Fallton Havenstonne

Call of the Wild, written by Jack London, published in 1903, is a harrowing journey of a dog named by Buck (a St. Bernard mix), who, despite all odds, adapts and survives during the gold rush in the arctic. The story begins with Buck’s quiet and domestic life in California with his owner, Judge Miller, when he is taken by a worker of the family’s gardener and sold to a man gathering sled dogs for the arctic gold rush.

From there, Buck senses that things are off, as he is crated and then transported, only to be sold again. Jack London doesn’t hold back when he describes the brutality of what Buck endures and experiences, not to mention what other sled dogs must face. Since the story is told from Buck’s point of view, we see how strange and unforgiving this new, cold environment is, and how the sled dogs must run for hours on end, sometimes 40 miles a day, through the arctic snow.

Amongst the other dogs, including Sol-leks, Curly, Pike, etc., they embody different traits and personalities, but key among them is Spitz, who is the pack leader that Buck competes with to led the sled dogs. At this point, Buck has been bought by Francios and Perrault, and later he is sold to a mail carrier, where the trek is more grueling given the heavy load that the dogs must carry. Like Black Beauty, this novel depicts the drudgery the dogs face as they are worn down through exhaustion, hunger, and injuries.

It isn’t until Buck meets his last owner (his fourth in the arctic), John Thornton, where he is shown kindness and warmth. John Thornton nurses Buck to health given his poor and ill-treated condition, and provides shelter and food for his recovery. There is a great scene toward the end where John Thornton meets a man who makes a bet that Buck can’t pull a sled with a thousand pounds on it. The bet is on, and it is in this scene where despite all odds, Buck proves to everyone just how powerful he is.

Call of the Wild not only explores how animals are used and treated by humans (like Black Beauty), but also how they can bond with humans as well, as in the example with John Thornton. It also explores Buck’s determination to survive and, ultimately, thrive, against all odds, as toward the end of the book, he begins to meet with a wolf pack.

I won’t reveal the end, but will say that the novel is incredibly fast-paced, gripping, and truly puts you in the eyes of Buck as he learns to adapt to these newfound conditions in the arctic, and hears a whisper that could be described as a call of the wild.

The Screwtape Letters, written by C.S. Lewis, published in 1942, is a book told in the form of letters by an evil spirit named Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood (a tempter), on how to cause his “Patient” to err by having him make blunders, errors, and mistakes, leading him down the path to where all fallen spirits are. It’s not a conventional book in which there is a clear beginning, middle, end, and for readers expecting that structure, it will take some getting used to, since it is written like a series of short essays where each chapter focuses on a particular theme such as truth, virtue, and the prayer life of the “Patient.”

One must also get used to how everything is framed, since heaven is where Screwtape doesn’t want Wormwood’s Patient to end up. One must think in terms of opposites as one reads this, because Screwtape views everything from the side of evil. Toward the end of the book, though we don’t read any of Wormwood’s letters, we get a sense of what he wrote based on Screwtape’s responses regarding the war in Europe (World War II, undoubtedly), and how fear, courage, etc., are like spiritual battlegrounds for the “Patient.”

Once I got used to the format of this book, I began to appreciate each chapter for the theme it tackled, and later in the book, the “Patient” seemed to be evading Wormwood’s deceptions and tactics, which Screwtape started getting annoyed with. It is clear that the “Patient” isn’t aware of Wormwood at all, since he is an evil spirit, and the way the story is framed is as if Screwtape and Wormwood worked in some unseen office building where they would come and go and then report back to after meddling with the world.

The Screwtape Letters isn’t a fantasy or narrative book in the traditional sense, but for readers interested in C.S. Lewis’s work, it covers moral themes that are addressed in a kind of satirical way about how an evil spirit might think if it were to convince its “Patient” toward a fallen path.

