The Fault in our Stars by John Green follows a 16-year-old named Hazel Lancaster who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer and has accepted her terminal diagnosis. However, she meets a boy named Augustus (Gus) in her cancer support group who opens her eyes to the meaning of life, love, and death. It is through these reflections that a work of art known as this book is born. The writing helps reveal to the reader the harsh realities of cancer, as well as the struggle cancer patients go through on a daily basis.
Summary: Othello by William Shakespeare is a tragic book/play that revolves around the central character, Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. Othello falls deeply in love with and marries Desdemona, a Venetian woman. However, Iago, Othello's ensign, harbors jealousy and resentment towards Othello, leading him to manipulate the general into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
Do not miss the gripping historical fiction novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid! This novel contains the protagonist of a Hollywood film star, Evelyn Hugo. Aging and isolated, at the age seventy-nine, Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to give an interview, disclosing the full truth about her scandalous yet seemingly glamorous life. However, the catch is that Evelyn will only give her interview to Monique Grant, an unknown journalist who is not exactly at the top of the pyramid.
The Crucible describes the town of Salem at a time when witchcraft was considered dangerous and was heavily feared by nearly all. Anyone suspected of witchcraft would face execution without much resistance. The story follows a multitude of characters, with a certain focus being on Abigail Williams. Abigail is a girl who was caught dancing in the night in a forest with other girls by a different member of Salem.
The work by Márquez follows the death of Santiago Nasar, what preceded it, and what happened afterwards. The book begins by telling the reader that Nasar is to die. Then, it shifts back to the beginning of the story as to why Santiago Nasar was to be killed. The Vicario brothers, Pedro and Pablo, murdered Santiago Nasar due to him allegedly committing adultery with Angela Vicario before she married someone else.
The play by Hansberry considers the life of a household as they attempt to live an ideal life. The family faces discrimination and unfair treatment due to them being African Americans. Nonetheless, they aspire towards moving out of their current apartment and living in their own home. The family runs into trouble when Walter Lee Younger and his mother have a conflict of interest on whether they should buy a house with the money they have or attempt to begin a business opportunity.
Winston Smith lives in a world where the government of Oceania is always watching him and his decisions. He works for the government’s Ministry of Truth, although he does not seem to believe that what they transmit is necessarily “truth” as it occurred. This novel sees Winston attempting to break out of the watch of “Big Brother” and find ways of life outside of strict governmental control. He becomes enchanted with a lady from his workplace and pursues her favor as he attempts to keep it under cover from the government.
In the current world, humans use social media as a way to break away from the real world to live in untrue experiences. The unnamed narrator of Fake Accounts plots to end her relationship with her boyfriend after a tame experience with him. The narrator, being a blogger for a website, realizes how she is stuck in a cycle where she has difficulty wanting to experience challenging activities.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen tells the story of thirteen-year-old Brian who is stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash. The only tool he has is a hatchet, given to him by his mother. He must find a way to not only survive in the unknown but also accept the fact of his parents’ divorce. Read to find out if Brian can deal with these difficulties as he looks for ways to keep himself alive.
A Separate Peace is an amazing book with a great story. Knowles captures the world of an elite New England boarding school and an interesting summer during World War Two when a tragic accident changes the lives of friends Gene and Phineas. The setting and themes of adolescence and rivalry are very impactful, although, I felt the pacing of the plot slows down a bit too much in parts. The final section of the book also left me wishing for a bit more closure.
