Independent Novel Project Book Reviews by Cyndal Burns

Olivia Prout, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines.

2025-01-14 13:59:48 UTC

I personally enjoyed reading my book. It was very insightful and did a great job at showing the progression of how a life change event can empower and change those around it over time. A lot of these changes were done subtly, which is hard to pull off, yet this book executed it quite well. It did a great job at using symbols that were easily able to be identified, yet served its purpose.

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

2025-01-14 13:59:58 UTC

Over all this was a good book. The different perspectives helped me understand the time period. I feel as if I was going through the time of Hitler and War. It is a really good read.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Meredith Murray

2025-01-14 14:00:23 UTC

I really liked this book. It was beautifully written and the love story was fun and realistic. It showed the culture and societal expectations of this time period and location very well.

A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley- Ty Lescher

2025-01-14 14:00:48 UTC

I found this book moderately enjoyable, although it has its high points they are few and far between making it quite boring at times. Its most redeeming quality would be the hidden deeper meanings that can be found in the story which gives the reader a sense of reliability even though the book is 93 years old.

INP-Taylor Crum

2025-01-14 14:01:09 UTC

Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury is a great novel about a dystopain future where knowledge is hidden and books are burned. I thought the book was a worthwhile read because of its real-life applicaitons and story. The author does a good job of explaining the characters and brings new obstacles and challenges for the main character that keep the story interesting. Overall I would recommend this book to other young readers that are looking for something that is fictonal but has real world applications.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng-Macey Weaver

2025-01-14 14:01:16 UTC

I enjoyed this book and always wanted to keep reading. It switched back and forth between different time periods and focusing on different characters which kept me interested the whole time. Since it was a mystery book, it left me wanting to know what happened next and trying to solve the mystery. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending and felt like there was a lack of closure.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- Kenadee Housley

2025-01-14 14:01:21 UTC

I personally really enjoyed the book. The switch in the chronological story telling kept me focused and not getting bored with the slow scenes and just closing the book. Owens has a very creative way to show Kya's background and her raising to paint the image of how she has matured into a young adult. One of my favorite parts of the novel is how its a coming-of-age story but as well as a murder mystery. Almost like a 2 for 1 book. Even though the two different stories are just two different points of Kya's life, they are beautifully intertwined and its interesting to see how people from her youth treat her during the murder trial.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens -Reese Peterson

2025-01-14 14:01:45 UTC

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It follows the life of Kya, a young girl who is isolated from the public and abandoned by her family, forced to survive in the marsh on her own. She battles abuse and prejudice in a quest for love, acceptance, and success in her writing career. The plot of this book kept me turning the page, while also teaching clear lessons about survival, prejudice, abuse, and one's desire for acceptance. I would recommend this book to any reader, as it is easy to follow and full of themes that anyone could relate to.

All the King's Men Robert Penn Warren by Shiloh Maxwell

2025-01-14 14:02:19 UTC

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

2025-01-14 14:02:41 UTC

In my opinion, this book was really good. It slowly revealed more and more about the main character and her story while also going through a murder. This book had many twists and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- Brookelyn Lee

2025-01-14 14:02:53 UTC

I enjoyed this book a lot personally. Throughout the novel, Delia Owens is very creative with how she displays Kya's timeline in order to show her character development. We see sliver's into Kya's early life, and that helps readers get an understanding of why she is the way she is, and how she has grown into a better person.

Asher Ruple- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

2025-01-14 14:03:56 UTC

Frankenstein is probably one of the most famous gothic science fiction novels to ever be published. Shelley proves that by using her many different skills in this book ranging from character development, diction, and literary emotion. I wouldn't say it's super enjoyable because most people know the story by now, but it is interesting to learn every single detail behind the original text.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2025-01-14 14:04:47 UTC

The book is good, in my opinion. It features a great theme and portrays a good life message. I picked this book because I like post-apocalyptic movies, and Cormac McCarthy didn't disappoint.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- Mia Southall

2025-01-14 14:05:59 UTC

This book was one of the best books I've read! Reading is not something I enjoy because I have a very short attention span but when reading this book I never got bored. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting to read the next chapter. The author does a great job describing exactly what the main character, Kya,was thinking and feeling and makes you feel as if you were her!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

2025-01-14 14:06:56 UTC

When it comes to the gothic novels, Frankenstein outshines many of the competitors. The novel displays a strong theme that is applicable today, the idea of not messing with the laws of nature. When the Creature is resurrected, stitched together by Victor Frankenstein, this new life brought into this being singlehandedly leads to both of their demsies!!! So spooky!!! The novel also shows the effects of how isolation from society negatively effects those who are outcast! Very informative! Essentially the first science fiction novel! Muy Bien!

