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A Good Read: Adult learners review favourites

This is the fifth year Coquitlam Public Library held a Summer Reading Club for Adults Learning English. Here are some of the readers’ book reviews:
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This is the fifth year Coquitlam Public Library held a Summer Reading Club for Adults Learning English. Here are some of the readers’ book reviews:

• The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith, reviewed by Alvaro Villamizar: “This is an adventure novel of Royan and Nicholas, who were searching for the tomb of King Mamose, pharaoh of Egypt. What I liked in this novel was the description of the Egyptian customs for decoration, to put valuable treasures inside the tomb and make beautiful hieroglyphics on the wall. I didn’t like the cold relationship between Royan and Nicholas, who married at the end of the story. The end for the bad guys was dramatic and well deserved.”

• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, reviewed by Veselko Marsimovic: “This book I like because it is very interesting. The book is full of exciting events. It shows the struggle of a man in a wild world to survive. This book has a happy ending and that’s why I like it.”

• Mrs. Whippy by Cecelia Ahern, reviewed by Diana Sunghye Moon: “When I read the 12 chapters, I laughed so much because Emelda, who was blamed by her five sons and who was left alone by her husband, who went with a young woman, thought the ice cream truck driver was her prince, the truck was the white horse and his ice cream was his sword. I enjoyed reading this book so much and she revenged her husband by telling the truth.”

• Emma by Jane Austen, reviewed by Amy Li: “Emma is a pretty, clever and rich young woman who lives in the countryside. She is very popular there. She likes to make matches for other people and always thinks she is right. After many things happen, Emma learns a lesson and finds her true love. I like reading all the novels by Jane Austen and have read Emma in Chinese before, so it’s not difficult for me to understand it in English. I still feel excited when I read it this time.”

• White Fang by Jack London, reviewed by Abolvahed Razzaghi Khamsi: “This story is about the life of a wolf cub named White Fang and is told by a narrator through the wolf’s eyes. Jack London illustrates very vividly the evolution of the cub both physically and emotionally, growing up with several masters, some who treat him very badly and use him for dog fighting to make money. White Fang becomes very angry and aggressive until he meets his last master, an American from California who treats him with love and affection. In response, White Fang shows love to him, too, and becomes very loyal, rescuing his master and protecting his master’s family. In fact, London’s story is an account of the domestication of wolves into pet dogs, and is the mirror image of his novel Call of the Wild. The book is very interesting and I highly recommend it!”

• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, reviewed by Xinshe Li: “Annie is an orphan but she greeted each day with optimism. Through her own efforts, she was admitted to Queen’s College and won a scholarship. With her own efforts, a dream gradually comes true. In looking at me when I meet difficulties, I withdraw, immediately lie down. That’s not true, [better to] stand up bravely and defeat the block. Annie is like a light that lights up our direction.”

A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Janice Williams works at Coquitlam Public Library.