jackdziatkowiec's reviews
217 reviews

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Short and sad.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The irony is strong with this one. 

The first thing that shocked me was the archaic and offensive language. It's in total opposition to the message of the story. Two people from different background who find themselves in the same circumstance and must rely on each other to survive, and realize they have more in common than not.

Huck and Jim travel down the Mississippi. They meet two other travellers and form a theater troupe. They put on shitty shows in towns they come across and try to swindle the villagers out of their money. Huck does his best to thwart their plans.

By and by, Jim is captured and sold into slavery, but just in time, Tom Sawyer shows up to save the day ...and ruins everything.

Instead of helping Jim escape, Tom keeps him chained up, because he thinks it's fun to be a prisoner. Jim should try to enjoy it.

This third act of the book ruins every anti-slavery message it was working towards.

Tom Sawyer's IQ dropped significantly in this book. Maybe because it's written from the perspective of Huck Finn. Similarly, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is from Tom's perspective, and Huck was the dumb one. Funny how perspective shifts your view of the world and the people in it. Both of them think the other is an idiot.

Micro by Michael Crichton, Richard Preston

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

I wasn't into it until half way through the book. What finally hooked me were the horror elements of this adventure. The first half of the book could have been shorter.

Freshwater: A Comedy by Virginia Woolf

challenging lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

Includes two versions of the play. An early script, and a later revised version. Both feel like an experiment that was never meant to be published.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Full of puns, and little nuggets of wisdom. Magical and wholesome, and absurd.

Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was completely charmed by Cyrano. He's garish and belligerent, and a pitiful romantic. I was really rooting for him.

The Misanthrope and Tartuffe, by Molière by Molière

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This translation was funny, witty, and everything rhymes. It's easy to read and very engaging. The Misanthrope is about unrequited love. Tartuffe is about deception, and the hypocrisy of pious men.

Favorite Poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This is the type of poetry I like. It's readable, concise, and every line rhymes. His narrative poetry as well, is quite nice.

Civil Disobedience, and Other Essays by Henry David Thoreau

challenging inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

Not much has changed in 150 years. The government finds new ways to enslave and divide its populace. Injustice and corruption prevail at every turn. The government is bought and sold to the highest bidder. Why do I need a representative to vote for me? Where is the voting app? Every 18 year old has a cell phone. We can vote for ourselves for whatever local ordinances and national addendums are put forth. The government is holding us back from having control of our rights. It's mind boggling to me that the few in political office make decisions for the millions, based solely on their own interests and profit. It's high time for a revolution! 

Also, I need to take more walks.

The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Short and sweet.