Swami and Friends

 

Malgudi is a fictitious town in India created by R.K. Narayan in his novels and short stories. It forms the setting for most of Narayan's works. Starting with his first novel, Swami and Friends, all but one of his fifteen novels and most of his short stories take place here. Narayan has successfully portrayed Malgudi as a microcosm of India. Source: Wikipedia

Title : Swami and Friends

Author : R. K. Narayan

Main Characters : Swaminathan, Rajam, Mani, Swami’s father, Rajam’s father, Granny and Swami’s mother

Description of one of the main characters : Swami is a 10 year old mischievous boy who thinks of running away when he makes a mistake. He is a good bowler in the MCC.

Whom I like and Why : I like Rajam because he is responsible and studies very well. He is kind to his friends. He is a clever boy like his father who is a police superintendent. He is the captain of MCC.

Whom I dislike and Why : I dislike nobody as no one is rude or has any bad character. I like everybody but I like Rajam the most.

Setting/Theme of the story : Swaminathan, a 10 year old boy, is studying in a school in Malgudi. There is a new comer named Rajam. Swami and Mani become friends with Rajam. Rajam, Mani and Swami start the MCC(malgudi cricket club). Because of Swami’s pranks he is expelled from the only school in Malgudi. Swaminathan is afraid that his father would punish him and runs away. He misses the match between YMU(Young Men’s Union) and MCC. He is the best bowler for MCC. Swami returns home. Finally Rajam’s father is transferred and Rajam is going away. Swaminathan feels unhappy and presents him a story book as Rajam likes to read very much. Mani and Swami feel sad. They never forget their dear old friend Rajam.

The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Swami and Mani becomes Rajam’s friend.

A different ending : Swami and his friends win the match with YMU. Rajam’s settle in Malgudi. Malgudi Cricket Club wins matches and gets more fame. Swami scores good marks and everybody is happy.

Four New Words I Learnt : 

• revolver : type of pistol
• triumphant : joyful after a victory
• ecstatic : intense happiness
• wrench : pull or twist violently

Famous Five (Five On Kirrin Island Again)

Title : Famous Five (Five On Kirrin Island Again)
Author : Enid Blyton
Main Characters : Anne, Dick, George, Julian, Timmy, Aunt Fanny, Uncle Quentin, Martin and Mr. Curton
Description of one of the main characters : Aunt Fanny is a good-tempered woman. She is George’s mother. She cooks and packs the foods neatly and quickly for the four children and the dog to Picnic.
Whom I like and Why : I like Timmy because he is a brave dog. He is loyal to the children and helpful to George’s father, Uncle Quentin, who is a scientist. He helps the great scientist to make one of his experiments successful.
Whom I dislike and Why : I dislike Mr. Curton as he is wicked and selfish. He treats his son cruelly. He pretends to be friendly but in reality he is not as friendly as he acts. He plans to take away Uncle Quentin’s notes and diagrams so that he could make a huge profit with those papers by selling it.
Setting/Theme of the story : George’s father lives in Kirren Island for the holidays to do one of his experiments. But Curton and two more of his friends try to steal the notes of the experiment and get money by selling it. But Timmy, George, Julian, Dick, Anne, Aunt Fanny and some fishermen stop the thieves. They send the three thieves to the police. The thieves are sent to jail. George saves her island from the thieves.
The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when George finds Timmy and saves him from the dark cave which is closed by a rock.
A different ending : The Kirren Castle gets burnt after Uncle Quentin, George, Timmy, Julian, Dick and Martin comes out. The three thieves die inside the castle. George feels sad. Her own dear castle burns but she soon becomes cheerful. She and her cousins plan to build a tower instead of the castle for the next holidays.

PS: My father thought George is a “he”. I suppose this should make George happy.

