bibliophage's reviews
626 reviews

The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. B: 1820-1865 (Seventh Edition) by Nina Baym

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I love American Literature and this is nice compilation to become familiar with some of the more well-known pieces and authors (and some that also deserve attention but haven't hit the spotlight yet).
The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket

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My favorite Lemony Snicket. So much clever, playful, writing.
Correspondence of Palestine Tourists: Comprising a Series of Letters by George A. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Paul A. Schettler, and Eliza R. Snow, of Utah.. by George Albert Smith

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A very interesting peek in to the worldviews of Christian American tourists in the 1870s. Particularly interesting for Latter-day Saints. A new way to get to know several Latter-day Saint leaders through their writing that is less "official." Eliza R. Snow's letters are fascinating. Wrote my master's thesis on these letters.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

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Oh the moors of Yorkshire! A dark and dramatic tale made-up of full and exuberant characters.
The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life by Terryl L. Givens, Fiona Givens

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Terryl and Fiona Givens are such eloquent and elegant writers. I love everything I read by them. This books is beautifully done with lots of insight. I love the way they sew religion, philosophy, literature, history, and intellect together in a seamless way.
The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections On the Quest for Faith by Terryl L. Givens, Fiona Givens

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I think about this book often, probably weekly. Lots of thoughtful insights here that are helpful for those striving for a faithful and positive experience within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm returning to my review here because I was just talking about this book with a friend. I wish I hadn't packed away my copy when I moved, I would like to pick it up again. This book is worth several reads across time.
Sonnets by William Shakespeare

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Shakespeare's sonnets are lovely and a total pleasure to read.
Matilda by Roald Dahl

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A delightful Roald Dahl––an imaginative story with interesting characters.
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

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I love Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass is the attempt of the poet to record what it means to be an American. His work deserves to be read aloud as it's not only a written art but also an oral and aural art.
“This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.”
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

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A simple story that has me in tears every time.