April 12, 2010

Songs of Action

Songs of Actions by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

It never occurred to me that apart from Holmes, Conan Doyle has other works, especially poetry. What surprised me more is that this collection of poetry, or more like a collection of folksongs, comprises works that appeal kinds of human emotions, especially those describing battle field. It is quite difficult to imagine that the one who wrote such ardent poetry should create a over-calm, minute, exact figure like Holmes! But well, this collection is a delight for reading, easy, passionate, and fluent.

由 drinker 發表於 07:24 PM | 迴響 (1) | 引用

April 10, 2010

The Fair Rewards

The Fair Rewards by Thomas Beer

This novel is mesmeric....I can not but smile when reading Mark Walling's view about theater, such as "what is a play without scenery?" and something like that. The pleasant mood lasts until the ungrateful Margot falls...It makes me feel sad that such a character should be a childish girl, although I am never surprised at how foolish a childish person could be sometimes.

Another interesting thing for me is that Wilde never appears in this novel while Shaw and others do have their places. Perhaps it is that Wilde still suffered from his infamous death.

由 drinker 發表於 01:51 PM | 迴響 (0) | 引用

April 08, 2010

Dracula's Guest

Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker

I do not always read horror stories because, for me, reading horror stories is like watching horror films. If they are good, you are paying both your time and money to feel horrible. If they are terrible, why bother?

However, there are some authors that could overpass this reluctance. One is Poe, another, Stoker? Maybe. I must admit I read this collection out of sheer curiosity. Nevertheless, I do not feel disappointed after leafing through it. Stoker's writing is clear and fluent, and some stories would make me feel chilling in the back. And well, I particularly like "The Gypsy Prophecy," in which the ambiguity of prophecy is minutely described.

由 drinker 發表於 10:23 AM | 迴響 (0) | 引用

April 06, 2010

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare

Somehow I feel that the theme of misunderstood love still lives in contemporary works of TV program...XD

It is short, entertaining, and the reader might feel relieved when the conspiracy is revealed, the name of Hero cleaned, and the marriage consumed. However, I still feel uneasy when it occurs to me that Desdemona of Othello is also accused of infidelity and has to die for the accusation without a chance to defend herself. It's like, why do women have to suffer for men's folly?

由 drinker 發表於 08:00 PM | 迴響 (0) | 引用

April 03, 2010

Mountain Interval

Mountain Interval by Robert Frost
Suddenly a sensation of nostalgia grasped me when I read the first poem in this book and surely it had to be The Road Not Taken. Frost's works always strike me as fluent, oral, and pastoral. The poetry collected in Mountain Interval is no exception. He is good at finding extraordinary from the ordinary, even from the tedious routine countryside life style. Perhaps, for him, the poetic could only be perceived by experiencing daily life wholeheartedly.

由 drinker 發表於 02:30 PM | 迴響 (0) | 引用