Emma by Jane Austen is a beautiful period piece that follows a young matchmaker in a world of proper manners. Emma is young and single, living with only her dependent father, and takes it upon herself to match the people around her. However, she really never matches herself up with anyone. Her closest friend is Mr. Knightley and he discourages her Cupid-like tendencies. Emma’s matchmaking tendencies don’t always turn out so well, and her friend Harriet suffers the consequences which frustrates Emma.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou is a honest memoir that follows Angelou’s own life and the challenges growing up as a black woman in a twisted society. She is attacked by a man, and it changes her perspective on society forever. All while battling trauma, racism and other dark events, Angelou goes on a journey of growing up and finding herself. I give this book 4 stars because it is a remarkable book, and I think everyone should read it in their lifetime.
The story of five boys (and several animals) within a small home, learning to cope with the death of their mother, the absence of their father and life in general. Honestly, I should be surprised that Zusak manages to write masterpiece after masterpiece. I picked this up after having read his previous two books, The Book Thief and I Am The Messenger and falling in love with his writing style.
A total nobody stops a bank robbery one day, and his life is forever changed. That day, the first card arrives in the mail. A series of playing cards are sent to him, each with a mission attached. Suddenly, this nobody has a purpose, but who’s behind the cards?
A book narrated by death, who follows a young lonely girl through Nazi Germany. This is perhaps my favorite book of all time. The story telling is superb, the writing divine and the characters and plot weave a tale that will leave you in tears. Such a fascinating idea, to write a book narrated by death, its surprising it took so long for someone to think of it. It could so easily be overdone, made cheesy and lifeless but Zusak perfectly captures the essence of death in a meaningful and brilliant way.
A young woman, during a moment of desperation, makes a deal with the devil. Eternal life, but at a cost she didn’t yet know. When it’s done and she realizes she’s been cursed to be completely forgotten by everyone she meets the moment she leaves their eye sight, she is forced to live a solitary life over centuries.
After the Flame Deluge and the Great Simplification, humanity is left with no awareness of its history or scientific achievements. A simple order of monks, worshipping the Saint Leibowitz hundreds of years after his death stumble upon some documents that might bring light as to what the world was like before, and open the door to new scientific discoveries.
Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins explores the aftermath of being widowed. Josh and Lauren are a couple madly in love, but Lauren is diagnosed with a terminal illness. She spends the last few months of her life writing letters that will have delivered to Josh after her passing. Both the plot and the writing were outstanding. I got so invested in this book. I will admit the three weird popular culture references from this book were a little out of place.
Treasure Island is an adventure novel that has captivated readers for many years. The story follows Jim Hawkins, an ordinary boy who ends up at the center of a thrilling and dangerous journey. After finding a pirate’s treasure map, Jim sets sail with a group of men, including the wise Dr. Livesey and the rich Squire Trelawney, in search of a treasure.
One Dead Spy is part of the series called Hazardous Tales, by Nathan Hale. This book is about Nathan Hale in the American Revolutionary War who spied for the Americans but eventually got caught and hung by the British. It starts with the Americans sieging the British who had earlier taken control of Boston. They recaptured for America and headed to New York. Forts were built all over, but the British simply had a much larger army and were quickly taking over.
