E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web is a heartwarming classic about friendship, kindness, and the circle of life. The story follows Wilbur, a young pig who is terrified when he learns he is being raised for slaughter. However, his life changes when Charlotte, a wise and caring spider, decides to save him by spinning words into her web that convince the farmer that Wilbur is special. With the help of Charlotte and other barnyard friends, Wilbur learns the power of love and friendship.
Family first. That’s the motto Bel Price always went with, but not when it came to her mother. She didn’t truly know Rachel; the only thing she did know was that she disappeared when Bel was little. Bel finally feels like everything is normal until a film crew shows up asking about the past. Then weird things start happening, the weirdest being that Rachel reappears. In this twisted story, Bel must figure out what happened to her mother, and whether she can trust her family.
I really enjoyed Anatomy and would give it five out of five stars. It is an intriguing story about a young woman trying to make her mark in a male-dominated field. She is attempting to do the impossible and become a medical surgeon in what seems to be Old English society. The main character's complex home life allows her to get an education and explore a somewhat grotesque field. While she studies to become a surgeon, she also balances a complicated love life.
Nothing Like the Movies is a realistic fiction young adult romance novel following the destined pair, Wes and Liz. Wes and Liz weren’t like any other high school couple, they and everyone around them knew that they were absolutely perfect for each other. Unfortunately, at the start of their freshman year of college, Wes’s life turns upside down, forcing him to move back to his hometown, Omaha. After months of long-distance, they grow apart unwillingly.
Heart-shaped Lies is a young adult mystery novel that follows three girls through a hectic trip to Florida. These three girls : Navaeh, Kiara, and Priscilla are all intertwined through the viral prank star, Tommy. When Tommy mysteriously dies after a video that exposes Tommy cheating on his girlfriend, Kiara, with Priscilla and Navaeh, a full-fledged investigation breaks loose. Who saw Tommy closest to the time of death? Was it really an accident? Or maybe it was all the alcohol he had that night?
Paul Atreides, heir to the house of Atreides, is a nobleman whose father was given leadership of the planet Arrakis. Arrakis is a very valuable planet due to its vast supply of melange, a spice that increases the lifespan of a human. It also creates an addiction, so people who are addicted to it are forced to continue to use it, otherwise they face a slow and painful death. Paul travels to Arrakis, but a betrayal from the Empire causes chaos, leaving Paul’s father dead and the House of Harkonnen, the previous leaders of the planet, in control.
Stalingrad (1993) offers a grim and unflinching look at the Battle of Stalingrad from the perspective of a group of German soldiers. The film depicts their initial optimism turning into horrific disillusionment as they become trapped in the relentless urban warfare and brutal Russian winter. Following a small platoon, the narrative showcases their descent into despair, hunger, and moral decay as they witness the systematic destruction of their comrades and the city itself.
Aesop’s Fables is a collection of short stories that teach important life lessons through animals and simple situations. These fables, believed to be from ancient Greece, explore themes like patience, honesty, and kindness. “In The Tortoise and the Hare”, a slow but determined tortoise wins a race against the boastful hare, teaching the lesson that perseverance beats arrogance.
Enemy at the Gates plunges viewers into the brutal Battle of Stalingrad, focusing on Vasily Zaitsef, a skilled Russian sniper, and his deadly duel with German sharpshooter Major Erwin König. The film vividly portrays the harrowing conditions of the siege, showcasing the sheer desperation and carnage of urban warfare. As Vasily's reputation grows, so does the psychological tension, culminating in a tense cat-and-mouse game between the two snipers.
The Elephant Man is a must-watch for fans of historical fiction, socially conscious films, and films based on true stories. The film is about Joseph Merrick who is a severely deformed man who is rescued by a kind doctor, Dr. Frederick Treves. The rest of the film follows the development of Joseph Merrick as he blends in with society in the 19th century. I personally enjoyed this film because it takes place in a historical context but remains modern and understandable.