Black Beauty, written by Anna Sewell, published in 1877, is a moving tale about a horse named Black Beauty, who endures hardships, as well as kindness, through a variety of owners, which reveals not only the way animals view us, but how humans treat each other. It is a tale told from the point of view of a horse as it grows up with its mother, and then is moved to Birkwick Park, where it is trained by a man named John Manly.

There, Black Beauty meets other horses, include Ginger, and Merrylegs, and we see how the horses are ridden and cared for. But what’s unique about this story is how the author puts us in the mind of Black Beauty, where we experience life through his eyes, contrasted from rest and happiness, to exhaustion, illness, thirst, and hunger. It is here that we see the effects of horse equipment such as blinkers and bearing reins–the latter of which causes the horse’s head to be elevated as it moves awkwardly–all for aesthetic reasons. There are also scenes in the book where horses are overburdened with carts as they are severely whipped for either getting stuck or not moving fast enough. And then there are moments where Black Beauty is cared for improperly, such as when he is underfed, or his stall is poorly cleaned, or when his hooves are worn with cracks–especially in one scene where a drunkard rides him with a broken hoof, and he ends up crashing on the road.

I can give an inexhaustible account of every sort of ill treatment that Black Beauty endures or witnesses–especially when he is sent to live in London. But there are also scenes of compassion, especially under the care of John Manly, who not only looks after Black Beauty, but other horses who he sees are being mistreated on the road. In the last act of the story, Black Beauty is cared for by Jerry Barker and his family, riding through the streets of London, drawing a cab. Is it is here that the importance of rest is emphasized, not only for the rider, but for the horse, as it is said that horses who work seven days a week without rest burn out more easily.

Throughout the narrative, Black Beauty witnesses the mistreatment of humans upon humans, as if they are treated as objects, or with disregard to their dignity or safety. In one scene, a man gripes to the Governor that because of the overhead he and others must pay for renting horses, they must ride all throughout the day before they even make a profit–often without a break. And in another scene, Jerry is summoned to pick up riders from a party during New Year’s, only to wait long through the cold night.

Suffice it to say, each chapter tells its own story of what Black Beauty experiences. It is not told in the conventional way where the protagonist is trying to reach some goal by the end, but rather, it is told like a documentary where we witness everything first hand, and though Black Beauty can understand and relate all the dialogue that is exchanged amongst the human characters, it never leaves his point of view, which allows us a window into both worlds. At times, it can be heartrending to read, but overall, it is a tale that shows how kindness and compassion can make all the difference not just upon horses or animals, but upon ourselves.

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, published in 1902, is a riveting mystery story about a fantastical legend that might turn out to be true. It is written with incredible atmosphere and prose that evokes images in the imagination of a moorland that is riddled with fog, danger, and the eerie sounds of howls in the dark.

The story takes place in Dartmoor, England, and its cast of characters include the infamous Sherlock Holmes and his friend, Dr. Watson, who are sought by Dr. Mortimer to protect Sir Henry, the last heir of the Baskerville estate, after Sir Charles, his uncle, was found deceased under mysterious circumstances. At the start, Sherlock Holmes finds the legend too fantastical to believe, but since there is a million pounds tied up in the estate, he suspects that there are confidants who are willing to stake a claim to that fortune.

Upon their investigation, strange things begin to happen upon meeting Sir Henry. A shoe has gone missing from his hotel, and they receive a message whose words have been cut and put together from newspaper clippings. As Sherlock Holmes stays behind to handle other cases, he sends Dr. Watson with Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall, and under no circumstances, is he to let Sir Henry travel to the moor on his own.

There on that acrid land, we meet the Baskerville neighbors including the Stapleton siblings, the Barrymores (both husband and wife, who are servants of the estate), Seldon, an escaped convict, etc. We also see the moorland taking the shape of a character in the plot, especially in an area called Grimpen Mire, which is treacherous to traverse, with parts that sink into the ground and ensnare whatever falls. The Hound of Baskervilles is a story where many secrets are hidden, including a letter that is discovered in a hearth. Given that it was burned–though not entirely–Dr. Watson tracks down its author, and discovers that Sir Henry’s uncle might’ve been drawn into a trap!

