पुस्तक समीक्षा / Book Reviews

 



The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

(Original, Unabridged Classic)

Robert Louis Stevenson

‘Man is not truly one but truly two.’

The good and evil are equal parts of a human; what happens when one loses control over their dark side, what chaos ensues then?

Set in Victorian London, Dr. Jekyll, a respected scientist, becomes consumed by the desire to understand the darker aspects of human nature. In an unchecked scientific experiment, he concocts a potion that transforms into his malicious alter ego called Mr. Hyde.

Through this experiment, Dr. Jekyll can observe why Hyde makes the choices he does and what drives the evil within him, which is also a reflection of what must drive the amoral actions of society at large.

While the experiment seems a success, the two personalities become increasingly intertwined, leading to a downward spiral of Dr. Jekyll’s morality, causing immense psychological turmoil.

In an intense psychological thriller, will Dr. Jekyll be able to regain control of his other side, and should there be any limitations to scientific ambitions?


Jane Eyre

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Charlotte Bronte

“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.”

Jane Eyre, a simple and solid young woman, grew from an orphaned child to a responsible adult with an immense sense of independence and self-worth. With the ambition to work as a house manager she reached Thornfield Hall.

As fate would have it, she falls in love with her handsome, quiet and intimidating employer Edward Rochester. Jane brings to Edward a sense of calmness and being at home, which his mansion could never give him. But their happiness is threatened by a terrible secret that Rochester is hiding. Edward Rochester passionately in love with Jane, is haunted by his past.

When the truth comes out will Edward be able to save their love, keep Jane from leaving? Can Jane learn to trust the love, and that newfound home will be hers forever?

 

Robinson Crusoe

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting

Daniel Defoe

‘I learned to look up to heaven, and to fear none but God.’

Robinson Crusoe is a young Englishman who embarks on a fateful journey to a deserted island in the Caribbean. After a shipwreck and some misadventures, Crusoe finds himself stranded on the uninhabited island, without any human being in sight.

The only tools he had were his determination, and presence of mind; armed with those he begins to adapt to his new environment, building shelter, growing crops, and taming animals. Soon he realised, that ultimate peace is in connecting with the environment around you and striving hard to build the life you deserve, irrespective of the circumstances.

Is will power and strong mindset enough to conquer the most challenging circumstances? This gripping tale of Robinson Crusoe is a testament to the human knack for survival, resilience, and the importance of self-discovery.


 Hard Times

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Charles Dickens

 “There is a wisdom of the head, and… there is a wisdom of the heart.”

The Industrial revolution was the era, when society thought that the correct way to function was with practicality, logic, focus on profits and material success; the tangible human emotions and imagination would just be in the way.

Thomas Gradgrind a wealthy banker raises his children, Louisa and Tom according to these rigid principles. He instils in them a belief for constant hustle and achievement, without any room for imagination.

Louisa grows into a woman devoid of self-expression, struggling with finding her place in society with her high ambitions.

Tom, on the other hand, succumbs to the temptations of the society, turning to dishonesty and manipulation to achieve his own ends.

Their journey to finding their purpose and internal peace, makes the reader question if happiness can be achieved solely through material gain? Is imagination, empathy, and compassion what gives the true meaning to life?


Madame Bovary

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Gustave Flaubert

 

“She wanted something else…something better. Passion and perfection were out there somewhere. All she had to do was find them.”

Emma Bovary is a young woman who wants a life complete opposite to that which she lives, every day for her is a reminder of that perfection seeking her elsewhere. Her marriage to Charles Bovary, a kind but dull country doctor, falls short of her fantasies.

As Emma becomes increasingly depressed with her reality, she embarks on a series of adulterous affairs, seeking the fulfilment that eludes her. The elegant prose of the writing perfectly shows Emma’s inner turmoil and the stark contrast between her illusions and the harsh realities of life.

Will Emma be proven right in her quest? Or will she ultimately learn that satisfaction only comes from within, and our circumstances are ultimately nothing but perception.


Moby Dick

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Herman Melville

 “I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.”

A reflective Ismael is the lens through which maniacal Ahab’s quest comes to life. Ahab is the captain of the whaling ship Pequod, and Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale bit off his leg on the ship’s previous voyage. What ensues is a mad quest against the whale and the perceived dangers of wildlife.

