Review Of Charlottes Web By E.B. White

Review of “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White

Genre: Children’s Classic

Rating: 5/5

Summary: A pig named Wilbur is sold to a nearby farm by his former owner, Fern, an 8 years old girl, whose father can’t afford to have a pig in the house anymore. Wilbur feels lonely and is always in search of a friend. Finally, he meets a very sweet and gentle spider named Charlotte, who accepts his friendship.

My Opinion: The friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte is one of the best friendships in literature. They both are very caring towards each other. The character of Fern is very similar to that of my little sister’s. She too, like Fern, loves all sorts of animals (even insects). Her obsession towards this, worries my mother too (just like Fern’s mother). The whole book was very heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I have never cried, reading a book, like the way I did towards the end of this one. This book has made a special place in my heart and it has become my favourite book of all time.

Favourite Character: I love Charlotte. She has an air of warmth around her. The way she talks is very pleasant. The lullaby she sings to put Wilbur to sleep, constantly worrying about his health and reassuring him at times of insecurities, proves how loyal she is as a friend. I am scared to death of spiders. Charlotte is definitely my one and only favourite spider.

Quote: “After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die.”

Absent-Minded Man by Jerome K. Jerome

This is a humorous story about a man named McQuae who is inattentive to anything around him. He can’t remember invitation details, appointments and even the women he were engaged to. However, when he finally gets to marry a jolly woman named Leena, his friend, the writer thinks that it won’t last long as he will forget about her too. After a considerable time, the writer unexpectedly meets his old friend McQuae, drenched in water on a rainy day. McQuae as always informs that he has moved to the new place with Leena and has forgotten all about it. The writer very calmly takes his friend to a solicitor and finally restores him to his wife.

The story is hilarious. Some of the conversations made me laugh out loud. The first part of the story was narrated in second person, which is the rarest in English literature. This is the only story I’ve read which has this style of writing. So, I enjoyed learning something new.

I didn’t like the fact that the character of Leena was mostly in the shadow of her husband, McQuae, the protagonist of the story. Although she was explained as a cheerful woman, we don’t see her express any such action.

If I could change anything from the story I would have added more detailed information regarding Leena. So that the readers can have a clear idea of how she was able to live with a man like McQuae for so long.

Other than the aforementioned point, I found the story genuinely amusing. It shows that how absent mindedness can put someone in absurd situations. I, myself, often get distracted in many occasions. Now, I have started to focus more on my surroundings. This story has taught me a fine lesson.

I’ve actually wrote this for an assignment where I was supposed to write about a short story I liked. But unfortunately, the teacher is making us write a review on the story SHE tells us. I was so excited about this assignment in the beginning. Now, I’m devastated.

“The Crucible” by Arthur Miller Review

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 3/5

Summary: “The Crucible” is a play of 1953 by Arthur Miller. The story is based on the infamous ‘Salem witch trials’ which took place in the 1692-1693. A group of young women, lead by Abigail Williams, accuse the village people of witchcrafts which results in a hysteria among them.

My opinion: The writing style of this play was very neat and I enjoyed reading every minute of it. It was short but the scenes were very intense. It showed how the ‘Salem witch trials’ was unfair and how ironically they hanged the people who wouldn’t admit being a witch rather than the ones who already did.

But there is a specific problem in this play which I would like to discuss. The protagonist John Proctor was shown as a brave hero whereas the antagonist was Abigail Williams, a very young girl who was sexually exploited by her former master (John Proctor). Isn’t it misogynistic how the writer had made the real victim look like a villain and the abuser a hero? I know Abigail was twisted and what she did was not right. But it was John who made her go that way.

Another problematic thing about this was that John was expecting his wife, Elizabeth, to forgive him because he had confessed to her. But when she couldn’t, it made him angry. At the end too, Elizabeth took all the blame on her saying she was too ‘cold’ as to why John made the mistake in the first place. That was really misleading. No one should be felt that way when their partner is the one cheating.

Quote: “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.”

How Hatred Starts

I just realized why people hate each other.

Once someone sees the worst side of another and continues to judge them by it, they eventually starts hating the latter.

Suppose the person A knows the worst mistake the person B has made in their life and judge their (B) every action based on the knowledge they (A) acquired, they (A) starts to hate them (B). In turn, the person B also tries to find the worst of the person A and starts to hate them as well.

This is how it goes on and none of them ever tries to find the person behind all that mistakes and weaknesses.

A Review of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Genre: Romance

Rate: 5/5

Summary: When Elizabeth Bennet first met Mr. Darcy, she couldn’t stand him for his pride. Neither did Mr. Darcy found her interesting enough to ask her for a dance. But many occasions brought them together again and again. At last, Mr. Darcy couldn’t help but fall in love with Elizabeth.

My Opinion: I don’t know where to begin. This novel is a classic and a masterpiece. I loved the use of satire in a most charming way possible. The first thing I noticed reading this book was that people were extremely nosy. They seemed to notice other people’s even the trifling matters of day to day life. I couldn’t help noticing how the mothers were all so anxious about their daughter’s marriage at the time. I loved Austen’s writing style very much. It was really funny and I laughed out loud at so many places (I’m even smiling to myself now thinking about some funny parts). Though it was a little draggy at the beginning, but I enjoyed almost every part of it. This book was worth all my time.

Favourite Characters: I can’t decide whom I like best among Jane, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Jane is such a sweetheart. Her values and point of views almost match mine. She is also a very responsible daughter and sister. I feel like, there is a warmth present in her which gives one comfort. Elizabeth is carefree and independent. She has a way of charming everyone and being friendly. She is very confident too. She handles her situation in a very tactful way. I specifically like the sisterly relationship between Jane and Elizabeth. My sister and I share a same kind of relationship. We too, like them, have each others confidence and shares every little thing. Now, what can I tell about Mr. Darcy! I loved him at the end as much as I hated him in the beginning. The best thing about him was that though he is proud, he learns.

Quote: “Do anything rather than marry without affection.”

One Last Dance- Part 2

Requested by @queenofautumn​

I’m sorry this took me some time to write. I was very busy with my school lately.

Read part 1 here

We escaped to the nearest wood, hand in hand. I remembered how we used to dance in the dark wood casting all our fears aside. I felt the same kind of fearlessness took over me.

We sat down. I looked him in the eyes and asked, “how are we alive after all this years?”

“Can’t you tell?” he came closer and rested his hand in mine.

It felt like the force of our loves had diminished the inevitability of death and death couldn’t part us. I knew it. I felt sure about it.

“We’re reborn” he began in a whisper, slowly rising the voice by each syllable, “just to be together.”

“And this time,” said I, “no one can stop us.”