Grendel, by John Gardner, is a mythological retelling of the classic epic Beowulf through the perspective of Beowulf’s antagonist, Grendel. As the novel progresses, the reader, for the most part, follows the chronological events of Grendel’s life, and how he came to be the unforgivable and widely feared monster in Beowulf’s tale.
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long is a book about Sena, a seventeen-year-old girl who lives on Tundar, a frozen planet with nothing to show except for the annual race that killed her mothers. Sena hates the race, and she wants to do is get out Tundar. But after double-crossing her town’s lead gangster, she has to flee from her home with a stolen fighting wolf, and her only option becomes joining the race.
This book is the biography of David Beckham, a boy from England who dreamed of becoming a soccer star. The book follows his journey from playing for Manchester United to becoming an international football icon. It also highlights his time with teams like Real Madrid and LA Galaxy, as well as his influence off the field as a role model and philanthropist. The book shows how hard work and passion helped Beckham achieve his dreams.
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a classic literature short story, or fairy story, about totalitarianism. The story takes place on Manor Farm, where various farm animals initially live with the owner named Farmer Jones. However, the animals’ rebel and drive Farmer Jones out of the farm after a speech from one of the wise pigs. The animals are left to run the farm themselves, and two pigs named Napoleon and Snowball are assigned as leaders. The events that follow demonstrate the impact of a totalitarian government.
“Life isn't fair…It's taken me a while to get that. It's always going to disappoint you in some way or another. You'll make plans, and it'll push you in another direction. You will love people, and they'll be taken away no matter how hard you fight to keep them. You'll try for something and won't get it. You don't have to find meaning in it; you don't have to try to change things. You just have to accept the things that are out of your hands and try to take care of yourself. That's your job.”
The fourth book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, The Battle of the Labyrinth, is in my opinion the worst of the series. Despite being the worst, it is still a solid book. The Battle of the Labyrinth begins after Percy and friends return to camp where they find an entrance to the labyrinth. They are given the information that Luke is planning to lead an army of monsters through the Labyrinth in order to attack Camp Half-blood.
The Titan’s Curse, Rick Riordan’s third book in the Percy Jackson series, is another great book in the series. In my opinion it is the most underrated of the series. The story starts with Percy and his friends heading back to Camp Half-blood with two new recruits. Artemis, a goddess, decides to go on a quest and sends her hunters back to Camp Half-blood in the meantime. While there, the oracle gives a quest stating five should go, and two will die.
Rick Riordan’s second book in the Percy Jackson series, The Sea of Monsters, continues the story with Percy and his friends finding trouble with the tree protecting Camp Half Blood when they try to return. Realizing this, they try to get a quest, however Percy’s nemesis Clarisse gets the quest instead. Percy decides to sneak away from Camp Half Blood anyways with Annabeth and his half-brother Tyson.
Normally I am not a big nonfiction reader. However, Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, by John Carreyrou, was a very well written nonfiction book. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The book details the story of Elizabeth Holmes, who starts a new blood testing company called Theranos, with her boyfriend at the time, Sunny.
Orson Scott Card's book, Ender’s Game, is a magnificent book. The premise of the book, an earth that barely survived the first two alien invasions is prepping for a third attack from the aliens, or buggers as they are referred to in the book. The human race was barely able to survive the second attack from the buggers, only thanks to the cunning work of Mazer Rackham. With Mazer Rackham aging, the Humans knew they needed a younger just as brilliant mind that could help them lead the ships in the war.
