Ross Poldark

By: Winston Graham

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 393

Published: 1945

Told in: Third Person

Series: Poldark Saga, #1

Compare to:

Persuasion, Jane Austen

Outlander, Diana Gabaldon

Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy

In a nutshell:

Set in Cornwall, 1783-1787, Ross Poldark returns from fighting in the American Revolution to find that the girl he loves is engaged to his cousin, and that his father has died leaving him a derelict estate. To forget his past love, Ross throws himself into his work. But when he finds and takes in an urchin girl life for Ross begins to change.

What you may enjoy:

This is a social historical fiction; while it mentions world events that were occurring during the period it is centered on average people instead of a war or politics. It reads like a classic without feeling like a heavy book. The characters feel real and relatable, each with their own set of flaws and strengths. If you enjoy British historical fiction about the social middle class, this book is probably a good read for you.

What you may NOT enjoy:

To quote Goodreads reviewer, Ian, this is “a moderately entertaining book about nothing.” At times there is too much detail about mining or minor characters that can simply be skimmed over. It takes more than half of the book for anything to happen. There is no real draw to encourage readers to continue reading.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Cock fight, killing one rooster; boys beat girl; boys throw rocks at man; man shot in the ankle, mentioned; man’s face cut with a bayonet, mentioned; dog’s tail cut off; two men fist fight; group of men fight; rocks thrown at man; man beats his daughter, mentioned; man hit and killed wife, mentioned; man shot at; man slapped; man punched; man shot in the hand; man shot in the neck; man stabs baby; man stabs woman; man falls from a house and dies

Sex and Nudity:

Woman seduces man; man has sex with a prostitute, mentioned several times; man looks at a girl’s naked body, non-graphic; man accused of being a pedophile; man kisses girl (mentioned at least 6 times); man takes girl’s dress off; girl wakes up in man’s bed after alluded sex; man slaps girl’s bottom

   

Language and Profanity:

Damnably 2xs; damn 7xs; damned 4xs; damme (damn) 9xs; damnation; bitch 2xs; hell 4xs; God 8xs

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse:

Man and woman get drunk regularly; man too drunk to get on his horse; man and woman passed out from drinking; man heavily intoxicated; drinking throughout; people frequently drunk 

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The Soul of an Octopus:

A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

By: Sy Montgomery

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 241

Published: 2015

Told in: First Person

Compare to:

The Social Lives of Dogs

       -Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World

       -Michael Pollan

Bird Sense: What It’s Like to Be a Bird

       -Tim Birkhead

In a nutshell:

Montgomery explores the physical and psychological world of the octopus primarily through her experiences with the New England aquarium. From her studies she shares what she has learned about marine life, octopus personalities, and their connection to mankind.

What you may enjoy:

This is a very casual non-fiction. The book is written chronologically, a story of the author’s increased exposure to octopuses. Not only does the book contain information about octopuses, but it shares tidbits of other marine life. It is informative without being monotonous.

What you may NOT enjoy:

The philosophy of the book is questionable and is often filled more with the author’s opinions than solid fact. If you’re looking for a solid science book, don’t look here. The book is more of Montgomery’s personal journal of her experiences, riddled with similes.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

2 octopuses eat each other, mentioned; octopuses die, mentioned; octopus swarmed by ants; 2 starfish eat octopus corpse; octopus bits a girl; woman electrocuted by an eel; girl drowns herself, mentioned; octopus suffocates another octopus, mentioned; octopus dries out and dies

Sex and Nudity:

Sexual reference; sexual similes; octopuses mate, described and mildly graphic; sea slugs sexual technique vividly described; describes male octopuses equivalent of ejaculation; woman mentions scraping her nipples

Language and Profanity:

B*tch, H*ll

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse:

Dolphins become intoxicated from a toxic fish; fruit flies drink liquor after not being sexually sated 

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The Forgetting

By: Sharon Cameron

Genre: YA Dystopian Fiction

Pages: 403

Published: 2016

Told in: First Person

Compare to:

Divergent, Veronica Roth

The Giver, Lois Lowry

Delirium, Lauren Oliver

In a nutshell:

In the city of Canaan, every twelve years, the people forget everything―everything except what they record in their personal books. But Nadia does not forget. With the next forgetting fast approaching she will do everything she can to keep together those she loves. But there are things in Canaan’s past that even Nadia does not remember.

What you may enjoy:

This is a dystopian that you can wrap up in one book instead of three. Cameron has developed a fascinating world with interesting, consistent characters. The premise behind the book is fresh and interesting and the plot is full of twists and mysteries that will keep surprising you up until the very end.  

What you may NOT enjoy:

The book starts out slowly with most of the action concentrated at the end of the book―a book that is longer than necessary. The characters are your standard teen dystopian archetypes: angsty and unique heroine; handsome and mysterious love interest; corrupt and controlling villain.

Warnings:

Violence and Disturbing Images:

Girl mentions possibility of being flogged; girl slaps boy twice; boy burns arms; girl tackles man; women raped, implied; woman stabs herself in the arm; man whipped, mentioned; men drag a bloody girl through the street, mentioned; 3 children lay dead in the street, mentioned; man hit over the head with a board; men attack a boy; man holds knife to a girl’s throat; woman stabs a girl with a needle; girl’s wrists bleed from being tied up; boy’s hand burns and blisters from acid poison; girl dies from poison; boy tortured with drops of acid poison, non-graphic; man slaps girl; boy knocks man unconscious; building burns with people locked inside; man walks into a burning building; dead man lays in the road; man’s arm cut by a knife; boy beats man’s head against the road; boy strangles man; woman holds a knife to a girl’s throat; man stabs woman repeatedly, mildly graphic

Sex and Nudity:

Affairs implied; implies sexual relations; two sisters sit naked in a bath; boy and girl hold hands several times; boy and girl kiss passionately in a lake, mildly graphic; boy and girl kiss; girl runs hands over boy’s naked chest; boy takes off his shirt; boy and girl kiss passionately on a bed, non-graphic; man gropes girl; homosexual romantic interest implied

Language and profanity:

A** (in Russian) 4 separate times

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