The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Cover via Amazon

Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Author: Mark Twain
Main Characters: Tom, Sid, Huck, Aunt Polly, Becky, Mr. & Mrs. Thatcher, Injun Joe, Muff Potter, Joe Harper and Mary.
Description of one of the main characters: Becky is a beautiful girl with long blonde hair that hung in braids upto her waist.
Whom I like and Why: I like Tom Sawyer as he is naughty and helpful to catch the murderers, Injun Joe and his partner.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Becky as she is always angry with Tom Sawyer for not being with her and ignoring her.
Setting/Theme of the story: Tom Sawyer lived with Aunt Polly and Sid. Tom, Huck and Joe were best friends. They decided to be pirates as they could not steal the Jam. They went to a far away island. But soon they did not like the way they lived. They came back home. Tom and Huck became a witness for a murder done by Injun Joe. The next day Injun Joe blamed Muff Potter for the murder and Muff Potter was put into prison. Tom and Huck liked him as he took them to fishing. They decided to save him. They told the court what they had seen when Injun Joe was present in the court. Before anyone could catch him, Injun Joe escaped and hid himself in a cave. So, the two boys were frightened that Injun Joe would kill them, as they told the court that he was the actual murderer. Finally, the two boys closed the cave and Injun Joe died of suffocation. The boys divided the money stolen by Injun Joe between them with the permission of the court.  Tom began to do all naughty things which made Aunt Polly angry, once again. But she was quiet happy as Tom was no more dull.      
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when brave Huck saved the widow from Injun Joe.
A different ending: Injun Joe was never found. All were in peace. Injun Joe had gone to another country. There were no more thefts, murders etc. The town thanked Tom and Huck and now they were the heroes of the town. Still some envied them. But they were special to every house of the town.

Five Children And It

Titl : Five Children And It

Author: E. Nesbit

Main Characters: Robert, Jane, Cyril, Anthea, Maratha, Psammead and Lamb.

Description of one of the main characters: Maratha is a very kind and patient lady. She never scolds the four children for their mischief. 

Whom I like and Why: I like Robert as he is brave and kind to his two sisters, Jane and Anthea.

Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike the baker’s boy as he beats Robert once and he is always rude to everyone.

Setting/Theme of the story: Robert, Anthea, Cyril and Jane dig a hole to Australia to see if the people there walked upside down. Before they dig too deep, they find a furry creature with bat’s ears. It is a Psammead. The Psammead grants a wish each day but the wishes get undone at sunset. The children ask many wishes but none are useful. Finally one day, the sand fairy grants no more wishes as it starts sleeping for the rest of its life.

The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Robert becomes a giant and works in a circus for a day knowing that he will return to the same size at sunset. He earns some money which is useful to him in his fight against the Red Indians.

A different ending: The mother of these five children comes to know about the sand fairy and the whole family started asking for wishes to be fulfilled. The old habit of asking wishes comes back and children started building sand castles for sand fairies. All of them are happy again.

Through The Looking Glass

English: "And he grinned almost from ear to ear". Illustration by Peter Newell to "Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There", chapter "Humpty Dumpty" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Through The Looking Glass

Author: Lewis Carroll

Main Characters: Alice, Guard, White King, White Queen, Red King, Red Queen, Pawns, Knight, Dinah, Humpty Dumpty, Lion, Unicorn and Kitty.

Description of one of the main characters: Dinah is a white, little and a cute cat of Alice.

Whom I like and Why: I like Kitty as it is cute and black in colour. Its one of Alice’s pet cat.

Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike the lion and the unicorn as they fight for the crown. The town people have to give cakes, and drum them away.

Setting/Theme of the story: Alice goes into the looking glass house and sees insects. She also sees Kings and Queens, Humpty and Dumpty, Lion and Unicorn. She becomes Queen Alice as the Red and White Queens give their position to her as they like her very much.

Part I enjoyed the most: The humour when Alice tells her servant to act like a bone and herself acts like a hungry Hyena.

A different ending : Alice becomes a Queen but kitty rubs her eyes whom she kept in her lap. She takes him and leaves him with Dinah and she starts dreaming again.

The Story of Prahlada

Image by Mukul Banerjee via Flickr

The Sanakadhikas(sons of Lord Brahma) once went to have the darshan of Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntam(the exclusive place of Lord Vishnu). Jaya and Vijaya, the demigod  gate-keepers of Vaikunta, refused to allow the Sanakadhikas to enter. The Sanakadhikas got angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya to be born as demons in the Bhooloka(the planet Earth) thrice. One of the demons thus born was Hiranyakashipu. He did severe penance and got many boons from God Brahma(God of Creation). The boons are

“Not to be killed by Demon, God or by Beast. Not by Day nor by Night. By no manufactured Weapons. Not Outdoors Nor Inside. Not in the Sky nor on Earth.”

