This novel by Roy questions many parts of life and being. The story follows the life of a brother (Estha) and sister (Rahel) who grow up in Ayemenem. They witness their lives gradually fall apart after an incident in which their cousin dies and they are blamed for her death. Years of mediocrity and disappointment go by, with the book eventually ending with the reunification of the siblings after being separated and washed away of hope and life. A main point of discussion Roy has is the “love laws,” which was a theme I enjoyed hearing her thoughts about.
This anthology is a compilation of the works of poet Elizabeth Bishop. Her creations are clouded metaphorical representations of her life and resolve. The themes the works reach can be as simple as the simple observations of the environment to sobriety and alcoholism. It is clear by her writing that these messages are intended to be buried deep into the works, only discovered by those determined to find them and those who look through each work and her personal life with a magnifying lens. This is the benefit and limitation of her work.
King Lear is a tragic play by William Shakespeare that explores themes of power, family, and madness. The story revolves around King Lear's decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, based on their flattery of him. Cordelia's refusal to indulge in false praise leads to Lear disowning her and ultimately descending into madness as he faces betrayal from his other daughters and loses his grip on power.
Jude, who lives in Faerie, is a mortal. Cardan, who is the youngest son of the High King Eldred, is a faerie. Jude wants to win a place in the High Court as a knight and prove her skills even as a mortal. Cardan and his friends will do anything to humiliate Jude and hinder her chances of getting a place in the High Court. Jude becomes tangled in the Court’s secrets but then is able to find her ability to deceive and keep those close to her safe.
The Hate U Give is an enticing novel about a young African American girl finding her voice. Starr Park is a girl living in a predominantly black community, although she goes to a richer school in a different community. One day, she is in the car with her friend Khalil when a white police officer comes and shoots and kills him for no proper reason. The news coverage says that Khalil was killed because he had done something to provoke the police officer.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens follows the captivating story of Kya Clark, known as the "Marsh Girl," who grows up isolated in the marshes of North Carolina. Abandoned by her family at a young age, Kya learns to survive on her own, forming a deep connection with the natural world around her. As she grows older, Kya becomes entangled in a murder investigation when the town's golden boy, Chase Andrews, is found dead.
Siddhartha is a unique novel that blends philosophical questions about life with the vast and unique journey of Siddhartha (the character). The book describes Siddhartha’s progression from a little boy to an old man, and his trek in losing faith and purpose, to finding it. Alongside the storyline, this book also questions how a person perceives the world. For instance, knowledge and thought are occurring subjects in the book that encourage the reader to think about what we know and how we know what we know.
Crank by Ellen Hopkins is a compelling novel that dives into the harrowing world of addiction through the eyes of Kristina Snow, a high school girl who becomes entangled in the dangerous allure of meth, also known as "crank." As Kristina's experimentation with drugs intensifies, she transforms into her alter ego, "Bree," leading her down a path of self-destruction, fractured relationships, and profound loss.
State of the Onion, by Julie A. Hyzy, tells the story of a White House chef who becomes embroiled in a state security mystery. Protagonist Olivia Paras is an assistant chef in the White House, and on her way to work she stops an intruder from getting to the President. What she at first thinks was just a simple security matter becomes an extended plot that could threaten both the President and the United States.
“First rule of fight club. You do not talk about fight club”
This book follows the experiences of a man struggling with insomnia. His doctor suggests that he visits support groups, and he finds relief and that maybe his insomnia isn’t as bad as what he could have. Everything changes when he meets a girl at one of his groups, and soon after, a man named Tyler Durden, who forms a strong bond with the main character.
