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Book Review: Right Ho, Jeeves

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Right Ho, Jeeves
Jeeves #6
 by P.G. Wodehouse
Read by Kevin Theis

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Classic British humor

This is another great addition to the series! Bertie Wooster is in fine form, attempting many schemes of his own to show that Jeeves isn’t the only one with brains. How Wooster keeps getting himself “accidentally” engaged is beyond me. Misunderstandings, outlandish scenarios, and “psychology of the mind” all come together into a fun, engaging story. Like in the previous book, which was the first novel after short stories up until that point, a few of the situations went on a little longer than I would prefer in this book, and Jeeves’s brilliant plans don’t feature nearly as much as they do in the short stories. Still, though, I really enjoyed this book, and I always love Kevin Theis’s narration. I’ll miss it during the rest of the series.

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Book Review: The Hound of the Baskervilles

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The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sherlock Holmes #5
by Arthur Conan Doyle

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Classic mystery

I saved what is possibly the most well-known Holmes book for last in my first journey through the series. It’s the one title I’ve known since I was younger and imagined a scary hound in a foggy place (I’m beginning to suspect I actually read this many years ago, or maybe watched an adaptation). Though I’ve read conflicting arguments that this is the best or the worst in the series, I was looking forward to it, and it didn’t disappoint.

The legend laid forth at the beginning of the book sets the stage for the dark, dreary moor that becomes the setting for the second half of the book. The remoteness of the locale easily adds to the dread of what’s to come. Though I knew Holmes would be correct in his dismissal of any supernatural elements, and a few aspects of the plot along the way were less surprising, there were still some unexpected twists that kept me engaged until the very end. And I was struck once again by more compassion from Holmes than I feel like more modern adaptations have attributed to him. So though the pacing was a bit slow in places, overall, I enjoyed this intriguing, atmospheric read.

Here at the end of my first Holmes journey, while I did enjoy some of the books, it was fairly hit-or-miss for me, even within some of the collections. I’m really glad I stuck with it and finished them all, but I don’t believe I’ll re-read most of them in the future (probably some though). And really, while I know many people espouse books over movies/television, I don’t know if I believe that Sherlock Holmes would be a household name if it weren’t for the many adaptations that the stories inspired. At one point during this journey, I really struggled to understand why these books inspired all those adaptations, though I don’t anymore. If you’ve never read any Holmes, or haven’t read much, and you’re wondering if you should dive in now, I’d say it’s worth giving them a try.

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Audiobook Review: Hangman’s Curse

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Hangman’s Curse
Veritas Project #1
by Frank Peretti
Read by author

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: YA Christian thriller

I’ve read this book many times in the past (see review here), but this was my first time listening to the audiobook. I wish there were an unabridged version, but it was worth listening to the abridged to be able to listen to Peretti’s own narration, which I very much enjoyed. I think the majority of what was cut out was character-building of the Springfields, whereas the main story seemed intact to me. While I certainly feel that the entire book is worth reading, if you’re considering the audiobook version of Hangman’s Curse, I still recommend it.

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Book Review: Ramona Quimby, Age 8

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Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Ramona Quimby #6
by Beverly Cleary
Read by Stockard Channing

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Children’s classic

I really felt for Ramona in this book. When her teacher calls her a show-off and uses the word “nuisance,” I literally gasped out loud and just felt so bad for the poor girl! Though, as an adult, I immediately began thinking through why the teacher would say that, but I can imagine kids reading this and thinking that is just a terrible teacher. Adding to that, it was almost too painful to see Ramona having so much responsibility put on her to make things work at the Kemps’ so her dad can keep going to school and her mom can keep working. That’s not even something Ramona  blows up in her mind—it’s basically what her parents tell her. But the indignity of Mrs. Kemp being paid while Ramona entertains her granddaughter gets under my skin a bit. That really just shows how connected I’ve gotten to this little girl, though. I’ve been enjoying Stockard Channing’s narration throughout the series, too, and I recommend it for anyone who might be interested, young or old.

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Book Review: Thank You, Jeeves

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Thank You, Jeeves
Jeeves #5
 by P.G. Wodehouse
Read by Jonathan Cecil

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Classic British humor

The short story collections I’ve read in this series so far do usually have some connection between some of the short stories. But this is a whole different feel, being the first full novel in the series. I mostly enjoyed that format, but I will say that some of the storyline went on a bit too long for me. But the continuity throughout and the setting being the same the whole time, did give the author room to expand on the humor, and he did a great job. It’s definitely something of a farce, complete with constables coming across random men in sheds and garages, Bertie being snuck off a yacht by Jeeves, and many other outlandish scenarios. And to start things off, Jeeves actually leaves Bertie’s employment because he can’t stand his boss’s playing of a banjolele. While I didn’t truly expect that situation to last, that does not mean the overall story was predictable. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Cecil, who did a great job, and I’m really looking forward to continuing!

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Book Review: His Last Bow

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His Last Bow
Sherlock Holmes #8
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Read by David Clarke

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Classic mystery

This collection of short stories did not impress me overall. Based on synopses I’d read, I expected there to be more in the way of Holmes helping the British government during wartime than the one story, but there was only one. Most of the stories in the collection were either not particularly interesting to me or just felt too similar to many of the other Holmes stories I’ve read. However, the last two in the collection—”The Adventures of the Devil’s Foot” and the one for which the collection is named—were much more engaging and enjoyable. For those alone, I would probably have given the book 5 stars. The final one in particular, though I struggled to follow it early on, was quite different, being told in 3rd person and not really being a mystery. 

