Enemy at the Gates plunges viewers into the brutal Battle of Stalingrad, focusing on Vasily Zaitsef, a skilled Russian sniper, and his deadly duel with German sharpshooter Major Erwin König. The film vividly portrays the harrowing conditions of the siege, showcasing the sheer desperation and carnage of urban warfare. As Vasily's reputation grows, so does the psychological tension, culminating in a tense cat-and-mouse game between the two snipers.
The Elephant Man is a must-watch for fans of historical fiction, socially conscious films, and films based on true stories. The film is about Joseph Merrick who is a severely deformed man who is rescued by a kind doctor, Dr. Frederick Treves. The rest of the film follows the development of Joseph Merrick as he blends in with society in the 19th century. I personally enjoyed this film because it takes place in a historical context but remains modern and understandable.
After witnessing a horrible plane crash, Tintin attempts to investigate further and offer his help. Suddenly he is shot by an armed man who appears to have also shot down the plane. Later, he is intertwined into a crime he never committed, and Tintin finds himself being hunted by both the authorities and ruthless criminals determined to silence him once and for all. His journey will take him from land to sea, where there is conflict waiting to happen at every turn.
The Hate U Give is a novel that illustrates racial injustice in our world. Through the eyes of Starr Carter, we see what she experiences as a young black girl in her community. Specifically, when she witnesses a police officer shoot her best friend Khalil. She did everything in her power to gain justice for Khalil. Throughout the book, she faces many challenges as she tries to avenge Khalil and cause change in her community.
In A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is trying to solve a closed murder case from five years ago, the death of Andie Bell. It is said that Sal, Andie's boyfriend, killed her and committed suicide after, but Pippa does not believe that to be true. Pippa was dedicated to finding out what really happened to Andie Bell and faced many challenges to uncover the secrets in her small town. I loved this book because it kept me turning the pages.
Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is a memoir about growing up in Apartheid South Africa and his youth after Apartheid ended. Noah discusses his close relationship with his Xhosa mother and how his existence was essentially illegal. His mother being Xhosa/Black and his father being White/Swiss was a crime that was highly punishable. He grew up having to pretend his mother wasn't his mother and that his father wasn't his father, learning to be alone often.
Many may underestimate their importance in history, but it can be said that no other animal has contributed to the rise of human civilization as much as horses. From being a source of food to a power that could determine the victor of a battle, horses have long been prized possessions of common folk and emperors alike for millennia. David Chaffetz’s Raiders, Rulers, and Traders takes the reader on a journey to learn about many ancient civilizations and how power was exchanged through the importance of horses.
Hyperspace by Michio Kaku explores the concept of higher dimensions and how they could revolutionize our understanding of the universe. Kaku explains how string theory, which relies on multiple dimensions beyond the familiar three, might unify the laws of physics, including relativity and quantum mechanics. He discusses historical and modern theories about extra dimensions, their potential role in black holes, time travel and parallel universes, and how they could explain fundamental forces like gravity.
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson is a thriller book that combines two timelines: World War II and the late 1990s. The book explores cryptography, war and the rise of digital currencies. During WWII, mathematicians and codebreakers like Lawrence Waterhouse and soldier Bobby Shaftoe worked to break Axis codes while maintaining the secrecy of their successes.
In the sixth book of the Wheel of Time series, we still follow the same group of ragtag adventurers while they explore and try to find a better their world. It is set in a very typical deep fantasy setting, complete with magical beasts and intense world building. As the sixth book in the series, new plotlines and adventures come to light. While the nobles under his rule try to curry favor with Rand, he starts to discover more about his past, namely his birth parents.