Always lurking is the question if the hound of the Baskervilles is real, if somewhere in that moorland, a creature awaits–given the dark legend of Hugo Baskerville. On this, the story has a foreboding atmosphere that never lets up, even when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unravel the human elements of the mystery. Because of how isolated Dartmoor feels, and how vast the moorland is, it is a story that grips with unrelenting tension, and even when each clue is solved, and the missing links are put together, there remains that question: is the hound of the Baskervilles real?

The Brothers Karamazov, written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1880, is a profound novel that left me ruminating on it long after I had finished it. It’s a book that explores philosophical themes at great length, particularly existential and moral themes, and portrays those beliefs through the lives, thoughts, and actions of its characters.

It is the sweeping story of the Karamazov family, including the father, Fyodor Karamazov, and his three sons, Alyosha, the youngest, who is a monk, Ivan, the intellectual, and Dmitri, the oldest son. The first half of the book explores the history and background of these character, and their specific outlooks on life. Alyosha is contemplating life in the monastery while his mentor, Father Zosima, who is dying, leaves him lasting advice that will impact his life as a monk. Ivan can’t stand to live in the family home with his father and wants to leave, while Dmitri believes he is owed an inheritance from his father, and though he is betrothed to Katrina Ivanovna, whom Ivan is in love with, he wants to be with Grushenka, a woman whom his father would marry in a heartbeat.

But the story takes a major shift when Fyodor Karamazov is murdered, and all evidence points to Dmitri, since he was last seen by his father’s servants at the event, and the money taken at the crime scene was exactly the amount he needed to pay off a debt to be with Grushenka. But Dostoevsky does not reveal what took place at the crime scene until the very end (through a series of interviews, including with the police and the servants ). As a reader, you’re left wondering if Dmitri did it or not, and since we had followed him on his journey as he went from person to person begging for money (3,000 roubles), to the point where he confronts Grushenka at the hotel in Mokroe with the man who she’s planning on leaving with, we question if he really committed the crime or not, though circumstantial evidence weighs heavily against him.

The Brothers Karamazov is a combination of a murder mystery and a philosophical treatise on the moral implications of philosophic values. Ivan believes that everything is lawful and therefore permitted (based on his denial of the immortality of the soul), and criticizes Alyosha’s spiritual beliefs because of how corrupt the world is and how it seems that there is no divine intervention against evil. But Alyosha believes that good must endure in spite of evil, because that is the only way to overcome it in this world. With these two different moral and philosophic viewpoints, in conjunction with the murder of their father, and with their brother, Dmitri, on trial, they must take a stand as to whether he is guilty or not, and therefore, judge him accordingly.

The concluding court trial and ending of this book left me reflecting back on the narrative and these characters, who are so well carved out that they seem real. Dostoevsky did an excellent job contrasting their personalities, while diving deep into their psyches as if he could read their minds and share them with us, even as they wrestled with doubts or indecisions. I found this book hard to put down, particularly at the halfway point, as it was riveting to discover how everything would pan out, especially after Dmitri’s sentencing.

The Brother’s Karamazov is a novel that explores the depths of the human psyche while also illustrating how values can affect a person’s life and attitude on others. It is a masterful work that transports us to a time and place where the beliefs of that era were being shaken by newer ones, and how, ultimately, humanity is always longing for something that will last and endure.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, published in 1813, is a novel that weaves together a tale in which signals are crossed, and characters wrongly assume or judge others until the truth is revealed. Mrs. Bennet has several daughters, and it is her hope that they all marry someday. We see the story unfold through the eyes of her daughter, Elizabeth, as she attends social gatherings, converses with her sisters and relatives, and has her suspicions of various characters that enter the story.

