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Last summer I happened to read this engaging book novel called ‘A Thousand Splendid suns’. Reading it was a real journey into the lives of the characters, I’ve never been so caught up in reading a book.

This book is a historical novel, it does not tell in detail a story that actually happened but probably describes the story of a thousand of people who experienced the misfortune of living in Afghanistan during the war.

The author, Khaled Hosseni, was born in 1965 in Kabul, then he decided to move to the States where he first worked as a doctor, and suddenly he dedicated himself to writing.

Khaled, being very attached to the history of his country, decides to dedicate both books to his people, who still fights a terrible battle against the Taliban power. He manages to tell the pain and despair of hundreds of families that have had to grow between the roar of rockets and the dazzling lights of explosions.

Later he admitted to feeling survivor’s guilt for having been able to leave the country prior to the Soviet invasion and the subsequent wars.

Initially the story is set in Herat in the early sixties, where Mariam, the illegitimate daughter of a servant is a very rich man of the city, faces the death of the mother alone and the subsequent decision by the father to marry her to a cobbler of Kabul.
In Kabul she starts a new life with his new husband, Rashid.    During the years of marriage, despite the young age of Mariam, they try to have a son who can continue the inheritance of the father but unfortunately Mariam is barren. To this news Rashid feels anger and frustration, feelings that will lead him to mistreat the young girl for a fault she does not have.

The book continues telling the story of Laila, another young girl living in the same neighbourhood as Mariam, in Kabul.

Laila is different from Mariam, she grows up in a life that all young girls dream about, with a comprehensive family and his father wants her to grow up with an education, he wants her to have a bright future, he wants her to become someone.

Unfortunately in Kabul the war comes and thousands of people die under the rockets and the rubble of their homes. Afghanistan is being bent by the ‘Warlords’ who do not stop in the face of the destruction of a country.

One day Laila’s family decides to escape from Afghanistan because living there was too dangerous. A moment before starting a rocket razes to the ground the house of Laila, which in the meantime had gone out to fix things in the car. She is the only survivor of her family.

And it is at this very moment that these two girls meet their future, from this moment they will share every fear and every emotion and they’ll became as a mother and daughter.

While reading this novel I felt like  as if I were was feeling all the characters’s emotions through my body, I was completely and utterly immersed in reading and every page I read was more engaging that the past one.

The plot is really intense, unique and intriguing, something so deep that you would never want it to end.

I’ve never felt so emotional while reading a book, the author has a very magnificent way of expressing feelings.

This novel is fare far better than the others any other I have read so far because the story behind it is real: this book is a way of letting people know how precious our lives are, in particular how lucky we are of having such amazing families and education.

This book Khaled Hosseni's novel is not neither predictable nor repetitive, the chapters are unexpected and it has a lot of suspense moments. It is one of those books that makes you think you’ve already figured out the ending but it actually surprises you till the end, leaving you speechless.

From the point of view of the style, I was pleasantly surprised by the use of words in different Afghan dialects during the reading, and although you do not know the language, you have no problem understanding the meaning.

At the end of the book, you learned some sayings of another ethnicity. A full cultural immersion.

If you get the chance to read this book utterly enthralling novel, do it, it will change your life.

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Last summer I happened to read this engaging book called ‘A Thousand Splendid suns’. Reading it was a real journey into the lives of the characters, I’ve never been so caught up in reading a book.

This book is a historical novel, it does not tell in detail a story that actually happened but probably describes the story of a thousand of people who experienced the misfortune of living in Afghanistan during the war.

The author, Khaled Hosseni, was born in 1965 in Kabul, then he decided to move to the States where he first worked as a doctor, and suddenly he dedicated himself to writing.

Initially the story is set in Herat in the early sixties, where Mariam, the illegitimate daughter of a servant is a very rich man of the city, faces the death of the mother alone and the subsequent decision by the father to marry her to a cobbler of Kabul.
In Kabul she starts a new life with his new husband, Rashid.
The book continues telling the story of Laila, another young girl living in the same neighborhood as Mariam, in Kabul.
Unfortunately in Kabul the war comes and thousands of people die under the rockets and the rubble of their homes. Afghanistan is being bent by the ‘Warlords’ who do not stop in the face of the destruction of a country.
And it is at this very moment that these two girls meet their future, from this moment they will share every fear and every emotion and they’ll became as a mother and daughter.

While reading this novel I felt like I was feeling all the characters’s emotions through my body, I was completely and utterly immersed in reading and every page I read was more engaging that the past one.
The plot is really intense, unique and intriguing, something so deep that you would never want it to end.
I’ve never felt so emotional while reading a book, the author has a very magnificent way of expressing feelings.

This novel is fare better than the others because the story behind it is real, this book is a way of letting people know how precious our lives are, in particular how lucky we are of having such amazing families and education.
This book is not predictable or repetitive, the chapters are unexpected and it has a lot of suspense moments. Is one of those books that makes you think you’ve already figured out the ending but it actually surprises you till the end, leaving you speechless.

If you get the chance to read this book, do it, it will change your life.

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“to make a dream come true a person has to overcome many challenges in life”

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My favorite book ever is little women by Louisa May Alcott. She was born on November 29 1832, in Germantown. She was the second of the four daughters of the illustrious Amos Branson Alcott and his wife Abba May. As soon as she was able to read,she began to read one book after another. Besides that she had the great fortune of meet the most representative personalities of literature of the time, who frequented her father’s living-room. All this contributed significantly to her intellectual formation and to the birth of her literary passion. Moreover in 1862,during the civil war, she volunteered as a nurse at the military hospital in Washington but she contracted typhoid fever and had to go home. She died in Boston in 1888.

