Marie's Book Reviews

2010-01-12T22:55:00.000+09:00

Title: The Jungle Book
Author: Rudyard Kipling
Publisher (level): Penguin (2)
Summary:
In one jungle, one family of wolves lived. One day, Father Wolf discovered a little human boy when he went hunting. He took the boy into his family’s home. After that, Shere Khan who is a great tiger visited their home and said, “It’s I that took the boy from a human village. Give me him.” But, wolves knew Shere Khan wanted to eat him, so they never give him the boy. Then, Shere Khan said, “I will kill the boy someday,” and got off. The boy was named Mowgli and grew healthily with his brothers who are their cubs thanks to Father Wolf and Mother Wolf. He learned and played with them every day. However, the other cubs started to notice that Mowgli is different from them. Then, they isolated him from them. Almost all of his friends became enemies suddenly, but some of them continued to help him at every opportunity. However, he thought his friends will be hated by the other cubs for him, so determined to live in a human village. At a human village, one woman said to him, ”A long time ago, my son was took by a tiger. But my son is here now. You are my son.” Then, Mowgli started to live in her house. But, he didn’t sleep on a bed, so he slept near the jungle every day. One day, his friend’s wolf came to him when he slept there. The wolf said to him, “Shere Khan will try to kill you tonight.” He decided to fight with the tiger. Wolves of his friends helped him and managed to beat the tiger. But, one man who lived in the human village watched the fight and thought Mowgli is different from them. The next day, people in the village were scared of him and isolated him. He thought he is isolated even if he changes his living place, so he returned to the jungle. When he returned there, hid friends, Father Wolf and Mother Wolf were pleased very much. After that, he lived happily in the jungle with them.

Evaluation: 5 stars
Hero of this story is a human boy who was brought up by wolf’s family. Actually, I have heard the news that there was a boy who had been brought up by wolves until he was discovered. Of course, this story is a complete fiction, but I thought wild animals are very hearty. I learned human beings must not scare and persecute them without closely thinking.

2010-01-07T23:07:00.001+09:00

Title: The BORROWERS
Author: SHERWOOD SMITH
Publisher (level): Penguin (2.2)
Summary:
This is a story of brave dwarfs – Borrowers. In one little town, Pete and his mother and father lived in a big old house. In the house, there was a little house where one family of five borrowers lived too. There were some rules in the world of borrowers. First, they must not be seen by human beings because they will be killed by human beings. Second, they borrow necessaries from their human beings stealthily. But, one day, Arrietty who is one of the family of borrowers was discovered by Pete. However, he didn’t kill her and sent her home. The family of borrowers became to like him. One day, one man visited the big old house. The man conspired to be the owner of the house by an illegal way. The family and the borrowers were compelled to move to a new house. But, Pete and the borrowers liked the house very much, so they determined to revenge on the evil man. He made fools of them because one was a child and the others were dwarfs. But, friends of the borrowers appeared one after another to help them. At last, thousands of borrowers round the man. Then, they gave the rope a lot of turns around the man in a moment. The man surrendered to them and returned the house to the two families. After that, they lived happily in the house.

Evaluation: 5 stars
This story is fantastic story and I really enjoyed reading. The force of dwarfs is fewer than that of human beings. But, the evil man was beaten by a lot of dwarfs. This expresses importance of cooperating with friends and spirit of cherishing little lives like Pete’s spirit.

2010-01-07T22:25:00.002+09:00

Title: The Mysterious Island
Author: Jules Verne
Publisher (level): Penguin (2.2)
Summary:
In America in 1865, there was fighting between the north of the country and the south. One day, in March 1865, five men, and their dog flew in the balloon, because they escaped from prison. They were prisoners in the south. But, the wind was blowing hard on the day, so the balloon couldn’t fly well. Then, one man and the dog fell from it. The others strayed from the man and the dog, and got one desert island one way or another. They searched the man and the dog hardly, but couldn’t find. After a few days, they found the dog on the island. The dog ran somewhere, so they followed after him. Then, they arrived one big cave and discovered the man they found there. He wasn’t dead. But, who took him there? Nobody knew. Mysterious happening like that came one after another. For example, necessaries they wanted were sent to them, pirates who has arrived the island and will attack them were killed by torpedo someone set, and someone put medicine beside him stealthily when one of them became ill. It was not possible that there someone except them, but as if someone helped them. However, they discovered the man who helped them at last. He lived underground room secretly. He was famous captain, and he was reported to have died. He was dying, but he was impressed by the men who strove to live hard, so he helped them by main force. Shortly after that, captain died, but they were discovered and everybody survived.

