Review Weeks 33-34

 Reviews Weeks 33-34

August 14th-27th

Book 124: Twelfth Night

By William Shakespeare

Read August 17th-18th

📚📚📚📚📚

Twelfth Night is my favorite of Shakespeare’s comedies. It’s such a fun experience to visit this one again after so many years away. I cannot tell you how many times this had me laughing out loud, especially with the Malvolio scenes. This had me feeling quite bad for him this time around. Poor guy didn’t deserve to be treated so poorly by Maria, Andrew, and Sir Toby. Though those scenes are some of the best. I love the yellow garters. 

If you have not yet, I recommend the version with Stephen Fry. It is one of the best things I have ever watched. I love how all of the parts are played by men like it would have been in Shakespeare’s time. It brings so much more comedy into the performances. Also, the BBC radio version with David Tennant is a masterpiece. 

Book 125: Witches Abroad

By Terry Pratchett

Read August 24th-25th

📚📚📚📚📚

I have been having the time of my life revisiting The Witch subseries this year. Witches Abroad is one of my favorites of the Discworld books and I loved going on this “roadtrip” of sorts with the witches. 

Review from October 24th- 25th, 2020

Definitely, in my top three favorite Discworld books. I loved how Terry played with the fairy tales here and also other classic fantasy stories. There are so many references throughout and it was so funny to see how he used them in the story. There are references to Circe, Achilles, Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, Sleeping Beauty, (obviously) Cinderella, Golllum, and so many others that I won't spoil here. Each were great additions to the story that helped Terry play with classic tropes and turn them on their head. He was such a brilliant writer. 

I love how the witches: Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat play off of each other. They are just so funny to read about. Each has such distinct characteristics that help create a funny situation after another funny situation. And I also really loved Death's part in this as usual. He's always my favorite character.

Overall, I really enjoyed this "road trip" of sorts that the witches go on and the insanity that ensues.

Reviews Week 32

Reviews Weeks 32

August 7th-13th

Book 121: A Lover’s Gift: From Him to Her

Narrated by Michael Sheen

Read August 11th

📚📚📚📚

Michael Sheen is the perfect choice to read these pieces of prose and verse. I’ll never get enough of listening to him read, especially poetry. He creates a voice for each that fits incredibly well with the writing. The music that went along with the writings was beautiful too. I highly recommend this for poetry and romance fans. Michael brings so much for each of these. 

My favorites from this collection were the letter from Persuasion and the scene from Romeo & Juliet (which fully shocked me because I do not like Romeo & Juliet). It even made me want to reread Romeo & Juliet with the audiobook version. Never thought I would see the day. I cannot recommend this enough.

Book 122: Much Ado About Nothing

By William Shakespeare

Read August 12th

📚📚📚📚

The first time I read this play was in my Shakespeare class in college and I did not enjoy it at all. This time around I decided to read the play while following along with the David Tennant and Catherine Tate version and I had a completely different experience. I feel that Shakespeare’s plays are better experienced when you watch or at least listen to them. Plays in general are better this way. I loved the humor in this play.

Book 123: Shakespeare’s Sonnet

By William Shakespeare

Read August 13th

📚📚📚📚

I have read Shakespeare’s Sonnets many times before, the first time being back in high school. This is the first time that I have actually read the entire collection though. Many of the sonnets are on the same topics and he expresses the same feelings and emotions throughout. The two main topics are on the young man and then “dark woman.” I will forever love the idea of how a poem can keep someone alive even long after they are dead. Look at what poetry and plays have done for Shakespeare, himself. This is a beautiful collection that I will continue to revisit for the rest of my life.

Reviews Weeks 30-31

 Reviews Weeks 30-31

July 24th- August 6th

Book 120: Great Poets of the Romantic Age

Narrated by Michael Sheen

Read August 2nd

📚📚📚📚📚

Michael Sheen does an amazing job narrating this collection of poems. His voice fits so well with each one and I will definitely be looking for more narrated by him.