Excited for the Frankenstein movie,

Austen Verkler

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir -Korbin Perry

2025-01-14 14:07:45 UTC

_{Overall, Project Hail Mary was a great read. It kept me interested throughout most of the book. Although it was long and boring in some small areas of the story, the constant action made up for it. I would definitely suggest this book to those who enjoy reading about space and the unknown.}

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- Keaton Olive

2025-01-14 14:53:36 UTC

So basically, this book was really flippin good. In a dystopian world where rights have been stripped away from all people, but namely women, Atwood beautifully explores the tensions between government control, religion, and human rights. The narration does flashback a lot, which caused a little confusion for me throughout the book, however at the end, all of the narration was expertly tied together. I was on my toes the whole time trying to figure out what was really happening. Don't read if you can't handle a cliffhanger.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

2025-01-14 14:54:58 UTC

This book was very interesting. It was very eye opening and brought light to a lot of social issues that are happening in the world. Some parts of the book were a lot harder to read than others. I definitely think there is a theme of feminism in this novel. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and would be a good choice if you want a book that is actually interesting. -Bella Massery

The Awakening by Kate Chopin- Lucas Osborn :3

2025-01-14 14:55:46 UTC

I really enjoyed reading this novel, Kate Chopin is a wonderful writer who fills their work many subtleties and metaphors to help your knowledge of the plot come along. The characters feel real, and the main lead Edna is a woman you will root as she embarks on a journey of self discovery and romance. This book was banned and oh mama it was good and fun to read.

Abbey Bangs - The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2025-01-14 14:55:50 UTC

I personally enjoyed reading this book. This book is set in a post apocalyptic world where a man and his son went through hardships that revealed the emotions and the different aspects of how the human race will react in such desperate times. I chose to read this book because one of my favorite TV shows is The Walking Dead and this book reminded me of that show. I would recommend reading this if you are a fan of apocalyptic/post apocalyptic genres. I also decided to watch the movie, where it's not completely the same but it still helped me picture the characters better and it was a good movie.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Deliah Owens - Zoey Garner

2025-01-14 14:56:36 UTC

I really enjoyed this book. It is a descriptive story and it really does a good job at emotionally tying in the readers. I enjoyed the specific descriptions of the marsh and everything that it entailed. My favorite character was Kya because she is very resilient and caring for those around her.

Jacob Robinson-A Farewel to arms by Ernest Hemingway

2025-01-14 14:57:26 UTC

The book "A Farewell Arms" is one of the best books that I have ever read. A Farewell to arms is a story about Henry a army medic and his jouney in finding love and peace while serving near the frontline during War World 1. Heminingway took the typical love story and transformed it into a deeply emotinal and passionate story contrasted by the harsh reality of war. Henrys constant battle between his responsibilities as a army medic vs his moral beliefs and his longing for peace, was perfectly written by Hemingway. I highly recomend this book, it was a great read and makes you question the morality and necessity of war.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Jacob Summers

2025-01-14 14:58:06 UTC

Overall, Project Hail Mary was a book I loved, not simply because of the good story it told, but also because of the writing style the author had. Throughout the book there are many scientific concepts and ideas that I, and most people wouldn't have been able to understand, or care for. But it was because of the writing style, and the background of the protagonist, that Andy Weir made it easy to understand and interesting to learn about as well. I also loved the repeated use of flashbacks throughout the book as the main character learns about his past, as it added a much more dramatic effect to the story. Having read this book, it makes me much more excited for the movie which will come out in 2026.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens-Caitlyn wayne

2025-01-14 14:58:27 UTC

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I'm not the type to want to pick up a book and read it but I really found this book interesting and kept wanting to read it. Delia Owens does a very well job of keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to know what is going to happen next. She is able to put you into the marsh and feel what Kya is feeling throughout the entirety of the book and draw you in from the very start!

Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owens - Ellie Wood

2025-01-14 14:58:49 UTC

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. Normally I don't like reading but I was very intrersted and intrigued throughout the whole book. The author in this book really connects the readers to the characters making us feel like were apart of the story. I recommend this book to anyone because its very interesting and the message it shares is inspiring.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng-Makenzie Franklin

2025-01-14 15:00:20 UTC

I really liked this book. I love mystery books, so I was automatically drawn to this one. The author's writing kept me interested. She frequently switched between characters' points of view and different time periods. I was hooked and wanted to know how the mystery was solved, so I kept reading. However, I was disappointed in the ending because the lack of closure and the cliffhanger.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne- Matthew Harrell

2025-01-14 15:01:11 UTC

While known for its fairly dated use of vocabulary, this book was a joy to read. The narration style, while being a bit intrusive at times, makes the reader feel like they're reading a sort of urban legend about the characters. It doesn't feel like the reader is there per se, but it feels like being told a piece of history that doesn't quite exist. The characters feel like they're so far away yet still so alive if that makes any sense. And with the characters, I do believe they capture the general attitudes of the time period very well. There is a sort of paranoia that is evoked when any outside character is mentioned which bodes well for the situation the main character, being a new social outcast, and the general mood of the story with other characters. My only real complaint is that the way the twist of the story is presented to the reader is very heavy handed at the reveal and broke my immersion a bit. But putting that aside, it was a very good read and I would recommend it to anybody.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - Mady Keener

2025-01-14 15:04:18 UTC

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is now one of my favorite books. It is a dystopian novel that follows the main character Offred and her experiences living in the oppressive society of Galied. This book was very entertaining while also being eye opening. I definitely recommend it to everyone, especially any girls that want to read something feminist-y!

Everything I Never Told You By Celeste Ng- Madison Crum

2025-01-14 15:05:05 UTC

Overall, I really liked this book and thought that it was really interesting to see how differently Lydia and her family was treated because of their cultural background. I also liked how there was a big mystery about what happened to Lydia in her death and how the perspectives changed within the book to show how the different family members handled the grief of losing the person in their family that held them all together. All in all, I would recomend this book for others to read because it was an easy read yet still held a lot of significance when it comes to understanding cultural treatment.

The Age of Innocence- Maggie Ussery

2025-01-14 15:06:43 UTC

My opinion on The Age of Innocence is it was a pretty well rounded book. Included a lot of social issues and drama. This made the book interesting and made it easy to follow. I had trouble with the old writing style and it made it hard to get into but other than that a good classic. Very good option to learn about writing styles and figurative language. I wouldn't recommend this to a non reader since the language is very interesting.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - Aubrey Howell

2025-01-14 15:19:06 UTC

This was a great book and at no point was I bored. I would recommend this story to everyone, there are relatable aspects for almost everyone. The multi perspective style of this book was a super interesting touch that not a lot of authors use. The story line was super engaging and the ending was really beautiful.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - Madison Gregg

2025-01-14 15:23:41 UTC

The book "Everything I Never Told You" was like a mystery book, it goes into a lot of emotional depth. Making us sympathize with struggles and regrets its a sad read though, and talks about the struggles the family faces along with the consequences that come from the unmet expectations.

"The Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton -Alexis Weatherford

2025-01-14 15:31:29 UTC

Overall this was a good book. I liked that I didn’t expect the ending at all. The book is set in New York in the 1870’s mainly focused on the upper class. Throughout the book we meet Newland Archer, May Welland (Newland’s fiance), and Ellen Olenska (May’s cousin.) When reading, the reader has to figure out who Newland Archer will choose, May or Ellen?

"The Age of Innocence" Edith Wharton -Nyomie Harrison

2025-01-14 15:50:12 UTC

This book is set back in New York in the 1870's , we are introduced to Newland Archer, May Welland, and Ellen Olenska. Throughout the book, there are many twists and turns, and throughout all the events, leabes the reader is left to decipher wether or not Newland Archer will choose his wife to be May Welland, or the Women he fell in love with at first glance Ellen Olenska.