All I have left to read in the entire series now is The Hound of the Baskerville, and I will feel quite accomplished having finally read this well-known series in its entirety. Whether I will re-visit any of the Holmes stories in the future…I probably will, but not all of them.

Regarding the audiobook, I started listening to the narration of Frederick Davidson, but it reminded me too much of Cary Elwes’s impression of Winston Churchill in Robin Hood Men in Tights, and I couldn’t take it seriously. So I switched to David Clarke, and it was much better.

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Book Review: Ramona and Her Mother

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Ramona and Her Mother
Ramona Quimby #5
by Beverly Cleary
Read by Stockard Channing

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Children’s classic

This book did not stand out to me as much as previous in the series did. I think that’s just because a lot of it felt like rehashing of things Ramona did, misunderstandings, etc. from previous books. After how much I loved the previous book in the series, this one felt a little like a letdown. It seems like she could really do with a little more discipline, but on the other hand, she’s at a young enough age that both of her parents being gone full-time would have to be very difficult on her. I feel for Ramona in some of the situations she gets herself into, and there are also some nice moments in the book, as in previous ones. Stockard Channing’s narration is pretty great, too, and I recommend it for anyone who might be interested, young or old.

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Book Review: The First Four Years

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The First Four Years
Little House #9
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
read by Cherry Jones

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Children’s historical classic

I can understand now the claims that this book is so vastly different from the rest of the series. The main thing I noticed is that there is a lot of hardship, just like the rest of the books have, but while the rest of the books also make sure to talk about the happy things mixed in, this one barely does. I get the feeling that Laura Ingalls Wilder, or perhaps her daughter Rose Wilder Lane, who edited the previous works, intentionally included those happy moments to soften the difficult ones. No one did that for this manuscript. Not that there weren’t a few happy moments, but they were meager compared to the loss of crops time after time, the bad weather, the fire, the sickness. And Almanzo comes across pretty terrible in this book. He convinced Laura to give farming 3 years when she tells him that she doesn’t really want to live a farmer’s life due to the hardship (which she was absolutely correct about, obviously) before they were married, so it’s not like she waited until afterward to tell him she didn’t want him to farm, and that, if farming isn’t so much a success for them that she’s okay with continuing, he’ll quit. After 3 years of losing their crops every year, though, he talks her into “just one more year.” To me, that sounds like a man who has no plans to ever give up his own way. I haven’t read Wilder’s diaries from after this time, and I don’t plan to at this time, but I do hope that he wasn’t as manipulative as he seems in this book.

For this whole series, my enjoyment of the book was greatly enhanced by the audiobook narrator, Cherry Jones, who does a fantastic job. If you’ve ever considered reading this series, or have already read it and have occasion to listen to the audiobooks, I say do it!

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Book Review: Very Good, Jeeves

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Very Good, Jeeves
Jeeves #4
 by P.G. Wodehouse
Read by Jonathan Cecil

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Classic British humor

This was definitely one of my favorite collections of the series. Maybe the outlandish situations Bertie Wooster gets himself into should be getting stale, but I’m only enjoying them more as I go. Maybe because I’m starting to get into the overall feel of the stories more? There were several moments that made me laugh out loud or at least smile; I regret that I was listening to the audiobook and couldn’t make note of them at the time. Bertie fooling himself into thinking Jeeves doesn’t always get his own way, though, is one such moment. I only wish I could have continued to listen to Kevin Theis, but apparently he only narrated 4 of the books. Though I still like Theis more, Jonathan Cecil was good too, excepting for the strange speech impediment he gave to Bingo Little. I can say with certainty at this point that I will listen to these audiobooks again someday.

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Book Review: The Last of the Mohicans (adapted for younger readers)

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The Last of the Mohicans
by James Fenimore Cooper, adapted by Eliza Gatewood Warren

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Classic, children’s

It’s difficult to know whether to rate books like this based on the story or on the adaptation. I’ve never read the original book and only vaguely remember seeing the movie when I was younger (I remember my dad watching it a lot). The only thing I really remember is some romance and a cave behind a waterfall. Anyway, in an adaptation like this, it’s no surprise to find a lot more telling than showing, as the adapter not only needs to shorten the story but also explain things in simple language. I think it gets the overall story across fine, though without the depth the original would have. And most likely without some emotion. In the end, I felt like the main thing that was lacking was a real connection between Hawkeye and Chingachgook, considering that the ending makes a big deal out of their friendship.

What is especially difficult about reviewing or recommending this book, though, is that it’s meant for kids, yet it’s full of violence and death. I’m sure the original is more so, of course. But I can only imagine the illustrator’s remarks about some of the illustrations he/she was asked to draw: “You want him being shot?” “So the knife should be bloody in this one?” “How many will be lying dead on the ground in this scene?” “Oh, she’s about to be scalped? Taken away to be forced to be his wife? Sure, no problem.”  So in the end, I think I’d recommend this book be read with your kids, so you can talk about the harsh reality of life during wartime.

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