Evaluation: 5 stars
This book was very mysterious. I totally didn’t predict the end, so I finished reading right away. They never gave up living, and they continued to cooperate. I was impressed by them like the captain. I thought spirit of never giving up is very important.

2009-12-15T23:15:00.000+09:00

Title: The Turn of the Screw
Author: HENRY JAMES
Publisher (level): OXFORD (2.8)
Summary:
This is the strange story one woman wrote. She became to be a governess at one home-Bly to get a living. At Bly, there were a housekeeper-Mrs. Grose and two children-Flora and Miles. The children were very clever and soon became attached to her. But, she soon discovered that there is something very strange about both the house and the children. She sometimes saw one man and one woman who don’t live at Bly. One day, she talked about that strange people to Mrs. Grose in detail, then Grose very surprised and said, ‘They were a former housekeeper and governess, and they has been dead.’these monster became to appeared frequently. She noticed that they approached the children gradually and would destroy them. She decided to save them. One day, she and Miles were in a room alone. He gazed at out of the window, and his face turned to be white. There was the monster. She held him near her and shouted at the monster, ‘No more, no more!’The next instant, the monster disappeared. She defeated for the monster and saved the children at last.

Evaluation: 5 stars
I thought that the governess is a great brave woman. She was at Bly not to get a living but to save the children at the end of the story. If I were her, I’d run away from Bly because at the end of the monsters. I guess the monsters were no match for her courage. I read this book at a stretch.

2009-11-27T23:42:00.000+09:00

Title: THE REAL McCoY & OTHER GHOST STORIES
Author: LESLEY THOMPSON
Publisher (level): OXFORD (1.8)
Summary:
The book is composed of 6 stories.
1. The real McCoY
One day, four children stayed in an old castle. There was one rumor that there was a real ghost there. But one child didn’t believe that. The other three children contrived to imitate ghosts and surprise him. But he looked a ghost who isn’t any the other children.
2. Strange Message
One girl wanted to be an astronaut. One day, her computer caught a message. That said ‘Follow your dream!’But, she didn’t believe that, because she didn’t say about her dream so nobody knows that. She thought it is a wonder, but replied the message. After that, she became to know the message was sent by a woman who was an astronaut and died in space in days long gone.
3. Footprints in the snow
There are one family in New Zealand. The past some days, somebody ruined their house, but they didn’t know who did that. One night, the family heard noise and they chased somebody to out of house. The next instant, their house collapsed by an earthquake. The criminal was their grandfather who died. He saved his family.
4. A Christmas Ghost
One day, two men drove in Australia. But, their car broke suddenly. Then, one man passed by them. They asked him to help them. He repaired their car and took them to an inn. After that, they became to know he is a son has the owner of the inn, and he died on last Christmas.
5. The Egyptian Cat
One day, a woman went to the market and bought a wooden cat. But, she hated gradually and she threw it away. After that, her husband had an accident and nearly died. She thought the cat did it, and she took it to a museum in London. She knew it was taken from an ancient tomb. After, her husband soon got well again.
6. The Last Bus
One summer, three men camped. That night, they went to pub. After some hours, they decided to back to their camp site and they go on a bus to the place. When they backed there, they saw a strange woman. After that, they became to know that one story. A long time ago, one man rode the bus and died in a traffic accident. His wife died with sorrow. After that, the woman’s ghost was often seen by a lot of people camp there.

Evaluation: 4 stars
I have no heard for ghost stories, but the 6 stories are different from common ghost stories. Ghost of the stories were poor and gentle ghosts. Some ghosts not scared but helped humans. They are very good ghosts. Therefore I didn’t fear to read the book. But, however gentle ghosts are, I thought that I never want to meet them.

2009-11-27T17:37:00.001+09:00

Title: THE BLUE DIAMOND
Author: SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Publisher (level): OXFORD (1.8)
Summary:
This is one of Sherlock Holmes’s mystery. One day, one doorman took a deceased goose which was lying on one street to Holmes’s home. There was a blue diamond in the goose’s hand. This is diamond which was stolen from the COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL. The police thought criminal of the matter was John Horner who went to repair the window in the room in the hotel. Holmes examined how the goose came here and where that came from. As a result, Holmes made in to one house. There were a lot of gooses there. Holmes solved the crim. The criminal of that is one man who lives in the house. He is the assistant manager of the hotel. He stole the diamond and took it to his house. He hid that in goose’s hand not to come out, but he forgot which goose has the diamond. In consequence, the goose was shipped. The man asked Holmes to allow him. But Holmes said him angrily, ‘Think the young man’s heart who fell victim to the matter. You chalked it up against the innocent man.’ Holmes saved an innocent man again.