Through this journey Ismael raises many thoughts about man versus nature, and the nature of obsession with one’s own purpose. Ismael’s perspective creates an out of body experience for the reader, as he himself is an observer of man’s passionate extremes.

Will Ahab come out more enlightened about fate, the human struggle, and the forces of nature? The witty, thrilling and adventurous reads gives immense chances to laugh and look within!


Persuasion

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jane Austen

 “You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope… I have loved none but you.”

The power of sincere love often brings miraculous second chances.

Anne Elliot, a thoughtful and introspective woman initially rejects the marriage proposal of Captain Frederick Wentworth eight years earlier. Anne, secretly harbouring affection for Frederick, regrets this decision taken under the influence of her family.

One fine day Frederick re-enters Anne’s life as a successful naval officer, now she grapples again with her desires and the opinions of others.

Captain Frederick Wentworth an honourable man, has hopeful and lingering affection for Anne, but won’t persuade her with tricks but only his character.

Will the power of Frederick’s love and sincerity win? Will Anne be able to look past society’s expectations and follow her heart?


Sense and Sensibility

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jane Austen

 

“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience – or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.”

Does one love from the heart or see the merit of someone’s love through their mind?

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are two sisters navigating the challenges of romance and societal expectations. Elinor represents the ‘sense’, personifying rationality and practicality. Marianne, on the other hand is governed by her emotions and spontaneity. The sisters’ differing approaches to life and love make a heartwarming narrative through which the story explores relationships, love, family and the idea of self.

Elinor’s practicality is tested as she conceals her true feelings for Edward Ferrars, while Marianne’s open-hearted sensibility leads her into a passionate and potentially risky romance with the dashing John Willoughby.

Which will prove to be the best route to love, caution and mindfulness, or complete abandon and surrender to one’s feelings?


Three Men in a Boat

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jerome K Jerome

 “We must not think of the things we could do with, but only of the things that we can’t do without.”

Nostalgia is a true gift of life, the ability to relive warm and happy moments through memory is a true joy. Three Men in a Boat, is a delightful and humorous novel about an endearing friendship and all that makes life worth living.

A journey through the Thames River, the story follows three friends – Jerome, George, and Harris – as they embark on a boating expedition to escape the pressures of everyday life. The fun banter between the three friends and their ability to uplift each other adds to warmth of the story.

Their getaway is a reminder to take a break with those that make them smile and find joy in simple pleasures; follow the three men through their journey, in this charming story, and take a trip down the memory lane.


Gulliver’s Travels

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jonathan Swift

 

“Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right when they tell us that nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison.”

Lemuel Gulliver was an ambitious and naïve ship surgeon, who believed people were heroes at heart with an inherent goodwill. All his beliefs shattered when he set out on an unusual adventure on remote islands inhabited by people and creatures of different sizes.

On the first Island, the Lilliputians only six inches tall, represent the dangers of petty partisanship. The Brobdingnagians, who are giants, show him the dangers of absolute power and the importance of humility. And the Houyhnhnms, the intelligent horses, show how important it is to have reason and virtue.

However, he eventually comes to realize that the none of them are perfect, and he begins to miss his own kind.

Will Gulliver’s travels make him realize that the human race has more vices than virtues? After a thrilling and endearing journey, will Gulliver return as a changed compassionate man?

 

Journey to the Center of the Earth

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jules Verne

 

‘Science, my boy, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make because they lead little by little to the truth.’

In a thrilling adventure follow the intrepid Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his young nephew Axel, and their Icelandic guide Hans Bjelke on an extraordinary expedition into the depths of the Earth itself, to explore the world beneath our feet.

Inspired by an ancient manuscript, Professor Lidenbrock believes that a passage to the Earth’s core exists within a volcano in Iceland. The trio descends into the unknown, facing treacherous landscapes, underground seas, and encounters with prehistoric creatures.

Their adventures spark an imagination and curiosity for the unknown, making the reader wonder about the endless possibilities that lie beyond the realms visible to us.


The Wizard of Oz

(Original, Unabridged Children's Classic, Premium Hardbound Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

L. Frank Baum

 ‘Tru­e courage is in facing danger when you are afraid…’

One minute young Dorothy is playing with her dog Toto, the next minute she’s flying.

A powerful tornado whisks her miles and miles away, dropping her into the mystical land of Oz where nothing is as it seems. Now she must follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City, to find the only person who can help her — the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

As Dorothy sets off on her strange quest, she is joined by a scarecrow who seeks a brain, a tin man who longs for a heart, and a cowardly lion who is desperate for some courage. Together with her newfound friends, Dorothy must embark on an exciting adventure, meeting a host of enchanting creatures along the way.

