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kailey_luminouslibro's Reviews (3.79k)
I enjoyed this play! The action is fast-paced and the dialogue is snappy. The characters are all hot-heads who spend half their time insulting one another, then fighting to regain their honor or plotting dastardly conspiracies in the dark.
It was a bit of a struggle to keep up with the politics, but I managed it. I learned that you can never really trust anything a character says, because one minute they are swearing loyalty to the king, and the next minute they are plotting against him. Everybody keeps switching sides and misrepresenting themselves! It didn't get too confusing though; I was still able to follow what was going on.
King Richard II is such a pathetic figure. He really seems unbalanced, almost like he's bipolar or something. I didn't like him in the beginning, but I did like him at the end. At first, he's like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. He gets really sentimental towards the end though, and his grief seems genuine and he speaks from the heart. Poor dude, he's just all confused and helpless.
Henry Bolingbroke is brave and resourceful and has resounding speeches. From one point of view, he may be a greedy villain grasping for the throne; but he also has a high sense of honor, I think. He is a beautifully written character, almost like a knight from a fairy tale. I love all the chivalrous speeches and the derring-do!
I wish there were more women in this play, but the two ladies that do have small parts are wonderful! The Queen seems intelligent, if a little depressed, and very affectionately attached to her husband. I loved her sweet speeches and her gentle way of talking.
The Duchess of York is another lovely lady. I was so impressed with her tenacious arguments on behalf of her son. She was able to combine forcefulness with gracious language, so that she is strong and confident without being a shrew or a whiner. A good balance, and this delightful lady has only two scenes!
Another great play, and I'm excited to read more of the historical plays of the Bard.
It was a bit of a struggle to keep up with the politics, but I managed it. I learned that you can never really trust anything a character says, because one minute they are swearing loyalty to the king, and the next minute they are plotting against him. Everybody keeps switching sides and misrepresenting themselves! It didn't get too confusing though; I was still able to follow what was going on.
King Richard II is such a pathetic figure. He really seems unbalanced, almost like he's bipolar or something. I didn't like him in the beginning, but I did like him at the end. At first, he's like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. He gets really sentimental towards the end though, and his grief seems genuine and he speaks from the heart. Poor dude, he's just all confused and helpless.
Henry Bolingbroke is brave and resourceful and has resounding speeches. From one point of view, he may be a greedy villain grasping for the throne; but he also has a high sense of honor, I think. He is a beautifully written character, almost like a knight from a fairy tale. I love all the chivalrous speeches and the derring-do!
I wish there were more women in this play, but the two ladies that do have small parts are wonderful! The Queen seems intelligent, if a little depressed, and very affectionately attached to her husband. I loved her sweet speeches and her gentle way of talking.
The Duchess of York is another lovely lady. I was so impressed with her tenacious arguments on behalf of her son. She was able to combine forcefulness with gracious language, so that she is strong and confident without being a shrew or a whiner. A good balance, and this delightful lady has only two scenes!
Another great play, and I'm excited to read more of the historical plays of the Bard.
This is a short, funny book with the true stories of the etymology of words that were derived from the names of real people. I love stuff like this! History really is weird sometimes. Each eponymous etymology is explained with plenty of wit, keeping things interesting and fun.
Some of them, like the Earl of Sandwich and Madame de Pompadour, I already knew; but most were new to me. An easy and informative read if you like random trivia (and I do)!
Some of them, like the Earl of Sandwich and Madame de Pompadour, I already knew; but most were new to me. An easy and informative read if you like random trivia (and I do)!
What a cute book! I love the premise about tiny people being spawned on a gym sock! On the surface, this is your typical story of a middle-school kid trying to avoid bullies, wishing he could be one of the "cool kids", and ultimately learning about friendship and how to stand up for himself.
But the addition of those tiny people makes it so unique and fun, especially once the little Toddlians start watching TV and reading the encyclopedia! Their out-of-place references to pop culture, John Wayne movies, Shakespeare, and Winston Churchill had me laughing in every chapter! It's the details that make this story special!
I like the neighbor girl, Lucy, who is home-schooled for "hippie reasons". I loved her intelligent and moral speeches. She's a strong supporting character.
