Book Review

The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
One of these days I should compile a list of required reading for children. This would be right up there at the top of the list.
It is, in fact, a kid's book written in 1961. But like many classic children's literature, it's so much more. Often compared with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, I think it's actually better. It's much more clever and not a disturbing downer like Alice was. Then I learned it was written by the same guy that wrote one of my all time favorite stories from my childhood as animated by Looney Tunes - The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics and it all made sense. Oh, my heart! That explains why I found myself really enjoying it. The lessons aren't just for kids and the plot is surprisingly relevant to today. Especially to today, if you find yourself searching for Rhyme and Reason. If you've not read it since you were a child you should reread it. If you've not read it at all, I recommend it for adults as well as children. The wisdom is timeless. I can only hope it's not either too smart for modern kids or that modern kids think they're too smart for it. Adults as well. 

Book Review

The Three Musketeers, Alexander Dumas

Since The Count of Monte Cristo is in my top 10 favorite books, I always wanted to try this one to see if it would be just as good since it's so different. It certainly is! Dumas was a great storyteller. Not dark and tragic like Count, but adventurous and comic but without losing any dramatic tension.

I admit I don't know much about 17th century French history but I know that some of the characters were real with the circumstances around the historical events enhanced by inserted characters and the fictional main plot. Much like Shakespeare's historical dramas, but easier to read. The story is centered around a young man, D'Artagnan, who is fresh off the farm so to speak. He goes to Paris with the intent of joining the Musketeers and trouble follows him everywhere. Even his initial friendship with the three musketeers is a series of mistakes and misunderstandings. I don't know why the king's men fight constantly with the cardinal's men... that rivalry could probably be explained by some of the history I don't know but it doesn't even matter because it's fun. Much of the early chapters are just plain fun as the characters and their servants are introduced. The hot headed dueling and chest beating as well as their exploits with their various mistresses serve as the backdrop for exploring the characters' personalities. Once that's done they become entangled in the political intrigues of the historical characters which is the more intense portion of the novel. It ends with some exciting twists and revenge upon Milady Clarik who wasn't developed early on but who turned out to be a dark and wicked character indeed. I only would have liked to known the history a little better because I think it would've made the ending easier to understand. After all the conflict with the cardinal and his right hand man Rochefort there is a mutual respect won with them at the end for D'Artagnan that I found surprising. Not disagreeable, just not expected. Perhaps further development of the Rochefort character would've helped.

But no matter it was a great, fun book that is on my list of things to reread and my favorite character didn't die for a change. I wholeheartedly recommend it!