Simple and immediate, the style of Alcott doesn't lack its own distinctive character and original ideas. The descriptions of the various characters are very pleasant, and in many cases they are inspired by the same real Alcott family. By the way the plot is simple,linear but at the same time there aren't many exciting events to keep the reader hooked throughout. The story is narrated in third person, the narrator is external, omniscient and unobtrusive.

However the main characters of this sentimental, didactic and coming-of-age novel are Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. Meg, the oldest sister, is 16 when the story starts. Meg fulfils perfectly the expectations for the women of the time; from the start, she is already a nearly perfect "little woman" in the eyes of the world. Jo, 15 years old at the beginning of the book, is a strong and willful young woman, struggling to subdue her fiery temper and stubborn personality. It has been said that much of Louisa May Alcott shows through in these characteristics of Jo. For example they both love literature,reading and writing. Beth, 13 when the story starts, is described as kind, sweet, shy, quiet, honest and musical. She is especially close to Jo: when Beth develops scarlet fever after visiting the Hummels, Jo does most of the nursing and rarely leaves her side. Beth recovers from the acute disease but her health is permanently weakened. The last is Amy, the youngest sister and baby of the family.

Basically the subject of the story is the way the sisters grow up, find love and find their place in the world, in somewhat reduced circumstances and while their father is fighting in the American Civil War. Indeed the story is set in Plumfield and the year is likely 1862 or 1863.

There are many reasons why this novel should be read. It’s impressive how it  made me think about the role of women in society. As a matter of fact the social environment is really important because at the time when Alcott composed the novel, women’s status in society was slowly increasing. Through the four different sisters, Alcott explores four possible ways to deal with being a woman bound by the constraints of nineteenth-century social expectations: marry young and create a new family, as Meg does; be subservient and dutiful to one’s parents and immediate family, as Beth is; focus on one’s art, pleasure, and person, as Amy does at first; or struggle to live both a dutiful family life and a meaningful professional life, as Jo does. While Meg and Beth conform to society’s expectations of the role that women should play, Amy and Jo initially attempt to break free from these constraints and nurture their individuality. Eventually, however, both Amy and Jo marry and settle into a more customary life. While Alcott does not suggest that one model of womanhood is more desirable than the other, she does recognize that one is more realistic than the other.

It’s also inspirational and effective. I personally think that the one of the messages Louisa is trying to convey is "Figure out what you’re good at and stick to it." The sisters might seem like little prodigies at times, but the reality is that none of them are particularly distinguished in terms of talent. They just don’t let their limitations get them down. Beth, the musical sister, practices her piano whenever she can. Amy, the artistic sister, is willing to put aside her vain obsession with her appearance to spend hours improving her sketching. Jo, the literary sister, scribbles constantly. The girls aren’t quitters, and they aren’t dabblers,they know their strengths and passions and they’re willing to dedicate time and effort into cultivating them.

This is a well-told story that features suspense, humor and engaging characters, as well as lessons about the importance of honesty, hard work, true love, and family unity.

In conclusion Little Women impresses readers with its moral values.

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“There's a light in a woman's eyes that speaks louder than words.”

My favourite book ever is “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, it is a crime novel / detective story.

The author of this book is Arthur Conan Doyle. He was born in Edinburgh in 1859, where he studied and lived. In 1887 he was inspired by one of his professors and started creating the character he’s most famous for: Sherlock Holmes. Arthur died in Crowborough, in England, in 1930.

To summarise quickly, this novel tells the story of the investigation over Sir. Charles Baskerville’s death. Sir. Charles was found dead in his garden: rumours say that he might have been the victim of a ghostly hound believed to haunt his family because of an age-old curse. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are introduced to the case by Dr. Mortimer, doctor and friend of Sir Charles Baskerville.

There it starts, one of Sherlock Holmes’s most famous and intriguing cases.

The plot is beautifully complex and intricate. It has plenty of flashbacks and unexpected events. It contains many small details that allow the reader to be even more involved in the story. Even though the plot proceeds quickly, sometimes it is slowed down by the description of the environments and the big amount of direct speeches help to make the story more fluid.

The story is narrated by Watson, so it is in first person. The narrator is a non-omniscient narrator because he doesn’t know everything, in fact he's investigating with Holmes.

The author is absolutely meticulous in the description of the characters and the settings.  The description of the spine-chilling hound and the mansion's mysteriousness are done so well that it makes you actually feel like you’re there.

While I was reading this book I felt involved and curious to know who the real killer was.

From the point of view of the style, the story is narrated by Watson, so it is in first person. The narrator is a non-omniscient narrator, because as he doesn’t know everything: in fact, he's investigating with Holmes.

Firstly I was utterly fascinated by Sherlock Holmes’s striking smartness and meticulousness and Watson’s patient observation. The way Holmes doesn’t miss even a small detail and the way he operates already thinking about what might happen and on what will happen next is really interesting and fascinating.

Secondly the fact that twists and turns are practically the protagonists of the novel, makes it indeedly thought-provoking.

In conclusion, even  though it took me a while to get into the book, when I got into it, it became deeply captivating and wickedly gripping.

I highly recommend this novel to mystery, suspense and twists and turns’ lovers, because this absorbing adventure will keep you on your toes and leave you guessing until the very end.

“There is nothing more stimulating than a case where everything goes against you.”

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“Togli l'amore e avrai l’inferno, mi dicevi, don Pino.          Metti l’amore e avrai ciò che inferno non è.”

The title of my favorite novel is "Ciò che Inferno non è": and it’s a dramatic and educational novel inspired by a true story,

The book was  written by the Italian contemporary novelist Alessandro D'Avenia.

