Lily Briscoe's Book Blog

This creation of Victor Hugo is a portrayal of a man who is condemned to death as it is revealed by the title itself.   I kind of approached the book with my personal opinion in mind that is in par with the statement that Victor Hugo himself had on the bloodshed of a 'death sentence'. But the excruciating simplicity by which the story unfolds leaves a rancor for a long time after reading it.   What I perceived as noteworthy was the fact that the crime of the man in question is not revealed but we sense that it is murder. But he looks down on other criminals as an outsider in the sense that he himself does not believe that he falls into that category. The first break in his mind and will is when a group of other prisoners are taken into the galleys. He had specifically wanted death sentence, to be hanged than the galleys. But we can see tha towards the nearing of that grotesque moment he wishes for a lifetime of galleys.   "I want the galleys. Five years in t...

Of Mice and Men is a book published in 1937 by the American Author John Steinbeck. One of the shortest novels I've read, 'Of Mice and Men' is a creation which has been able to integrate a lot of the social culture of the post-Civil War America with its take on the freed African Americans from slavery. This is not the center piece of the story though.   'Of Mice and Men' and portrays concisely the relationship of two individuals George and Lennie who are opposites in their temperance but however are thrown together in the hopes of achieving the so called 'American Dream'. George, the smarter of the two basks in adoration of Lennie who is portrayed as someone who isn't bright and is good at following orders but not making actual decisions. Therefore, it is George who actually does the thinking for the both of them. We first see them on their way to a new job. With the conversations between the two we learn that they had to run away from their pre...

The picture of Dorian Gray is considered to be the greatest work of Oscar Wilde and his only novel. It was first published by censoring some of the parts of the story which as deemed to be vulgar and inappropriate. I actually read the uncensored 13 chapter version but could not understand why it was recognized to be not suitable in the early 1900s .   The story revolves around the life of the charming and most handsome Dorian Gray who is invited to the studio by Basil Hallward who is a painter. Basil Hallward captures the utmost beauty of Dorian Gray in his painting so much so that he thinks that he has captured part of his affections for Dorian in the painting as well. Basil reveals this to Lord Henry who is close friend of his and from that moment Lord Henry is eager to be introduced to Dorian Gray.   The first encounter of Lord Henry with Dorian Gray is at the studio. Before their meeting it is Basil who says that "He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Don't spo...

  SECTION 1   Chapter 1 Chapter 1 brings forward the basic relationships of Stephen with his mother and father even before he is brought out in to the world. His parents expect a boy but instead Stephen is a girl. The mishap of the name also stems from this premonition of the baby being expected to be a boy. In the early 1900s when this was written I guess it was of a necessity to have a backstory as to the reason for Stephen being this "queer" kid.   The physical resemblance of Stephen to that of her father more than the angelic mother Anna is also emphasized and this chapter also sets forward the idea that Stephen and mom do not actually get together well and that there is some sort of inexplicable barrier between them. It seems to somewhat be attributed to the fact that Stephen and Sir Philip are similar in appearance as well. Stephen is an only child to the household and thus the shattered dreams and disappointment in both Sir Philip and lady Anna is...