# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Gioia_A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ALTERIO.ALICE BOOK REVIEW CORRETTA.ALICE BOOK REVIEW CORRETTA

# data[].attributes.headline
Let’s learn how to organise a good Book Review (and “Ignite Presentation”)…

# data[].attributes.subject
Let’s learn how to organise a good Book Review (and “Ignite Presentation”)…

# data[].attributes.body
("Title") by (nationality/author) is a/n (opinion/qualifying adjective/s) .......... (type of Novel) that narrates/tells/describes/deals with  the (opinion/qualifying adjective) story of (names of character/s) who (very few events)....

THE MAIN FEATURES ARE .... (very/extremely/certainly... opinion/qualifying adjectives ...)

The plot is (extremely/absolutely/adjective), since it ..........

From the point of view of the characters, they are .... (name/type/adjectives).

As for the setting, the story is/the events are set (setting: place, time, social milieu)....

In conclusion/to conclude, I would recommend reading (name).... because...

***

Ignite Presentation Format:

20 slides

5/6 minutes speech

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite NOVEL book is “White Nights” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Dostoevsky’s IS a short but emotional novel that explores lonliness, dreams and unrequited love.

CONCERNING THE PLOT, ...

AS FOR THE CHARACTERS, the main PROTAGONIST is a young man known as the Dreamer: he is shy, lonely and, as his name suggests, he lives mostly in his imagination. He spends his time walking through the city, imagining stories about strangers. One night, he meets a kind woman called Nastenka and she shares her story about waiting for the man she loves, who once promised to return for her.

Over four nights they talk about their lives, hopes and fears and for the first time, the Dreamer begins to believe that he might be able to escape his loneliness as he starts to fall in love with her.

TAKING THE SETTING INTO CONSIDERATION, the story is MAINLY set in Saint Petersburg during the bright summer nights (the “white nights”), creating a calm and dreamy atmosphere which perfectly reflects the narrator’s mind.

The main character is a young man known as the Dreamer; he is shy, lonely and, as his name suggests, he lives mostly in his imagination. He spends his time walking through the city, imagining stories about strangers. One night, he meets a kind woman called Nastenka and she shares her story about waiting for the man she loves, who once promised to return for her.

Over four nights they talk about their lives, hopes and fears and for the first time, the Dreamer begins to believe that he might be able to escape his loneliness as he starts to fall in love with her.

AS FOR THE AUTHOR'S STYLE, one thing i Ireally enjoy about this NOVEL book is Dostoevsky’s writing style, AS IT IS it’s very EXTREMELY emotional and personal, especially because the story is told in the first person. Dostoevsky also uses gentle and poetic language and long reflections to show the main character’s thoughts.

SURE ENOUGH THI IS A FASCINATING, ENTHRALLING I love this novel becuase of how well it shows human emotions. The Dreamer’s pain feels real and deep but thanks to the writing style, it still looks gentle and nostalgic.

I also like how IN CONCLUSION, Dostoevsky'S NOVEL IS ABSOLUTELY INSPIRING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AS IT does not turn love into a fantasy where everything works out in the end, instead he shows how love can be one-sided and painful, yet still meaningful.

# data[].attributes.body
The NOVEL book I prefer the most is "Journey to the Center of the Earth" written in 1864 by Jules Verne, a famous French author known as a father of science fiction.

The story is set in the 19th century and follows Professor Otto Lidenbrock, an eccentric scientist who discovers an ancient manuscript claiming there is a passage to the Earth's core through a volcano in Iceland. He drags his reluctant nephew Axel and a stoic guide named Hans into the crater of the volcano mentioned in the manuscript. Deep underground, they discover a lost world filled with prehistoric plants, giant mushrooms and an enormous subterranean sea in which lived ancient marine monsters.

CONCERNING THE PLOT, ...

AS FOR THE CHARACTERS, ....

TAKING THE SETTING INTO CONSIDERATION, ...

AS FOR THE NOVELIST'S STYLE, the story is narrated in the first person by Axel, which allows the reader to feel his fear and amazement first-hand.

The language is rich in scientific details about geology and paleontology, making the adventure feel stable and real. The plot is direct and extremely engaging, filled with suspense as the trio faces the dangers of the unknown.

In conclusion, I would say this NOVEL book is timeless and visionary. I found it really captivating and engaging because of the incredible sense of wonder it creates. What I really loved about this novel is the dynamic of the storytelling, I felt interested by all the scientific references combined with the adventure. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this novel.The book I prefer the most is "Journey to the Center of the Earth" written in 1864 by Jules Verne, a famous French author known as a father of science fiction.

The story is set in the 19th century and follows Professor Otto Lidenbrock, an eccentric scientist who discovers an ancient manuscript claiming there is a passage to the Earth's core through a volcano in Iceland. He drags his reluctant nephew Axel and a stoic guide named Hans into the crater of the volcano mentioned in the manuscript. Deep underground, they discover a lost world filled with prehistoric plants, giant mushrooms and an enormous subterranean sea in which lived ancient marine monsters.

The story is narrated in the first person by Axel, which allows the reader to feel his fear and amazement first-hand.

The language is rich in scientific details about geology and paleontology, making the adventure feel stable and real. The plot is direct and extremely engaging, filled with suspense as the trio faces the dangers of the unknown.

In conclusion, I would say this book is timeless and visionary. I found it really captivating and engaging because of the incredible sense of wonder it creates. What I really loved about this novel is the dynamic of the storytelling, I felt interested by all the scientific references combined with the adventure. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this novel.

# data[].attributes.body
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a FAMOUS short famous novel written by Truman Capote.

CAPOTE'S FASCINATING NOVEL TELLS The story is set in New York City and shows the life of young people in the city OF NEW YORK: The novel is about Holly Golightly IS a young woman who lives freely and follows her own rules. She is charming, funny, and sometimes confusing. Holly likes rich places and dreams of a better life, but inside she feels lonely. Through her character, the novel shows how people can look happy on the outside but feel sad inside.

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PLOT, ...

AS REGARDS THE CHARACTERS, ...

CONCERNING THE SETTING, ....

TRUMAN CAPOTE'S STYLE IS ENGAGING: CAPOTE'S novel is easy to read and very emotional. The language is simple, but the ideas are deep. Readers can enjoy the story and also think about life, dreams, and relationships.

SURE ENOUGH, THE NOVELIST'S FAVOURITE MODES ARE...

AS FOR THE THEMES IN THE NOVEL, one important theme of the novel is the search for happiness. Holly thinks that money and beautiful places will make her happy. However, the story shows that real happiness comes from love, friendship, and feeling safe. Another theme is freedom, because Holly wants to live without limits, but this also brings problems.

This novel is easy to read and very emotional. The language is simple, but the ideas are deep. Readers can enjoy the story and also think about life, dreams, and relationships.

I recommend Breakfast at Tiffany’s because it is short and touching. It is perfect for readers who like stories about real life, strong characters, and big cities. This novel is a classic and still important today.

# data[].attributes.body
"Normal People" by Sally Rooney is a tells the modern story about of the complicated relationship between two young people, Marianne and Connell.

The writing is simple but very real, and it talks about suggests/conveys feelings, problems in communication, social pressure, and finding your own identity.

One strong part of the book is how deeply it shows people’s emotions.

The story follows Marianne and Connell from the end of high school to university in Dublin. In school, Connell is popular, while Marianne is smart but lonely. They come from different families and start a secret romantic relationship. At university, their roles change: Marianne becomes more confident, while Connell feels lost. Their relationship goes on and off, with problems in talking to each other and being open.