When Alessandro D'Avenia was attending high school, he met Father Pino Puglisi from by whom whose figure he was strongly influenced; in fact, he later decided to write the book "Ciò che Inferno non è” to tell the story of the priest.

The story is set in Sicily, in Palermo, and the events take place in the summer of 1993.

As regards the story, it is utterly inspiring, extraordinarily astonishing, and deeply moving; in fact, the book narrates the story of a lad who discovers the darker and atrocious side of his city and he gradually realizes that even in a neighborhood ruled by crime it’s possible to find love and benevolence.

In addition, I deem that the plot is simple, linear and well-organised. SO MUCH SO that this incredibly captivating novel deeply involved me emotionally as the author attributes inestimable importance to the concept of love, a term repeated several times in the narrative, as seen as a force that moves the world.

The main character of the novel is Federico, the narrator of much of the story and he is a dynamic character.

Another essential character is Father Pino Puglisi: he is a figure characterized by altruism, by a  huge fortitude and by his dedication to his students; he is determined to make children understand the importance of an honest life, away from corruption and delinquency.  Moreover, he turns out to be a point of reference for numerous characters in the novel.

As concerns the narrative technique, the author uses more descriptions than dialogues; in fact, he describes in detail the characters and settings. In addition, I deem that the plot is simple, linear and well-organised.

What impressed me the most is that the writer also highlights the psychological aspect of the characters, underlining their misfortune to be born in a difficult place ruled by the mafia, but always making the reader hope for the possibility of a change.

The narration is fluent and allows the reader to immerse themselves in the story by approaching the tragic facts and the suffering of the characters.

While I was reading the story of the novel I felt disillusioned and disappointed in becoming aware of how criminality still affects the lives of many innocent people, in particular defenseless children who, if they aren't encouraged to fight against violence and to favour honesty, benignity and kindness, they will be forced into a dissolute life full of aggression and corruption.

Moreover, I felt embittered and frustrated to learn that the state and institutions instead of fighting the mafia and defending justice are completely absent or corrupt.

However, I was comforted and heartened to read that there are people like Father Pino Puglisi who, despite all the delinquency that surrounds them, have decided to continue to fight for a better future and a fair and loyal lifestyle while putting their lives at risk.

What encouraged me is that the sacrifices of so many men who fought for justice like Father Pino Puglisi were not in vain, but they were taken as an example and their ideals were followed and handed down.

I believe that this gripping novel is educational, formative and makes you reflect on a current topic such as that of the mafia. I deeply recommend this reading it, as I think that it’s paramount to involve young people on this issue and educate them on how important it is for a good and healthy society to fight against criminality.

Furthermore, another reason why I would recommend this novel is the importance of never forgetting the many men who lost their lives for the triumph of justice.

I believe that this is an example to follow and that it inspires the reader how fundamental a clean society is, based on  dictated by legality.

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"This is one of those books that truly move you, pulling on your heartstrings until you bawl like a child." The Guardian

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"Each snowflake was a sigh heard by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. All the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below. As a reminder of how women suffer."

My favorite book ever is "A Thousand Splendid Suns", a poignant novel about women's courage, by author Khaled Hosseini.

This spectacular  spectacural book is a 2007 novel, inspired by the lives of several Afghan women, who the writer has personally met. It also belongs to the historical and social background type, since it’s set in a real historical period and the war events it deals with really happened.

The narrated events take place from the '70s until 2003, according to following a chronological order.

It’s written in third person, therefore the narrator is external and omniscient.

This masterpiece narrates the story of two fearless and unfortunate Afghan Muslim women with very different personal stories, united by a common destiny.

Mariam is a harami, or illegitimate daughter of the relationship between her father and a servant, who grew up in the woods. In fact, at the beginning of the novel, she lives in the "Kolba" with her mother and the day of the week that she prefers is Thursday, when her father visits her. She would love to live with him, however he will never bring her home because this would humiliate his wives and his legitimate children. One day she is forced to marry Rashid, an older man from Kabul.

On the other hand, we have the young Laila who comes from an educated family and has always lived in the huge city of Kabul. Her brothers are enlisted in jihad, but for her, her real brother is Tariq, the neighbours' child, who has lost a leg on a landmine, but knows how to defend her from others and plays with her. From this friendship comes a love that will be present in the thoughts of the protagonist throughout the book.

Because of the war, Laila must also marry Rashid and this event marks the beginning of a friendship, a lifeline in a world that considers them invisible. They’ll have to face war together and a marriage as prisoners to a violent man.

The two have been protagonists are able to face every obstacle that life placed puts before them, keeping a cool head and making sure they never lose sight of their ultimate goal and above all, their identity.

The protagonists of these this fascinating and exciting novel, at the beginning of the story have different ages, dreams and lives. Despite this, neither will be spared by the many injustices, and so their paths will end up crossing. It represents a complaint that shouts that everyone has the right to dream, to choose their own path, to love.

From the point of view of the style, the reader is will be particularly impressed by all the descriptive parts in the book. The author’s able to illustrate all the vicissitudes  in such detail that a very vivid image formes in the mind of the reader that includes all five senses.

The novel is written in third person, therefore the narrator is external and omniscient and the narrator often emphasizes the natural beauty and ancient history of Afghanistan, which help to define it. Despite the multiple invasions, bombings and massacres, Laila and Mariam are able to keep their notion of Afghanistan intact through their memories.

This book makes you feel emotions that you have never felt before. It makes you step into the shoes of the characters and feel so much compassion that you would want to go and volunteer right after the first page just to be helpful and glad for what you have and how lucky you are.

The part that most deeply upsets you is the fact that stories like these really exist and people like these are really going through it somewhere in the world.