Famous Five( Five Go Off In A Caravan)

Title : Famous Five( Five Go Off In A Caravan)
Author : Enid Blyton
Main Characters : Anne, Dick, George, Julian, Timmy, Nobby, Barker, Growler, Pongo, Tiger Dan, Lou-the acrobat, Farmer Mackie and Mrs.Mackie 
Description of one of the main characters : Pongo is a funny chimpanzee who is a friend of Anne, Dick, George, Julian, Timmy and Nobby. Once when the Famous Five(Anne, Dick, George, Julian, Timmy) and Nobby are stuck in the middle of the confusing hill Pongo helps them to find  their way.
Whom I like and Why : I like Anne because she is responsible. She takes care of her three cousins and her pet dog Timmy. She is a kind and well-mannered girl too.
Whom I dislike and Why : I dislike Tiger Dan as he is selfish. He always wants everyone to listen to  him. He thinks he is very strong. Pongo beats him once and he never plays any trick on Pongo again.
Setting/Theme of the story : Anne,Dick, George, Julian and Timmy plan to spend their holidays in the hills. They are going to go off in a caravan on their own. They go to the Merran hill. They find a camp. They become friends with Barker, Growler, Pongo and Nobby. Lou and Tiger Dan always does some trouble to the Famous Five. Later the Famous Five find out that those two short-tempered man ( Lou and Dan) are smugglers. They smuggle valuable things. The Famous Five complain to the police and the smugglers are put into prison. The police thank the Famous Five. The Famous Five return home happy. 
The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Pongo smacks the two smugglers, Dan and Lou. 
A different ending : The smugglers escape from the police and come to the children. They request the children not to tell the police and promise them that they would no more smuggle anything. Instead, they would be clowns or acrobats in a circus. The Famous Five are happy that the smugglers became good men. Nobby lives with them happily. Anne, Dick, George, Julian and Timmy have a very good holiday.
Five New Words I Learnt :

• nuzzle – rub or push against gently with nose
• muzzle – the nose and mouth of an animal
• gorgeous – beautiful
• trot – move at a pace faster than a walk
• ledge – narrow horizontal projection

Foreign Language Programme(FLP) Series : How I chose French

I am going to learn French taught by FLP teachers. They gave me an option to choose among three languages French, Japanese and German. I told this to my father. He asked suggestions from his friends. One of his friends told me that it is a golden opportunity to learn French when I am young. My father asked suggestions through Facebook. There were many comments. My father also suggested French. Finally I chose French. 
Today we all assembled in a big hall. Many had chosen French and Japanese. Only a few had chosen German. They read out the names of the students assembled there and divided us into groups for convenience. For French, they divided us into two groups A& B. I am in the B group. Our French teacher introduced herself.  We sat quietly for sometime. They gave details about the dates and timings. We dispersed. I think it was a good orientation about the FLP classes.
I am looking forward to learn French and sharing my experience through my blog.

Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm

Title : Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm

Author : Kate Douglas Wiggin

Main Characters : Rebecca, Mira, Mirandy, Jane, Aurelia, Mark, Mr. Cobb, Uncle Jerry and Adam Ladd.

Description of one of the main characters : Aunt Mirandy is a short tempered lady with sharp tongue. Sometimes when Rebecca irritates her aunt Mirandy starts scolding and Rebecca has to get some comfort from Uncle Jerry or Aunt Jane. Mirandy is also disciplined. 

Whom I like and Why : I like everyone in the story. I like Rebecca the most. I like her as she is good at poetry. She is friendly with everyone. She is helpful to her aunts Mirandy and Jane. She is cheerful and enthusiastic.

Whom I dislike and Why : I do not dislike anyone in the story as everyone were good and generous. Everybody were kind to each other. There were no problems between them.

Setting/Theme of the story :  Aurelia has seven children. One of them is Rebecca Rowena Randall. Rebecca is sent to the brick house in Riverboro. She is carried from Maplewood to Riverboro by Mr. Cobb in his stage-coach. She arrives at the brick house and find her aunts Mirandy and Jane. She is friendly to everybody. Sometimes Rebecca wantedly irritates her short-tempered aunt Mirandy. Everyone in the town love her including Adam Ladd who Rebecca calls Mr. Alladin as he bought 300 soaps at a time at an enormous price. When Rebecca finishes her school at Riverboro she goes to Wareham to study more. Her study at Wareham ends. When it ends, suddenly, her mother Aurelia falls sick and she has to go to Sunnybrook. When she is staying at Sunnybrook with her mother, aunt Mirandy dies. Rebecca has to run to Riverboro to attend the funeral of her aunt. Aunt Jane gives the brick house to Aurelia and her children. So, it is time for Rebecca to say good-bye to the old Sunnybrook farm. 

The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Rebecca helps the Simpson family to buy a lamp for Christmas by selling 300 soaps at a time to Mr. Alladin.

A different ending : Aunt Jane and Aunt Mirandy invites Mark and Mira to make them educated like Rebecca. Rebecca starts working and begins to earn quite a fat sum. Everybody were healthy and happy in the brick house.

Treasure Island

Title: Treasure Island
Author: R. L. Stevenson
Main Characters: Dr. Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Jim Hawkins, Billy Bones, Black Dog, Long John Silver and Ben Gunn .
Description of one of the main characters: Long John Silver is a one-legged sea man. He is a former pirate. He is a brave man. He is friendly with Trelawney’s men but when they are not present, he plans to kill them in Treasure Island with the help of his own friends. He is cruel and hard hearted.
Whom I like and Why: I like Jim Hawkins as he is a shrewd boy with sharp ears. He collects information and tells his friends the truth about Long John Silver and the other pirates in their ship planning to kill Mr. Trelawney’s men and also to steal the treasure.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Squire Trelawney because he doesn’t know to keep a secret. He tells everyone that he and his friends are going behind treasure. Some pirates hear this and board on Hispaniola, the ship which is going to sail after treasure.
Setting/Theme of the story: An old sea-man named Billy Bones arrives at Admiral Benbow Inn. He is a pirate. Jim Hawkins helps him to stay comfortably. One day another pirate named Black Dog arrives at Admiral Benbow Inn. Then another pirate who was the mate of Billy Bones in the pirates' ship comes and gives Billy Bones the Black Spot(a paper in which pirates write a note to the pirate they are eliminating). Finally, Bones dies. Jim Hawkins takes a map and some money from Billy Bones. He shows the map to Mr. Trelawney and Dr. Livesey. The map shows them the area of Treasure Island. They plan to go behind the treasure. Squire Trelawney goes to Bristol to buy a ship. He buys one named Hispaniola. They start sailing. In their ship, there are some pirates. Jim Hawkins overhears the pirates’ plans from the Apple Barrel. They reach Treasure Island. There starts a big fight between the pirates and Mr. Trelawney’s men. Jim Hawkins again helps his friends by finding help from a former pirate but now a good trustworthy man. He is Ben Gunn. Ben Gunn takes the treasure before anyone could take and hands it over to Dr. Livesey. The pirates loose the battle. Many of the pirates die. Silver still escapes with 500 pounds. They are not unhappy in the loss of money but happy to get rid of that cruel man. They all sail home happily.  
The Part I enjoyed the most : I enjoyed the part when Ben Gunn cheats the pirates by shouting Flint’s last words: “Darby M’Graw! Darby M’Graw! Fetch me rum; Darby!” in Flint’s voice.
A different ending : Squire Trelawney gives Ben Gunn an equal share of money. He helps the poor people and repairs the destroyed buildings with the rest of the money. He advises the pirates not to be cruel and instead be useful citizens. They obey Squire Trelawney. Trelawney gives them each 500 pounds and sends them off. Jim Hawkins returns to Admiral Benbow Inn to take care of his mother. The pirates turn good and the problem is solved.

The Curse

 

Once upon a time there were three adjacent bungalows in a village. The people in the village feared to go near them. They believed that ghosts lived there. In the same village there lived three friends called Lina, Tina and Rina. Rina and Lina had faith in ghosts. Tina did not believe and challenged them that she will prove that there are no ghosts by going to the ruined bungalows that midnight. Her friends were afraid of her life and said that they would accompany her. That midnight Tina’s bag was loaded with torches. She had a look at the bungalows. An old ghost had heard her challenge and decided to teach her a lesson. The bungalow was tall and wide. It had a great wall preventing people from getting inside. Tina was excited. When she went near,the wall vanished and she went in. She lit her torch and had a look again. She stepped into the house which was open. The house was not painted. There were some paint boxes kept in a corner. The paints started to paint the house on its own, but Tina was least afraid. She went on inside. The ghosts got angry and played another trick on her. The ghosts rattled the chains of the house and made a frightening noise. Tina did not bother and continued to explore the hall. There was a big carpet full of blood stains. All the stains suddenly vanished and the lights turned on.Tina was surprised to see this but still she continued to go and explore. Then she found a board in which a message was written.She was curious to read it. She read it and the message was

“To the one who finds us, if you pull our chain, we will be released from the curse. We will be grateful to you.”

She realised that it is because of a curse they had become ghosts. So she sat down and started saying a fairy tale. The story became so interesting that the ghosts drew near to her. She was waiting for all the ghosts to come nearer. When all the ghosts came near she pulled the chain and slowly ghosts turned to young and old people. Everybody were happy and praised her for the brave act.  

The Indian In The Cupboard

Cover of THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD (MTI)

Title: The Indian In The Cupboard
Author: Lynne Reid Banks
Main Characters: Little Bear, Omri, Boone, Patrick and Bright Stars
Description of one of the main characters: Patrick is a tall boy with a rough nature. He is actually not fit to have the little living creatures. He doesn’t keep a secret to himself. He is one of the best friends of Omri.
Whom I like and Why: Even though small in size, Little Bear is brave and fierce. He has black eyes. I like the way he fights and how he talks. He is friendly to Boone and makes Boone as his brother.
Whom I dislike and Why: I do not dislike anyone in the story as everyone are good at something. Even though Patrick is rough in nature, he gives good food to Little Bear and Boone.
Setting/Theme of the story: Patrick presents Omri an Indian on Omri’s birthday. Omri does not like this present. His two brothers give him an unusual cupboard and a magical key which turns lifeless toys into real ones. Omri does not believe his brothers first. Then when he puts the Indian in the cupboard it turns to a live little creature. It is fun having the live Indian but the Indian needs food and shelter which is difficult to provide. He tells the secret to Patrick. Patrick wants to have one for himself. It is Boone the cowboy he has. The Indian’s name is Little Bear. Little Bear becomes a chief and wants a wife. An Indian girl named Bright Stars is his wife. The adventures with Boone, Little Bear, Omri and Patrick is the story of The Indian In The Cupboard.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Omri takes Little Bear and Boone to school and gets caught and how he escapes from the school headmaster.
A different ending: Little Bear does not become a chief. He doesn’t want a wife. Boone goes to Little Bear’s time and all the brothers of Little Bear kill him. Little Bear can no more bear it. He goes to Omri and Patrick and tells them the whole story. Patrick feels sad. Little Bear is owned by both of them after Boone had gone.

First Term At Malory Towers

 
Title: First Term At Malory Towers
Author: Enid Blyton
Main Characters: Darrell Rivers, Mr. & Mrs. Rivers, Sally Hope, Mr. & Mrs. Hope, Gwendoline, Mrs. Lacey, Alicia, Betty and Mary-Loe.
Description of one of the main characters: Gwendoline is a student who leads a sheltered life, who is arrogant and jealous of others. She hates Darrell, Sally and Mary-Loe. She does pranks and put the blame on Darrell. Once she smashes Mary-Loe’s favourite fountain pen and blames Darrell Rivers for the mistake. She never asks sorry to anyone for her mistakes.
Whom I like and Why: I like Alicia because she is talkative, smart and clever. She is good at swimming and other sports. I like her smart mischief which she plans carefully. She is good and a loyal friend of Betty.
Whom I dislike and Why: Mary-Loe is so afraid of things and is a coward. She is fit for nothing. She takes no interest in sports. She is afraid of water and sometimes talks rude to people. Hence I dislike Mary-Loe.
Setting/Theme of the story: Darrell Rivers joins a new boarding school, The Malory Towers. There are two more new girls, Sally and Gwendoline. Sally is a quiet, serious girl with twinkling eyes. As for Gwendoline, she is a pampered child with long golden hair and brown curious eyes. Malory Towers is huge and fantastic. The pranks done by Darrell and her friends make up the story First Term At Malory Towers.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed one of the pranks done by Alicia and Betty by acting like a deaf hearing everything wrong. For example, if someone says cold, they heard it as gold. They act like deaf during Mam Zelle Dupont’s French class.
A different ending: Gwendoline goes to another school suggested by her governess. Darrell thinks she would get spoiled more. Darell is good at swimming and both Sally and Darrell become thick friends. It is all happiness again. But now they cans no more play any tricks at Mam Zelle Dupont’s class. It is all fine once again at Malory Towers.

Quesera And Her Ants

In the middle of the thick dense forest, there lived a cobra named Nagina. She was always proud of her strength and talked arrogantly to comparatively smaller animals. The red ants which lived there, for years,  knew Nagina well. The ants hated Nagina. One day, she went to the ant-hill and called out, “Quesera, I need the ant-hill for myself. I need to live somewhere.” The Queen of ants, Quesra became extremely angry. She cried “You coward. You laze goose. Why dont you build one for yourself? This is for us. Dont trouble us. Get away.” Nagina was so angry that she destroyed the ant-hill with her long and strong tail. Quesera and her ants started climbing up to Nagina’s body. They bit her all over the body. Nagina’s body was badly injured. She could not move at all. After a month or so, she died of hunger. The smaller and bigger animals thanked Quesera and her ants for the brave act.

Famous Five : Five Go Down To The Sea

Title: Famous Five : Five Go Down To The Sea
Author: Enid Blyton
Main Characters: Julian, Dick, Anne, George, Timmy, Mr. & Mrs. Penruthlan, Yan, Yan’s Grandad, The Barnies and The Guv’nor.
Description of one of the main characters: Mr. Penruthlan is a strange and magnificent figure of a man-tall, well over six feet, broadly built, and extremely dark. His mane of hair is black and curly, his eyes is as black as his hair. He works with the police to catch smugglers. If any false light shines from the hill to make boats come near the shore, he calls the police at once and they get arrested.
Whom I like and Why : Even though Yan is dirty and wears torn clothes he is helpful for the five when they are struck in the cave. He comes in search of them and helps them unlock the bolt. He is a good friend of Timmy.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike The Guv’nor because he is one of the smugglers of Tremannon farm. He smuggles dangerous drugs. Drugs that are sold at enormously high prices in the black market.
Setting/Theme of the story: Its holiday for The Famous Five. They go to Tremannon farm to spend their holidays with Mr. & Mrs. Penruthlan. One day they go to the hill to see Yan and his grandad. Grandad tells many stories about the wrecks and some secrets about the tower. He says that, in the yesteryears, the wreckers used to lure the sailors on the dangerous Cornish rocks along the coast during stormy nights. When Dick, George, Anne, Julian and Timmy are in the hill, they see the light in the tower. They want to save the boat which is going to be smuggled or wrecked. But they cannot. Finally they find out that the smuggler is none other than The Guv’nor. The Five tells Mr. Penruthlan about it and The Guv’nor is arrested. He is put into prison. The Barnies thank The Famous Five for their brave act.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Clopper, the horse sits down and crosses its legs and does all sorts of funny things.
A different ending: The children thought that Mr. Penruthlan is the smuggler. He is really. He shines the light and almost everyday there would be a news that a ship is wrecked and looted. He smuggles with his four friends, The Guv’nor, Sid, Mr. Blinks and Yan’s Grandad. He says to everyone that he is working with the police. But Dick, Anne, George and Julian prove that Mr. Penruthlan is a smuggler to the town by trapping him in the Wrecker’s Way. Everybody thank The Famous Five.  