Marianne has low self-esteem and family problems, which make it hard for her to feel loved. Connell is kind and emotional, but he struggles with anxiety and talking about his feelings. Both of them grow and learn through their pain.

AS REGARDS THE PLOT, ....

TAKING THE CHARACTERS INTO CONSIDERATION, ...

CONCERNING THE SETTING, The book story/events MAINLY take/s place in today’s Ireland and show/s what many young people go through.

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE NOVELIST'S STYLE, ....

In the end, I recommend reading Normal People because it shows real love, friendship, and growing up. It teaches us how important it is to talk and understand ourselves in relationships.

# data[].attributes.body
The Song of Achilles is a novel inspired by Greek mythology and the Trojan War, but it THE NOVELIST, MADELINE MILLER, tells the story in a very emotional way: instead of focusing only on battles and heroes, the author gives a lot of importance to feelings, relationships and human weakness.

CONCERNING THE PLOT, EVENTS IN THE NOVEL follow a chronological order, from Patroclus’ childhood to the end of the Trojan War. Even if the story is linear, prophecies and fate are always present, so the reader knows that the ending will be tragic. When the war begins, Achilles chooses glory and honour, and Patroclus follows him, which leads to a dramatic ending.

AS FOR THE CHARACTERS, The story is narrated by Patroclus, a young prince who is exiled after accidentally killing another boy. He is sent to live at the court of King Peleus, where he meets Achilles. Achilles is strong, talented and confident, while Patroclus is shy, insecure and often feels out of place. As they grow up together, their friendship slowly becomes a romantic relationship based on love, trust and loyalty.

The plot follows a chronological order, from Patroclus’ childhood to the end of the Trojan War. Even if the story is linear, prophecies and fate are always present, so the reader knows that the ending will be tragic. When the war begins, Achilles chooses glory and honour, and Patroclus follows him, which leads to a dramatic ending.

Patroclus is the main character and narrator, and he is kind, sensitive and very loyal. Achilles is brave and powerful, but also proud and conflicted. Other characters, like Briseis and Thetis, help us understand the protagonists better.

TAKING THE SETTING INTO CONSIDERATION, The setting is ancient Greece and Troy REPRESENT a world ruled by warriors, gods and honour, which strongly influences the characters’ choices.

REGARDING THE NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES, THE NOVELIST IS QUITE THOUGHT-PROVOKING, AS The novel is written in the first person and uses simple but poetic language.

The main themes are love, fate, sacrifice and the conflict between personal happiness and heroic glory....

IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND READING The Song of Achilles BY NOVELIST MADELINE MILLER, AS IT IS AN INSPIRING, EXTREMELY THOUGHT PROVOKING PIECE OF FICTION...

# data[].attributes.body
The title of my favourite book is “Everyone in my family has killed someone” by Benjamin Stevenson, published in 2022. Benjamin Stevenson is an acclaimed Australian author, known for clever and mysterious novels.

Firstly, “Everyone in my family has killed someone” is a thriller. As for the story, this impressively and brilliant novel narrates the story of a family that is in a chalet in Australia to celebrate Michael’s release. A snowstorm is coming and there is a man who appears dead in a fire in the snow. The members of the Cunningham family become the suspects.

From the point of view of the plot, the plot is mainly linear, BUT NEVER DULL, AS IT includes some flashbacks and flash-forwards, which make the story even more engaging.

The main characters are Ernie and Michael, and the novel focuses on the fascinating story between these two brothers, although the entire Cunningham’s family is present. Ernie is sarcastic, brilliant and reflective, while Michael is chaotic, impulsive and arrogant. However, all the characters are incredibly charming.

As for the setting, the author chose a ski resort in Australia at Christmas, in the present days. From my view, this isolated setting is made used to create tension, mystery, and suspense.

The narration is fluent and allows to immerse deeply in the story, in fact, the language is direct, fluent and often informal. The novel is always entertaining, as it never has long descriptions.

Ernie narrates the story in first person, so the reader knows the events from his perspective. In addition, the characters’ personality and their relationships are described in details by their history and actions.

In conclusion, I would say that this enthralling novel is intricate, mysterious and sometimes also hilarious and THEREFORE ALMOST addictive.

I found it really original for the way it is written, and captivating because never boring. While I was reading it, I felt completely engaged and involved. What I really loved about this novel is the fact that the narrator ADRESSES talks directory to the reader directly and also that he narrates the BACKGROUND story of each member of the family. For all these reasons I highly recommend this outstanding novel.

# data[].attributes.body
The title of my favourite NOVEL book is "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder" by Holly Jackson, published in 2019.

First of all, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a thriller. This intriguing and page-turning novel tells the story of a girl who begins to investigate a mysterious death in her town. Everyone pretends that everything is fine, but she feels that something is wrong. As she looks into what really happened, she uncovers secrets, lies, and hidden relationships that show the town is not as perfect as it seems.

TAKING The plot INTO CONSIDERATION, IT follows THE PROTAGONIST'S investigation step by step. It begins with the discovery of a suspicious death, and CONTINUES WITH the protagonist WHO interviews people, finds clues, and tries to connect all the details. The tension grows as she gets closer to the truth. In the end, she finally understands what happened and why.

AS FOR The main character, is Pippa Fitz-Amobi - WHOM , but everyone calls Pip - is A curious, brave, and sometimes stubborn YOUNG WOMAN. She wants to discover the truth even when others tell her to stop.

The secondary characters include PIPS' family, who sometimes worry about her, her friends and classmates, who try to help her or keep secrets from her, and several suspects, each with a different reason to lie.

CONCERNING THE SETTING, The story is MAINLY set in a small town, Little Kilton, where everyone knows each other, in the modern days.

TAKING THE NOVELIST'S STYLE INTO CONSIDERATION In addition, the novel uses first-person narration, allowing the reader to experience the investigation and emotional tension directly through the protagonist’s perspective.

Descriptions focus on the atmosphere. The author also describes emotions clearly, so we feel what the protagonist feels.

Dialogues are important for uncovering clues. Conversations often reveal contradictions or hidden emotions, and internal monologues show the protagonist’s thought process.

The language is direct and suspenseful. It creates a sense of mystery, and emotional vocabulary is used to express anxiety and uncertainty.

In conclusion, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a very interesting, engaging and mysterious novel. The story is full of suspense and unexpected twists that keep the reader interested until the end. I liked the modern setting and the way the investigation is told, because it feels realistic and easy to follow. The main character is smart and brave, and it is easy to relate to her.

While reading the book, I felt ONE FEELS really involved in the story. For these reasons, I would definitely recommend this novel to other readers.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite NOVEL book is “Athena’s Child” by Hannah Lynn.

"ATHENA'S CHILD" It tells the story of Medusa from her point of view. The novel focuses on how Medusa, who was once a normal young woman and a devoted priestess of Athena, is unfairly punished by Athena, the goddess of wisdom, after being sexually assaulted by Poseidon, the god of the sea, and turned into a monster instead of being protected.

CONCERNING THE PLOT, The story follows a mainly linear SEQUENCE plot and narrates the events in chronologicAL order, DESCRIBING and describes Medusa’s pain, isolation, and emotional growth until her death, when Perseus kills her.

