Literature | love2learn.net

Othello

the Moor of Venice

Author(s):

William Shakespeare

Subject(s):

Classic Literature

Grade / Age level:

High School

Adults

Review:

Othello, which we studied in tenth grade, is a dark play, a tragedy brought about by Othello's surrender to Iago's campaign of deceit.

Although this is the main idea of the play, quite a few characters and twists and turns maintain the suspense. The title character Othello is a general and Iago's commander. Iago is angered at Othello's promotion of a less-experienced soldier (Cassio) over him; moreover he is in the pay of Roderigo, a rich man who wishes to marry the beautiful Desdemona. However, Othello has already won over Desdemona and married her. In his hatred, Iago plots to ruin Othello's life by convincing him that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, thereby exacting revenge on Cassio as well. In this, he succeeds, with tragic results.

I found it easy, even at that age, to relate to the characters in this play. They are drawn with depth and are believable. In particular, Othello's inner struggle is very realistic -- we in the audience want to shout at him that Iago is lying, that he should trust Desdemona.

Major themes in this play are love, trust, jealousy, and free will. Pride and insecurity also play important parts in the drama. The consequences of wrong choices are all too clear, as are the consequences of putting one's trust in the wrong person. Questions to consider might include: Why does Othello believe Iago? What could he have done differently? Othello doesn't go in one quick step from newlywed in love with his bride to murderous jealousy. What are the "little steps" by which he allows himself to be led on this road?

Additional notes:

Written c. 1601-1604

Many editions available. "Interleaved" editions (original text with notes on facing page) are helpful.

Review Date:

1-24-2009

Reviewed by:

Suchi Myjak

TitleSort:

Othello

Owls in the Family

Author(s):

Farley Mowat

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

1961

Review:

Owls in the Family is a wonderful story of a few years in the life of a young boy growing up in Canada, his friends, and his unusual pets. This tale, by distinguished author Farley Mowat, is told in the first person, recounting hilarious episodes with colorful descriptions, proving that real life can be even more fun than a made-up story.

Billy’s newest pets, horned owls named Wol and Weeps, add an entirely new dimension to an already chaotic, pet-filled home. His tolerant parents and adventurous friends enjoy one challenging situation after another as the owls become beloved family members. Readers will enjoy learning about the habits of owls and other animals on the Canadian prairie as the owls outsmart Mutt the dog, attend French class, and torment the postman.

This classic novel will appeal to all elementary-aged children who enjoy stories about animals. It is a particularly good selection for reading aloud, as well as being especially well-suited for young boys.

Publisher:

Yearling

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

91 pages

Review Date:

9-29-2008

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

TitleSort:

Owls in the Family

Pamela Walks the Dog

Author(s):

Christine Marlin

Subject(s):

Easy Readers

Illustrator(s):

Hilda van Stockum

Grade / Age level:

Grades K-2

Resource Type:

Picture Books

2001

Review:

This latest title in the Bethlehem Books Lamb Time series is a short but sweet (and very funny) story about a busy little girl going through the very important and imaginative process of getting ready to walk the dog. Any parent with small children will appreciate the humorous truth about how children are that the author so clearly understands, even in such a simple story. This shouldn't surprise fans of the author's grandmother and the book's illustrator, Hilda Van Stockum, whose own books portray a beautiful understanding of small children.

My two reading-age children (ages 6 and 8) so enjoyed the punch line that they fought over who would be the first one to read the story to Daddy. As evidenced from the sticky fingerprints on every page, my younger children (ages 2 and 4) have been poring over the book as well. The story could be easily read by a younger reader who knows most of the phonograms (the story includes a few "challenging" words, such as "thought" and "would").

Publisher:

Bethlehem Books

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Number of pages:

24 pages

Review Date:

12-1-01

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Pamela Walks the Dog

Past Suspicion

Author(s):

Therese Heckencamp

Subject(s):

Miscellaneous Fiction

Grade / Age level:

High School

2003

Review:

ISBN # 1-59286-802-9

After the death of her mother, a young woman, Robin, must travel from her home in California to a small town in Wisconsin to live with an uncle she never knew existed. She is angry and determined to escape as soon as she turns eighteen, which will be very soon. Almost immediately upon her arrival mysterious things begin to happen. She moves into the room her mother lived in as a young woman and learns a lot about her mother by going through her things. Evidently her mother kept many other secrets, besides having a brother, from her.

Two men enter her life and she is attracted to one and repulsed by the other, yet they both seem to have an interest in her that goes beyond dating. As the story unfolds, Robin finds out that in the past her mother was involved in a life-threatening accident involving a story she was researching for the school paper. She had found a map to a treasure that was part of the history of the town. This incident is what caused her to leave town before Robin was born and to never tell Robin about her family there. The two men know the story of her mother and the treasure, and, the reader finds out, each other very well.

Robin begins to research her mother's accident and the story she was working on. However, the more she discovers about the past, the more danger she herself is in. Still, she can't seem to let it go until she learns the truth.