One of those characters is Mr. Darcy, who comes off as rude and arrogant, although he may be putting on a front–given his circumstance–or to Elizabeth’s judgment, pride. Her sister, Jane, who is more amiable and agreeable by far, is the opposite of Elizabeth, and this contrast allows the story to progress in a way where Elizabeth becomes protective of her.

By the third act of the book, we learn that there are people behind the scenes who are scheming in ways to hinder the outcome of marriage, and this is the most curious aspect of the story, especially through the revelations conveyed through letters. Whether it is for financial reasons, or because of what people judge of another’s character, there are layers to uncover, which make each page feel like you’re learning something new about the dynamics of each character.

By the end, I read the final 50 pages eagerly to learn the fate of the Bennet family. Everything comes together in a way where the tension is finally eased from the suspense of not knowing if things will work out for Elizabeth or Jane. The story is written with an ease in which one page flows to the next, and subtle hints are sprinkled throughout the story as to what may or may not happen, based upon the motives finally being revealed.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo, published in 1830, is a tragedy of epic proportions. Set during the late 15th century in Paris, its narrative follows a cast of diverse characters, including the poet Gringoire (who we meet at the beginning), the archdeacon Claude Frollo, the hunchback Quasimodo (his adopted son), a captain of the archers, Phoebus, and the heroine, Esmeralda.

The book is a cross between fiction and nonfiction, as Victor Hugo will digress to describe the history of 15th century Europe (particularly France), gives us insight into the construction of Notre Dame, and even give his take on the history of architecture. In one chapter, he gives a thorough analysis of how the printing press (books) would supplant architecture as the dispenser of art and culture, since before its advent, buildings were not just a place of shelter, but brought together artisans, builders, sculptors, etc., to convey their vision and values. Thus, as you read, you have an understanding of the cultural and geographical climate of that day, which transports you into the time of the story.

The main plot of the novel is that the archdeacon, Claude Frollo, has set his sights on Esmeralda, a street performer who jingles the tambourines, aided by her sidekick, a goat named Djali, who can spell out words with lettered blocks and communicate what day of the month it is (as part of its act). Claude Frollo lives in the cathedral of Notre Dame, along with Quasimodo, who is a bell ringer that is deaf and blind in one eye. Esmeralda, like Quasimodo, is adopted, but has went off on her own way to find her mother, since she was taken away from her at four months old.

One night, Esmeralda is chased by two dark figures who try to take her, but is rescued by Phoebus, the captain of the archers. From there, she’s smitten by him, while he, though betrothed to someone else, is smitten by her as well. Quasimodo, caught by the captain and his guards (though Claude Frollo got away), is sentenced to be flogged (ironically enough, by a deaf judge who bears no sympathy toward him). After the flogging, and after rocks are hurled at him by the crowd, who detest his appearance (i.e., his sunken neck and bowed legs), Esmeralda gives him water to drink–the only moment of kindness he ever experienced in his life.

But Claude Frollo is not done yet, and throughout the story, he plots to take Esmeralda again and again, and at every attempt, tells her he can save her (such as when she’s thrown into prison), or else leave her to the gallows. But because of his selfish and malicious schemes, many of the characters’ lives fall into shambles, leading to a very tragic ending.

But there is a moment, after Esmeralda is rescued by Quasimodo from the executioners, where she is staying in the tower of Notre Dame, that we see Quasimodo almost like a superhero. At night, convinced that they are doing the right thing, truands swarm the streets of Paris trying to break into the cathedral. In this moment, the prowess and larger-than life qualities of Quasimodo come to life (perhaps for readers at that time, it would be like reading the marvel character Hulk).

The book is a powerhouse of visuals and metaphors, and while reading it, I learned a lot about the history of France, and what the harshness of those times were like (i.e. the merciless sentences and executions, the poor prison conditions, the impoverishment people faced, etc.). Though it is a tragic tale, it is also riveting and emotional, and I found myself engrossed in the characters and plot, often visualizing the scenes as if they were from a movie without wanting to put the book down.