TAKING THE CHARACTERS INTO CONSIDERATION, Medusa is the main and round character, AND SHE IS WELL ROUNDED, AS because she changes a lot throughout the story, becoming stronger and more aware of the injustice done to her, while the side OTHER characters, SUCH AS like Athena, Poseidon, and Perseus play important secondary roles.

AS FOR THE SETTING, The EVENTS IN THE story TAKE PLACE MAINLY is set in Ancient Greece in mythological times, in a patriarchal society ruled by gods and strong power structures, where women had no power, and it is important because it explains why Medusa has no control over her fate.

AS REGARDS THE NOVELIST'S STYLE, The language used by the author is simple but emotional and helps the reader understand Medusa’s feelings. The story is narrated in the first person by Medusa herself, making the narrator internal, non-omniscient, and with a fixed point of view. Hannah Lynn NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES ARE is very EXTREMELY engaging because it makes the reader IS FORCED TO IDENTIFY WITH THE VICTIM put themselves in the victim’s shoes, and IT helps TO understand how she felt after all the injustices.

The author uses internal monologue and dialogue to build HER FICTIONAL WORLD UP the story.

The main themes of the book NOVEL are EXTREMELY INSPIRING: injustice, abuse of power, suffering, and victim-blaming, and SUGGEST the message that myths are often told from the perspective of the powerful, while the voices of victims are ignored.

I highly recommend Hannah Lynn'S NOVEL this book , because it deals with HIGHLY ENGAGING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING strong topics like sexual assault and victim-blaming, which ARE is an issueS that ARE is still present in nowadays' society.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite book is called "From blood and ash", A NOVEL written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This is the first book of a serieS of 5 books all published between 2020 and 2024.

AS FOR the story, THE EVENTS center on the journey of Poppy, the Maiden destined to Ascend as a gift to the gods, and Hawke the soldier who will take care of her.

CONCERNING The plot, IT IS NOT VERY COPLEMX, AS IT follows the PROTAGONIST'S journey of self-discovery as she struggels with duty, destiny and her forbidden desires.

AS REGARDS The main character, is Penellaphe, know KNOWN AS Poppy, She is knowN as The Maiden, The chosen one by the gods. She lives behind a VEIL viel, forbidden from being touched BY from anyone. She is treated like a princess and everyone respectS her, but she doesn’t like her role. She wishes to be free and see the world outside of the castle walls.

Another main character is Hawke, her new personal guard, the man who will help Poppy question every law she’s lived by, and Vikter who has been a father figure for Poppy from the start, teaching her how to fight even if it’s against the rules.

AS FAR AS THE SETTING IS CONCERNED, IT IS QUITE INTERESTING, AS The story is set in an imaginary world named Solis, a medieval-inspired realm threatened by a rising vengeful kingdom of ancient beings, and most of the first book is set in the castle of Masadonia, the capital city. This world is beautyfully structured, but not peaceful. In fact the antagonist of the story are also some creatures that live in the fog and act like zombies, infecting or killing other people. The main villain is KNOWN know as Castellan, but the protagonists doesn’t know much about him.

REGARDING THE STYLE, The story is narrated in first person from Poppy’s point of view and the dialogues are used by the author to advance the plot and showcase characters emotions and ideas.

Jennifer Armentrout'S writing is fluent and atmoshepric. She knows how to write every kind of scenario in a way that makes it possible to imagine. It’s immersive and catchy.

"From blood and ash"'S main themes of this story are forbidden love, self-discovery, freedom, betrayal and rebellion against the power. Poppy lives by the rules that were imposed to her by The Ascended, immortal rulers that have total control of everything exept for the desire of freedom that Poppy has. She wants to know and feel the emotions that she is not allowed to feel, discover the world and live a normal life.

In my opinion Jennifer L. Armentrout'S NOVEL this book is amazing, twisty and intriguing. The characters are relatable, especially Poppy who lives a perfect life, but maybe is not as perfect as it could be. "From blood and ash" IS AN ADDICTIVE NOVEL, A PIECE OF FICTION THAT ONE CAN'T STOP READING. I have the second book of the serie and I can’t wait to see how the story continue.

# data[].attributes.body
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegorical novel that tells the INTRIGUING STORY of a group of animals who rebel against their human owner, Mr Jones, in order to create a fair and equal society. Inspired by the ideas of Old Major, the animals overthrow the farmer and take control of the farm, which they rename Animal Farm. At the beginning, all animals work together and believe in the principles of equality and freedom.

However, as time passes, the pigs gradually take control of the farm. Napoleon, one of the pigs, becomes the leader and eliminates his rival Snowball. Through propaganda, fear and violence, Napoleon establishes a dictatorship. The other animals, especially Boxer the horse, continue to work hard and remain loyal, even though their living conditions worsen. In the end, the pigs become indistinguishable from humans, and the original ideals of the rebellion are completely betrayed.

CONCERNING The plot, the novel is simple and linear, and events are MOSTLY narrated in chronological order.

AS FAR AS The setting is CONCERNED, THE EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN a farm in England, which symbolically represents a totalitarian state.

AS REGARDS The characters, THEY are mostly flat, because they represent social groups or political figures rather than complex individuals.

TAKING THE NARRATIVE MODES INTO CONSIDERATION, The novel is narrated in the third person by an external and omniscient narrator. Orwell uses a simple and clear language, similar to a fable, but with a strong political meaning. Dialogue and slogans are important narrative techniques, as they show how language can be used to manipulate people.

CONSIDERING The main themes IN of Animal Farm, abuse of power, the corruption of ideals, inequality and manipulation through propaganda ARE THE MAIN IDEAS IN THE NOVEL.

Through this INSPIRING, ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING novel, Orwell criticises totalitarian regimes and shows how revolutions can fail when those in power care only about their own interests.

# data[].attributes.body
The NOVEL "A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS" was written by Khaled Hosseini in the second half of the 20th century and it is set in Afghanistan, in particular in Kabul and Herat.

This incredibly fascinating novel narrates the story of two Afghan women and their lives, which crossed because of the war and a man in particular.

As for the plot, IT IS QUITE COMPLEX, BUT NOT SO DIFFICULT: Mariam is forced to marry Rashid and after few years he marries another woman, Laila. Laila had already a daughter, Aziza, and she continues love TO Tariq. MarrYing Rashid, Laila is afraid of losing her daughter. During the years, Laila and Mariam become like sisters. Over the years, Rashid continuously abuses his wives, so one day Mariam decides to do something irreparable that will change their lives forever.

From the point of view of the characters, the main characters are Mariam, Laila and Rashid, but there are also some secondary characters like Aziza, Laila’s daughter, Nana and Jalil, Mariam’s parents, Babi and Fariba, Laila’s parents, Zalmai, son of Rashid and Mariam and Tariq, a really special friend of Laila. THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY INSPIRING AND FASCINATING.

AS FOR THE SETTING, IT IS IMPORTANT AS the main theme is the issues of women during the war and the lack of their rights IN AFGHANISTAN. The EVENTS IN THE NOVEL TAKE PLACE is set during the war in Afghanistan where women can’t leave the house alone, but only with a male relative, and they have to cover the WHOLE face except the eyes.

About how the story is written: AS FAR AS THE WRITER'S STYLE, the EVENTS IN THE NOVEL ARE NARRATED book is narred in the third person, but sometimes THE POINT OF VIEW IS SHIFTING, AND there are Mariam’s and Laila’s thoughts ARE PERCEIVED BY THE READER.

