Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus hit me hard because I am a woman majoring in a science degree. I have been told by teachers to be sure about wanting to pursue science in the future, as I will have a hard time getting ahead as a woman. Elizabeth, the main character, faces similar challenges of being undermined or underappreciated because of being a woman. She starts off at a science firm, but after the death of her boyfriend, she is fired for being pregnant and unwed.
King of Pride by Ana Huang is a contemporary romance that is closest to a forbidden romance trope. Kai and Isabella are complete opposites, with Isabella living life to the fullest and Kai tending to put work above all else. Kai has a big vote coming up in his family-run company, and he is worried about being able to rise to the challenge of being CEO. Isabella is a distraction to him, but he could be the answer to all of Isabella’s questions creating quite the conundrum.
King of Wrath by Ana Huang is a fun contemporary romance that has a universally loved trope: billionaire CEO arranged marriage. Vivian Lau is rich, but she is new to money, and therefore has certain social blocks. If she marries Dante Russo, though, she will be catapulted into high society as the elite of the elites. Dante only agrees to marry Vivian because of the fact that if he doesn’t, his younger brother will pay for mafia-related poor decisions.
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.
