https://www.stevedrice.net/ 2026-04-25T07:41:20+00:00 https://www.stevedrice.net/ https://www.stevedrice.net/_media/wiki/dokuwiki.svg text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/168 Review of 'Northanger Abbey' Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Catherine Morland is a young lady being introduced into polite society in Bath (England). She quickly befriends Isabella and they spend much time together with Isabella eventually becoming engaged to Catherine's brother. Catherine jumps to conclusions very quickly as we see when she follows her potential suitor text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/169 Review of 'Emma' Emma by Jane Austen Emma is a rather wealthly young lady in the 1800s living with her rather peculiar father in a large house in Surrey, England. The story revolves around the various events in her life and the lives of others she meddles in, including her text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/170 Review of 'Nicholas Nickleby' Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens This is the story of the unfortunate young Nicholas whose family is thrown at the mercy of his “evil” uncle when Nicholas' father dies. Nicholas is promptly sent away to the horrible “ text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/171 Review of 'Hard Times' Hard Times by Charles Dickens This is a critical review of a difficult time in english society with the beginning of the industrial revolution which would so dramatically effect the english lifestyle. The story follows two prominent families in the town of Coketown text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/172 Review of 'The Pickwick Papers' The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens A series of chapters originally serialized in monthly installments that follows the adventures of Mr. Pickwick, his manservant Sam Weller and fellows of the “Pickwick Clubs” as they leave London to explore the countryside of 1800s England. Their experiences are charming and illustrative of the society in which the book is set. The english mannerisms of Pickwick contrasted with the much more text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/173 Review of 'Our Mutual Friend' Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens A story beginning with the discovery of a body in the Thames and following the implications as they effect a series of unforgetable characters: Mr. Boffin - “The Golden Dustman” (collector of valuable waste material) who inherits the fortune left behind by the unfortunate victim, Lizie Hexam the unfortunate orphan of the man who found the body who goes on to be tormented by the unwanted attentions of his brother's schoolmast… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/174 Review of 'Great Expectations' Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Great Expectations follows the story of Philip Pirrip (or “Pip” as he is known throughout) as he begins his life adopted by his sister and her husband, Jo, his best friend. Pip's adventures only begin when he helps an escaped convict then is called to text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/175 Review of 'Crime and Punishment' Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Immensely more readable than the Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment follows the story of a young (ex) university student in the late 1800s, Raskolnikov as he justifies then carries out the murder of an old money-changer (and, in the course of events, her innocent daughter). Raskolnikov's life is complicated by his sister's proposed marriage to a man totally text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/176 Review of 'The Brothers Karamazov' The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky The story of Fyodor Karamazov and his three sons: Dimitry (Mitya), Ivan, and Alesky (Aloyosha) -- the disintegration of their family and, by extrapolation, the society of the time in which the book was written. The story revolves around the jealousy that springs up between Dimitry and his father as they are attracted to the same woman text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/177 Review of 'King Solomon's Mines' King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard Following the story of Alan Quartermain - hunter extraordinaire - as he is recruited by Sir Henry Cirtus (along with his companion Captain John Good) to go in search of the famed “King Solomon's Mines text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/178 Review of 'The Catcher in the Rye' The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger A fascinating tale of a young boy who has just been expelled from school as he attempts to find himself as he wanders about in New York. Holden is a very sympathetic character and is far nicer than he thinks he is and far more a text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/179 Review of 'War and Peace' War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy The one thing that seems to be notable about this book is it's size though in literary circles it is admired on it's obvious merits. An epic story of the advance of Napoleon to Moscow in the war of 1812 the book follows a number of individuals in how the army's advance effects them all. Interspersed amongst the later part of the story Tolstoy introduces the periodic political chapter (the last chapter, the Second Epilogue, in particul… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/190 Review of 'Les Misérables' Les Misérables by Victor Hugo (1994 English Version) A masterpiece of European literature, Les Misérables is a work of art. Telling the story of Jean Valjean -- a man convicted and sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread but when released, twisted by his experience, he steals some candlesticks from a local priest. This would be the turning point in his life as, when he is found out the priest denies they were stolen and were, in fact, a gift. The priest cha… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/473 Review of 'The Winter of Our Discontent' The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck Ethan is a store clerk at a store his family previously owned in a small US town where he his family owned many properties. He works for an Italian immigrant who pays little attention to the store but Ethan is honest and works hard, struggling to always do what is best. When he is offered the chance to skim a bit off of the top to bring in the money he believes his family want his moral compass is dist… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/487 Review of 'The Grapes of Wrath' The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck It is the great depression and in rural Oklahoma the Joad family, tenant farmers, have been driven from the plot of land they have worked for years. Son Tom has been released from prison on parole is joined by Casy, an ex-preacher who has lost his faith, as they go in search of his family. Eventually they are found at Uncle John's loading their possessions into an overloaded Hudson sedan that has been converted into a t… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/489 Review of 'Tortilla Flat' Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck “Tortilla Flat” is a shabby district of the California coastal town of Monterey. It is here we are introduced to a group of mobless “paisanos”, individuals of Mexican-Indian-Spanish-Caucasian descent led by Danny, who, unexpectedly, inherits two houses in text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/490 Review of 'The Red Pony' The Red Pony by John Steinbeck Jody is a young boy living with his parents and cow-hand Billy Buck on a rank in the US west. Told largely from the perspective of Jody, “The Red Pony” is told in four parts starting in “The Gift text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/491 Review of 'Of Mice and Men' Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck I originally read this book as part of my English class in high school and I remember how the ending really made an impression on me. Re-reading it now the ending has no less of an impact and makes it one of the most memorable, and perhaps most tragic, of Steinbeck's books. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/493 Review of 'The Moon is Down' The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck A foreign military power steps in to occupy a small European village. At first the reactions of Mayor Orden and the townspeople are comedic as they are not entirely sure how to cope with the situation and offer no resistance. As time goes on their resentment builds to the point of outright rebellion as the snow beings to fall. The occupying army accepts it's occupation orders reluctantly with Colonel Lanser knowing full well… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/494 Review of 'Cannery Row' Cannery Row by John Steinbeck In Depression-era California, “Cannery Row” is in Monterey where amongst the many canneries live a number of memorable characters. There is Lee Chong, the Chinese immigrant who runs the local store; the quirky scientist text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/495 Review of 'The Pearl' The Pearl by John Steinbeck Kino is a hard-working pearl-diver with a wife, Juana, and a son, Coyotito. They are content with their simple life living in a small shack on the beach. When Kino discovers a massive pearl his life is turned upside down. A greedy doctor having refused to provide care to Kino prior to ther pearl, now comes calling the to shack. The pearl-buyers of the town conspire to cheat Kino of the true value of the pearl. Others seek to steel the p… text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/introduction Classics A large number of classics, like many people, I was “forced” to read while in university but then, as I got older, I WANTED to read them: What was the fascination with War and Peace? What makes Les Miserables such a fantastic piece of literature? Sometimes the writing may be dated but often the ideas the messages they are trying to get across are as relevant today as when they were written. text/html 2023-04-30T18:21:46+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.stevedrice.net/reviews/books/classic/list List (by Author)