A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, published in 1859, is a masterwork of storytelling, an intense historical novel set during the onset of the French Revolution that sheds light on the dangers of unbridled revolt. The story begins with an introduction to a vast array of characters including Mr. Lorry, Doctor Manette, his daughter, Lucie, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, Mr. Cruncher, Mr. and Mrs. Defarge, etc., which sets the stage for the relentlessly paced second half of the novel.

The two cities in the title, if you’re wondering, refer to London and Paris–two locations in which the main characters: Doctor Manette, his daughter, Lucie, Charles Darney, Mr. Lorry, etc., travel to and from during the French Revolution. The story begins with Mr. Lorry, in his coach, receiving a message which reads “Recalled to Life.” At first, you might be perplexed by it (as I was), but as the story takes shape, you learn that Mr. Lorry works for a bank called Tellson, and he is the ward of Lucie, whose mother had passed away, and whose father was recently discovered in Paris after it was assumed he had perished.

Mr. Lorry and Lucie go to Paris, and sneak Doctor Manette out of the top floor of the wine-shop that belongs to Defarge. Because Doctor Manette had been imprisoned for ten years in Bastille, something there (or prior) had traumatized him to the effect where he isn’t fully cognizant of what’s going on. Later, after his rescue, we meet Sydney Carton, a lawyer with misgivings about his own life, who defends a man named Charles Darney, a frenchman accused of being a spy against England.

Therein sets in motion the story (at least the first half) where Lucie falls in love with Charles Darnay, they marry, and Mr. Lorry and Ms. Pross help mend Doctor Manette’s past trauma (in which he copes by shoemaking), whereas in France, the Defarges carefully and secretly plot their revolt against the aristocracy with the peoples of Saint Antione, who have been crushed under the aristocracy’s oppression (shown in one particular scene, where a nobleman named Marquis St. Evremonde runs over a victim with his carriage and throws a gold coin out as if that were consolation).

In the second half of the story, years have past, and the French Revolution has taken off with the guillotine (“La Guillotine” in the novel), which is used mercilessly against anyone who opposes the Republic. Since Charles Darnay, who is now a French teacher in England, is the nephew of Marquis St. Evremonde (aforementioned), and the château which he inherited is now burned down, with its custodian, the servant, Gabelle, taken into prison (La Force), Gabelle writes to him, beseeching that he come to France and clear his name.

But with Charles Darnay now living a quiet life with his wife, Lucie, and their young child (also named Lucie), he is reluctant to return to France (especially to the prison where Gabelle is kept), but feeling an obligation to save an innocent man’s life, he surreptitiously departs. After stealthily riding to the place where Gabelle is kept, he is found out, and is arrested on the spot, since he has ties to the aristocracy (due to his uncle, who is now deceased).

This sets in motion what can be called a rescue mission to free Charles Darnay from prison before he becomes the next victim of the guillotine under the leadership of the Defarges. Doctor Manette, his daughter, Ms. Pross (their housekeeper), Mr. Lorry, etc. all arrive in France, hiding from the vengeful mob as countless people are arrested, charged, and tried for execution under the guillotine.

The second half of the novel is so riveting and grim that is a far cry from the warmth and charm of A Christmas Carol, also by the same author. Without revealing any spoilers, this book is a masterpiece, whose story bridges all the characters together in nuanced ways, touching on numerous themes about friendship, revenge, oppression, sacrifice, etc., so much so, that it well deserves the label masterpiece. It is a cautionary tale of the extremes of revolutionary fervor and how far it can be carried out, sweeping up innocent people in its midst. It’s a story whose messages resonate deeply throughout, with characters that portray virtues as well as flaws, that by the end, the last lines will echo in your mind like sage advice to live by and remember.