Reading this book I personally felt a different emotion each page. I was disgusted, frustrated, upset, glad and wounded all in one!

The end, however, is one of the most touching and heartbreaking parts, considering that it makes you open your eyes and mind.

You pause to reflect and ask yourself what you would have done in the same situation her place. All the audacity and strength to move forward despite having no reason to stay in that hell on earth, make you understand that you decide whether it’s worth living and fighting for your rights and ideals.  I can define it in one word: sensational.

It’s a terribly difficult story to deal with, however I highly recommend reading it to everyone, since it feels like all this time you have been sleeping and only now you do realize what really matters in life and how precious life itself is.

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The best book I have ever read is “Call Me by your Name” which is an emotional, American, romantic, and dramatic novel written by American author André Aciman and posters in 2007.

It’s a brilliant, impressive novel which is set in the twentieth century in Italy, precisely in Liguria.

This is The novel narrates the story of two boys:  Elio is the protagonist; the second one is Oliver, an American who will come comes to Italy to live with Elio’s parents at their summer house .

First of all, I’d like to say that you will absolutely love the characters because they make you feel a lot of different emotions and you will definitely recognize certainly identify with one of them. Personally , I think I’m more similar to Elio, the main character of this novel: he is very consistent, he doesn’t change his way to be of being and is always coherent and well-mannered.

Moreover, another reason why this is one of my favourite books is that it is easy to read  easily legible. In fact,  it has a linear and simple plot. The use of language is suitable for everyone and also to those that have started studying Italian recently.

Furthermore, as for the style, the enthralling  narrator is Elio, the main character, he  and the novelist uses a lot of dialogues, so he leaves the reader to suggest the emotions. A decision that I really appreciate and eye-catching.

I would conclude by saying that I think that everyone should read this book as it makes you more open-minded in several ways. I believe that nowadays this righteousness is crucial.

I also recommend this book to the people that don't enjoy reading about love stories. This book deals with a really original story and I am sure that as soon as you read it you will love this exceptional novel as much as I did.

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“Always listen to your heart and follow it.
If you do not, the lot will fall on you and on the people you love”

My favourite book ever is “The Butterfly Island”.

It was written by Corina Bomann, She’s a German 47 year-old author, currently living in Germany.

This fascinating book is a narrative piece of fiction, but also an adventure novel.

In this gripping roman  novel, you come across two parallel stories, which alternate in an absolutely captivating way  in the course of the story.

It The story is set in Ceylon, Sri Lanka, and as you read before, in two different periods of time: at the end of XIX century and in the 2000’s.

The main characters of the first “story” are Grace Treymane, a single-minded and rebellious girl, her sister Viktoria, and Vikrama, a lovely and charming local boy who works for Grace's family.

The other story narrates the adventures of Grace's great-great-grandson, Diana Wagenbach, a curious woman who tries to get out all her family secrets, with the aid of Johnathan, a smart and charming man and also a historian, who will be her guide and aider on the island.

As for the plot, it is extremely gripping right from the start and has a lot of  unexpected twists.

The story begins with the story of Graces life in living at the end of XIX century, after moving from England to Ceylon.

On the other hand, the story closer to our days narrates the adventures of Diana, the main character, who is the sole survivor in her family tree fraught with secrets. In the course of the story, she tries to discover the secrets hidden by her ancestors until the death of her aunt. All the clues lead her in the mysterious Ceylon, Sri Lanka. Over the course of the novel we gradually find out what hides behind Grace's and Diana's family.

As well as a highly original plot line, the novel includes a number of fascinating characters and settings.

What I really loved about this book is how the author describes landscapes, the set and also the characters.

In addition to that, the descriptions are deeply engaging, charming and well-written, in fact you can perfectly imagine in your mind how the set is, for example.

I would highly recommend “The Butterfly Island” to anyone who enjoys mysterious but also romantic stories, if you prefer fantasy books, then you should give it a miss.

This novel is extremely captivating, dynamic, enigmatic, and it has a lot of twists and turns.

In addition to that, as for me, it is also deeply informative, educational and historical.

Ceylon was under British control, and in the course of the story we come across the relations between the locals and English people, and the work conditions of people in the fields of the richest English families of the island.

As I said in the previous rows, As for the descriptions, the unexpected turns and the writing style of the author can help you for a smooth and never boring reading.

Everyone should read this book novel immediately!

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“Ci sono parole come le conchiglie, semplici ma con il mare intero dentro”.

“Cose che nessuno sa” (Things that nobody knows), written  by Alessandro d’Avenia an Italian writer, is a narrative novel which presents some autobiographical features. Moreover, this captivating book presents a complex plot, because it includes at the same time two different stories alternate between one chapter and another. In addition to that, the author uses a lot of  flashbacks reported to the past.

I think the way the author wrote the book is brilliant!

It is narrated by an external narrator in third person, but the whole is rendered intriguing and challenging, because the writer decided to use dialogues to captivate the reader.

The story is set in Italy, precisely in Milan, but towards the end in Genoa and it takes place two weeks before the starts of the school.

To summarise briefly, it narrates the story of Margherita (the main character), who’s an extremely determined and empowered teenagers that is going to start high school in September. A week before the starts her father abandoned her family and from here she’ll do everything and she’ll risk her life to find her father, so her happiness.

In the same time the author narrates the story of Margherita’s teacher a very distracted and insecure person who does not realise what happens outside his beloved books.

However, the librarian of the library where he usually go and buy some books fall in love with him.

This book presents secondary characters; Teresa Margherita’s grandma, Eleonora her mother, Andrea her little brother and two friends met at school Carlotta and Fabio.

Her grandma and Fabio are utterly round, because they’ll always help Margherita; the others are flat characters. In addition the main character will feel strong emotions for Fabio.

Moreover, one thing I totally appreciate is that the author describes in an extremely detailed way all the characters and he always underline some particular characteristics of their personality.

Furthermore, another reason why I consider this novel hilarious is confirmed by the use of figures of speech as metaphors that are used to underline the way how the characters are changed from the beginning of the story.

However, we can deduce from the use of metaphors that the author is a captivate person.

To conclude, this is the book I would never stop to read and I can consider it my favourite in the whole world.

When I read it to the first time I immediately fell in love with it, because I could identify myself with the main characters due to we were experiencing the same period of life.

I would recommend it to you, because all of you could learn that sometimes

to find happiness we should go beyond the limits.

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My favourite book ever is “To kill a mockingbird”, a southern gothic, a genre  type of novel whose characteristics include the presence of transgressive thoughts and  impulses, and a bildungsroman novel written by Harper Lee in 1960 and published on July the 11th of the same year.

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama where she grew up as the youngest of the four children of Frances Cunningham, a homemaker, and Amasa Coleman Lee, a former newspaper editor, businessman and lawyer.

After graduating from high school, Nelle attended the then all-female Huntingdon College in Montgomery for a year, then transferred to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she studied law for several years before dropping out of school; as a consequence of her father disappointment, she later attended a summer school program about "'European Civilisation in the Twentieth Century" at Oxford university.

However the future winner of the Pulitzer Prize then moved to New York, where she had the opportunity to transform a short stories series into “To kill a mockingbird”.

The plot and characters of  “To kill a Mockingbird” are based on Lee's father unsuccessful youthful defense of two African American men convicted of the murder of a white shopkeeper. The plot is indeed set in the mid 1930’ in a small town in Alabama, Maycomb, where two young siblings, Jean Louise and Jeremy, also known as Scout and Jem, and their friend Dill, try to make their reclusive and mysterious neighbour Boo Radly leave his house. To the consternation of Maycomb’s racist white community, the children’s father Atticus Finch agrees to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman.

The reader sees the trial develop through the childlike perspective of Scout, as both she and her brother slowly learn some valuable life lessons from their father about tolerance, empathy and understanding.

In addition to that, the readers have the opportunity to get to know two other secondary but not less fundamental characters, the black wise maid Calpurnia and aunt Alexandra, two women that, despite having completely different opinions on Scout’s tomboyish behaviour and Atticus’s decisions, are both essential for the little girl’s personal development.

While reading this novel I sometimes felt doubtful of some of the author’s choices whose real aim I only later understood; while at the beginning of the story I was surely charmed by the childlike innocent behaviour of both Scout and Jem, I later found myself being utterly disgusted and outraged by the conduct of some of the characters.

As for the ending of the novel, the surprising and unexpected turns of events made, in my judgement, the conclusion of this brilliant book bittersweet and wistful.

Although I found it really difficult to truly understand the meaning of certain sentences and read through the lines, I am pleased to say that I sincerely appreciated the author’s notes since they helped me understand the historical events and figures that were mentioned, giving me therefore the opportunity to learn more about the time the story was set in.

In addition to that I was amazed by the placement of some of the flashbacks present in the story, since they created an exceptionally engaging and enthralling momentum; on the basis of the foregoing, I would also like to mention the way the numerous  dialogues were able to immerse the readers into the novel, giving them therefore the opportunity to truly understand the dynamics of the characters.

I consider this book different from others because reading it is a great and self constructing way of learning about tolerance, justice and racism as well as the South’s dark history of violence and prejudice.

Moreover the fact that the rape of a woman is described with the use of relatively mild terms could be a method to teach children the wrongfullness of these actions and how they should be handled.

To conclude, I would recommend this novel to both adults who want to navigate through new  perspectives and adolescents who desire to enter adulthood, as well as all those who wish to delve deeper into an unusual version of fatherhood and child-rearing.

Lastly, I would like to share one of my favourite quotes from this astonishing novel, a statement capable of astound one’s conscience: "The older you grow the more of it you’ll see. The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash." -Atticus Finch (p. 207)

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"He knew that there was no quick comfort for emotions like those. They were deeper and they did not need to be told. They were felt."

My favorite book ever is The Giver by Lois Lowry.

To begin, Lois Lowry is a popular contemporary book author novelist from Hawaii. She was around 9 years old when she decided she wanted to be a writer. Her father was an Army dentist and the family lived all over the world. She went to Brown University, but left to get married and raise four children. When she settled in Maine, she returned to college and received her degree. In her books, Lois throws characters and readers into thought-provoking situations and the aim is to help adolescents answer their own questions about life, identity and human relationships.

The Giver is written in first person from the point of view of Jonas, the main character, a courageous eleven-year-old boy living in an utopian society that has eliminated all pain, fear and hate. It is a perfect world where everyone looks and acts the same, everyone is insanely polite and all has already been chosen. But Jonas, the protagonist, is different.

At twelve, Jonas is given the odd and baffling Assignment of Receiver of Memory. As Jonas receives the memories which his community had decided to abandon years ago, he realizes how bland and empty life in his community really is, and he starts thinking of how to change things.

Jonas is an extremely thought-provoking  well-rounded character who’s moving towards great changes and we readers follow him in his growth.

The book is deeply involving and life-changing because while reading you realize how powerful feelings are and how ugly and disagreeable the world would be without them. Not being able to make any decisions on your own, having your whole life already chosen is utterly nonsensical. This is what I personally think the author is trying to convey as an inspiring message to her readers.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book  awsomely enthralling novel to people who take feelings for granted. I personally don’t like fantasy novels, but this is different and somehow it will changes you. Finally, as Margaret Mahy (a famous author) has said, "The Giver is hard to put down, it haunts the reader for days after it has been closed"... so, give it a try!

"It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?"

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“We were like gods, at the dawning of the world, and our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”

“The song of Achilles” is a really inspiring piece of Fiction: a type of novel that falls between romance, fantasy and war literature.

This book was written by the American novelist Madeline Miller, whose relationship with her mother, a librarian, and the closeness to the artistic world helped to increase her love for the ancient world, particularly for its mythology.

The events narrated are set in Greece in the Age of Heroes.

The story narrated  recounted by Madeline Miller is extremely faithful to the original, "The Iliad", though it starts much earlier, narrating the childhood of the two protagonists. Moreover, it extends beyond the Iliad’s end, drawing from other ancient sources, such as the Aeneid.

To summarise briefly, ‘The Song of Achilles’ takes the story of Achilles and the Iliad, and tells it from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles’ best friend. Actually, Achilles’ lover. Patroclus finds himself pulled along by his companion’s grand destiny as the greatest warrior among the Greeks. The two men go to Troy, where years go by between intrigues, betrayals, constant twists and turns, battles and victims. There are many characters that our protagonists cross, such as Thetis, Chiron, Odysseus, Briseide, Agamemnon and Hector. The novel closes with numerous cruel actions.

There are various reasons why this awesome novel  book should absolutely be read by everyone.

‘The Song of Achilles’ is an extremely engaging and inspiring work: it can serve as an excellent introduction or counterpoint to the study of the Iliad. Despite the many times you could have read Homer’s opus, it will certainly make the story new and vibrant.

Moreover, it’s a way to bring Homer to life for a new generation because even though the story is deep, it is easy to read. It’s not mind-numbing at all. On the contrary, it’s action-packed and romantic, and I deem that’s what makes it even more spell binding.

Miller’s novel drags the reader into the story. I think that’s also due to the sensual parts, because that’s not what we’re used to visualising talking about the Iliad. I consider these as the main reasons why this volume is absolutely gripping and riveting.

Connecting to the previous point, I firmly believe that reporting the Iliad's famous story from an innovative perspective and spreading a light on the relationship of our beloved protagonists might help to combat still widespread homophobia in our societies.

Beyond that, I believe that this novel provokes some thoughts about personal responsibility: what does it mean to try to be an 'ethical person' in a violent world? Patroclus is not an epic person, surely not in the way Achilles is. He’s an “ordinary” man. However, he has more power than he thinks, and the moments when he reaches out to others and offers what he sees as his very modest assistance, have huge positive consequences. Most of us aren’t Achilles, but we can still be Patroclus, “the best of the Myrmidons”.

Lastly, this piece of great Fiction is extremely thought-provoking. One of my most recurrent reflections is that I might never experience such an innocent, pure and strong love. I am slightly jealous of these lovers and concerned by the idea that perhaps I can find that rare affection only in myths and books. The protagonists’ love also makes my expectations more ambitious, and I desire to look forward to feeling that type of love relationship.

In addition to that, I can state that Madeline Miller definitely has a way with words, and I loved how this story was written: 'poetical', with a lot of mythological facts and so full of details that it succeeded in making this book way more than just an intriguing journey.

We all know the story. We all know the outcome. We all know that our desperate prayers for anyone to step in and save these characters will fall on deaf ears. Yet, almost throughout the entire reading, we keep hoping that the fate of Patroclus and Achilles could be different.

I felt transported by the events and vulnerable. I experienced the emotions of first love. It is impossible to remain indifferent to such a strong bond. What I adored the most was how Miller managed to convey  beautifully portray Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship. Even though she never indulged into details, never actually let them say that they loved each other, it was still palpable in every single moment the protagonists shared. Those moments were so precious I couldn’t get enough of them, and all I wanted was for them to be overjoyed.

I was completely floored by the absolute beauty of this tale. Moreover, as said above, it’s arduous not to be moved by this novel since it’s definitely poignant. Personally, the most tear-jerking moment was Patroclus’ death, which really struck me straight in the heart.

On a final note, I’m not sure I have any favourite books, and I’m uncertain whether ‘The Song of Achilles’ has become one of them. However, I can affirm one thing for sure: I would recommend everyone to give this novel a try. It’s profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between Gods and Kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

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When adults say “Teenagers think they are invincible” they don’t know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken.

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“Looking fo Alaska” is a deeply inspiring and thought-provoking young adult-fiction novel. The characters and events of the plot are grounded in the author's life, while the story itself is fictional.

This novel was the first John Green ever published. He is an American author and Youtube content creator and won the 2006 Printz Award for “Looking for Alaska”. Green attended Indian Springs School, in Alabama, which he used as the inspiration for the main setting of this specific book.

John focused on writing young adult fiction and bildungsroman novels, which is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood, in which character change is important.

“Looking for Alaska” is set in Alabama around the year 2005 and it narrates the story of Miles Halter, or “Pudge”, the main character,  He is a teenage boy that decides to leave his normal high school in Florida to attend Culver Creek Preparatory High School for his junior year.

His roommate, Chip "The Colonel" Martin, introduces Pudge to his friends: Takumi Hikohito and Alaska Young, a beautiful but emotionally unstable girl who will be the key-figure and turning point in the protagonist's life and in the whole novel's development ...

Alaska and Miles grow closer and he begins to fall in love with her, although she insists on keeping their relationship platonic because she has a boyfriend named Jake.

One night, an intoxicated Alaska and Pudge spend the night with each other. Alaska receives a phone call that causes her to panic and insists on leaving the school premises while still being drunk. They later learn that Alaska had a tragical car accident and didn’t make it.

As a way of celebrating Alaska's life, some of the students at Culver Creek decided to execute a prank that had been developed by Alaska before her death. The whole school finds it hilarious and even the principal acknowledges how clever it was.

I really enjoyed reading this novel because of the protagonist’s character development: I noticed the process of growth Miles overwent experienced during his stay at the boarding school in Alabama: from how he learned to connect with new people to falling in love with someone and opening up about experiencing the grief of losing the girl he dearly loved.

I think this piece of fiction is better than others because it describes really well the changes teenagers go through in a deeply inspiring and tgought-provoking way. The author did a superb job at putting himself in the characters’ shoes and at describing what each of them was feeling,  the emotions they were going through and the strong friendships that developed between them. The fact that they listened to each other and always tried to help one another overcome problems that life threw at them, made me relate to them because I try to do the same with my group of friends.

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impressive, poignant, stunning, effective, moving, rousing, sympathetic, affecting, cogent, direct, dynamic, effectual, emotional, forceful, gripping, inspirational, motivating, potent, provoking, staggering

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What is Fiction? Is Fiction relevant and impactful nowadays? Why/Why not? If Fiction is something meaningful to you, how and to what extent?... Post-pandemic Students learn how to write a descriptive text (300 words approx.) on their favourite book, first, and the a good review: novels, short stories, collections of stories are analysed by Students following some common functional guidelines. Students:
1. say what its title is;
2. describe the author (students do some research work on him/her and find where s/he is from and whether she is a contemporary writer or whether s/he belongs to the past Centuries and say when s/he lived);
3. (very) briefly/concisely summarise the story...
3.1.   and focus on the main characters (“it narrates the story of….. who is….”)
4. say where and when the story is set (focus on the setting in time, place and social milieu - if relevant);
5. describe how they personally felt while reading the story in the novel, using a range of adjectives;
6. give at least three good reasons why they like this piece of Fiction better than others – using a wide range of descriptive adjectives...

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Some guidelines to help and prepare our book review...

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Some guidelines to help and prepare our book review...

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Descriptive adjectives can help us enrich our review...

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Descriptive adjectives can help us enrich our review...

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How to write a review for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained.

You must answer this question.

An international arts website is looking for reviews of novels for a new section called 'A Reader Writes'. You have decided to write a review of a novel you've recently read for this section. Describe the novel and say what you think about it. Would you recommend this novel to other people?

Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
Sample answer: I really enjoyed the film version of The Bourne Identity starring Matt Damon, but I thought the original novel by Robert Ludlum was even better. This book is so well-written, I didn't want to finish it!

You start with Paragraph 1- Introduction
In the introduction you :

- make your review more interesting with personal comments

- mention the title, the type of the book/ play/ film/etc, the setting (when/where), the theme, the main characters, etc
Phrases you can use in the introduction:

* This well-written/ informative / fascinatng/ thought-provoking book is...

* The film/ book/ play/ etc. is set in..... / tells the story of...../ is based on.....

* The film/ play starts ...../ is directed by...../ is the sequel to.....

Comparing and contrasting

*... is even better than ...

*... is (not) nearly as good as ...

*... is twice as good as ...

*... is the best I have ever seen / read / been to. in comparison with ...

*One of the strongest / weakest things about ...

*In contrast, ... / On the other hand, ...

REMEMBER : A review is a special type of article written for publication in a magazine, newspaper, etc giving a brief description and evaluation of the film, book, play, TV/ radio programme, etc . It may be formal or semi-formal in style, depending on its intended readership, and is usually written using present tenses.

The plot is gripping right from the start. When we first meet the lead character, Jason Bourne, he is being rescued from the sea. His identity is a mystery to everyone, including himself! Over the course of the novel we gradually find out who Bourne is, and follow him through a series of exciting adventures.

In the 2nd and 3rd Paragraph you :

- include the main points of the plot ( without revealing the ending), and evaluate such features as the acting, writing style, directions, characters etc.

- you can also add what you learnt, found out from the book, etc

Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

Describing a book / film / TV programme

* The main character is ...

* It tells the story of ...

* The plot / dialogue / acting / characterisation is ...

* The only criticism I would make is that ...

* What I really loved about ... is ...

* ... was ... from start to finish.

+ exceptional / good value / gripping / lively / memorable / perfect / realistic / stunning / superb / well-written / -acted / -cooked etc.

- disappointing / dreadful / dull / inadequate / poor / predictable / sub-standard / unconvincing / unimaginative / uninteresting

As well as a highly original plot line, the novel includes a number of fascinating characters, especially the villains! I only have one negative -comment: in my view, the novel is strong on action but weaker on description. However, this is a small criticism of an otherwise excellent book.

Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

* The plot revolves around ...involves .../focuses on .../has an unexpected twist.

* The story begins with .../unfolds / reaches a dramatic climax when ...

Evaluating various features:

* The play/film/series has a strong/star-studded/mediocre cast.

* The acting is moving/powerful/excellent/weak/disappointing/unconvincing.

* The plot is gripping/dramatic/fascinating/suspense-filled/fast-moving. far-fetched/predictable/ confusing/dull /unimaginative.

* The script/dialogue is touching/witty/hilarious/boring/mundane.

* It is beautifully/brilliantly/sensitively written/directed.

I would highly recommend The Bourne Identity to anyone who enjoys action or crime stories. However, if you prefer more descriptive or romantic novels, then you should give it a miss. Personally, I can't wait to start reading the sequel!

In the last paragraph you :

- include an overall assessment of the work and/or a recommendation, usually with justification

- you may also be asked to give reasons why someone should see the film/ play or read the book, how it has influenced you, etc.

