Tag Archives: society

Esther Waters by George Moore

Esther Waters by George Moore strives for realism as it portrays the choices and struggles of Esther, a house servant, as she seeks to provide for her illegitimate son. Esther herself is a strong character but by no means flawless. … Continue reading

Posted in Classic, General adult audience, Novel, Realism, Social Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

Mary Barton is a story that looks at the difficulties of lower class people in manufacturing towns during the Industrial Revolution. It has some really engaging characters and charming story-telling. My enjoyment was up there with North and South and … Continue reading

Posted in British, General adult audience, Romance, Social Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoevsky

Before I read Crime and Punishment all that I had heard about Feodor Dostoevsky was that he was a Russian author and, whereas Tolstoy understood legalism, Dostoevsky understood grace. I’ve since found out that he is also considered one of the greatest … Continue reading

Posted in 18th Century, Classic, Crime fiction, General adult audience, Realism, Russian, Social Novel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan

Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan is a book about… well it took me a while to decide. The first time I read it I thought it was about the experience of a child living in a world of seemingly … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, Contemporary Children's, Picture Books, Under 7 years | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Warden by Anthony Trollope

The Warden by Anthony Trollope is the first of the Barchester Novels and is Amusing, Character-Driven and Short. Characters have names like Septimus Harding and Sir Abraham Haphazard! Clergyman, Mr Harding is accused of being Paid Too Much for his … Continue reading

Posted in 18th Century, Classic, Comedy, General adult audience, Novel, Novel of Manners, Pastoral novel, Serial Novel, Victorian | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alone Together by Sherry Turkle

Alone Together is by a psychologist who has spent thirty years researching the effects of technology on human relating. Her findings: we are expecting more of technology and less of each other. The first half of the book is about … Continue reading

Posted in Contemporary, General adult audience, Nonfiction, Social Commentary/Analysis | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment