O Pioneers! – Willa Cather

Rating: 3/5

Lost References:

I only included this book because it was on some other peoples’ Lost books lists, for the flimsiest of reasons. The main character in the book is named Alexandra, and she’s in love with a man named Carl. This may possibly have a connection to Danielle’s daughter Alex(andra) and her boyfriend Karl, who both lived with the Others for most of their lives.

Thoughts:

What disappointed me was the way the book is advertised as a book with a strong heroine, supposedly an area of interest of this author. However, there are two major female characters, and neither really fit the part. I thought Alexandra might, since she was a good businesswoman who kept the farm going. But in the end, she had an emotional breakdown and only got better when the man she loved came back to her. The other main woman was Marie. First, she cheated on her husband, which is really the exact opposite of strength. Her issues are only solved by her death, which is also not the way to go. But I’m only bringing this up because of the book’s reputation. I’ll try to judge it on its own, not based on my expectations. Overall, the book went from bland to tragic and then tried to pull off a happy, or at least bittersweet ending. None of the characters were particularly memorable. It made a fine tribute to pioneer life in all its diversity, which was perhaps its strongest point. I didn’t hate the book, but I don’t need to read it again.

The Cricket on the Hearth – Charles Dickens

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

Desmond has read it.

Thoughts:

I don’t mind the occasional domestic novel (Alcott’s Little Women, for example). This one, however, was overly simplistic, even taken by itself and not compared to Dickens’s other works. It does suffer enormously by comparison. For instance, the antagonist experiences an instant, unbelievable transformation from grumpy miser to lonely old man, and the instant change is completely out of the blue, unlike the change in Scrooge from Dickens’s Christmas Carol. If I were to say one good thing about the book, it would be that Dickens continues in his solid command of the English language; he knows how to turn a phrase. But his talents are better displayed elsewhere.

Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Rating: 3/5

Lost References:

Desmond’s read everything by Dickens.

Thoughts:

As usual, Dickens cleverly connects his storylines. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stand the protagonist and his obsession with the cold and unpleasant girl who was clearly toying with him.

A Tale of Two Cities – Charles Dickens

Rating: 5/5

Lost References:

This book shares a title with a Jack episode. The title, according to a podcast by Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, refers to the two main Island settlements – of the Losties and the Others. Also, Desmond’s read it.

Thoughts:

Unrequited, sacrificial love and mindless, bloody hatred. This novel touches on some pretty big themes and does so with dignity and style.

The Mark of Zorro – Johnston McCulley

Rating: 5/5

Lost References:

Saywer calls Paulo “Zorro.”

Thoughts:

This novella, first serialized in a pulp fiction magazine as The Curse of Capistrano, was the first work to feature the character Zorro. There are a couple differences from today’s iconic image – his mask covers his whole face, he wears a purple cloak, and he’s smart enough to use a gun when it’s called for. Most notably, though, he unmasks himself at the end to family, friends, and enemies, which doesn’t leave much room for all these sequels and spinoff works. This is all just food for thought – not necessarily good or bad. It’s remarkably similar in most ways, right down to the Z’s he enjoys carving.

I found the story a fine adventure, even though the unmasking wasn’t a huge twist or surprise. Everyone knows Don Diego is Zorro, just like everyone knows Bruce Wayne is Batman and Sir Percy Blakeney is the Scarlet Pimpernel. If you are not part of “everyone” and I just spoiled something for you, my apologies. These three characters are all classic clueless rich guys by day and roguish vigilantes by night. Regardless, the story was the usual swashbuckling fun that embodies Zorro.

Above: Left is an illustration from The Curse of Capistrano, and right is a still shot of Antonio Banderas as Zorro (a sucessor of Don Diego’s).

The Glass Menagerie – Tennessee Williams

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

When studying screencaps, I found this book on Ben’s shelf near VALIS.