To tell anymore would give the mystery away. The story follows the formula of the old Victoria Holt romance mysteries where the heroine is attracted to the guy who seems good but turns out to be the bad guy. The true love is one she mistrusts or doesn't understand. The author even uses the Victoria Holt novels as props in part of the plot. It seemed obvious to me as I read it, perhaps because I read all those Victoria Holt novels when I was younger, so I asked a high school girl in my parish to read Past Suspicion and here are her exact words, "It was great! It was kind of slow at the beginning, but it was well worth it!" Although I thought the formula was obvious, there were a few twists that I did not figure out, and that's what you really want in a mystery story.

This is definitely a romance and not heavy reading, but completely morally acceptable. Even though the young woman seems rebellious, she seeks counsel from a priest and works to improve her relationship with her uncle. The romance part of the story is pretty much kept on an intellectual level.

Most impressively, Miss Heckencamp, wrote the draft of this story when she was eighteen. She captures the torn emotions of the main character and the rising sense of danger very adeptly. A high school girl who likes romances would enjoy this story very much.

Publisher:

Publishamerica

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

241 pages

Review Date:

7-13-04

Reviewed by:

Margot Davidson

TitleSort:

Past Suspicion

Philomena

Author(s):

Kate Seredy

Subject(s):

Stories for Children

Illustrator(s):

Kate Seredy

Setting:

Europe

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

Resource Type:

Picture Books

1955

Review:

We discovered this little gem years ago, after falling in love with two of the authors' other books: The Good Master and The Singing Tree. I was thrilled to recently discover that Bethlehem Books is bringing it back into print.

The story begins in a small village near Prague. In this village, young girls are expected to leave home and work as servants in the big city during their early teen years; returning home at the age of sixteen, with experience in all manner of household service and ready to start their own families.

Philomena is an orphaned young girl raised by her "Babushka" with the thoughtful wisdom and advice of the beloved parish priest of the village. She travels to Prague to seek employment in her aunt's household with complete confidence in her Babushka's guidance from Heaven - which comes through in surprising and often humorous ways (that generally require a LOT of patience). Her adventures and the journey to find her missing aunt make for a lovely and entertaining story for all ages.

The writing is deeply engaging, and is greatly enhanced by the author's vibrant, spirited illustrations.

You can preview the first chapter of this book online in the Bethlehem Books' Reading Room.

Publisher:

Bethlehem Books

Binding:

Softcover

Perspective:

Catholic

Number of pages:

95 pages

Additional notes:

Short chapter book with numerous black and white illustrations.

Review Date:

4-13-2008

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Philomena

Pride and Prejudice

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

2001

Review:

This is a lovely, touching, funny, clever and meaningful miniseries (produced by BBC/A&E) based quite closely on the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. While it's certainly a "chick movie", there's enough clever writing and acting in it to allow "the guys" to tolerate at least one viewing and probably get something out of it. The theme of the story, which is set in 18th century England, is choosing a marriage partner, and the morals here are very sound. Yet, perhaps the more enjoyable part is the author's clever and very real characters and her insights into what makes people tick. The movie can also be enjoyed for its lovely sets, great architecture and beautiful costumes. I just love to have movies around the house like this for my little girls to watch and help them develop a sense of beauty, truth and refinement. I liked it so much myself that I sat up til 1:00 in the morning to finish it in one sitting. (My mom did the exact same thing when she came to visit us!)

Publisher:

BBC/A&E

Additional notes:

300 min., Color

Starring: Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle

Review Date:

6-24-03

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Pride and Prejudice

Secret Agents Four

Author(s):

Donald J. Sobol

Subject(s):

Detective Stories

Grade / Age level:

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

1967

Review:

Entertaining detective stories are a significant and oft-overlooked segment of children's literature. They are good for sparking the interest of reluctant readers, encouraging analytical thinking skills and good clean fun. Being a professed fan of Donald Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown series since the age of eight, I was eager to read this title, just reprinted by Bethlehem Books. I wasn't disappointed.

Set in 1960s Florida, Secret Agents Four relates the adventures of four teens (V.A.C.U.U.M.) who attempt to help the secret M.O.N.G.O.O.S.E. team fight against the terrorist-style threats of the evil C.O.B.R.A. organization. Reminiscent of the Get Smart television show, V.A.C.U.U.M.'s adventures are filled with plenty of mishaps and quirky humor. Lots of fun for the whole family.

Here's a few paragraphs from the beginning of the story to give you an idea:

We all knew it was going to be an exciting summer because Orv Davy got off to such a fast start.

Orv is Dade City's top boy inventor. His first explosion occurred the very afternoon school let out. The boiler of his snow remover invention blew up.

My name is Ken Mullins. Inventing with Orv is the best way I know to stay in shape for track. You can never be sure when you're going to have to jump, or how far.

When the smoke from the explosion cleared, I saw a strange man standing by Orv's back door.

I hadn't heard him approach. With pieces of concrete hitting garbage cans and trees, and things flying seven ways at once, it's not easy to hear footfalls. Besides, I had a feeling the man could sneak up on a panther. He tickled my curiosity. Usually a person wandering into the Davy back yard for the first time doesn't stay. He takes on look and lights out for home holding his head...