CONCERNING THE NARRATIVE MODES, There are also some useful dialogues that make the reader understand the emotion of the characters better. In addition, also the descriptions are excellent: they make the reader perfectly aware of the environment where the story is set and how the characters FEEL fell.

Also AS FAR AS the language IS CONCERNED, IT trasmits the reader emotions, it is also clear and engaging.

IN CONCLUSION, I highly recommend this book because it is touching, engaging and awe inspiring.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Psalm
How leaky are the borders of man-made states!
How many clouds float over them scot-free,
how much desert sand sifts from country to country,
how many mountain pebbles roll onto foreign turf
in provocative leaps!

Need I cite each and every bird as it flies,
or alights, as now, on the lowered gate?
Even if it be a sparrow-its tail is abroad,
thought its beak is still home. As if that weren't enough-it keeps fidgeting!

Out of countless insects I will single out the ant,
who, between the guard's left and right boots,
feels unobliged to answer questions of origin and destination.

If only this whole mess could be seen at once in detail
on ever continent!
Isn't that a privet on the opposite bank
smuggling its hundred-thousandth leaf across the river?
Who else but the squid, brazenly long-armed,
would violate the sacred territorial waters.?

How can we speak of any semblance of order
when we can't rearrange the stars
to know which one shines for whom?

Not to mention the reprehensible spreading of fog!
Or the dusting of the steppe over its entire range
as though it weren't split in two!
Or voices carried over accommodating air waves:
summoning squeals and suggestive gurgles!

Only what's human can be truly alien.
The rest is mixed forest, undermining moles, and wind.

Wisława Szymborska, from Miracle Fair: Selected Poems of Wisława Szymborska (trs. Joanna Trzeciak), Norton, 2001

My edition of Miracle Fair contains a marvellous introduction of Wisława Szymborska's work by her compatriot Czeslaw Milosz. Clear-sighted as the poetry he writes in praise of, he makes a number of startling observations which, had they been written by and about English poets, might have sparked a falling-out. (Who knows, maybe they did?) For example, he speaks of her poetry bringing 'joy because she is so sharp, because she derives pleasure out of juggling the props of our common heritage', but only a sentence or two later goes on to state:' To be frank, hers is a very grim poetry.'

I think it is perfectly possible to hold these apparently binary thoughts in tension. Elsewhere Milosz explains the scientific-rationalist world-view that Szymborska inherited and was influenced by but never fully described to. Her achievement, he claims, is to find for Polish poetry a method of 'existential meditation, leaving behind pure lyric and embarking on discourse.' The influence of 'biology lessons learned at school' may never be far behind, 'Yet she never makes the reductionist turn.'

This is a critical point and perhaps a counter-intuitive one: for the poems to work on us as 'discourse' they need first to work as poems. By all means let us remember the 'semblance of order' and 'the guard's left and right boots', but, like the psalmist of the poem's title, let us also consider the ant. Let us go further than that, into the realm of make-believe, childishness, even, and imbue it with consciousness.

It is the 'What if?' game played by all great poets (Kenneth Koch springs to mind). We know our history is terrible, but what if we could listen to the ant's perspective on it for a moment? The 'joy' is that the ant, like the poet, feels 'unobliged to answer'.
Lifesaving Poems

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lifesaving Poems: Wisława Szymborska's 'Psalm'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Psalm How leaky are the borders of man-made states! How many clouds float over them scot-free, how much desert sand sifts from country to country, how many mountain pebbles roll onto foreign turf in provocative leaps! Need I cite each and every bird as it flies, or alights, as now, on the lowered...

# data[].attributes.body
The Community, in “The Giver”, seems to be the perfect place to be/live/grow up for Human Beings who want to live a peaceful, stable and safe life!

We live in an imperfect, unstable and unsafe society nowadays, with inner and outer conflicts, social issues related to inequalities and lack of opportunities, where money and wealth seem to dominate and social status is clearly defined and absolutely crucial, based on wealth…

Why then should we reject the Community in “The Giver”? Let’s find some elements/aspect/passages in the novel that show/prove that life in Jona’s Community would NOT be the best and most beneficial option for us, imperfect Humans…

Go through the novel again and write down some comments with examples from Lowry’s novel!

# data[].attributes.headline
Let’s share ideas, opinions, points of view, some suggestions…

# data[].attributes.subject
Let’s share ideas, opinions, points of view, some suggestions…

# data[].attributes.body
What makes a Society "perfect"?

# data[].attributes.body
"What is Literature?"...

"What is Literature for?",

"Why should we be dealing with Literature"?

"Is reading important to a Person's life?"

# data[].attributes.headline
What is Literature? Is Literature important? Why? ~ Some inspiring resources for Teens....

# data[].attributes.subject
What is Literature? Is Literature important? Why? ~ Some inspiring resources for Teens....

# data[].attributes.body
Students read carefully and reflect on the content of the Teacher's resource: they analyse the different statements on the importance of Literature they come across, and then choose one point they find easier to support. Students try to rephrase the point in their own words and write down a speech to be given in front of the whole Class...

# data[].attributes.body
Let’s share ideas… (write your opinions/suggestions the following column…)

# data[].attributes.headline
Let's discover and discuss Lowry's novel's secrets ...

# data[].attributes.subject
Let's discover and discuss Lowry's novel's secrets ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Getting to know each other …and expand our lexical set related to one’s personality…

# data[].attributes.subject
Getting to know each other …and expand our lexical set related to one’s personality…

# data[].attributes.headline
…people’s (and characters’ in novels ) personality traits are always meaningful…

# data[].attributes.subject
…people’s (and characters’ in novels ) personality traits are always meaningful…

# data[].attributes.body
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a young adult novel set in a near future world where a company called Death-Cast calls people to tell them they will die within 24 hours.

The story follows two teenage boys, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who receive this call on the same day. They meet through an app called Last Friend and decide to spend their final day together. During this day, they talk, share experiences, and slowly become close friends, helping each other face their fears.

AS FOR THE PLOT story is told in a , IT IS mostly simple and linear way, AS THE READER FOLLOWS following the events of one single day from beginning to end. There are no major flashbacks, and the author focuses mainly on what happens in the present. This makes the PLOT story easy to follow and increases the emotional impact.

CONCERNING The main characters, THEY are Mateo and Rufus. Mateo is shy, quiet, and afraid of taking risks, while Rufus is more confident and emotional. There are also minor characters, such as Rufus’s friends and Mateo’s father, who help develop the story. The characters are ALL round because they change during the story. By the end, Mateo becomes braver, and Rufus becomes more thoughtful and sensitive.

AS REGARDS THE SETTING, The story takes place in a large modern city in the near future and happens over just one day. The social environment IS QUITE SURPRISING, AS IT is a society where technology controls many aspects of life, including death. The setting is very important because knowing they will die affects the characters’ choices and actions.

AS FAR AS The language of the book is CONCERNED, IT IS MOSTLY simple, emotional, and easy to understand. The story is narrated in the third person, with the point of view changing between Mateo and Rufus. The narrator is external and not intrusive, allowing the reader to focus on the characters’ feelings. Dialogue is used a lot to show the relationship between the characters and to express their emotions.

TO CONLUDE, The main themes of the novel are life, death, friendship, love, and the importance of living in the moment.

SURE ENOUGH, The message of the book is that life is valuable no matter how short it is, and that human connections give life meaning. The novel encourages readers to appreciate their time and the people around them

# data[].attributes.body
The title of my favourite book is “Everyone in my family has killed someone” by Benjamin Stevenson, published in 2022. Benjamin Stevenson is an acclaimed Australian author, known for clever and mysterious novels.

