I read 1984 for my English class and I have mixed feelings about Orwell's novel. On one hand, I really appreciate his writing style and I believe the purpose behind the book is important for everyone to hear. However, it was a very slow start and terribly boring during part one. And the ending, don't even get me started. I was not happy that Winston finished the book submitting to everything he had fought against for years. I couldn't make up my feelings on Winston and Julia's relationship as well.
Things Fall Apart is a novel by Chinua Achebe and is about an African man called Okonkwo. Okonkwo is the leader of an Igbo community, and the book revolves around his life as he encounters problems within his community as well as outside problems such as the emergence of missionaries. This book takes place in the late 1800s and focuses on problems with Africa during this time period, such as the intrusion of white missionaries and colonizers.
My Life as a Meme is a great book. It is part of the My Life Series. It is about the main character, Derek who loves memes but soon realizes how it feels to be on the other side of it. Derek gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Derek learns that there are always two sides to things. I like this book because of the sudden plot twist, this makes it very exciting. Other readers might like this book because it is part of a series and the author does a good job on keeping the reader interested.
Of course! The Call of the Wild is a novel by Jack London that tells the story of Buck, a domesticated dog who is taken from his comfortable home in California and thrown into the harsh world of the Alaskan wilderness during the Gold Rush of the late 1800s. The novel follows Buck's journey from a pampered pet to a fierce, independent leader of a pack of sled dogs. As Buck adapts to his new life in the wilderness, he must learn how to survive in the harsh, unforgiving environment.
Absolutely! To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel by Harper Lee that takes us to a small town in Alabama during the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl who is growing up in a world where racism is prevalent. Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who takes on the case of a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a white woman.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a book about two teenagers, Hazel and Gus, who meet at a cancer support group. Hazel has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, while Gus has lost a leg to osteosarcoma. They fall in love and embark on a journey to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author.
May, an Asian-American highschooler, has a normal life with a popular brother, parents who want her to do her best, and really good writing skills. When her brother Danny commits suicide, she and her family break down. But a racist man accuses her family of causing Danny’s death and uncovers the closeted racism in her community. May raises her voice to protect her family from the racist and hateful words directed for them by writing to the newspaper. When it gets published, her story incites a discussion on the racism of her community.
This book was a miraculous roller coaster. The Way I Used to Be is a young adult fiction novel by Amber Smith that explores mature themes of sexual violence in an incredibly personal and intimate way. The novel follows Eden, a young girl in high school, and the adversities she faces when trying to speak up about being a victim of assault. Normally, I'm not the type of person that gets emotional about books, but the way Amber Smith approaches serious themes is truly inspiring.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey is by far one of my favorite books I’ve read. It explores life within a psychiatric hospital utilizing comedic undertones. The book highlights a power struggle between McMurphy (the cowboy-esque patient) and Nurse Ratched (the tyrant ward nurse). The book is incredibly unique because it presents unreliable narration and forces the reader to continuously guess what’s upcoming.
The Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a dystopian thriller by Suzanne Collins. Set after the Civil War between the Capitol and the Districts, the book follows a young President Snow as he is given the task to mentor a tribute from District 12. Unfortunately for him, he is given Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from the most impoverished district. Slowly, him and Lucy hatch a plan to manipulate the Games in her favor. This leads to the formation of a tyrant.