Publisher:

Bethlehem Books

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

133 pages

Review Date:

5-7-03

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Secret Agents Four

Sense and Sensibility

Subject(s):

Fiction

Grade / Age level:

All ages

Resource Type:

Videos

1995

Review:

Adapted from the novel by Jane Austen

Though more serious in nature than Emma, Sense and Sensibility portrays life in a more beautiful, if not always more fair, time. Three sisters and their mother are being turned out of their family estate upon their father's death because of the laws of succession to their half-brother, whose scheming wife prevents him from helping them out financially. After they move to a small cottage in the country, the family find friends and happiness in unexpected places.

Publisher:

Columbia Pictures

There are a few very small parts that might be troubling to children (e.g. a blood-letting scene when one of the characters is sick), but it is otherwise suitable for family viewing.

Additional notes:

PG, 136 min, Color

Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant

Review Date:

6-24-03

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Sense and Sensibility

Shakespeare for Kids

His Life and Times

Author(s):

Colleen Aagesen

Margie Blumberg

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

1999

Review:

Have you grown up thinking that Shakespeare is dry literature forced upon high schoolers by antiquated professors? Think again! Even young children can capture an interest in Shakespeare through attractive materials such as this multi-dimensional biography of the bard.

The heart and soul of the book is the story of Shakespeare's life - charmingly enhanced by Shakespearean phrases (followed by modern translations in parenthesis). Numerous photos, sketches and maps give us a peek at Elizabethan life and architecture and a few scenes from renditions of his plays.

The authors periodically draw in a wide variety of projects and activities related to the storyline. Some are connected with Elizabethan life in a general way, such as making a Pomander ball or creating a Habitat for Birds. Others are more directly related to acting, costuming and Shakespeare himself, such as: learning to juggle, staging a sword fight, designing a coat of arms and composing a sonnet.

This very creative resource could serve as the centerpiece of an Elizabethan history study, an introduction Shakespeare for Middle Schoolers or just a fun summer family project. It could serve a wide age range, but is most appropriate for 4th through 8th grade. The text and projects are quite accessible - most projects could be done independently by older children.

Publisher:

Chicago Review Press

Binding:

Softcover

Number of pages:

149 pages

Additional notes:

This book was donated for review by Chicago Review Press.

Review Date:

11-30-04

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Shakespeare for Kids

Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham

Author(s):

J.R.R. Tolkien

Subject(s):

Authors

Fairy Tales

Grade / Age level:

High School

ISBN:

345 336 062

1976

Review:

Tolkien has a habit of making stories that are just plain fun to read. And a sneaky little tendency to make them exceedingly rich too - offering many levels of interpretation and withstanding rigorous study by philosophers, theologians, philologists and anyone else. But all the time they remain delightful - and offer a healthy dose of poetic knowledge even to the most superficial readers. Both of these stories are 'old-fashioned' in style. If I were a scholar of medieval literature I would probably recognize them as astonishing models of the style (Tolkien himself was a scholar of medieval literature and I don't doubt at all that they are pristine examples).

This volume contains two stories. I will take them one at a time.

Smith of Wooton Major is a faery tale in the most literal sense. It is a pleasant little story not burdened with trying to teach you a lesson or even a moral. However, it will teach you lessons, remind you of good morals and make you laugh. Smith is a bright little boy who is invited in a special way to learn about faeries. To his neighbors he is special, talented, touched or pixelated - to use a variety of terms. Through a brief story of his life we learn: he is happy, he does excellent smith work, he raises a happy family. But there is more to him than meets the eye. It is the faeries. And it is his interaction with the faeries that makes him more circumspect and benevolent than most of his neighbors. It is an easy and enjoyable read - not to mention short! Use this story as a reward for intermediate readers. And as a reward to yourself just open the book and read the first paragraph - it is a marvel of Tolkien's ability to write and a refreshing reminder of what good writing looks like.

There was a village once, not very long ago for those with long memories, nor very far away for those with long legs. Wootton Major it was called because it was larger than Wootton Minor, a few miles away deep in the trees; but it was not very large, though it was at that time prosperous, and a fair number of folk lived in it, good, bad and mixed, as is usual.
(First Paragraph Smith of Wootton Major by J.R.R. Tolkien)

Farmer Giles of Ham is a tale of a reluctant hero. Just a farmer, he meets the trials thrust upon him with less than perfectly heroic enthusiasm. In fact he would rather avoid the two great trials of the book had he been able. But chance and fate combine with his degree of wit and sense of duty to raise him to a merited degree of fame and power. This book cannot hide it's lesson. In being a story of a rather ordinary man who becomes great it is obviously a lesson to those who are just beginning to find out how to use reason to direct their wills (and those of us who need occasional reminders). Life sends you tough circmstances. What you do with them is what makes you better or worse than average. Make your decisions and realize that making the right decisions (the right activities) makes you a great person. Period. This story is a must read for teens just finding their feet. Follow this up with community service activities to reinforce the ideas. Then make them read it again so they recognize how they have been living it.

Publisher:

Random House

Number of pages:

156 pages

Review Date:

4-9-02

Reviewed by:

John Van Hecke

TitleSort:

Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham

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