Pygmalion

Title: Pygmalion

Author: Bernard Shaw

Main Characters: Freddy, Eliza the Flower Girl, Prof. Higgins, Colonel Pickering, Mr. Doolittle-Father of Eliza and Mrs. Pearce.

Description of one of the main characters: The Flower Girl, Eliza is a common girl of London. Her pronunciation is very bad when she comes to the convent garden. But she goes to Higgins and learns good English. She learns phonetics. She starts to speak well. Freddy falls in love with the flower girl and they both marry.

Setting/Theme of the story: Eliza, a cockney flower girl goes to Prof. Higgins to learn phonetics. She becomes talented and speaks good English. She used to speak the local dialect without a phonetic alphabet which is unintelligible outside London. Colonel Pickering helps Higgins to make Eliza a Duchess in three months. He watches over Eliza when she is in international parties. Mrs. Pearce helps Eliza with her costumes for the parties and she also teaches Eliza some good etiquettes to follow. She undergoes metamorphosis and becomes a nice looking lady. Because of this complete change, a young man named Freddy falls in love with the flower girl. They both marry each other and live happily.

The Part I enjoyed the most: I like the conversations between the characters. I like the theme/setting of the story. One of the conversations I enjoyed is between Prof. Higgins and his pupil:

WHISKERS : Maestro, Maestro (he embraces Higgins and kisses him on both cheeks). You remember me?
HIGGINS: No I don’t. Who the devil are you?
WHISKERS: I am your pupil: your first pupil, your best and greatest pupil. I am little Nepommuck, the marvellous boy. I have made your name famous throughout Europe. You teach me phonetic. You cannot forget ME.
HIGGINS: Why don’t you shave?
NEPOMMUCK: I have not your imposing appearance, your chin, your brow. Nobody notices me when I shave. Now I am famous: they call me Hairy Faced Dick.
HIGGINS: And what are you doing here among all the swells?
NEOPOMMUCK: I am interpreter. I speak 32 languages. I am indispensable at these international parties. You are great cockney specialist: you place a man anywhere in London the moment he opens his mouth. I place any man in Europe.
(a footman hurries down the grand staircase and comes to Nepommuck).
FOOTMAN: You are wanted upstairs. Her excellency cannot understand the Greek gentleman.
NEPOMMUCK: Thank you, yes, immediately.
(the footman goes and is lost in the crowd)
NEPOMMUCK: (to Higgins) This Greek diplomatist pretends he cannot speak nor understand English. He cannot deceive me. He is the son of a Clerkenwell watchmaker. He speaks English so villainously that he dare not utter a word of it without betraying his origin. I help him to pretend; but I make him pay through the nose. I make them all pay. Ha Ha! (he hurries upstairs).