I was disappointed in Todd through nearly the entire book. He's such a wimp, but at least he knows he's a wimp and feels decently guilty about it. I thought his moral dilemma and search for courage took far too long. He should have stood up to those bullies much sooner! But once he finally got his heart in the right place, instead of being a selfish idiot, I liked him again.
The writing moves a bit slowly at first but picks up towards the middle and end. There are good descriptors and funny dialogue. I loved the little chapters from the perspectives of the tiny Toddlians. Seeing the world through their tiny eyes was a cute way to bring more interest to the story.
This book is full of gross boogers and farts and toe jam, so I know that boys will love it. And I know just the boys I'm going to give this book to!
My favorite bit is that Todd's mom is a piano teacher! I'm a piano teacher too, so I empathized with her struggles. haha!
But the addition of those tiny people makes it so unique and fun, especially once the little Toddlians start watching TV and reading the encyclopedia! Their out-of-place references to pop culture, John Wayne movies, Shakespeare, and Winston Churchill had me laughing in every chapter! It's the details that make this story special!
I like the neighbor girl, Lucy, who is home-schooled for "hippie reasons". I loved her intelligent and moral speeches. She's a strong supporting character.
I was disappointed in Todd through nearly the entire book. He's such a wimp, but at least he knows he's a wimp and feels decently guilty about it. I thought his moral dilemma and search for courage took far too long. He should have stood up to those bullies much sooner! But once he finally got his heart in the right place, instead of being a selfish idiot, I liked him again.
The writing moves a bit slowly at first but picks up towards the middle and end. There are good descriptors and funny dialogue. I loved the little chapters from the perspectives of the tiny Toddlians. Seeing the world through their tiny eyes was a cute way to bring more interest to the story.
This book is full of gross boogers and farts and toe jam, so I know that boys will love it. And I know just the boys I'm going to give this book to!
My favorite bit is that Todd's mom is a piano teacher! I'm a piano teacher too, so I empathized with her struggles. haha!
I am loving rereading Harry Potter in Spanish! It is really helping me to expand my Spanish vocab too.
I love this author's writing style! Every book of hers that I've read has been delightful but also... different, weird, indescribable. This one is a sweet story about two siblings who find a playroom in an old mansion, and then things take a dark turn. I won't spoil it for you, but it deals with child psychology and it's definitely strange.
There's always that one character in all her books that is intriguing and creepy and you just never know what insanity is going to develop. It certainly keeps things interesting!
I read this book all in one sitting; it really grabbed my attention. I love the close relationship between brother and sister in this story! Every character is so unique and complex. The plot is a bit one-track and fairly simple, but never boring.
I recommend this for any kid to read! Great children's book!
There's always that one character in all her books that is intriguing and creepy and you just never know what insanity is going to develop. It certainly keeps things interesting!
I read this book all in one sitting; it really grabbed my attention. I love the close relationship between brother and sister in this story! Every character is so unique and complex. The plot is a bit one-track and fairly simple, but never boring.
I recommend this for any kid to read! Great children's book!
OH, this is one of my new favorites! King Henry is so fabulous and dashing and debonair and courageous and honorable and quite polite when he wants to be. I love his jokes and his speeches and oh, everything! He might be my favorite Shakespearean character, (after Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing.)
I loved the assassination plot, and how Henry handled those evil conspirators. He's so self-assured and decisive. I loved seeing him so different from when he was younger in the "Henry IV" plays.
I loved seeing Henry interact with his common soldiers and officers and noble family, all different people from different classes. He seems to know just what to say to each person to bring out the best in them, to inspire them, and secure their loyalty and love.
I loved the scene when Henry is wooing Katherine. What a romantic charmer! He gives the most delightfully blunt speeches, and her shy responses were just perfection. Thank God, I took French in high school, so I was able to follow along a bit. I don't know of any other Shakespearean play where there is quite so much French dialogue.
I loved all the action and the war scenes, and half the common Englishmen challenging the other half to duels over trifling offenses. Those lusty soldier boys itching for battle just can't keep their swords out of mischief. I loved the insults that flew between the nobility too! The French Dauphin and Henry really had some great insulting repartee. Seeing both sides of the battle and the different attitudes of each army was incredible. Just brilliantly written!