Hiranyakasipu had a child by name Prahlada. Prahlada was a born devotee of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakasipu did not like his son being a devotee of Lord Vishnu and tried all means to change him but could not. He challenged his son Prahlada that if Vishnu was everywhere as Prahlada claimed, he would hit a pillar and if Vishnu was not in the pillar, he would kill Prahlada. Prahlada stood his ground and said that Vishnu was there even in the words of Hiranyakasipu’s question.” Hiranyakasipu hits the pillar.

Out came Narasimha with a lion face and a human body, and killed Hiranyakasipu with his steel paws at twilight on his lap on the threshold of steps.

Narasimha took his devotee Prahlada on his lap and blessed with his AbhayaHastha(hand) on Prahlada’s head.
Nice to share the story of Prahlada and Vishnu’s Narasimha Avatar with you all today being celebrated as Narasimha Jayanthi.

The Wind In The Willows

Wind in the Willows (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wind in the Willows (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: The Wind In The Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Main Characters: Mole, Ratty, Toad, Badger, Otter, Sea Rat and Little Portly.
Description of one of the main characters: Ratty is a jolly and cheerful character in the story. He is little yet brave.
Whom I like and Why: I like Mole as he is friendly, loving and encouraging.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike the Sea Rat as he is boastful and praises himself all the time. He boasts about his adventures on the sea and how he escapes from tides.
Setting/Theme of the story: Ratty and Mole become friends. The story is about their adventure in the river and how they and their friends try and fight against men for Toad Hall, the place where they live.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the description with many rhyming words when the mole cleaned his little home in spring, whitewashed it and made it tidy.
A different ending : The animals could never get back to the rich and comfortable Toad Hall. They did not think of Caravans or any other thing which they usually think about. They stayed with Mole. In due time, they forgot Toad Hall and were happy once again.

Anne of Avonlea

Cover via Amazon

Title: Anne of Avonlea
Author: L. M. Montgomery
Main Characters: Diana, Gilbert, Anne, Fred Wright, Mr. & Mrs. Allan, Paul Irving, Davy, Dora and Ms. Lavender. 
Description of one of the main characters : Anne Shirley is a tall, slim girl with serious grey eyes and a hair which her friends call auburn.
Whom I like and Why : I like Mrs. Allan as she is kind to the Avonlea people ever since she comes to stay there.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Ms. Lavender as she is a very peculiar woman. She talks all about queer things and gossips a lot.
Setting/Theme of the story: Anne becomes a school teacher. All her pupils start loving her teaching methods. One day, Marrilla adopts the twins, Davy and Dora. Anne has to take care of the twins too. Marrilla suggests that Anne should go to college to educate herself more. Marrilla asks Mrs. Rachel Lynde to stay with her as Mr. Lynde had passed away. Anne and Gilbert go to college to study.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the humour when Anne goes to Tory road with Diana and falls into a house looking for a platter which is similar to what she had broken earlier.
A different ending: Anne takes care of the twins and brings them up with discipline. Marrilla, Anne, the twins and Rachel decide to be in the same house. Rachel Lynde sells the fields of Mr. Lynde and with that money they make the house bigger and live happily.

Oliver Twist

Cover of Oliver Twist (1997)

Title: Oliver Twist
Author: Charles Dickens
Main Characters: Oliver Twist, Mr. & Mrs. Maylies, Mr. Brownlow, Mrs. Bedwin, Monks, Mr. Grimwing, Mr. Edward Leoford and Old Sally
Description of one of the main characters: Monks is a thief who can escape easily even when tied. He joined a robbery group.
Whom I like and Why: I like Mr. Brownlow as he is a kind gentleman who took care of Oliver Twist patiently.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Old Sally as she is a selfish lady who would not give her treasure to anyone except her own daughter.
Setting/Theme of the story: Oliver Twist an orphan boy joins a gang of robbers. Later he escapes from them and goes to Mr. & Mrs. Maylies. Finally he understands that Monks is his own brother and Mr. & Mrs. Maylies his own uncle and aunt. He feels happy. He lives with Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin, the servant at Mr. Brownlow’s house. He lives happily ever after.
The Part I enjoyed the most: When Oliver Twist escapes from the first workshop where his mother died and went to another workshop without anyone’s knowledge.
A different ending : Oliver Twist remained to be a thief and never knew the truth and he was never guided out of it. He got many punishments but could not change his habits due to the bad company around him.