Evaluation: 5 stars
I read the Sherlock Holmes’s mystery at the second attempt. I found the book very excited like the first time. As usual, Holmes’s reasoning is excellent. My favorite point of his character is not only wonderful reasoning but also his righteous heart. If I’m caught up in a crime, I want to ask him to help me.

2009-11-18T22:10:00.002+09:00

Title: Nicholas Nickleby
Author: CHARLES DICKENS
Publisher (level): OXFORD (2)
Summary:
In England, there was one man. His name is Nicholas. His father died and left many debts behind him, his mother and his sister – Kate. They became to have no money. He depended on his uncle – Ralph – and he introduced one work to Nicholas. Nicholas went to London to work as a teacher. But, the principal of the school – Squeers – loved making the boys there suffer, and he beat hard and often. One of the boys – Smike – suffered especially. Although he lost his work, such behavior disposed Nicholas to help Smike. They run away from the school. They continued to walk a great distance, at last arrived his house in England. His mother and sister were pleased with tears in their eyes. Next day, he went to the Employment Office to look for a job. He met old accounts clerk – Cheeryble brothers – and they gave him some works and helped his family. At the same time, Squeers looked about for Smike to suffer him and discovered him at last. Squeers dragged him to his school secretly. Nicholas’s family was very worried and didn’t know where he went. In the school, Squeers pushed Smike into the room at second floor and locked the door. After, at once, Squeers’s friends – Fanny and John – visited him. He told them the occurrence about Smike. Because John pitied Smike sincerely, he pretended illness and went to the second floor, and set Smike free stealthily. John take him to Nicholas’s house. They thanked him greatly. But, after some months, Smike died of all those years of being cold, hungry, and dirty in the school. Smike said Nicholas, ‘I know that we’ll meet again. Now I can die happily.’It was as if they are real parent and child.

Evaluation: 4 stars
This is a very sad story. I couldn’t forgive Squeers for all his cruel behavior. But this was an impressive and a warm story. I don’t know whether his life was happy for Smike, but I think that he learned that there ware person who pitied and helped him in the world. However poor he was, Nicholas had the most important thing that human being must have.

2009-11-13T03:15:00.001+09:00

Title: THE NORWOOD MYSTERY
Author: SIR ARTHU CONAN DOYLE
Publisher (level): OXFORD (2)
Summary:
The story is one of the Sherlock Holmes’s mystery. One day in London, one young man visited and appealed to him for help. His name is John McFarlane killed Jonas Oldacre in Oldacre’s house and burned him in the yard yesterday. But, McFarlane insisted on his innocence. He said that he went to Oldacre’s house in the morning the day before, and contacted with him to inherit him property if he died. And there were a finger print in the accident scene. So, the police were convinced he is murder. At the heels of that, Inspector Lestrade came in the house and arrested McFarlane. Holmes believed what McFarlane said and started to investigate at once. At first, he went to the accident scene. He observed the finger print carefully, and noticed it is imitation. It was made by using the thumb print on the contact. And, he discovered a secret door there. He entered the secret room and discovered a lot of furniture. He noticed that someone lives in the room. He solved the mystery completely. Holmes tried to burn the house to make sure of his idea, and Oldacre came from an inner room in haste. The case of murder was fake which was made by Oldacre. McFarlane blessed Holmes. Next day’s newspaper said that Inspector Lestrade solved the mystery. McFarlane got angry. But, Holmes said, ‘Never mind! The most important thing is to be proved your innocence!’

Evaluation: 5 stars
I have wanted to read the Sherlock Holmes’s mysteries. After reading, I thought the book was very interesting beyond my wildest dream. Sherlock Holmes is a very clever man. Nobody have his acumen. And, he is a gentleman. What he said to McFarlane at the end of story - ‘Never mind! The most important thing is to be proved your innocence!’moved me. I became to fan of him.

