TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

The Suffragettes by Various Sources

“'Once they are aroused, once they are determined, nothing on earth and nothing in heaven will make women give way; it is impossible.'

A potted history of the women who pioneered feminism and changed the world.”

Circe and the Cyclops by Homer

“'You must be Odysseus, man of twists and turns...' 

The tales of Odysseus's struggle with a man-eating Cyclops and Circe, the beautiful enchantress who turns men into swine.”

The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell

“A phantom child roams the Northumberland moors, while a host of fairytale characters gone to seed gather in the dark, dark woods in these two surprising tales of the uncanny from the great Victorian novelist.”

The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue by Anonymous

“'In two I'll slice the hair-seat / of Helga's kiss-gulper' 

In this epic tale from the Viking Age that ranges across Scandinavia and Viking Britain, two poets compete for the love of Helga the Fair - with fatal consequences.”

Caligula by Suetonius

“'Because of his baldness and hairiness, he announced it was a capital offence for anyone either to look down on him as he passed or to mention goats in any context.'

The biography of the brutal, crazed and incestuous Roman Emperor Caligula, who tried to appoint his own horse consul.”

Jason and Medea by Apollonius of Rhodes

“'The Argonauts were terrified at the sight. But Jason planting his feet apart stood to receive them, as a reef in the sea confronts the tossing billows in a gale.' 

The tragic, epic love affair that allowed Jason to get the Golden Fleece.”

TBR Feature #57

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

TBR Feature #55

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Recommendations: Little Black Classics

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

If you're looking for some creepy tales, look no further than this short story collection. At first glance, they may seem simple, but rest assured that you're in for a treat with these classic ghost stories. as they'll stay with you long after you've closed the book. 

The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell

Another Victorian ghost story that perfectly captures the era and will send a shiver down your spine. Let yourself be transported back to the 19th century with this meandering tale of uncertainty and haunted houses.

The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Gudgeon by Aesop

Or, if you need something lighthearted, give this collection of fables a go. A bit of fun, yet also lessons in their own right, Aesop's fables never fail to amuse and provide moments of levity after such dark tales.

TBR Feature #44

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Recommendations: Classics

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

If you're after something a little more thrilling and easier to read than, say, Wuthering Heights, you need look no further than this modern classic. Following Merricat, her sister Constance, and their Uncle Julian as they survive in a town that hates them, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is full of ups and downs, unreliable narrators, and mystery. It's hard to say much more without giving away the essence of the plot, but trust me in that this will not disappoint. 

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

There's a reason why A Streetcar Named Desire is cited as one of the best plays from the last century. Despite being so short, you're instantly transported to 1940s New Orleans with Blanche, a character you can't help but feel pity for while simultaneously wanting to shake some sense into her. Powerful, raw, and deeply concerned with family and mental illness, Williams will leave you thinking long after you've walked away.

The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A little darker than the others on this list, but no less gripping. Again concerning women and mental illness, this short horror story is both an excellent introduction to classic horror and Penguin's little black classics. A snippet of classical literature that will not bore you or become a chore to read - definitely worth the 80p.

TBR Feature #34

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

1984 by George Orwell

TBR Feature #17

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Little Black Classics by Penguin

TBR Feature #11

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

TBR Feature #7

TBR Feature is the chance for me to, every Wednesday, pick one of my unread books and discuss it: why I picked it up, when I'll get round to reading it, if I'm still interested in it at all etc.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Book Review: The Night is Darkening Round Me by Emily Brontë

The Night is Darkening Round Me
Emily Brontë
Genre(s):  Classics, Poetry
Published: February 26th 2015
Pages: 64
Rating: 2 stars

“Some of Emily Brontë's most extraordinary poems. ”

I think it is entirely safe and fair to say that I am not a fan of poetry. Especially not flowery verse that I have to search for a meaning in. I like prose. I love straightforward prose. I do not enjoy poems.

I'll hand it to Brontë, the rhythm and flow she managed to create throughout her poems was nice. I liked how things weren't choppy as I was reading them, and the rhyme schemes she chose always seemed to work.What I couldn't get on with, however, was the constant imagery and metaphors I had to figure out. When I read, I do so for enjoyment. Not because I want to work out a puzzle. It got to the point where I would read a poem, not understand what it was trying to say, then move on to the next one. Perhaps that is why I didn't enjoy this little collection.

I've never read any work by any of the Brontës, and if this is the standard of it, I don't think I'll delve any deeper into it. Just not my cup of tea.

Book Review: Come Close by Sappho

Come Close
Sappho
Genre(s):  Classics, Poetry
Published: February 26th 2015
Pages: 64
Rating: 2.5 stars

“Lyrical, powerful poems about love, sexuality, sun-soaked Greece and the gods. ”

I've never been a fan of poetry, so it's a wonder what possessed me to pick up this little black classic. 

I'm greatly interested in Greek myths, and my interest has started to inch towards the literature, only to come galloping back when I look at the work. This little collection of poems is a very easy introduction Sappho's work, with numerous poems from several different topics. Some, I found confusing, and some I didn't enjoy. However, I did find a few little gems in here that I could wrap my head around and really liked.

I wouldn't say it's converted me into loving poetry - at least not ancient poetry - because nine times out of ten I had a frown on my face as I tried to work out the meaning on things.

Maybe I'm just uncultured and not well-read, or maybe Sappho is just inaccessible. For 80p, though, I don't regret it. 

Book Review: The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Gudgeon by Aesop

The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Gudgeon
Aesop
Genre(s): Classics, Short stories
Published: February 26th 2015
Pages: 64
Rating: 5 stars

“Aesop's animal fables are some of the earliest stories ever told, thought to have been composed by a slave in Greek antiquity and giving glimpses of a world that is harsh, pitiless and yet also eerily familiar.”

Not only are the Penguin Little Black Classics the perfect size to slip into your bag, and the perfect length to read on a bus journey or in free time at work or college, they are the perfect introduction to classics.

The range available is very impressive, and as someone with a growing interest in classic authors and literature, I found myself drawn to a number of titles. Aesop's fables ended up extremely high on my list, and I'm beyond glad I got my hands on a copy.

Going in to it, I expected one or two long fables. Upon reading it, I found that there were lots - I didn't count each one so I don't know exact numbers, but I'd safely say well over 40.

Each fable was set out nicely on it's own page, making it easy to read and clear to see when one ended and another began. A lot also had their morals or meanings printed at the bottom, which I felt was a very nice touch, as sometimes lessons aren't always abundantly clear.

Overall, I felt this was a very easy, gentle introduction to classics and Greek work. And for 80p, you really can't go wrong.