Of course, I have read snippets of this play before, like the Saint Crispin's Day speech, but this is my first time reading the entire thing. I love it so much! This one will be a re-read in years to come.
I loved the assassination plot, and how Henry handled those evil conspirators. He's so self-assured and decisive. I loved seeing him so different from when he was younger in the "Henry IV" plays.
I loved seeing Henry interact with his common soldiers and officers and noble family, all different people from different classes. He seems to know just what to say to each person to bring out the best in them, to inspire them, and secure their loyalty and love.
I loved the scene when Henry is wooing Katherine. What a romantic charmer! He gives the most delightfully blunt speeches, and her shy responses were just perfection. Thank God, I took French in high school, so I was able to follow along a bit. I don't know of any other Shakespearean play where there is quite so much French dialogue.
I loved all the action and the war scenes, and half the common Englishmen challenging the other half to duels over trifling offenses. Those lusty soldier boys itching for battle just can't keep their swords out of mischief. I loved the insults that flew between the nobility too! The French Dauphin and Henry really had some great insulting repartee. Seeing both sides of the battle and the different attitudes of each army was incredible. Just brilliantly written!
Of course, I have read snippets of this play before, like the Saint Crispin's Day speech, but this is my first time reading the entire thing. I love it so much! This one will be a re-read in years to come.
This is the perfect book to read when I'm sick or have insomnia. It's not exciting enough to keep me awake, but the little everyday village doings and the simple mystery are enough to keep me interested to the end. I love the historical additions from Beatrix Potter's true life, and the chapters told from the animals perspective. It sounds corny, but blends in perfectly with Beatrix Potter's stories.
Read it every summer since I was 12, and it never gets old. Now I'm re-reading it in Spanish to brush up my bilingual brain.
I loved finding out more about this author's life! What an interesting character she had! I love that she had such an independent spirit in a time when women didn't enjoy much freedom. "I do what I want" seems to have been her motto.
She wrote about 60 novels and over a hundred short stories, but most of them are out of print these days. I love her books, and I'm always searching for those obscure out-of-print editions.
My favorite tidbits about her life:
1. Frances loved dressing up in frilly outfits, earning her the nickname "Fluffy".
2. As teens, Frances and her sister picked berries and sold them in a market. They used the money to buy paper, ink, and stamps for Frances to write her stories and send them to magazines. She published her first story at the age of 18.
3. She was married twice and divorced twice in a time when divorce was scandalous. She did what was best for her despite public opinion.
4. She rented a house with a walled garden where she planted dozens of rose bushes, and befriended a robin there. Just like the Secret Garden! She also wrote a short story from the viewpoint of the robin.
5. Her youngest son, Vivian, was the inspiration for the character of Cedric in Little Lord Faunterloy. The illustrator of the book based his art off a photograph of Vivian with long curls.
6. When Frances' eldest son, Lionel, died, she started writing stories about ghosts who visit their families. She studied spiritualism, attended seances, and believed that the dead are never far away from us.
7. Near the end of her life, Frances wrote,
"When you have a Garden,
You have a Future.
And when you have a Future,
You are Alive!"
She wrote about 60 novels and over a hundred short stories, but most of them are out of print these days. I love her books, and I'm always searching for those obscure out-of-print editions.
My favorite tidbits about her life:
1. Frances loved dressing up in frilly outfits, earning her the nickname "Fluffy".
2. As teens, Frances and her sister picked berries and sold them in a market. They used the money to buy paper, ink, and stamps for Frances to write her stories and send them to magazines. She published her first story at the age of 18.
3. She was married twice and divorced twice in a time when divorce was scandalous. She did what was best for her despite public opinion.
4. She rented a house with a walled garden where she planted dozens of rose bushes, and befriended a robin there. Just like the Secret Garden! She also wrote a short story from the viewpoint of the robin.
5. Her youngest son, Vivian, was the inspiration for the character of Cedric in Little Lord Faunterloy. The illustrator of the book based his art off a photograph of Vivian with long curls.
6. When Frances' eldest son, Lionel, died, she started writing stories about ghosts who visit their families. She studied spiritualism, attended seances, and believed that the dead are never far away from us.
7. Near the end of her life, Frances wrote,
"When you have a Garden,
You have a Future.
And when you have a Future,
You are Alive!"