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: The Adventures Of Robison Crusoe
Author: Daniel Defoe
Main Characters: Robinson Crusoe, Spaniards, Captain, Canoes and Friday.
Description of one of the main characters: Robinson Crusoe is a stubborn and an adamant man. He is old and wise.
Whom I like and Why: I like Friday because he is a handsome gentleman. He was very loyal and faithful to his master.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike the Canoes as they eat men and are very ferocious and rude. They dirty the place with bones and skulls.
Setting/Theme of the story: Robinson Crusoe does not listen to his father and goes to work at sea in a very young age. He overcomes many tides and goes to an uninhabited island. He thinks that it is his own little kingdom. One day a man comes to him and asks for some work. He names him as Friday. Friday helps Robinson to fight against the Canoes, the man-eaters. Finally Robinson comes back to his home and sees his brothers. He feels ashamed for not listening to his father.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I like the part when Robinson Crusoe realizes his mistake of going to sea without his parents permission.
A different ending: Robinson Crusoe lived in the uninhabited island happily and many people gathered and it became an inhabited island. He ruled the island as the king and lived peacefully.

The Secret Garden

Cover of The Secret Garden

Title: The Secret Garden
Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett
Main Characters: Dickon, Maratha, Colin, Dr. Craven, Mrs. Medlock, Mr. Archibald Craven and Mary Lenox
Description of one of the main characters: Dickon is a good lad. He is a lover of nature. He is friendly with animals.
Whom I like and Why: I like Mary Lenox as she is a thin cute girl. She became healthier and stronger because of the wind from the moor.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Colin because he always cried and shouted during the night. He is a hunchback. He is often ill and sick. He never talks with anyone.
Setting/Theme of the story : A mean tempered girl, Mary Lenox, is sent from India to England to live with her uncle, Mr. Archibald Craven. In Yorkshire, she finds a hidden garden locked up. She finds the key and opens it. With the help of a local boy, Dickon, Mary Lenox begins to work in the garden to bring it back to life. In return, the secret garden changes her and whoever entered it for better.
The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Mary Lenox found the secret garden and worked on it to make it bloom again. She and Dickon started working hard to make the place look beautiful. Mary was happy gardening with Dickon.
A different ending: Mary Lenox gardened and made it blossom. Dickon started to bring many animals and birds to the garden. Mary and Dickon decided to have the secret garden as the home of the animals. But soon, Mr. Archibald Craven and the other people came to know about it and now it was no more a secret garden.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan playing the Pipes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Peter Pan
Author: J. M. Barrie
Main Characters: Wendy, Lost Boys, Tinker Bell, John, Michel, Pirates, Peter Pan, Mr. and Mrs. Darling and Jane.
Description of one of the main characters: Peter Pan is an obstinate boy who does not want to grow older and wants to remain young forever. He remains as per his wish.
Whom I like and Why: I like Wendy because she is very kind to the lost boys in Neverland.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Tink as she always scolds Wendy saying “you silly ass” for everything!
Setting/Theme of the story: John, Michel and Wendy, the children of Mr. & Mrs. Darling, go on a journey with Peter Pan to the Neverland. The Neverland is an interesting place with fairies, pirates, mermaids, lost boys and many others but there is danger and difficulty in every corner of the land. The three children and the lost boys see mermaids and have a lot of fun. One day the three children and the lost boys fly back to their home. Wendy requests her mother to allow the lost boys to stay with them. Her mother accepts. They all grow up together. Later one night, Wendy’s daughter Jane goes on an adventure with Peter to the Neverland. This adventure with Peter to the Neverland continues for generations of kids.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when the mermaids sang their song in their lagoon.
A different ending: John, Michel, Wendy could never return home with the lost boys and remained with Peter. They faced many difficulties. In due course, they also wished and remained young like Peter. They had adventures with Pirate Hook and fun with the mermaids of the lagoon.

