The Devil All The Time Book Review

‘The Devil All the Time’ Book Review

Genre: Crime/Thriller

Rating: 4/5

Summary: Willard Russell, a war veteran, tries to find peace by settling down with his family. But soon his wife, Charlotte is diagnosed with cancer and Willard does anything he knows possible to keep her alive, leaving his son, Arvin, traumatized for life. A preacher and his crippled cousin tries to run from the law when an experiment goes terribly wrong. A psychologically disturbed couple search for models to capture perfect photos. This is a story of a place full of ignorance, maniacs, blind faith and evil.

My Opinion: I knew I would love this book as soon as I started reading it. I knew this book will leave me scarred mentally. Yet I couldn’t resist the temptation of reading it. The events on this book are terrible. I cannot stop thinking about it. The dark sides of human natures are represented in a breathtaking way. The haunted images followed me all the time. This book is definitely not for any faint hearted person. The characters are very complicated. Some of them are in such a misery, I feel very bad for them. Morally complicated characters always fascinate me. They seem like real human beings. This book contains such characters. I think too much about them and to me they have become real. I usually don’t support violence. I personally think evils can only be defeated by all the positivity like honesty and love. But some cases in the book contradicts my values. It makes me feel like there are some things which are too evil to forgive or let go.

Favourite Character: Though I like almost all the characterizations in the book, I like Arvin more than any other. He has a very tough life and he is brave. I support almost every action of him. He is the perfect example of a brother. Though he is a violent man, he is a caring one too.

Quote: “Too much religion could be as bad as too little, maybe even worse.”

‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens Book Review

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Romance/Mystery

Summary: Narrated fully in first person, the story follows a young orphan boy called Pip, who lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband, Joe. Pip has no expectation for his future but to become a blacksmith and live a common life. But when he is asked to visit a wealthy woman, Miss Havisham, to play with her daughter, Estella, Pip’s life turns upside down. By the day, Estella makes Pip feel more course and common. The only thing Pip wants now is to become a gentleman and be worthy of Estella.

My opinion: If you are a classic lover this book is a must read for you. Even if you are not, you still need to try reading this epic story. One of my favourite classics ever, ‘Great Expectation’ is Dickens’s one of the bests. The story is very intense. There are places where you cannot help but laugh, as well as places where your heart will break.

I can relate myself in a lot of way with Pip as he finds truth about himself along the story. What makes a man wants more? What is the reward in being content? These questions are beautifully answered.

More than one and a half century old, this story depicts the social situation of that time perfectly. Class discrimination is a vital part of this novel. Charles Dickens is famous for his presentation of human behaviour in an authentic way. As a result, each character is well developed and real.

Favourite character: Miss Havisham, one of the most gothic characters in literature, is my favourite person from the novel. Her appearance was very interesting. Her house were decorated like a wedding which took place a long time ago and she wore the same dress literally all the time. Not a single object was moved in her house and it looked like as if it was stuck in time forever.

Miss Havisham was a very complicated character and not without flaws, which made her more real. She was cold on the outside but I feel like there was still some warmth left in her heart somewhere.

Quote: “Throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.”

Review of “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White

Genre: Children’s Classic

Rating: 5/5

Summary: A pig named Wilbur is sold to a nearby farm by his former owner, Fern, an 8 years old girl, whose father can’t afford to have a pig in the house anymore. Wilbur feels lonely and is always in search of a friend. Finally, he meets a very sweet and gentle spider named Charlotte, who accepts his friendship.

My Opinion: The friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte is one of the best friendships in literature. They both are very caring towards each other. The character of Fern is very similar to that of my little sister’s. She too, like Fern, loves all sorts of animals (even insects). Her obsession towards this, worries my mother too (just like Fern’s mother). The whole book was very heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I have never cried, reading a book, like the way I did towards the end of this one. This book has made a special place in my heart and it has become my favourite book of all time.

Favourite Character: I love Charlotte. She has an air of warmth around her. The way she talks is very pleasant. The lullaby she sings to put Wilbur to sleep, constantly worrying about his health and reassuring him at times of insecurities, proves how loyal she is as a friend. I am scared to death of spiders. Charlotte is definitely my one and only favourite spider.

Quote: “After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die.”

A Review of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Genre: Romance

Rate: 5/5

Summary: When Elizabeth Bennet first met Mr. Darcy, she couldn’t stand him for his pride. Neither did Mr. Darcy found her interesting enough to ask her for a dance. But many occasions brought them together again and again. At last, Mr. Darcy couldn’t help but fall in love with Elizabeth.

My Opinion: I don’t know where to begin. This novel is a classic and a masterpiece. I loved the use of satire in a most charming way possible. The first thing I noticed reading this book was that people were extremely nosy. They seemed to notice other people’s even the trifling matters of day to day life. I couldn’t help noticing how the mothers were all so anxious about their daughter’s marriage at the time. I loved Austen’s writing style very much. It was really funny and I laughed out loud at so many places (I’m even smiling to myself now thinking about some funny parts). Though it was a little draggy at the beginning, but I enjoyed almost every part of it. This book was worth all my time.

Favourite Characters: I can’t decide whom I like best among Jane, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Jane is such a sweetheart. Her values and point of views almost match mine. She is also a very responsible daughter and sister. I feel like, there is a warmth present in her which gives one comfort. Elizabeth is carefree and independent. She has a way of charming everyone and being friendly. She is very confident too. She handles her situation in a very tactful way. I specifically like the sisterly relationship between Jane and Elizabeth. My sister and I share a same kind of relationship. We too, like them, have each others confidence and shares every little thing. Now, what can I tell about Mr. Darcy! I loved him at the end as much as I hated him in the beginning. The best thing about him was that though he is proud, he learns.

Quote: “Do anything rather than marry without affection.”

My Ideal...<3

Some of the very best red carpet looks of Zendaya that I totally adore 🥰

“The Crucible” by Arthur Miller Review

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 3/5

Summary: “The Crucible” is a play of 1953 by Arthur Miller. The story is based on the infamous ‘Salem witch trials’ which took place in the 1692-1693. A group of young women, lead by Abigail Williams, accuse the village people of witchcrafts which results in a hysteria among them.

My opinion: The writing style of this play was very neat and I enjoyed reading every minute of it. It was short but the scenes were very intense. It showed how the ‘Salem witch trials’ was unfair and how ironically they hanged the people who wouldn’t admit being a witch rather than the ones who already did.

But there is a specific problem in this play which I would like to discuss. The protagonist John Proctor was shown as a brave hero whereas the antagonist was Abigail Williams, a very young girl who was sexually exploited by her former master (John Proctor). Isn’t it misogynistic how the writer had made the real victim look like a villain and the abuser a hero? I know Abigail was twisted and what she did was not right. But it was John who made her go that way.

Another problematic thing about this was that John was expecting his wife, Elizabeth, to forgive him because he had confessed to her. But when she couldn’t, it made him angry. At the end too, Elizabeth took all the blame on her saying she was too ‘cold’ as to why John made the mistake in the first place. That was really misleading. No one should be felt that way when their partner is the one cheating.

Quote: “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it.”