A Journal of the Plague Year - Daniel Defoe

Advantages: Expertly written
Disadvantages: No chapters/sections to 'break up' the reading

I'm a student and had to read this book for an exam. I read it in 2 days and felt quite tired by the end of it. The main reason being that there are no chapters or sections, so it is basically one long detailed insight into what life was like during the Plague. However, it is very well written and there are times where the reader's emotions are 'pulled at'. The detailed descriptions of both people and places allow the reader to feel part of the drama. ...
...would not recommend this book to anyone who does not appreciate good literature as you will get easily bored and find it difficult to continue reading. However, if you like pre-18th Century Literature and enjoy a good piece of writing, i would highly recommend this old yet insightful masterpiece. ... Read review

Advantages: An interesting insight to to such an event.
Disadvantages: May not be historically accurate.

...the event (he was only a young boy in 1665) which has led to this being regarded as a work of fiction. But it is also believed that this may in fact be the journal of Defoe's uncle whose life the journal accurately mirrors. I found that one of the interesting things about this book was making a decision on whether it is fact or fiction. Nevertheless it is an interesting read which may give some insight to what occurred or what Defoe and his contemporaries ...
...the book. As a read itself my copy is in the original 17th century English, a writing style which takes a few pages to get used to, generally it's quite easy going. I found that I could read it any where at any time stopping and starting when I pleased. It does not take too long to read I finished in 3 weeks. ... Read review