Anne of Green Gables

By L.M. Montgomery

Anne Shirley is an orphan girl whose big vice is life is her red hair. At the age of 11 she arrives in Avonlea to stay with Matthew and Marilla at Green Gables. They originally wanted to adopt a boy to help them on the farm, but because of a misunderstanding the orphanage sends them a girl.

Both Matthew and Marilla soon take to liking Anne and the house livens up with her constant chatter and lively imagination. She also turns out to be a very bright girl, who does well in school and has an academic career all lined up before her.

The book ends on a sad note, as tragedy strikes at Green Gables and Anne's plans for her future changes. But not all changes are for the worse and knowing Anne she is sure to find a way out and a solution to her new situation.

It is packed with innocence but also great hopes, and the underlying theme of the story is that no matter where you come from and who you are, dreams can come true. A wonderfully funny book that I am sure girls of all ages (and boys too!) will love.

The Tree of Hands

By Ruth Rendell

Not the best Ruth Rendell novel I have ever read, but still I cannot come up with anything negative to say about it. I love the way she merges several stories, which at first glance seem not to have anything to do with each other, but in the end they all come together so masterfully, and it all makes sense somehow.

First we meet Benet and her young son James. They are at the airport to pick up Benet’s mother. Without going into great detail and without spoiling the ending I think it will be safe to say that little James dies. He is soon replaced by Jay, who Benet not long after discovers her mother has abducted. However, when Benet's mother leaves to go back to Spain where she lives, Benet is determined to return Jay. Despite her good intentions there is always one thing or other to delay her plans of returning him.

We also meet Jay's mother, Carol, and her young boyfriend, Barry, who doesn't exactly live in the lap of luxury. Then there is also Carol's ex-boyfriend, Terence, who is not entirely mama's best boy. He likes to go to funerals but not any kind of funeral. It has to be one where the widow is not too old and not exactly poor. He also tries to sell his current "girl friend's" house while she is away in the Caribbean.

After a while Benet's ex-boyfriend, Edward, also plays a bigger part in the plot of this book. He somehow manages to see through Benet's secret.

I felt like Benet could almost be forgiven for not returning Jay to his mother, and actually felt thankful that she had a mother crazy enough to take this small child out of his misery. It is like she was his guardian angel. It is not very often I feel a sense of relief, and almost a little touch of happiness, after having finished one of Ruth Rendell’s books but this story certainly left me in a good mood.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

By Thomas Hardy

Very slow going in the beginning but picks up after a while. However, I found it a little tedious on a few occasion. There are far too many detailed descriptions that could very easily have been left out all together. The style of writing is a little boring as well so at times it is more a chore than a pleasure to keep on reading. On a positive note the idea is okay and Tess does have many emotional complexities and has to face many emotional challenges. It is also interesting to see how her relationship with men changes when she lets her past get the best of her. The ending is surprising as well.

Tess Durbeyfield is the main character of the story. She is the daughter of the poor John Durbeyfield who learns from the village parson that his family is related to ancient nobility, being the last of the family the D’Urbervilles. In trying to make use of this connection Tess’ mother Joan, suggests that Tess pursue the son of the local family of Mrs D’Urberville, Alec D'Urberville. It later turns out the Mrs D’Urberville has merely taken the name for convenience. However, Alec falls in love with Tess and seduces her. They have a child together but the child soon dies. Because the child is illegitimate it cannot be baptised. Tess is told by her mother to never mention the rape or the child to anyone.

After the death of her child, Tess travels to a nearby town to start work on a farm. Here she meets the Reverend Mr Clare and his son Angel. Although she has promised herself never to fall in love again, she finally accepts Angel’s proposal and they get married. On their honeymoon night Tess confesses her dark and mysterious past to Angel, causing him to become jealous since Alec is still alive. He decides to go away until he can forgive Tess and leaves for Brasil. By chance Tess runs into Alec again but this time she refuses to talk to him and tell him of what she has done, something that leads to another attempt on Alec’s part to ensnare Tess.

The story finally ends with murder, escape and superficial impurity on the part of Tess, when she is finally brought to "justice".