Firstly, “Everyone in my family has killed someone” is a thriller. This impressive and brilliant novel narrates the story of a family that is in a chalet in Australia to celebrate Michael’s release. A snowstorm is coming and there is a man who appears dead in a fire in the snow. The members of the Cunningham family become the suspects.

The story is set in a ski resort in Australia at Christmas in the present days.

It deals the fascinating story of two brothers, Ernie and Michael but the whole Cunningham’s family is present.

In addition, Ernie narrates the story in first person and we know the events from his perspective.

From my view the setting of isolation is made to create mystery and suspence.

The characters’s personality and their relationships are described in details by their history and actions.

The narration is fluent and allows to immerse deeply in the story, in fact, the language is direct, fluent and often informal. The plot is linear and extremely engaging with some flashbacks and flashforwards.

In conclusion, I would say that this book is intricate, mysterious and sometimes also hilarious and addictive. I found it really original for the way that’s written and really captivating because never boring. While I was reading it, I felt completely engaged and involved. What I really loved about this book is the fact that the narrator talks directly to the reader and also that he narrates the backstory of each member of the family. For all these reasons I highly recommend this novel.

# data[].attributes.body
"Beautiful Boy" by the American author David Sheff is a moving and heartbreaking memoir that tells the painful story ofTHE AUTHOR'S his son Nic, who struggles with a severe drug addiction.

CONCERNING The main features, THEY are extremely honest and realistic, focusing on the emotional toll the situation takes on the entire family.

AS FOR The plot, IT is incredibly intense, since it follows the unpredictable and exhausting cycle of relapse and recovery over many years.

From the point of view of the characters, David is a devoted and desperate father, while Nic is shown as a talented young man trapped by his illness.

AS REGARDS THE SETTING, IT IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT THAT The story is set in California during the late 90s and early 2000s, MAKING EVERYTHING EXTREMELY REALISTIC AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNISABLE..

In conclusion, I would recommend reading "Beautiful Boy" because it provides a powerful, educational, and ultimately empathetic look at the reality of addiction, offering hope and understanding to anyone facing similar challenges.

# data[].attributes.body
The title of the NOVEL book I prefer the most is "Greek Lessons" by Han Kang. Han Kang is a South Korean author, internationally acclaimed for her poetic novels, such as The Vegetarian.

Greek Lessons is a quiet and meditative novel that focuses on silence, loss, and human connection.

TAKING THE STORY INTO CONSIDERATION, THE NOVEL deals with the personal struggles of the two protagonists. The woman FEMALE PROTAGONIST’s loss of speech represents her trauma and emotional withdrawal, while the MALE teacher’s failing eyesight makes him increasingly sensitive to sounds, gestures, and emotions. Although they rarely speak to each other, their bond grows through shared silence, observation, and the study of ancient Greek, which becomes a symbol of healing and rebuilding identity.

Firstly, AS FOR THE SETTING, Greek Lessons is a literary novel WHOSE story takes place in modern day Seoul and follows two unnamed characters whose lives meet in an ancient Greek class.

AS FAR AS The protagonists ARE CONCERNED, THE MAIN CHARACTER is a woman who, after a painful divorce and losing custody of her young son, becomes overwhelmed by grief and gradually loses the ability to speak. Looking for a place where silence is accepted, she joins a Greek language course. Her teacher is a gentle man who is slowly going blind due to a degenerative illness. Through their shared vulnerability, the two characters form a deep but unspoken connection.

Firstly, AS FOR THE SETTING, Greek Lessons is a literary novel WHOSE story takes place in modern day Seoul and follows two unnamed characters whose lives meet in an ancient Greek class. The novel is set in contemporary South Korea, mainly in Seoul. Important locations include the language institute, the classroom, the woman’s small apartment, and various urban spaces. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTICE THAT The setting reflects the characters’ inner states: cramped rooms, quiet corridors, and fading light emphasize themes of isolation, silence, and invisibility within a large and impersonal city.

The story deals with the personal struggles of the two protagonists. The woman’s loss of speech represents her trauma and emotional withdrawal, while the teacher’s failing eyesight makes him increasingly sensitive to sounds, gestures, and emotions. Although they rarely speak to each other, their bond grows through shared silence, observation, and the study of ancient Greek, which becomes a symbol of healing and rebuilding identity.

TAKING THE STYLE INTO CONSIDERATION, The narration alternates between two perspectives. The teacher’s chapters are written in the first person, allowing the reader to deeply understand his thoughts and fears. The woman’s story is told in the third person, which creates distance and reflects her inability to express herself verbally.

In my opinion, this stylistic choice is very effective because it mirrors the characters’ emotional states and reinforces the theme of separation and emotional withdrawal.

Han Kang’s writing style is minimalist, poetic, and fragmented. There is very little dialogue, and the novel focuses instead on inner thoughts, memories, and sensory impressions such as light, sound, and touch. The language is calm and reflective, allowing the reader to immerse themselves fully in the characters’ experiences. The plot is not action driven but develops through emotions and small moments, which makes the reading experience intimate and thoughtful.

In conclusion, Greek Lessons is a delicate, emotional, and deeply moving novel. I found it captivating for its originality and for the way it explores communication beyond words. While reading it, I felt calm but also emotionally involved, as the NARRATION story encourages the reader to reflect on loss, empathy, and human connection. What I appreciated the most is how the novel shows that understanding and healing can exist even in silence. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy introspective and poetic literature.

# data[].attributes.body
My favorite piece of fiction - book review

Before the Coffee Gets Cold is an emotional novel written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a Japanese writer who transforms a cozy and tiny café into a space where customers can relive their past and confront powerful emotions, such as love, regret, guilt, and loss.

Time travel is not an effortless journey: ; customers, in fact, must follow strict rules in order to travel back in the past, which is why many of them decide to give up. In this case, the novel tells four linked stories of four different people who take this chance to change their past.

As for the plot, the author decides to manipulate the events by adopting some flashbacks, in order to guarantee a proper and deep understanding of the reasons why a certain event took place.

TAKING THE SETTING INTO CONSIDERATION, The events are mostly set inside the rEtro-style café in Tokyo called Funiculì Funiculà (like a Neapolitan song). Even if it resembles an ordinary space where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, there’s an urban legend behind it, saying that, if you sit in a specific chair, you can travel back in time. However, not many people are aware that it is possible only under precise conditions. For instance: you can only meet someone who has visited the café before; the present cannot be changed, no matter what you say or do; you must stay in your seat for the whole journey, but first you must deal with a mysterious ghost who occupies that seat; and the most annoying rule, the trip lasts only until the coffee gets cold.

AS FAR AS The main characters ARE CONCERNED, THEY ARE QUITE INTRIGUING: are Fumiko IS a young woman who wants to return to the moment when her boyfriend, Goro Katada, told her he was leaving for America. She regrets not telling him her true feelings and hopes to fix her mistake.  Then, there is Kohtake, a nurse who’s struggling with her husband’s illness, Alzheimer's disease, as he’s slowly forgetting her. She wants to relive the time when he wasn’t sick and be happy again. Thirdly, there is Hirai, a waitress and regular customer who has recently lost her sister and regrets how harshly she treated her before the accident happened. Lastly, there is Kei, the wife of the cafè’s owner. She's waiting for a precious little girl, although, due to her being gravely ill, she doesn't have much time to live. She wants to travel forward in the future to meet her child, and then decide whether it’s worth saving her own life or her unborn daughter’s life.