The Power and the Glory, by Graham Greene, published in 1940, is a thought-provoking tale about the last priest in Southern Mexico, hiding from the authorities, trying to make it to his hometown: Vera Cruz. The story takes place in Mexico during the 1930s, where the authorities are severing the southern region of its catholic roots. Priests are arrested and executed, Mass is banned, and so are the sacraments, including baptism, confession, communion, etc.

The story follows a priest with a disreputable past, going from town to town as he heads north. But wherever he goes, the villagers plead for him to stay and perform the sacraments, such as confession or baptism. Despite the risks that this poses on them (as well as on himself), he does so, then moves on. With a merciless lieutenant pursuing him, his soldiers have started taking hostages from the villages, while also pursuing an American who has committed crimes elsewhere.

As the story unfolds, we see it from various points of views, including the perspective of the Fellows family (who are from England), a mother reading to her children about a saint, a dentist (also from England), the lieutenant who is hunting the priest, and the priest himself, as he rides a mule across the forest regions of Mexico.

As we discover more about the priest’s past, we see the inner struggle he faces (wondering if he is even a worthy ambassador of the faith), but despite wanting to flee north, he feels obligated to perform the sacraments. In some cases, he does so begrudgingly, as in one scene where he listens to confession, but not just from one person, but the whole village. There is also a man who follows him, sent by the authorities, since there is a reward for turning the priest over to the lieutenant.

With lots of close calls and moments where danger is always lurking, the suspense never lets up. Everything boils down to the last act where the priest must decide–being so close to freedom–whether to do what his conscience tells him to or to head north.

The prose of the book is stunningly stark yet poetic. The imagery is vivid, and there is an uneasy tension throughout that held my attention from start to finish. Even though the story can be grim at times, it is ultimately about hope and salvation in the end.

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. Le Guin, published in 1968, is a captivating story that explores the hero’s journey of a wizard as he develops great magical powers, while at the same time, confronting the very thing that haunts him. The story follows Ged (also called Sparrowhawk), who in the beginning of the story, saves the Village of Ront from Kargish invaders by casting a spell of mist (which he had learned from the village sorceress). The spell confuses the invaders, causing great confusion amongst them in battle, leading many to go astray and fall back. After the invaders flee, Ged becomes a hero for saving the village.

From there, Ged becomes the apprentice of a mage named Ogion, who once calmed an earthquake from destroying a city, and is respected by the people. But because of how slow Ged’s training is under his mentorship, Ged wishes to go to the Isle of Roke to learn magic at a school for wizards.

From there, he befriends Vetch, and walks around with an otak (a mouse-like creature) that rides on his shoulder. But things don’t go well for him when Jasper, a fellow student, taunts and jeers him to see who can outdo the other in sorcery. At the Isle of Roke, the students learn how to cast spells of illusion (such is making water spring from the earth), control the weather (i.e. wind), and learn the true name of things to command them at will. But one day, Ged and Jasper’s rivalry take a turn for the worse when Ged summons an entity from the Shadow realm: an evil spirit which he cannot command, and thus, it will haunt him for the rest of this tale.

As a result, Ged falls ill, and is bedridden for months while his classmates continue their studies and advance to graduate with their staffs (later to become sorceries of islands to protect people). Ged is stricken with guilt, however, since the archmage (the head of the school), Nemmerle, perished after driving the evil spirit away. Before he passed away, he cast a spell to protect the isle, although the evil spirit is still out there.

After leaving the school, Ged goes on different quests where he faces off against dragons, the Shadow (aforementioned), and an entity inside a tower that can answer any question, all while haunted by the spirit he had released.

A Wizard of Earthsea is a well-crafted story that is remarkably profound in the way it studies the inner conflict of its protagonist. It contains a rich world full of archipelago islands with their own histories, and fascinating villages and sailors that Ged meets along the way who teach him the ropes of the sea. It’s a great story that reveals how it is not just wizardry and magic that makes an individual great, but the choices they make.