. Martins Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Sense and Sensibility ( Manga Classics)

English Script and Story Adaptation by Stacy King

Original Author: Jane Austen

Artist: Po Tse

.........................................................

Pages: 308

Published: 2016

Publisher: Udon Entertainment

Genre: Classics, Manga

.........................................................

Date Read: March 17 > March 18, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Impulsive Marianne Dashwood and cautious Elinor are as different as two sisters could be, yet both are shattered by their father's sudden Death. Elinor's attachment to the reserved Edward Ferrars is torn asunder by family opposition and his own dark secret, while Marianne's brilliant romance with the dashing John Willoughby comes to a tumultuous end in a devastating public betrayal. Can the two sisters overcome these trials to find true, lasting happiness?

Jane Austen's beloved first novel, filled with romance, redemption and social critique, is brought to life for a modern audience in this gorgeous manga-style adaptation!

The Rating:

My Review:

I actually read Sense and Sensibility after I read Jane Eyre so it was something I was excited about.

Not only was the art good but the way the characters were portrayed made me relate and understand everything that was going on so much more than if I were to read it in text only. I think that this way I got to see all the things that I wouldn't have been able to picture otherwise.

Marianne and Elinor were such good characters. They were the complete opposite of each other when it came to love and they both went in different routes but their goal was always true and strong and healthy love. Which is admirable and made me relate to both of them.

Though let's be honest I would have pushed Willoughby aside (hand on face pushing) and went to Colonel Brandon's arms. Cause that man was dashing.

And in the end, I was left with the feeling of wanting to drop everything and watching the movie and whatever other adaptations exist.



Image found in google

Like the 1995 adaptation with Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson. Which I've ever seen.

But I have seen From Prada to Nada and loved it so I will be adding that as the next movie I see as well.

Although I did watch Material Girls a long time ago. Mostly because I was a fan of anything Hilary Duff did. But it wasn't as good as I thought it was gonna be so not watching that again. Or maybe I will?

The question now is.
Do you think there should be a new modern adaptation to Sense and Sensibility like From Prada to Nada and something better than Material Girls? Or do you want another period drama?

Goodreads

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King | Book Review #160

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Stacy King

Are there spoilers?

Not really. But this is also based on a classic so it shouldn't matter if I'm the one spoiling this for ya.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer:

This book was sent to me by the publishing company (UDON Entertainment) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Jane Eyre (Manga Classics)

English Script by Stacy King
Original Author: Charlotte Brontë
Artist: SunNeko Lee
Story Adaptation: Crystal S. Chan

.........................................................

Pages: 319

Published: 2016

Publisher:  Udon Entertainment  

Genre: Manga, Romance, Classics

.........................................................

Date Read: March 5 > March 6, 2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

As an orphaned child, Jane Eyre is first cruelly abused by her aunt, then cast out and sent to a charity school. Though she meets with further abuse, she receives an education, and eventually takes a job as a governess at the estate of Edward Rochester. Jane and Rochester begin to bond, but his dark moods trouble her. When Jane uncovers the terrible secret Rochester has been hiding, she flees and finds temporary refuge at the home of St. John Rivers.

The Rating:

My Review:

Jane Eyre is one of the books I didn't think I would get to anytime soon but when I saw it on NetGalley I could help but to request it. And I got it.

I've wanted to read Jane Eyre for some time but the heft of the book always scared me off. Because it's such a big book. So reading it in manga for was perfect. I still want to re-read it sometime in the future but I was happy to get to see all the beautiful and detailed illustrations.

The story is still there. The characters are more expressive than in the movie adaptations. Especially the really old ones. I caught the ending of one that was black and white and the guy who was Mr. Rochester was going too strong in being serious.
But the manga managed to capture me for a full day without me having to stop in the middle. I was enamored by it all.

Goodreads

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving | Book Review #130

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

Are there spoilers?

This is a classic so I don't believe that a spoiler warning matters here.
But no, there aren't any spoilers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Author: Washington Irving

.........................................................

Genre: Classics, Horror, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Mystery, Gothic, Historical Fiction

.........................................................

Date Read: October 28, 2018

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Sleepy Hollow is a strange little place...some say bewitched. Some talk of its haunted valleys and streams, the ghostly woman in white, eerie midnight shrieks and howls, but most of all they talk of the Headless Horseman. A huge, shadowy soldier who rides headless through the night, terrifying unlucky travellers.

Schoolteacher Ichabod Crane is fascinated by these stories....Until late one night, walking home through Wiley's swamp, he finds that maybe they're not just stories.

What is that dark, menacing figure riding behind him on a horse? And what does it have in its hands?

