short reviews
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"My Kinsman, Major Molineux"
Portrait of James Thomas Fields (1817-1881), Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864),and William Davis Ticknor (1810-1864). Over on Instagram, I’d mentioned I’ve been getting into Hawthorne’s short stories again. He’s a favorite author of mine, and when I read the collection Twice Told Tales (already five years ago, wow!), I was blown away by the craft of his Continue reading
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Books I Gave Up On
I gave up on Moby-Dick the first time – even after getting halfway! Two weeks ago, I mentioned I was reading The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux. Well…I’m still reading it, and I’m not even halfway. For a story about a family moving to the jungle, this book is extremely slow. I keep thinking “I’m Continue reading
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Guest review ~ Five Weeks in a Balloon
Five Weeks in a Balloonis a Victorian book that takes place in 1862 and was written by Jules Verne. It is about three individuals, Dr. Samuel Ferguson, his servant Joseph Wilson, and a hunter, Richard Kennedy, who set off in a balloon off the coast of Zanzibar to cross the African continent. I liked this Continue reading
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Stark Munro, 13 Days, and Master of the World
The Master of the World Jules Verne 4 out of 5 stars A sequel to Robur the Conqueror, this 1904 Verne novel is centered on one of his classic themes: a vulnerable public terrorized by unknown and indisputably more powerful technology. Here, U.S. lawman John Strock is sent to investigate “the Great Eyrie,” in what Continue reading
About Me
Hi, I’m Marian—I talk about classics, history, and other books on this blog, as well as on YouTube.
Currently Reading
Recent Posts
- What I’m Reading – Morning Coffee Edition
- Oddly Specific Things I Love in Books (and a Few Movies)
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – A Long Overdue Review
- My Favorite Films and Music of 2025
- Ten Books I’d Like to Read (and Possibly Own)
Classics Considered 