“This had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose.” But in 17th century Boston, Massachusetts, a sin of any type had no excuse, especially not adultery. In The Scarlet Letter, Each chapter reveals something new about the protagonist. To me, the story almost feels like a puzzle. Whoever he is, he is very good at hiding his identity. After so many years, no one has found out yet. It makes sense in the context of how the story is written because Hawthrone uses A LOT of juxtaposition in this book.
A story that takes place in New York City in the 1920’s of the narrator, Nick Carraway, as he befriends the wealthy and mysterious Jay Gatsby and helps him try and reunite with his former girlfriend. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. On the surface level, it is a very simple and straightforward read. Only 9 chapters, easy to follow, not a very complicated vocabulary. But what I enjoyed about this story was how there were so many aspects with hidden, deeper meanings. This is what really made the story worth reading for me.
After moving to London, Dorian Gray befriends an artist named Basil Hallward who paints him a portrait. After living with the painting, Dorian soon agonizes over the fact that he will be aging while the painting of himself will stay youthful forever. Dorian will go to great lengths to prevent himself from becoming a different man than the one in the painting.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, illustrates a hopeless boy who runs away to New York City. After Holden, the main character, gets kicked out of school and his home, he figures out the best option would be to run away from his home and try to find hope somewhere else. He experiences a cycle of the same emotions over and over again, which makes the book seem boring. However, through all of Holden’s mental instability, there are rare moments of growth.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is romantic fiction. Nick Carraway, who narrates the book, is Daisy Buchanan’s cousin. Daisy, who is married to Tom Buchanan, lives in the East Egg. Nick’s neighbor, Jay Gatsby, was once closely acquainted with Daisy many years ago. Whether or not he will win Daisy’s love back is what Jay is thoroughly worried about. Can he succeed, or will Daisy leave him for Tom?