Will Dorothy ever get home? Or will the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys catch her first? Read The Wizard of Oz to find out.


Alice in Wonderland

(Original, Unabridged Children's Classic, Premium Hardbound Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Lewis Carroll

 

‘There is a place, like no place on earth. A landful of wonders, mystery and dangers.’

One fine afternoon, young Alice tumbles down a rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland—a strange and fascinating place where nothing is as it seems.

Utterly lost but still hopeful, Alice follows the White Rabbit through the labyrinth roads of Wonderland. Along the way, she meets a host of interesting creatures and finds herself in bewildering situations. She has tea with the infuriating Mad Hatter, engages in puzzling conversations with a vanishing cat, and plays croquet with the Queen of Hearts—all in the breadth of a single afternoon.

Stumbling through the magical world of Wonderland, Alice struggles to find her way out; will she ever get home?


                                                         Oliver Twist

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Charles Dickens

 “It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded.”

A cruel act of fate is disappointing a young heart which has the softest hopes from life. Born impoverished and orphaned at birth, Oliver Twist begins his life in a workhouse an apprentice. He flees to London fed up with the constant beatings by his mentor.

He arrives in London with high hopes for a better life but is met with a series of rude shocks. What happens when he meets Jack Dawkins, goes to work with him only to be taken to the police when mistaken for a thief?

Oliver Twist is a sarcastic, intelligent, witty novel with incredible twists and turns.

The story the strives to overcome the miserable conditions for the lower class, searches for an identity, and a sense of belonging.

                                                        

          The Complete Novel of Sherlock Holmes

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“It is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all.”

An absolute treat for the fans of Sherlock Holmes or new readers eager to explore his world, this collection is the best Sherlock kit.

A collection of four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A Study in Scarlet (1887), The Sign of the Four (1890), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902) and The Valley of Fear (1915).

The stories were first published in various magazines and newspapers between 1887 and 1927; and considered the benchmark in detective fiction. Sherlock Holmes does more than solving mysteries and crimes, he has been the ultimate desirable man because of his style, cigars, unattainability, humour, and stoic personality.

The reader is as swooned by the enigma of Holmes as they are engrossed in solving the difficulties of his cases. The friendship between Holmes and his sidekick Watson adds an endearing quality to the stories making them a classic for a reason.


            Around The World In Eighty Days

(Original, Unabridged Classic)

Jules Verne

 

“I realize now that there’s a lot to be said for traveling if you want to see something new.”

When Phileas Fogg, a wealthy gentleman, impulsively bets that he can travel the globe in just eighty days, he sets in motion an extraordinary chain of events. Leaving behind the comfort of his predictable life, Fogg and his loyal valet Passepartout, embark on a race against time.

Passing through exotic lands and dangerous locations, they seize whatever transportation is at hand—train or elephant.

Their quest for the ultimate adventure is not without its challenges. Fogg has become the prime suspect in a bank robbery, with a relentless detective hot on their heels. As they journey across continents, their race against time becomes a race for their freedom.

Will they conquer the world and prove Fogg’s audacious bet right? Prepare to be captivated by Verne’s masterful storytelling as he weaves a tale of suspense, and a thrilling spirit of adventure.


                                                    Great Expectations

                                        (Original, Unabridged Classic)

 Charles Dickens

 “I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”

Pip, a blacksmith’s apprentice goes from humble beginnings in the marshes of Kent to the bustling streets of Victorian London. A chance encounter with the escaped convict Magwitch sets off a series of events that lead Pip to the eccentric Miss Havisham and her captivating ward, Estella.

In his pursuit of becoming a gentleman to win Estella’s affection, Pip grapples with his own self-worth and the impact of his humble origins.

Pip must unravel the complexities of his own identity and in the bustling 19th century London his idealistic ambitions are threatened by dominating class difference.

Charles Dickens’ riveting and thought-provoking novel raises profound questions about human worth and the pursuit of success in a rapidly changing world.


                    The Diary Of A Young Girl

                    (Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Anne Frank

 

“I’ve found that there is always some beauty left—in nature, sunshine, freedom, in yourself; these can all help you.’

