The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is an emotional retelling of the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus from Homer’s Iliad. Under the narration of Patroclus, he and Achilles create an inseparable bond despite the onset of war. Their relationship is portrayed through their contrasting perspectives as Patroclus is compassionate, gentle and quiet, while Achilles is charismatic and bold.
This classic piece of literature by Shakespeare tells the tale of forbidden lovers, Romeo Montague, and Juliet Capulet from warring families. To begin, the families are not allowed to fight by order of the Prince. Later that night, Romeo and his friends break into a Capulet party. Romeo meets Juliet and they fall in love. However, all is not well because Juliet is promised to marry Paris. After a deadly battle between the two families, Romeo is banished. Juliet and Romeo make a plan with the Friar that ultimately ends in bloodshed.
Othello, also known as “The Moor” is a great general married to Desdemona, the prettiest girl in Venice. When a potential war threatens Cyprus, Othello is shipped off to battle with Desdemona following him. Othello’s third in command, Lago, despises him for his position and power and does everything he can to manipulate and ruin Othello’s life.
The Great Gastby is set in the roaring 1920s and follows Nick, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan throughout. Jay Gatsby is a mysterious character who seems to have a lot of money, lives in a nice house and isn’t involved in many of the parties he throws. Daisy Buchanan is a young woman who used to be in love with Jay but is now married to Tom Buchanan. The story was really interesting and enjoyable when it was talking about Jay’s infatuation with Daisy.
Cadence Sinclair Eastman is a Sinclair— a family with a noble, white, reputable history in America. Sinclairs are happy. Sinclairs aren’t addicts. Sinclairs are not failures. Sinclairs are the epitome. Every year, she goes to the Sinclairs’ private island owned by her Granddad just off of Cape Cod to spends her summers with her cousins and divorced aunts… and an Indian boy named Gat who has stolen her heart. However, during summer fifteen, something happened. Something bad. Now, she’s 17 and is going back to the island.
The Once and Future King by T.H. White is a modern retelling of the legend of King Arthur, presented in four parts. It begins with The Sword in the Stone, where young Arthur, known as Wart, is tutored by the wizard Merlyn and eventually pulls the sword from the stone to become king.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a classic that I’m sure everyone knows about. This story revolves around Romeo and Juliet, who come from two opposing families. Despite these rivalries, they fall in love with each other and secretly get married to one another. However, their relationship sets off a chain of tragic events, which ends in their tragic deaths.
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.
The play starts with seeing the burning anger of a man named Iago and all of his plans and schemes for the future. One of the people he wants to ruin is Othello, a great and mighty general in the city of Venice. Iago has burning jealousy throughout the book and wants to be better than Othello. Iago also plans on helping his close friend, Roderigo, and his wishes to win over Desdemona, who is Othello’s wife. Throughout the play, Iago gains the trust of and manipulates almost every character to get his way and the ultimate goal of power and to watch the demise of others.
Romeo and Juliet, a classic for the ages. The “pair of star-crossed lovers” fall in love, but unfortunately their families are enemies. The lovers immediately want to get married after meeting, and they plan to get married the morning after they meet. The marriage does happen, but not without challenges happening before and after the wedding. In this classic, there are many instances of bad judgment, leading to the Shakespearean tragedy ending that we know.
