Mique Reads

I will again be participating in the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge hosted by Karen at Books and Chocolate in 2021. The options are as follows: Tier 1- complete 6 categories Tier 2- complete 9 categories Tier 3- complete 12 categories My goal is to complete all 12 categories. Here are this year's categories and my tentative reading plan: A 19th century classic : any book first published from 1800 to 1899 - Dracula by Bram Stoker A 20th century classic : any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written  by 1971 and posthumously published. - The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge A classic by a woman author . - The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton A classic in translation , meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer. - Paradisio by Dante Alighieri A classic by

 This year I completed SIX categories (Tier ONE) for Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2020. I have earned ONE ENTRY. I always try to go for all 12, but I still haven't succeeded in that. I'm ok with that, though. I'm dealing with a lot, and I just really enjoy the process, and being a part of the challenge. Here are the categories I have completed: 20th Century Classic:  Under the Sea Wind by Rachel Carson Classic by a Woman Author:  The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson Classic with a Place in the Title:  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith Classic with Nature in the Title:  The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson Genre Classic:  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Classic Adaptation:  Pied Piper by Nevil Shute My contact information is mique3483 [at] gmail [dot] com

Format: Ebook Category: Classic with nature in the title Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2020 ( Karen's Books and Chocolate ) To look into such a pool is to behold a dark forest, it’s foliage like the leaves of palm trees, the heavy stalks of the kelps also curiously like the trunks of palms.  This 3rd installment in Carson's "sea trilogy"  covers three types of shores: rocky, sand, and coral. These are all covered on the Atlantic Coastline. While this book is lyrical like her others, I found that it was a little too detailed at times, and read more like a textbook than the other two books. Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous books in the trilogy, but I think it's still worth reading. 

Format: Ebook Category: Classic Adaptation (Film-1942/1990) Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2020 ( Karen's Books and Chocolate ) You can call a sunset by a filthy name, but you do not spoil its beauty, monsieur.      This book will give you be faith in humanity. A 70 year old Brit, named Howard, is enjoying a fishing trip in France. This is during WWII, before France is occupied. He makes friends with a family there, and the parents ask him to take their two children back to safety in England, because they are needed in Geneva. Howard agrees, but on the way, France becomes invaded by nazis, and he has to be clever to smuggle the children out. Along the way, he picks up many more children, and his path becomes more difficult. I won't spoil what else happens, but this book will give you faith in humanity. I haven't seen the movies, but there was an adaptation in 1942 and another in 1990. I'm interested in watching them, though, as I adored this little book with gre

Format: ebook Category: Genre Classic (Horror) Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2020 ( Karen's Books and Chocolate ) Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.      So I've just been so overwhelmed and ill, so my lastest reviews just aren't going to be as set as detailed. I never got around to reading Frankenstein before now, despite it's popularity, and boy was I wowed! I'm just even more blown away when I think about the fact that it was written by a pregnant runaway teenager. It's really so different from the popular depictions of Frankenstein, and it has really deep themes. This is now one of my favorites, and I know I'll read it again. 

Format: Ebook Category: Classic with a Place in the Title- Back to the Classics 2020 ( Books and Chocolate )  "Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth. And it's strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong."      There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, and I just don't get it. I mean, I get why this has a place as a classic, being as it is a slice of historical realism. It is semi-autobiographical, about an impoverished Irish-German family living in Brooklyn during the early 1900s. I just couldn't get into it. The pace was too slow. It was like it was in real time. There were several pages dedicated to shopping at candy stores, butchers, etc. Every mundane detail about purchasing a pickle was laid out. My eyes started glazing over. There are also a lot of things that just don't m