And why wasn't schoolteacher Crane ever seen in Sleepy Hollow again? 

The Rating:

My Review:

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was a book I had been wanting to read since forever ago. Probably because of the movie that I saw when I was a kid and barely remember. And then the tv show, Sleepy Hollow came out and I remember that used to want to read the original story. But it was when I got the opportunity to be able to read The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo that I knew I had to finally sit myself down and finally read this story of a headless horseman and Ichabod Crane.

But I was truly disappointed to find out that although the story was short (which I like) it was also not that spooky. It didn't deliver on the spooks for me so I was sad when I finished reading it and nothing thrilling happened. 

In my Goodreads review I said:

I don't even know what I was expecting from the source of everything Sleepy Hollow. Maybe I expected a dark and exciting read but instead got -not that. 
But I'm still glad I read this because now I can, not only, say I read it but I can now read any adaptation.

And I still feel that way after months of having read it. I am glad. Glad that I read another classic. Because to me reading a well know/beloved classic means I've not only accomplished something that no one in my family has done (that I know of) but that I read a book I wouldn't have been able to read 5 years ago before I started this blog and reading journey. I used to get so mad because I wouldn't understand anything, the language or what was going on, and would just give up. Now I know for certain that me from 5 years ago would be so proud that I read this classic Along with so many others.

But I should mention that in regards to The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel I did write a review down for that book. So please make sure to check that out. It was such a good book to read during October.

The Spell Book of Katrina Van Tassell Review

Goodreads    

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

Dracula by Bram Stoker | Book Review #129

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Dracula by Bram Stoker 

Are there spoilers?

This is a classic so I don't think a spoiler warning applies here.
But maybe there are some spoilers in this review.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker

.........................................................

Pages: 448

Publisher: Back Bay Books

Published: 2005

Genre: Classics, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Gothic

.........................................................

Date Read: October 20 > October 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

Bram Stoker's classic novel of suspense and horror was a bestseller in Britain when it was published in 1897. A late 20th-century biographer of Stoker has suggested that famed Victorian actor Henry Irving, for whom Stoker worked for many years, was an inspiration for some of Count Dracula's characteristics.

The Rating:

My Review:

I wanted to participate in the Spookathon and I choose to add this book to my tbr for that readathon. It fit perfectly in the challenge to read a book not set in our current time period.

I ended up truly enjoying myself when I was reading this book and when I finished I was so proud because I got to finish a huge book that was also in an older English language. Which has always been one of the most difficult for me to read. 

I ended up deciding that I would split the rating for  Dracula right in the midddle. 

FOr me the first half of this story, where the narator is Johnathan Harker. And how he is telling Mina (and us, the reader) what is going on on his tavels to COunt Draculas Manor (or was it a castle) .Those chapters wee really good and thrilling. But when it came to the other half I was so confuzed and mixed up. Not only where thee too many htigs going on at once but Van Helsing was talking too much instead of jst telling eveyone what was going on plain and simple. And I got Mina and Luccy mixed up at first only to later get that they were completly different. And then the fact that Lucy's mom was a total dummy (and that's me writing it down in a PG sense) 

The first half gets a 4 out of 5 stars. 

Last half gets a 3 out of 5 stars. 

Although in my Goodreads review I said the following:

I give this spooky classic a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I would have given it a solid four if it weren't for the last half of it is all over the place. At least for me, it was. The first half gets a good 4.5 though. The portrayal of vampires in this was amazing. But the portrayal of the female characters lacked so much. I even got Mina and Lucy mixed up more than once. 

Still this is another book that I'm glad I read.

In regards to that review I posted. I no longer have those thoughts. 

The female characters in Dracula were more than great. It was the men who overshadowed them and made them seem as lame as they were. Van Helsing alone ruined most of the book with his vague explanations of vampires and what was going on in the story. And Johnathan barely did anything constructive. It was Mina who was out there taking care of her best friend, Lucy and giving away her blood to save her. Knowing that it was probably too late and that she was already a goner. Even putting herself in harm's way to do so.

Although the whole blood transfusion thing was done so wrong. It terrified me more than the vampires. Think of the infections or diseases that were happening at the time the story is set in and then think of blood types and how if you get the wrong type of blood it can kill a person.

This made me queasy more than once as I was reading it.

So now that some months have passed since I've read it I think I'd prefer to give Dracula a 4 out of 5 stars. And would gladly read again in the future.

Goodreads  

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe | Book Review #128

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe 

Are there spoilers?

Its a classic so I don't think this warning matters here.
But yeah there's a little one.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: The Tell-Tale Heart

Author: Edgar Allen Poe

.........................................................