Phrases you can use to end the letter

*I would highly / strongly recommend ...

* I certainly wouldn't recommend ...

* I strongly advise you (not) to ...

* Everyone should see / do / read this ... immediately!

* ... is not to be missed!

* You should give ... a miss!

* Don't bother reading / seeing / going ...

* It is a classic of its kind/ It is sure to be a hit/ best -seller

Over to you:

You have seen the following announcement in a magazine.

OUR READERS AND THE BOOK THEY TREASURE

* Is there one special book that has had a great influence on your life?

* Write in and tell us about it.

* Tell us briefly about the book and, more importantly, what it taught you or how it helped you.

* The best entry will he published in the near future.
Prize: £100 in book tokens to help you build up your own library!
Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

Here's the next task:

The magazine published by your school's English club is asking students to give opinions on the coursebooks they have been using. Write a review of a coursebook, giving your views on the following points:

* how well it prepares students for the exam

* how much it has helped you improve your English

Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

1- Write for the reader. Always bear in mind who you are writing for. If you're writing for a magazine, think of the kind of people who read that particular magazine. A book review is intended for people who have not read the book, so don't assume that your readers already know the story.

2- Don't talk about yourself. When giving your opinion, whether in a review or elsewhere, be careful not to fall into the trap of talking about yourself. Try to be objective. One way of testing for objectivity is to check your writing for the words I, me, my, myself. Similarly, phrases such as in my opinion, to my mind, I think should be used as little as possible; any more than once in the first paragraph and once in the last, and your review seems to focus on yourself, not your subject.

3- Write in an impersonal style. Many students spoil their articles and reviews by writing in a chatty, informal style as if they were talking to a friend. On the contrary, essays, articles and
reviews should be relatively impersonal. Your readers are not particularly interested in you: they need information, description and narrative more than they need your opinion.

4- You don't know your reader, so be careful about using the word you.

5- Use precise, descriptive vocabulary. Generalizations such as This book is boring communicate very little to the reader. Specific observations and concrete facts, on the other hand, help the reader to share your experience. If you have strong feelings about your subject, this should make your writing more interesting - but be careful! Strong feelings must be given form and coldly translated into precise words.

If you need writing help with your introduction, body or conclusion paragraph of your paper, please visit the following site https://writemypaperhub.com/paragraph.html - a team of experts provide you with professional assistance online.

How to write a review for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained.

You must answer this question.

An international arts website is looking for reviews of novels for a new section called 'A Reader Writes'. You have decided to write a review of a novel you've recently read for this section. Describe the novel and say what you think about it. Would you recommend this novel to other people?

Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.
Sample answer: I really enjoyed the film version of The Bourne Identity starring Matt Damon, but I thought the original novel by Robert Ludlum was even better. This book is so well-written, I didn't want to finish it!

The plot is gripping right from the start. When we first meet the lead character, Jason Bourne, he is being rescued from the sea. His identity is a mystery to everyone, including himself! Over the course of the novel we gradually find out who Bourne is, and follow him through a series of exciting adventures.

As well as a highly original plot line, the novel includes a number of fascinating characters, especially the villains! I only have one negative -comment: in my view, the novel is strong on action but weaker on description. However, this is a small criticism of an otherwise excellent book.

I would highly recommend The Bourne Identity to anyone who enjoys action or crime stories. However, if you prefer more descriptive or romantic novels, then you should give it a miss. Personally, I can't wait to start reading the sequel!

Over to you:

You have seen the following announcement in a magazine.

OUR READERS AND THE BOOK THEY TREASURE

* Is there one special book that has had a great influence on your life?

* Write in and tell us about it.

* Tell us briefly about the book and, more importantly, what it taught you or how it helped you.

* The best entry will he published in the near future.
Prize: £100 in book tokens to help you build up your own library!
Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

Here's the next task:

The magazine published by your school's English club is asking students to give opinions on the coursebooks they have been using. Write a review of a coursebook, giving your views on the following points:

* how well it prepares students for the exam

* how much it has helped you improve your English

Write your review in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

1- Write for the reader. Always bear in mind who you are writing for. If you're writing for a magazine, think of the kind of people who read that particular magazine. A book review is intended for people who have not read the book, so don't assume that your readers already know the story.

2- Don't talk about yourself. When giving your opinion, whether in a review or elsewhere, be careful not to fall into the trap of talking about yourself. Try to be objective. One way of testing for objectivity is to check your writing for the words I, me, my, myself. Similarly, phrases such as in my opinion, to my mind, I think should be used as little as possible; any more than once in the first paragraph and once in the last, and your review seems to focus on yourself, not your subject.

3- Write in an impersonal style. Many students spoil their articles and reviews by writing in a chatty, informal style as if they were talking to a friend. On the contrary, essays, articles and
reviews should be relatively impersonal. Your readers are not particularly interested in you: they need information, description and narrative more than they need your opinion.

4- You don't know your reader, so be careful about using the word you.

5- Use precise, descriptive vocabulary. Generalizations such as This book is boring communicate very little to the reader. Specific observations and concrete facts, on the other hand, help the reader to share your experience. If you have strong feelings about your subject, this should make your writing more interesting - but be careful! Strong feelings must be given form and coldly translated into precise words.

If you need writing help with your introduction, body or conclusion paragraph of your paper, please visit the following site https://writemypaperhub.com/paragraph.html - a team of experts provide you with professional assistance online.

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How to write a review for the New FCE exam? Here's a sample topic that has been divided into paragraphs and each of the sections explained. You must answer this question. An international arts website is looking for reviews of novels for a new section called 'A Reader Writes'.

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https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/540586/eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine-by-gail-honeyman/9780143199113