Anne begins her diary entries at the age of thirteen in June 1942, recording all her experiences until August 1944. All people have the right to freedom, but Anne wasn’t sure that idea included her. During WWII, Anne and her family were forced to go into hiding like many other Jews.

Vivid snippets of two years of living in an annexe, without seeing the sun, are journalled by Anne. From their bones dwindling to her emotional growth all is reflected in her writings. She writes of her passion for literature and art, her desire to travel, the struggles of family ties in hiding: showing her incredible emotional resilience.

How does she keep her spirits alive through imagination, hold onto the hopes of free life, when they weren’t allowed to bring attention to themselves?


                        The Invisible Man

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

H.G. Wells

 

“Perhaps to lose a sense of where you are implies the danger of losing a sense of who you are.”

Griffin, an ingenious research scientist, develops a process that can render physical objects invisible. He successfully performs the experiment on himself, but soon realises that it is impossible to survive oblivious to the world and all those that matter to him.

This invisible man is now desperate to reverse the process. Will Griffin be able to become visible again? Or his obsession for invisibility will result in his doom?

Considered to be a pioneer of science fiction, this novel explores the deep and unresolved ideas of science vs the universal power, the extent of human mind and the dangers of being swept by the mind’s wickedness. The Invisible Man warns about the destructive effects science can have if not practiced with limits on the human desires.

A relevant story, especially in the age of artificial intelligence.


                    Pride And Prejudice

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jane Austen

 

‘But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.’

A sensitive story about the loves and lives of the five Bennet sisters, especially Elizabeth Bennet the unusual heroine. Elizabeth is neither too pretty nor too talented but has a strong sense of self; it was fireworks when she met Mr. Darcy who finally clashed with someone as strong-willed as him.

Mrs Bennet wants to marry her daughters off and devises schemes to set them up with prosperous men at the ball hosted by the Bingley family. All her daughters find love, but not the easiest route to marriage.

Their journeys take them through unexpected betrayals and surprises. As life pits Darcy and Elizabeth against each other, Darcy is the saviour at every turn squashing every reason for Elizabeth’s hesitance. Can Elizabeth overcome her pride to seek love?


                            The Great Gatsby

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

‘Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.’

Jay Gatsby, a former army lieutenant, lives lavishly in a mansion on the Long Island shore. He appeared from nowhere, with no family history. His wealth caused envy in the old families of affluent New York, who thought they owned the American dream.

Gatsby hosted extravagant parties every weekend, yet no guest could claim they’d seen the infamous Mr. Gatsby.

He seems he has everything that’s desired, but Gatsby is lonelier than others know, longing for a conquest that is most unattainable: Daisy Buchanan, the ultimate desire for the dream life he plans.

Daisy, married to Tom but in love with Gatsby, knows she is a dream he desires, but is afraid of losing rank.

Love, wealth, and dreams are at crossheads in Gatsby’s glamourous world, will Daisy hold his hand, will he be able to save the dream?


                                Frankenstein

                                            (Original, Unabridged Classic)

  Mary Shelley

 

“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as great and sudden change.”

The world of Frankenstein explores the depths of human nature and the consequences of great and sudden change.

Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss student of natural science breathes life into a creature made from stolen body parts. Initially seeking love and companionship, the monstrous creation instead incites revulsion in all who encounter it.

Plagued by loneliness and despair, the creature turns against its creator, leading to a devastating climax that claims lives.

Frankenstein serves as a cautionary tale, warning against the perils of scientific and creative ambition, the corrupting influence of unchecked progress, and the dangers of knowledge without true understanding.


true understanding.

 

                                      Emma

(Original, Unabridged Classic, Premium Hardbound Collector's Edition, Ideal for Gifting)

Jane Austen

 

“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk and show it more.”

In the world of Emma, love, self-discovery, and matchmaking intertwine in a charming countryside town. Emma is Austen’s most vivid heroine : beautiful, spoilt, generous, and exceptionally witty.

While caring for her demanding father, life in the quaint town becomes tiresome. Seeking amusement, Emma immerses herself in the art of matchmaking, set to unite her orphaned friend, Harriet Smith with the eligible clergyman Mr. Elton.

However, her astute neighbor, Mr. Knightley calls her out for seeking her own interest and not her friend’s. Both Emma and Mr.Knightly are attracted to one another, primarily because only they can match each other’s wit and intelligence.

Emma’s path towards maturity and self-awareness is a poignant story. A captivating exploration of personal growth, as she navigates the consequences of her meddling.


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