Alice Adventures in Wonderland

English: Illustration of "A Mad Tea Party" in chapter in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in which Alice meets the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse. Text on Hatter's hat reads "In this style 10/6". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Alice Adventures in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll
Main Characters:Rabbit, Rat, Caterpillar, Alice, Duchess, March Hare, Hatter, Queen of Hearts, King, Mock Turtle and Gryphon.
Description of one of the main characters: March Hare grows mad during March and is very talkative.
Whom I like and Why:I like the rabbit as it is awfully neat and follows justice.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Mock Turtle as it always cries thinking about the past and tells his nonsense history to everyone who passes.
Setting/Theme of the story: Alice goes to the wonderland, she shrinks, she grows and all queer things happen. She goes to the March Hare and they have a mad tea party. Finally she meets the queen of hearts. But all this was only a dream.
The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Alice grew large and said to the queen

            “You need to obey me. After all you are only a pack of cards.”

I very much thought the queen deserved it.
A different ending: Alice started dreaming and writing stories of the dreamy experience. She enjoyed the dream adventures and became a  famous  budding author.

The Famous Five (The five are together again)

The Famous Five (1970s TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: The Famous Five(The Five Are Together Again).
Author: Enid Blyton
Main Characters: Georgina, Dick, Anne, Julian, Timmy, Tinker, Mr. Wooh, Jenny, Mischif and Prof. Hayling
Description of one of the main characters: Georgina is a brave and a stubborn girl who wishes to be a boy.
Whom I like and Why: I like Prof. Hayling as he is brainy and short-tempered. He invents many unusual things.
Whom I dislike and Why:  I dislike Mr. Wooh, the wonderful magician, as he is a cunning man with greed for more money.
Setting/Theme of the story: The four cousins and their dog pitch their tents near the world-famous scientist. They have a lot of fun and suddenly one morning some important papers of the scientist go missing. They try to solve the theft. They try to hide the remaining papers safely at the Kirrin Island. Finally they find the thief. It is Mr. Wooh. They solve the mystery.
Part I enjoyed the most: The humour when Charlie, the chimp, help the four cousins and the dog to put their tents in the field.
A different ending: The five could never solve the mystery. It was time to go back to the Kirrin Cottage. The theft remained a mystery for The Famous Five and their friends at big hollow. They said good-bye and went back to Kirrin Cottage confused about the theft in the tower.

Anne Of The Green Gables

Cover of Anne of the Green Gables

Title: Anne Of The Green Gables
Author: L. M. Montgomery
Main Characters: Anne, Diana, Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert, Gilbert Blythe and Mrs. Rachel Lynde
Description Of One Of The Main Characters: Diana is a cute, little and tidy girl. She is bold and is afraid of nothing. She is Anne’s best friend.
Whom I Like And Why: I like Anne Shirley as she is a truthful and a friendly child. She is trusted by everyone in Green Gables.
Whom I Dislike And Why: I dislike Gilbert Blythe as he is rude and he makes fun of the girls. He often teases Anne about her red hair.
Setting/Theme Of The Story: Marrilla Cuthbert adopts a young girl named Anne Shirley from the asylum to make her educated and disciplined. Soon Anne grows up and become friends with Diana. She studies well and becomes disciplined. She makes the Cuthberts happy. But Mr. Cuthbert dies because of a sudden heart attack. Marrilla has to give away the house and get some money, but Anne earns some money for their living and the house remains theirs.
The Part I Enjoyed The Most: I like the part when Anne works hard and earns some money for Marrilla. She wins the first place in her studies and gets more marks than Gilbert Blythe.
A Differed Ending: Marrilla Cuthbert had to give away the house as Anne could not earn much money. They went to a far away place from Green Gables. She missed the wonderful place and her bosom friend Diana. She wept bitterly. But the new place was as nice as it was in Green Gables. But she remembered her pretty garden and her friend throughout.

The Wizard of Oz

Cover via Amazon

Title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L.Frank Baum
Main Characters: Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinwoodman and the Cowardly Lion.
Description of one of the main characters : Dorothy is a small kind-hearted girl who shares everything willingly.
Whom I like and why: I like the Scarecrow as it helped Dorothy till she reached back to Kansas in the Prairies.
Whom I dislike and why: I dislike 'The Wizard of Oz' as he cheated the people saying that he was a wizard but he was a normal man from Kansas.
Setting/Theme of the story: Dorothy got carried away to the magical land of Oz by a storm and made friends with Scarecrow, Tinwoodman and Cowardly Lion. Her friends helped her on her way to the Emerald city. Finally she got back to Kansas with the help of a pair of magical slippers.
Part I enjoyed the most: When Dorothy killed the 'Wicked Witch Of The West' by pouring water which melted the Witch and released her slaves.
Different ending: Dorothy could not get back to Kansas. She felt bad. She stayed with the Scarecrow in the Royal Palace of the Emerald City. In time, she becomes the queen and ruled wisely.