Thoughts:

There’s barely a plot, and it tries too hard to be artsy. (The premise is that the narrator is looking at the events through the distorting lens of memory, so that’s an excuse for weird proportions, lighting, pictures, etc.) Yes, the kids have parental issues like every single character on Lost, but that tiny little connection doesn’t help.

Flowers for Algernon – Daniel Keyes

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

This book is on Ben’s shelf. There’s a more indirect, or circumstantial reference in the mouse experiment. In the book, Algernon the mouse has experimental brain surgery before Charlie (the first human subject). When Algernon regresses and dies, this foreshadows the end for Charlie. In Lost, Daniel experiments on a mouse named Eloise’s brain. She gets a brain hemorrhage, just like later humans exposed to similar conditions. But some of the humans survive. Go, Desmond!

Thoughts:

It’s interesting as a social commentary. If you want to know about discrimination against those with special needs, this is probably the best-known book on the subject. Only, I didn’t actually enjoy it. It pushes the cause of acceptance, and it even has a storyline and style that I could have found not only realistic but compelling, but Keyes just tries too hard.

After All These Years – Susan Isaacs

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

This book is by Sawyer’s bed in the Swan hatch as he’s recovering from his injuries. The book pertains more to Kate than Sawyer. Like Rosie in the book, Kate is on the lam after a murder charge… though unlike Rosie, Kate is actually guilty. Both of them get help from a (now-married) childhood friend/love interest named Tom. I don’t know how this new book got into the old DHARMA station, but fans speculate about it being periodically restocked. Or maybe the Losties brought the book in with them.

Thoughts:

Trashy romance/mystery novel. The only thing I can say is that Isaacs knows how to turn a phrase.

Eleventh Hour – Catherine Coulter

Rating: 2/5

Lost References:

This is one of the books on Jack’s shelf. So far I’m not too impressed with his choice in literature.

Thoughts:

Promising at first, Eleventh Hour opened with some genial (if unoriginal and stereotyped) characters in a tricky situation. Even when Coulter continually flashed back (without warning or transition) to one character’s side-story plotline, I was willing to go along with it. But she never developed the characters further (with the exception of one suspect – Weldon DeLoach – who hardly gets any page time). Worse, she forced the two main characters into a predictable but super-awkward romance. Actually, she was pretty bad writing romance at all. Even two FBI agents in a solidly established marriage just walked around being perfect and thinking about how perfect the other one was. The plot just grew more and more unlikely and coincidental. In the end, I was reading outside, and I found more entertainment in a chipmunk and blackbird fighting for food than I did in this novel. Though advertised as a thriller, it failed to thrill. It just left me thoroughly underwhelmed.

Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare

Rating: 3/5

Lost References:

Eloise calls Daniel a Romeo because she thinks he’s hitting on her right after declaring his love for Charlotte. In her defense, she didn’t know he was her son. Plus, sorry, Daniel, but you did act a little Romeo-esque when you threw over Theresa for Charlotte. On a romantic tangent that is acceptable only because I’m reviewing Romeo and Juliet… did anyone else notice that in everyone’s happy little purgatory, everyone paired off with their Island flings instead of their long-term romances. Daniel thought Charlotte was his one true love… Sayid met Nadia in the afterlife. (Remember? The woman he grew up with, shot his commanding officer to rescue, spent years trying to find again, married, and lost tragically?) But he went with Shannon instead. It makes no sense, but end of tangent.

Thoughts:

Okay, so Romeo’s in love with a girl. She won’t have him. He goes to a party and instantly falls for someone else, and for some reason, she loves him back. They never seem to go deeper than a mutual admiration for each other’s looks. When they later think the other has died, both kill themselves. Juliet was right, but even so… Overreacting much? The simple fact of the matter is that I can not respect either of these kids. What was Shakespeare thinking? I mean, the rest of the play was fine. The whole thing was even well-written, but I’ll admit here that I’m a huge Shakespeare fan and therefore biased. It’s just not his best work. Probably the worst of his famous ones. But it just happens to work in context, though not for the reason Eloise thinks.