CONCERNING THE STYLE, The novel is emotionally insightful, immersive, and touching THANKS TO THE FACT THAT The author tells the story in third person: with a quietly sentimental tone he provides suggestive, detailed descriptions and dialogues to make the story engaging and meaningful. In addition, to give more fluency, he uses a simple and reflective lexicon and plenty of metaphors, figurative elements, and adjectives that evoke strong feelings.

Before the coffee gets cold inspires us to accept our mistakes and show love before it’s too late. We can't change the past, but we can change the way we deal with it, by finding inner peace and letting go of the sense of guilt. Life cannot be rewritten; however we can find the beauty of what remains.

# data[].attributes.body
"Normal People" by Sally Rooney is a tells the modern story about of the complicated relationship between two young people, Marianne and Connell.

The writing is simple but very real, and it talks about suggests/conveys feelings, problems in communication, social pressure, and finding your own identity.

One strong part of the book is how deeply it shows people’s emotions.

The story follows Marianne and Connell from the end of high school to university in Dublin. In school, Connell is popular, while Marianne is smart but lonely. They come from different families and start a secret romantic relationship. At university, their roles change: Marianne becomes more confident, while Connell feels lost. Their relationship goes on and off, with problems in talking to each other and being open.

Marianne has low self-esteem and family problems, which make it hard for her to feel loved. Connell is kind and emotional, but he struggles with anxiety and talking about his feelings. Both of them grow and learn through their pain.

The book story/events take/s place in today’s Ireland and shows what many young people go through.

In the end, I recommend reading Normal People because it shows real love, friendship, and growing up. It teaches us how important it is to talk and understand ourselves in relationships.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite book is “White Nights” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

It’s a short but emotional novel that explores lonliness, dreams and unrequited love.

The story is set in Saint Petersburg during the bright summer nights (the “white nights”), creating a calm and dreamy atmosphere which perfectly reflects the narrator’s mind.

The main character is a young man known as the Dreamer; he is shy, lonely and, as his name suggests, he lives mostly in his imagination. He spends his time walking through the city, imagining stories about strangers. One night, he meets a kind woman called Nastenka and she shares her story about waiting for the man she loves, who once promised to return for her.

Over four nights they talk about their lives, hopes and fears and for the first time, the Dreamer begins to believe that he might be able to escape his loneliness as he starts to fall in love with her.

One thing i really enjoy about this book is Dostoevsky’s writing style; it’s very emotional and personal, especially because the story is told in the first person. He also uses gentle and poetic language and long reflections to show the main character’s thoughts.

I love this novel becuase of how well it shows human emotions. The Dreamer’s pain feels real and deep but thanks to the writing style, it still looks gentle and nostalgic.

I also like how Dostoevsky does not turn love into a fantasy where everything works out in the end, instead he shows how love can be one-sided and painful, yet still meaningful.

# data[].attributes.body
The book I prefer the most is "Journey to the Center of the Earth" written in 1864 by Jules Verne, a famous French author known as a father of science fiction.

The story is set in the 19th century and follows Professor Otto Lidenbrock, an eccentric scientist who discovers an ancient manuscript claiming there is a passage to the Earth's core through a volcano in Iceland. He drags his reluctant nephew Axel and a stoic guide named Hans into the crater of the volcano mentioned in the manuscript. Deep underground, they discover a lost world filled with prehistoric plants, giant mushrooms and an enormous subterranean sea in which lived ancient marine monsters.

The story is narrated in the first person by Axel, which allows the reader to feel his fear and amazement first-hand.

The language is rich in scientific details about geology and paleontology, making the adventure feel stable and real. The plot is direct and extremely engaging, filled with suspense as the trio faces the dangers of the unknown.

In conclusion, I would say this book is timeless and visionary. I found it really captivating and engaging because of the incredible sense of wonder it creates. What I really loved about this novel is the dynamic of the storytelling, I felt interested by all the scientific references combined with the adventure. For all these reasons, I highly recommend this novel.

# data[].attributes.body
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a short famous novel written by Truman Capote. The story is set in New York City and shows the life of young people in the city.

The novel is about Holly Golightly, a young woman who lives freely and follows her own rules. She is charming, funny, and sometimes confusing. Holly likes rich places and dreams of a better life, but inside she feels lonely. Through her character, the novel shows how people can look happy on the outside but feel sad inside.

One important theme of the novel is the search for happiness. Holly thinks that money and beautiful places will make her happy. However, the story shows that real happiness comes from love, friendship, and feeling safe. Another theme is freedom, because Holly wants to live without limits, but this also brings problems.

This novel is easy to read and very emotional. The language is simple, but the ideas are deep. Readers can enjoy the story and also think about life, dreams, and relationships.

I recommend Breakfast at Tiffany’s because it is short and touching. It is perfect for readers who like stories about real life, strong characters, and big cities. This novel is a classic and still important today.

# data[].attributes.body
The title of my favourite book at the moment is “The baron in the trees” written by Italo Calvino in 1957.

The novel narrates the life, from childhood to old age, of Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò, the main character, a young nobleman who, at twelve years old, after a family argument, decides to climb a tree and never come down again.

He, in fact, chooses to live his entire life among the trees, moving from branch to branch, while trying to have a normal life. From above, he studies, hunts, falls in love, helps peasants, fights injustice, and becomes involved in political and philosophical debates. Until his death, Cosimo remains faithful to his decision, even when society changes around him.

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE plot, ONE MAY NOTICE THAT IT is QUITE linear and relatively simple. The events aren’t heavily manipulated by the author: there are, in fact, no major flashbacks or flashforwards, the narration proceeds steadily through time, focusing on key moments that define Cosimo’s character and choices.

AS FOR THE CHARACTERS, The story is narrated by Cosimo’s younger brother, Biagio, who represents the FIXED internal point of view and uses, therefore the first person. He is unobtrusive and HE is NOT omniscient, as he can only report what he sees or hears and, for that reason, allows events and characters to speak for themselves.

PLUS, There are several round and well described characters in this novel, such as Biagio, Cosimo’s younger brother and the narrator of the story, Viola, Cosimo’s love interest, The Baron Arminio Piovasco, Cosimo’s father and Gian dei Brughi, a fearsome thief who terrorizes everyone in Ombrosa and eventually befriends Cosimo. However, many other characters are flat.

AS REGARDS THE SETTING, The novel is set in Liguria, in an imaginary town in the countryside named Ombrosa.

TAKING THE NARRATIVE MODES INTO CONSIDERATION, Calvino describes settings, trees, landscapes, and characters carefully, often highlighting how Cosimo adapts to life above ground.

Nature and society are described in detail, emphasizing their symbolic meanings. As well as descriptions, dialogues play an important role in the novel, as they reveal each character’s personality, ideas and conflicts. They often involve philosophical and political discussions. Through the rich and symbolic language, Calvino aims to produce a reflective and imaginative effect, encouraging readers to question social norms and personal freedom.

In conclusion “The baron in the trees” is a stimulating PIECE OF Fiction, A novel that, with its themes RELATED TO about freedom, individual choice, nature and society, suggests that it is possible to stay engaged with the world while maintaining independence and a critical perspective and is able, therefore, to encourage its readers to look at life from a different point of view.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite book is called “From blood and ash” written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It’s the first book from a serie of 5 books.

The main character is Penellaphe, know as Poppy. She is know as The Maiden, The chosen one by the gods. She lives behind a viel, forbidden from being touched from anyone. She is treated like a princess and everyone respect her, but she doesn’t like her role. She wishes to be free and see the world outside of the castle walls.

Another main character is Hawke, her new personal guard, the “morally grey” Man who will help Poppy question every law she’s lived by.

The story is set in an imaginary world named Solis and most of the first book is set in the castle of Masadonia, the capital city. This world is beautyfully structured but not peacufull. In fact the antagonist of the story are also some creatures that live in the fog and act like zombies, infecting other people.

Jennifer Armentrout writing is fluent and atmoshepric. She knows how to write every kind of scenario in a way that makes it possible to imagine. It’s immersive and catchy, I just couldn’t put the book down.

In my opinion this book is amazing, twisty and intriguing. The characters are relatable, especially Poppy who lives a perfect life, but maybe is not as perfect as it could be. I have the second book of the serie and I can’t wait to see how the story continue.

# data[].attributes.body
The Song of Achilles is a novel inspired by Greek mythology and the Trojan War, but it tells the story in a very emotional way. Instead of focusing only on battles and heroes, the author gives a lot of importance to feelings, relationships and human weakness.

The story is narrated by Patroclus, a young prince who is exiled after accidentally killing another boy. He is sent to live at the court of King Peleus, where he meets Achilles. Achilles is strong, talented and confident, while Patroclus is shy, insecure and often feels out of place. As they grow up together, their friendship slowly becomes a romantic relationship based on love, trust and loyalty.

The plot follows a chronological order, from Patroclus’ childhood to the end of the Trojan War. Even if the story is linear, prophecies and fate are always present, so the reader knows that the ending will be tragic. When the war begins, Achilles chooses glory and honour, and Patroclus follows him, which leads to a dramatic ending.

Patroclus is the main character and narrator, and he is kind, sensitive and very loyal. Achilles is brave and powerful, but also proud and conflicted. Other characters, like Briseis and Thetis, help us understand the protagonists better. The setting is ancient Greece and Troy, a world ruled by warriors, gods and honour, which strongly influences the characters’ choices. The novel is written in the first person and uses simple but poetic language. The main themes are love, fate, sacrifice and the conflict between personal happiness and heroic glory.

# data[].attributes.body
My favourite book is “Athena’s Child” by Hannah Lynn. It tells the story of Medusa from her point of view. The novel focuses on how Medusa, who was once a normal young woman and a devoted priestess of Athena, is unfairly punished by Athena, the goddess of wisdom, after being sexually assaulted by Poseidon, the god of the sea, and turned into a monster instead of being protected.

The story follows a mainly linear plot and narrates the events in chronologicwl order,  and describes Medusa’s pain, isolation, and emotional growth until her death, when Perseus kills her.

Medusa is the main and round character because she changes a lot throughout the story, becoming stronger and more aware of the injustice done to her, while the side characters like Athena, Poseidon, and Perseus play important secondary roles.

The story is set in Ancient Greece in mythological times, in a patriarchal society ruled by gods and strong power structures, where women had no power, and it is important because it explains why Medusa has no control over her fate.

The language used by the author is simple but emotional and helps the reader understand Medusa’s feelings. The story is narrated in the first person by Medusa herself, making the narrator internal, non-omniscient, and with a fixed point of view. It is very engaging because it makes the reader put themselves in the victim’s shoes, and helps understanding how she felt after all the injustices.

The author uses internal monologue and dialogue to build the story. The main themes of the book are injustice, abuse of power, suffering, and victim-blaming, and the message is that myths are often told from the perspective of the powerful, while the voices of victims are ignored.

I highly recommend this book , because it deals with strong topics like sexual assault and victim-blaming, which is an issue that is still present in nowadays society.

# data[].attributes.body
MAIN FEATURES

1. STORY/PLOT

The STORY: The book is set in a dystopian future in Oceania, a province of a totalitarian superstate. It follows Winston Smith, a low-ranking member of "the Party," who begins to rebel against the oppressive regime of Big Brother, which controls every aspect of life, including thoughts.

The PLOT is linear but complex: The events are narrated chronologically as Winston moves from silent rebellion to a forbidden love affair with Julia, and finally to his arrest and torture by the Ministry of Love. The plot is manipulated by the author to show the inevitable destruction of the individual.

2. CHARACTERS

Main character: Winston Smith. He is an Everyman who seeks truth in a world of lies.

Secondary characters: Julia (Winston's lover), O'Brien (the antagonist who deceives Winston), and Big Brother (the symbolic leader).

Character type: Winston is a round character. At the beginning, he is hopeful and rebellious; by the end, through torture and brainwashing, he is "broken" and completely different, finally loving Big Brother.

3. SETTING

Place: London (Airstrip One), Oceania.

Time: The year 1984 (a hypothetical future).

Social environment: A terrifying totalitarian society characterized by surveillance, propaganda, and poverty.

Importance: The setting is extremely important as it acts as the primary antagonist, representing the suffocating power of the state.

4. LANGUAGE

The language is very peculiar because Orwell introduces Newspeak, a language designed to limit freedom of thought by reducing the number of words available to people.

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES

1. NARRATION

Narrator: The story is narrated by a third-person narrator.

Internal/External: It is an external narrator but focuses almost exclusively on Winston’s internal thoughts and feelings (limited omniscience).

Point of view: The point of view is fixed on Winston, allowing the reader to experience the paranoia of the regime through his eyes.

2. DESCRIPTION

The author uses many descriptions to build the fictional world. Orwell describes the squalor of London (the smell of boiled cabbage, the gritty dust) to contrast with the high-tech surveillance (telescreens). This highlights the decay of humanity under the Party.

3. DIALOGUE – MONOLOGUE

The author uses dialogues, especially between Winston and O’Brien, to highlight the ideological battle. The dialogues in the final part of the book reveal the cruel logic of the Party.

4. USE OF LANGUAGE

Orwell uses a dry, direct, and clinical style to achieve a sense of realism and dread. His use of "Doublethink" and "Thoughtcrime" creates a terrifyingly logical fictional world.

What THEMES can be identified? Totalitarianism, surveillance, the manipulation of history/truth, and the loss of individual identity.

What is the MESSAGE the author is trying to convey? Orwell warns against the dangers of unchecked political power and the importance of protecting objective truth and freedom of thought.

# data[].attributes.body
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegorical novel that tells the story of a group of animals who rebel against their human owner, Mr Jones, in order to create a fair and equal society. Inspired by the ideas of Old Major, the animals overthrow the farmer and take control of the farm, which they rename Animal Farm. At the beginning, all animals work together and believe in the principles of equality and freedom.

However, as time passes, the pigs gradually take control of the farm. Napoleon, one of the pigs, becomes the leader and eliminates his rival Snowball. Through propaganda, fear and violence, Napoleon establishes a dictatorship. The other animals, especially Boxer the horse, continue to work hard and remain loyal, even in worse living conditions. In the end, the pigs become indistinguishable from humans, and the original ideals of the rebellion are betrayed.

The plot of the novel is simple and linear, and events are narrated in chronological order. The setting is a farm in England, which symbolically represents a totalitarian state. The characters are mostly flat, because they represent social groups or political figures rather than complex individuals.

The novel is narrated in the third person by an external and omniscient narrator. Orwell uses a simple and clear language, similar to a fable, but with a strong political meaning. Dialogue and slogans are important narrative techniques, as they show how language can be used to manipulate people.

