'At the Sign of the Cat and Racket' by Honoré de Balzac — Review

This story by Balzac is about a young artist named Théodore who falls in love with Augustine, the daughter of a strict merchant family. They come from very different worlds: Théodore is all about art and feelings, while Augustine's family cares more about business and tradition. Even though her parents don't approve, Théodore and Augustine get married because they are so in love. However, their love isn't enough to make their marriage work. Théodore finds Augustine too simple for his artistic mind, and Augustine feels lost and neglected because she can't understand his world. This sadness slowly wears her down.

The story shows how difficult it can be when two people with very different ways of thinking try to build a life together, even if they love each other. It's a sad look at how art and everyday life can clash, and how misunderstanding can slowly destroy a relationship. 

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/honore-de-balzac/shorts-from-scenes-from-private-life/clara-bell_ellen-marriage/text/at-the-sign-of-the-cat-and-racket

"Mrs. Spring Fragrance" by Edith Maude Eaton --- Review

"Mrs. Spring Fragrance" is a story about a kind and clever Chinese-American woman named Mrs. Spring Fragrance. She helps young lovers overcome misunderstandings and cultural differences to find happiness. The story shows her wisdom and humor as she gently guides others while also dealing with her own feelings about love and tradition.

The story is highlighting the challenges immigrants face while celebrating their strength and kindness.

Here is the linl to the text of the story:

https://loa-shared.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Eaton_Spring_Fragrance.pdf

"The Third and Final Continent" by Jhumpa Lahiri — Review

"The Third and Final Continent" is a quiet but powerful story about immigration, change, and finding home. The narrator moves from India to England and finally to America, where he faces loneliness but also unexpected kindness. His landlady, Mrs. Croft, is a funny and touching character—she calls America "the moon" and acts strict but warms up to him. When his arranged-marriage wife, Mala, arrives, their relationship starts awkwardly but slowly grows into love. The story shows how small moments—like Mrs. Croft approving of Mala—can change a person’s life.

It’s a story about how people adapt, how strangers become family, and how home isn’t a place but the connections we make.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11s7ZKnY3WS1owBJ0EkUxTZ9fTKans8Wh?ths=true&clckid=273c16ff

The Sea Lions by James Fenimore Cooper --- Review

The Sea Lions is a gripping maritime adventure that showcases James Fenimore Cooper’s mastery of sea tales. The novel follows two rival whaling ships on a perilous journey to the Antarctic, driven by greed and the lure of hidden treasure. Cooper’s vivid descriptions of storms, shipwrecks, and the harsh polar environment create a tense and immersive atmosphere. The characters, particularly the determined Captain Roslyn Gardiner and his rival Daggett, are well-drawn, embodying themes of ambition, survival, and moral conflict. 

Cooper reflects on the destructive nature of greed and the limits of human endurance. The Sea Lions is more than just a tale of shipwrecks—it’s a thought-provoking meditation on fate, redemption, and the unforgiving power of nature.


Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://loa-shared.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Cooper_Storm_Shipwreck.pdf

Nevsky Prospekt by Nikolai Gogol — Review

"Nevsky Prospekt" is a short story by Nikolai Gogol that shows the busy life of St. Petersburg’s famous street. The story follows two men—Piskarev, a shy artist, and Pirogov, a confident officer—who chase after women they see on Nevsky Prospekt. Piskarev falls in love with a beautiful woman who turns out to be a prostitute, and his dreams are crushed. 

Pirogov, on the other hand, flirts with a married woman and gets beaten by her husband but quickly forgets the incident. The story contrasts their different fates, showing how life can be both tragic and absurd.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.prosperosisle.org/spip.php?article1112

Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F. Scott Fitzgerald — Review

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1920) is a sharp, witty exploration of social competition and the performative nature of femininity in 1920s America. The story follows Bernice, a socially awkward young woman, as her glamorous cousin Marjorie teaches her the art of popularity. It changes when Bernice’s newfound charm threatens Marjorie’s own status. 

The haircut, a symbol of both liberation and humiliation is the story’s central tension. A precursor to Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, this early work already showcases his keen eye for the contradictions of the American Dream, where self-reinvention can lead to both triumph and ruin.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc2004519_685298557?hash=csTlxyTSKJ9ZB86vqcxCmVn4O2bWQzyZ8ZehHJR7OEk&dl=EWvs07mVnOF73gLuwRV4UkKKbqWSSNCLsVKdYaLpZwc&api=1&no_preview=1&module=feed

An Unpleasantness by Anton Chekhov— Review

This story An Unpleasantness by Anton Chekhov is about a doctor named Grigory Ovchinnikov who loses his temper and slaps his drunk paramedic, Mikhail Zakharovich, during hospital rounds. The doctor is a nervous, principled man who cares deeply about his work, but the paramedic’s incompetence and drunkenness push him to his limit.

After the incident, the doctor struggles with guilt and tries to find a fair solution—whether to resign, apologize, or face legal consequences. However, the situation is resolved in an unsatisfying way when the local authorities force a hollow reconciliation.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.prosperosisle.org/spip.php?article121