Classics Archives - Luke’s Blog

10Feb 2024 by Luke Harkness No Comments

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky book review

White Nights is a book that I instantly bought after seeing Jack Edwards (of Booktube fame) say that he'd seen a tweet that said you don't know love until you've read White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I'm not the biggest romantic and find it hard when romance is written poorly to get involved. But did White Nights do enough to convince me that it really is the ultimate book about love? Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase any products via the links below, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the products. Fyodor Dostoyevsky is the author of famed Crime and Punishment among many other very…

31Mar 2023 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien book review

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy

When discussing fantasy, you can't help but talk about the The Lord of the Rings series. It has transcended its genre and its age and has become one of the most well-known names and titles in all of fiction, not just fantasy. The Two Towers is the second book in the trilogy and continues our Hobbits' and heroes' journeys as they attempt to stop the likes of Sauron and Saruman from gaining too much power and bringing darkness to the world. All the while, Sam and Frodo must bring that bring to Mordor and throw the ring in the flames to destroy it so no one else can use it. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the…

13Jun 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen book review

Book reviews, Classics

If you're a human being who has ever had a conversation with another human being, you'll likely have heard of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Even if you've never had a conversation with another human being, you'll likely have heard of the title of the book at least. Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase any products via the links provided, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you that goes towards supporting the blog. These affiliate links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of the most celebrated novels of all time - not only due to its incredible look into the gentry lives of people…

27May 2022 by Luke Harkness No Comments

East of Eden by John Steinbeck book review

Book reviews, Classics

John Steinbeck is a household name. He's an author who is known for writing some of the greatest literature of the 20th century. Many of us Brits have studied Of Mice and Men in our English classes and The Grapes of Wrath is considered one of the greatest novels he's written. East of Eden is considered the other one. East of Eden is the book that Steinbeck himself considers his magnum opus, so it must be good! Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links provided below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you which goes towards supporting the blog. These affiliate links do not my final opinion of any of the…

16Mar 2022 by Luke Harkness 2 Comments

Book review of The Outsider by Albert Camus

Book reviews, Classics

I was lent The Outsider by a friend who said it was a book he was interested to hear my thoughts on. It's a book that tells a very simple tale of a man who is arrested after committing a murder and the interesting discussions to be had from the hearing that subsequently takes place. The Outsider follows Meursault in Algeria as he navigates life after his mother's death and subsequent funeral and then the murder of an Arab man in French Algiers who was involved in a conflict already with one of his neighbours. He is arrested, taken to prison and then we follow his brief journey with prison and the court hearing. The Outsider plot - 4/5 The Outsider, as written above, covers the story of Meursault who…

12Jan 2022 by Luke Harkness 2 Comments

Book Review of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy

If you do any searching on the internet for "books that changed my life", many people will list The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho as one that will affect your life in some way. But did it have any effect on mine? Pin me to Pinterest! The Alchemist is a novella that comes in under 150 pages and took me less than a day to complete the audiobook. It tells the story of a boy who goes on a journey to find a treasure and to fulfil his dream but along the way meets people who teach him more about life than he thought there was to learn. The Alchemist plot – 4/5 The Alchemist, as I stated above, is the story of a boy (who is only ever called 'the…

27Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

You may well have heard of the very successful TV series The Handmaid’s Tale but did you know it’s based on a very successful book by the same name, written by Margaret Atwood? Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase The Handmaid's Tale via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. [caption id="attachment_1313" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Handmaid’s Tale tells the first-hand story of Offred, a Handmaid who lives in Gilead where women are no longer free and must survive by obeying the whims of their commanders. It's mainly a first-hand account of her experiences…

20Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy

George Orwell is a name that needs no introduction if you’re a fan of literature and Animal Farm is one of, if not his most, famous books. Animal Farm centres around animals rebelling against humans on a farm and rising up as part of a revolution. [caption id="attachment_1293" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Animal Farm via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Animal Farm was written in 1945 by George Orwell and as noted above tells the story of a group of farm animals who decide to overthrow the…

15Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: The Fellowship of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy

Hands up if you've never heard of The Lord of the Rings. OK, anybody who put their hands up, keep reading as you're in for a treat. Anybody who didn't put their hands up, also keep reading as you're the only normal people here!! The Fellowship of The Ring is the first in the three The Lord of the Ring books and it starts off strongly. [caption id="attachment_1267" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase The Fellowship of the RIng via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. An introduction to The…

05Sep 2021 by Luke Harkness

Book Review: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book reviews, Classics, Historical Fiction

To Kill A Mockingbird is up there with some of the all-time classic books recommended to anybody who wants to consider themself "well-read". It's a book that takes you through all the range of emotions, teaching you morality and pure kindness along the way. [caption id="attachment_1075" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Originally published in 1960, To Kill A Mockingbird was Harper Lee's first of two books she ever wrote. It is set in Southern America, in Alabama and follows the lives of Jean Louise, the daughter of Atticus Finch and her family and friends. It discusses and covers prejudice in a very gritty and down-to-earth manner and takes you through a story that will see you experience all the emotions. Plot – 5/5 To Kill A Mockingbird follows the…

Category: Classics