The main themes of Animal Farm are the abuse of power, inequality and manipulation through propaganda. Through this novel, Orwell criticises totalitarian regimes and shows how revolutions can fail when those in power care only about their own interests.

# data[].attributes.body
The book was written by Khaled Hosseini in the second half of the 20th century and it is set in Afghanistan, in particular in Kabul and Herat.

This book deals with novel narrates the story of two afghan Afghan women and their lives, which crossed because of the war and a man in particular. Mariam is forced to marry Rashid and after few years he marries another woman, Laila. Laila had already a daughter, Aziza, and she continues love Tariq. Marring Rashid, Laila is afraid of losing her daughter. During the years, Laila and Mariam become like sisters. Over the years, Rashid continuously abuses his wives so, one day Mariam decides to do something irreparable that will change their lives forever.

The main characters are Mariam, Laila and Rashid but there are also some secondary characters like Aziza, Laila’s daughter, Nana and Jalil, Mariam’s parents, Babi and Fariba, Laila’s parents, Zalmai, son of Rashid and Mariam and Tariq, a really special friend of Laila.

The main theme is the issues of women during the war and the lack of their rights. The book is set during the war in Afghanistan where women can’t leave the house alone but only with a male relative and they have to cover the face except the eyes.

About how the story is written: the book is narred in the third person but sometimes there are Mariam’s and Laila’s thoughts.

There are also some useful dialogues that make the reader understand the emotion of the characters better.

In addition, also the descriptions are excellent, they make the reader perfectly aware of the environment where the story is set and how the characters fell. Also the language trasmits the reader emotions, it is also clear and engaging.

I highly recommend this book because it is touching, engaging and awe inspiring.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1984 by George Orwell, the story is set in the dystopian province of Oceania, where the protagonist Winston Smith lives under the absolute rule of the Party and its leader, Big Brother.

The narrative follows Winston as he attempts to reclaim his humanity through a secret diary and a forbidden romance with a woman named Julia, only to be eventually caught and broken by the charismatic but cruel O’Brien.

The plot is structured linearly, moving steadily from Winston’s initial internal rebellion to his ultimate psychological defeat in the Ministry of Love.

FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS, Winston serves as a round character who undergoes a tragic transformation. He begins the novel as an intellectually curious rebel but ends as a hollow shell of a man who has been forced to betray his own values.

AS FOR the setting, London is crucial to THE development, as Orwell describes a decaying, gray city defined by constant surveillance through telescreens and the fear of Thought Police. This social environment is designed to make the reader feel the same paranoia and lack of privacy that the characters experience.

CONCERNING THE STYLE, THE NOVEL is narrated in the third person through a limited omniscient perspective that stays close to Winston’s thoughts. This technique allows the author to show the mental struggle of living in a world where truth is flexible. Orwell uses detailed descriptions of the physical discomforts of Winston’s life to ground the political themes in a harsh reality. Furthermore, the dialogue between Winston and O’Brien in the later chapters serves to explain the terrifying logic behind the Party’s desire for power.

One of the most distinctive elements of the NOVEL is the use of Newspeak, a language designed to make independent thought impossible by eliminating descriptive words. Through this clinical and precise style, Orwell explores themes of totalitarianism and the manipulation of history.

The final message is a powerful warning about how the loss of language and memory can lead to the complete destruction of the individual, reminding the reader that freedom depends on the ability to speak and think the truth.

# data[].attributes.body
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera is a young adult novel set in a near-future world where a company called Death-Cast calls people to inform them that they will die within 24 hours.

The story follows two teenage boys, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who receive this call on the same day. They meet through an app called Last Friend and decide to spend their final day together. During this day, they talk, share experiences, and slowly become close friends, helping each other face their fears.

As for the plot, the story is told in a mostly simple and linear way. The reader follows the events of a single day from beginning to end. There are no major flashbacks, and the author focuses mainly on what happens in the present. This makes the plot easy to follow and increases the emotional impact of the story.

Concerning the main characters, they are Mateo and Rufus. Mateo is shy, quiet, and afraid of taking risks, while Rufus is more confident and emotional. There are also minor characters, such as Rufus’s friends and Mateo’s father, who help develop the story. All the characters are round characters because they change during the story. By the end, Mateo becomes braver, and Rufus becomes more thoughtful and sensitive.

As regards the setting, the story takes place in a large modern city in the near future and happens over just one day. The social environment is quite surprising, as it is a society where technology controls many aspects of life, including death. The setting is very important because knowing they will die affects the characters’ choices and actions.

As far as the language of the book is concerned, it is mostly simple, emotional, and easy to understand. The story is narrated in the third person, with the point of view alternating between Mateo and Rufus. The narrator is external and not intrusive, allowing the reader to focus on the characters’ feelings. Dialogue is used frequently to show the relationship between the characters and to express their emotions.

To conclude, the main themes of the novel are life, death, friendship, love, and the importance of living in the moment. The message of the book is that life is valuable no matter how short it is, and that human connections give life meaning. The novel encourages readers to appreciate their time and the people around them.

# data[].attributes.body
The title of my favourite book at the moment is “The baron in the trees” written by Italo Calvino in 1957.

The novel narrates the life, from childhood to old age, of Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò, the main character, a young nobleman who, at twelve years old, after a family argument, decides to climb a tree and never come down again.

He, in fact, chooses to live his entire life among the trees, moving from branch to branch, while trying to have a normal life. From above, he studies, hunts, falls in love, helps peasants, fights injustice, and becomes involved in political and philosophical debates. Until his death, Cosimo remains faithful to his decision, even when society changes around him.

From the point of view of the plot, one may notice that it is quite linear and relatively simple. The events aren’t heavily manipulated by the author: there are, in fact, no major flashbacks or flashforwards, the narration proceeds steadily through time, focusing on key moments that define Cosimo’s character and choices.

As for the characters, the story is narrated by Cosimo’s younger brother, Biagio, who represents the fixed internal point of view and uses, therefore the first person. He is unobtrusive and he is not omniscient, as he can only report what he sees or hears and, for that reason, allows events and characters to speak for themselves.

Plus, there are several round and well described characters in this novel, such as Biagio, Cosimo’s younger brother and the narrator of the story, Viola, Cosimo’s love interest, The Baron Arminio Piovasco, Cosimo’s father, and Gian dei Brughi, a fearsome thief who terrorizes everyone in Ombrosa and eventually befriends Cosimo. However, many other characters are flat.

As regards the setting, the events take place in Liguria, more precisely in an imaginary town in the countryside named Ombrosa. The novel is set in the 18th century, in the historical context of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.

Taking the narrative modes in consideration, Calvino describes settings, trees, landscapes, and characters carefully, often highlighting how Cosimo adapts to life above ground.

Nature and society are portrayed in detail, emphasizing their symbolic meanings.

As well as descriptions, dialogues play an important role in the novel, as they reveal each character’s personality, ideas and conflicts and they often involve philosophical and political discussions. Through the rich and symbolic language, Calvino aims to produce a reflective and imaginative effect, encouraging readers to question social norms and personal freedom.

In conclusion “The baron in the trees” is a stimulating piece of fiction, a novel that, with its themes related to freedom, individual choice, nature and society, suggests that it is possible to stay engaged with the world while maintaining independence and a critical perspective and is able, therefore, to encourage its readers to look at life from a different point of view.