Genre: Classics, Horror, Fiction, Short Stories, Gothic

.........................................................

Date Read: September 28, 2018

Rating: ★★★☆☆

'Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was a groan of mortal terror ... the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul.' 

Stories about murder, mystery and madness, portraying the author's feverish imagination at its creative height.

The Rating:

My Review:

I had never really known what The Tell-Tale Heart was about until I watched the Thug Notes for this story.

Thug Notes: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

So I didn't know what it was about until then and after I really wanted to read it for myself. And I did.

Not only was it a little creepy but it was a sweet short story that I read in a day. Which is always great in my book.

The whole aspect of the guy murdering someone and hearing his heart so loud that he thought he would be found out. That the police would find his remain under the floorboards. So good!

Goodreads 

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Goodreads

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare | Book Review #119

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Are there spoilers?

No.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Romeo and Juliet  

Author: William Shakespeare 

.........................................................

Pages: 304

Publisher: SparkNotes

Published: 2003  

Genre: Fiction, Classic

.........................................................

Date Read: July 6, 2018

Rating: ★★★☆☆

No Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Romeo and Juliet on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.

The Rating:

My Review:

Much like my feelings for Much Ado About Nothing, I think that this is a story I've known before. Not only have I seen the movies, and the other movie adaptations, but I have also seen the live play, back when I was in high school. And it was the same story. So I already knew what was going to happen. Not surprised at all.

And like MAAN, I have a few favorite versions of this old story.

Romeo + Juliet
Warm Bodies

I also like Romeo Must Die. Since its a Jet Li movie. And we used to watch all his movies then. But I don't like it as much as the other two.

Goodreads    |    Book Depository

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene | Book Review #113

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

Are there spoilers?

No.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: The Secret of the Old Clock

Author: Carolyn Keene

Series: Nancy Drew Mystery #1

.........................................................

Pages: 180

Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

Published: 1987

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Classic, Children's, Fiction

.........................................................

Date Read:  From June 22 to June 27, 2018

Rating: ★★★★☆

This is a facsimile reprint of the first ever Nancy Drew book, published 1930.
Nancy Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for Mr. Crowley's missing will.

The Rating:

My Review:

There were too many characters being introduced to keep track of. And they were oddly in sets of two. 

The mystery was good. Not great but good. Everything was obviously there in plain sight. I did not expect the will being at a security deposit box though. And Nancy trying to figure out which bank it was in was actually cool.

I dont know who I feel about Nancy as a sleuth or even as a character. For someone who liked being involved in mysteryes and getting in trouble, why doesn't she know how to defend herself. I believe that ladies who sleuth should know how to kick ass and get out of it alive.

I also discovered/found the Get a Clue, Nancy Drew Podcast and fully agree with them. They are great and I recomend you listen to them if you like the Nancy Drew books.

Goodreads    |    Book Depository

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare | Book Review #109

The Bookish Island's Book Review:
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Are there spoilers?

It is Shakespeare so if you haven't gotten spoiled by now something wrong with you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: Much Ado About Nothing

Author: William Shakespeare

.........................................................

Pages: 239

Publisher: Spark Notes

Published: 2004

Genre: Classic, Fiction, Play

.........................................................

Date Read: May 3, 2018

Rating: ★★★★★

No Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Much Ado About Nothing on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.

Each No Fear Shakespeare contains

The complete text of the original play.
A line-by-line translation that puts Shakespeare into everyday language.
A complete list of characters with descriptions.
Plenty of helpful commentaries.

The Rating:

My Review:

I finally read my first Shakespeare play. And it's pretty cool that it got to be Much Ado About Nothing.

via GIPHY

I had watched the play some years ago when David Tennant and Catherine Tate were in the play for it. I saw it on youtube though I don't know if it's still up. And I love it so much that I wanted to own the play. 
As a fan of both their time in Doctor Who and their individual projects, I adored the way they brought Beatrice and Benedick to life in the most hilarious way. 

And the whole time I was reading all I could do was picture them acting out these scenes.

via GIPHY

Goodreads    |    Book Depository

______________________________________

The Bookish Island
Blog  |  Tumblr  |  Instagram  |  Youtube  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll | Book Review

Book Review:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Title - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 
Author - Lewis Carroll

Format - Paperback, 146 pages
Genre - Children's Books, Classics, Fantasy, Adventure Source - borrowed from a friend

Alice lives an ordinary life, until the day she follows the White Rabbit down, down, down a rabbit hole. She suddenly finds herself in an enchanted world, surrounded by zany creatures like the Mad Hatter, the Duchess, and the Cheshire Cat. Alice is delighted to find that nothing in Wonderland is the least bit ordinary.