2009-11-08T14:20:00.000+09:00

Title: The Children of the New Forest
Author: CAPTAIN MARRYAT
Publisher (level): Oxford (2)
Summary:
In 1647, the king of England is in prison, and there is fighting everywhere in the country-Cromwell’s men against the king’s men. There were the four Beverley children-Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith. Their father belonged to the king’s men, and he died while fighting for the king, and their mother is dead. They lived by themselves in their house in the New Forest. But, Cromwell’s men noticed Beverly’s children lived in the house, and burnt that. The children managed to escape, but had no money, no food, and so on. But, one old man helped them. His name is Jacob Armitag, and who is their father’s friend. The children lived in Armitag’ house, and he taught them to hunt, to plant vegetable, to look after pigs and chickens in the New Forest. But, Armitag was old, and died. They were grieved, but decided to live strongly by using knowledge Armitag gave. After several years, Edward decided to go to fight to avenge his father. That was his hope of youth. The children were broken up. The children except Edward thought he would never come back. After seven years, he came back with the king safely. The children rebuilt their house, and live together again happily.

Evaluation: 5 stars
This book is a great brave story. The children, who are younger than me and don’t have their parents, get along strongly and have strong ties. I was well impressed by these things. The book and the children gave me a lot of courage.

2009-11-04T00:42:00.002+09:00

Title: Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery
Author: JOHN ESCOTT
Publisher (level): OXFORD (2)
Summary:
This is a story about Agatha Christie’s life. She wrote more than seventy books and they have sold millions of copies, so she famous all over the world. But her life was not always happy. She was a sickly girl in her childhood and didn’t play actively, so she wrote novels constantly. Then she sent her novels off to magazines again and again. But they sent those back with a letter ‘We can’t publish it ・・’. She stopped writing and often went to dance parties. At one party, she met a man and went out with him. His name is Reggie. But he had to go Hong Kong for two years. She and he promised to marry when he come back. In 1914, when she was 24, England was suddenly at war with Germany. She went to work as a volunteer nurse at the hospital. She learned kinds and effect of poisons and met one man. His name is Archibald. She apologized to Reggie and she married Archibald. At the same time she wrote novels again by using the knowledge she got at the hospital. Those were detective novels. After, Archibald had an affair and they got a divorce, so she was absorbed in writing. Her works admitted by all over the world gradually and she was famous at last. But nobody knows the reason why she died.

Evaluation: 5 stars
I was well impressed by her efforts and strong heart. She faced a lot of troubles, but even so she studied very hard and realized her dream that she had had. I thought that we must not give up realizing our dream. I want to read her works at once.

2009-10-24T13:01:00.000+09:00

Title: BABE ~The sheep-pig~
Author: DICK KING-SMITH
Publisher (level): Penguin (2.2)
Summary:
The story is set in one little farm. One day, Farmer Hogget took a little pig to his farm. The name of the pig is Babe. Mr. and Mrs. Hogget wanted to kill and make a dinner because he wouldn’t be a good sheep-pig such as Fly which is a good sheep-dog they had. But there were one good point that Babe had and Fly didn’t have. Babe was polite to animals such as sheep and ducks Famer Hogget had. Fly made fools of them. This is why Babe was loved by all of them and he worked surely and steadily as a sheep-pig. Then, one day, a sheep-dog contest took place in the village Farmer Hogget lived in. One of the rules of contest said animals will enter the contest are not always dogs, so Farmer Hogget decided to enter Babe for the contest. Babe showed wonderful performances at the contest by politeness for sheep. Babe won the contest.

Evaluation: 5 stars
This story made into a movie in 1996 and it is very famous story. However, I didn’t know the story until I read the book. I’m well impressed by Babe’s politeness for all of animals and bravery of facing anything villain. I wanted to treasure the fighting spirit such Babe has.

2009-10-15T20:11:00.002+09:00

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: CHARLES DICKENS
Publisher (level): Penguin (2)
Summary:
The setting of the book is one Christmas in London. There was an old man who loves money and doesn’t like people. His name is Scrooge. He was a cold and hard man. Naturally he doesn’t like Christmas because you want things but you can’t get the money on the day. When Scrooge spent one Christmas alone, three ghosts visited him. The first ghost showed him some past Christmases, the second ghost showed him Christmas now, the third ghost showed him future Christmas. Then, he learned that he had had things which are more important than money in the past, there were some people who think the world of him even though his attitude toward of them is very cold, and nobody would grieve for him if he died. He could notice the important things which are required of living as a human and changed him into a kind person. Of course, he always spent good Christmases after the experience.

Evaluation: 5 stars
The attraction of the book is the process that an old man who is a cold and hard man reform himself gradually and gets back him warm personality through the experiences with ghosts. The book teaches us not only the importance of kindness to anyone but also soft heart inherent in us. I thought it’s reasonable that the book will be made into a movie in this winter. This is why I think the book is such a great book.