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Title: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Author: Roger Lancelym Green
Main Characters: Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Much-the-miller’s-son, Maid Marian, Little John, The Butcher, Reynold Greenlefe, Authur-a-Bland, George-a-Green, Bettris, King Richard, Sir Richard of Legh, Allin-a-Dale, The Black Knight, Price John, Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Gisborne, Steward Worman, Lord Fitzwalter & Mother Maudlin.
Description of one of the main characters : Maid Marian is the beautiful daughter of Lord Fitzwalter. She is an independent, brave and clever woman. She is a good fighter. 
Whom I like and Why:I like Little John as he is one of Robin’s merry men who supported King Richard. He is one of the brave out-laws of Sherwood forest. He is faithful to Robin Hood till he died. He helps Robin to make his wishes successful, like bringing back King Richard to England. He is kind to the poor and very honest.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Mother Maudlin as she changes her form and becomes like Maid Marian. She cheats Robin Hood during the Sherwood feast.
Setting/Theme of the story: Robin and his merry men are out-laws. They live in the Sherwood forest. They try to bring back king Richard who is in prison. King Richard’s wicked brother, John, wants to rule the kingdom. But the out-laws of the Sherwood forest do not allow him. When Robin is nearing his death, King Richard comes out of prison and blesses Robin Hood. But soon Robin dies. Just before he dies, he shoots his last aim and his body is buried there. On top there is a stone kept and in that, Little John writes a poem in praise of his master:

Underneath this little stone,
Lies Robert Earl of Huntingdon;
No other archer was so good
And People call him Robin Hood.
Such out-laws was he and his men
Will England never see again.

The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Robin Hood wins the silver arrow from Prince John. He cheats Prince John by saying that his master is Robert Earl of Huntingdon, who is none other than Robin himself.
A different ending: Marian and Robin lived happily at Locksley Hall. Many of Robin’s merry men become ministers of King Richard. They all have achieved what they want. They live happily ever after in peace.

Pollyanna

Cover of Pollyanna (Andre Deutsch Classics)

Title: Pollyanna
Author: Eleanor H. Porter
Main Characters: Miss Polly Harrington, Old Tom, Nancy, Timothy, Pollyanna Whittier, Mrs. Snow, Mr. John Pendleton, Dr. Tom Chilton, Jimmy Bean, Dr. Warren, Bluffy, Dr. Mead and Fluffy.
Description of one of the main characters: Pollyanna is a cheerful and cute girl of eleven. She is glad for anything in the world. Her humourous and friendly nature is liked by everyone in the town. Ms. Polly often says that Pollyanna is an extraordinary child. Pollyanna is a lover of nature. She loves the people of the town and people like her very much, too. 
Whom I like and Why: I like Nancy because she is as cheerful as Pollyanna and a good friend of her. She plays with Pollyanna as she doesn't have anyone to play the "Glad Game" with. She works with Ms. Polly faithfully and sincerely.
Whom I dislike and Why: I dislike Fluffy as he opens the door of Pollyanna’s room and she hears Ms. Polly say that Pollyanna could never walk. Fluffy makes Pollyanna sad by opening the door.
Setting/Theme of the story: Pollyanna, Ms. Polly’s niece, comes to stay with her. Nancy, the maid servant of Ms. Polly, is so happy that a young girl is coming to stay at the house. Pollyanna is very cheerful and glad for everything. She becomes friends with everyone in the town. After her arrival, the town changes. Now it is a happy and cheerful town. Everyone who knows Pollyanna will know her father’s Glad Game. But one day, when Pollyanna returns from school, an automobile hits her and she gets hurt badly. She falls down and becomes unconscious. The doctors says that she can never walk again. The people of the town are very sad. But Dr. Chilton gives her special treatment and makes her walk again. Now Pollyanna walks, jumps and becomes the same cheerful child and makes the town happy once again.
The Part I enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the part when Pollyanna starts walking again after the accident and makes the town happy again.
A different ending: A new person named Jill who comes to the town to live hears about Pollyanna and becomes jealous of her. He wants to make the town people think that Pollyanna is bad. He tells bad things about Pollyanna and slowly the rumour spreads all over the town. One day Nancy tells Pollyanna about it. But some people who like her very much like Nancy does not believe the words of the newcomer, Jill. But Pollyanna with the same cheerfulness talks to Jill faithfully. Jill realizes that he isn't doing a good job for Pollyanna and the town. He apologizes to Pollyanna. Pollyanna forgives him and the others who talked bad about her. Now Jill is one of the best company for Pollyanna to play with. The town also forgives Jill.  They are all happy once again.

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.