Personally, I did like the book, though normally books like this aren't my cup of tea. This for me was kind of interesting as the book shows word choice of that time. Certain words throughout the book that are used are not normally ones that we would use in our day to day conversations. So being able to get that glimpse on how they spoke during that time truly is intriguing.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt- Gloria Thorpe

2025-01-14 15:55:35 UTC

The book was nothing that I had even expected it to be about when I first picked it up. I thought "Oh what a cute book about a sea creature," but it was very much not an adorable little book. It was interesting. It has a multi-perspective style meaning there were multiple main characters and the story would switch between each one's view. An octopus helps bring family together through a missing person. It was an adventure and included a quest. The main character that is a guy travels from California to Oregon in order to discover himself through finding his father but there was an unexpected turn. There were many turns because one of the main characters was an animal that couldn't speak to humans but gave readers insight through diary entries. The story was interesting and always engaging, never a dull moment. I would recommend this book if you wanted a sweet story of a reconnecting family through crazy events.

1984 George Orwell, Luke Dunlap

2025-01-14 15:56:07 UTC

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller -Dawson Cato

2025-01-14 15:57:19 UTC

Catch-22 is a great book that explores the strains the military places on an individual and the overall bad that wars bring. I like that it isn't told in chronological order and frequently tells a story of events that happened previously to the main story line. This made the reading feel dynamic and chaotic like you just arrive at the base and are learning about everyone there but it was also overwhelming at first making it hard to start. I also like the comedic tone and constant jokes as it makes the book lively. It also captures the atmosphere as most of the book is spent following people who are constantly cracking wise and eccentric characters. It also has eccentric characters that strongly embody certain traits and do zany, over the top actions which makes events with them seem like your friend telling you a story, humanizing the characters and making you care for them. All of the comedy and liveliness makes the transition to the scenes of war and tragedy more shocking which develops the themes of the book and makes war seem brutal. Overall, the book was a very good read and insightful on war and it's effects.

1984 by George Orwell - Anya Kennedy

2025-01-14 15:57:49 UTC

This book was an enjoyable read, it started off flawlessly. The characters are distinct and interesting. This book explores the abuse of power, and its influence on society. In fact, my favorite part of this book was seeing how this power affected the character's lives. However, as the book neared its middle I began finding it a chore to read. I had little to no motivation to finish it, but Orwell managed to recapture my interest by writing this novel's unforgettable finale.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Audrey VanEvera

2025-01-14 15:58:20 UTC

The book is told through one on one interviews with the Six band members, as well as people that were close to them. As the book and interviews unfold we see the events that led up to their final show together, and the reasons for their break up. The way the novel is set up and written gives it that documentary feel rather than the feeling of just another book. Even though there is a seemingly overwhelming amount of characters, the book does a great job of not overshadowing the main characters and points of the book. This book is a good read if you're looking for something with a little bit of drama.

"Ceremony" by Leslie Marmon Silko.

2025-01-14 16:00:49 UTC

The book "Ceremony" is beautifully written, albeit it's quite difficult to follow along. It does an extraordinary job of depicting the relationships between Native Americans in the U.S. and how they are treated by White people, as well as how White Influence in the New World( Today called The Americas ) have disconnected them from their ancestral practices and overall weakend the health of their communities. It critiques how White people often prioritize lifestyle, work and knowledge. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone seeking to further their awareness of the affects of White Supremacy and Native American history from a more personal perspective( Silko is a Native American woman ).

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Reid- Kaylee McDiarmid

2025-01-14 16:03:56 UTC

The book, "Daisy Jones and The Six" was overall a very well written book. It is a good historical fiction novel that follows a girl trying to make a mark in the music industry. The book is written in a style that makes the reader feel as if they are interviewing the band themselves. This novel discusses serious subjects such as substance abuse, childhood trauma, and how women were often treated in the 1970s. Daisy can be a symbol to many girls of how confidence and hard work can push one far into their career. I personally enjoyed reading this book because it explores the different relationships between all of the band members in detailed and emotional ways. Daisy does not let her childhood trauma bring down her life, but benefit from it by creating music out of it. This novel is also an easy and quick read, that will intrigue you the entire time. Learning about the harsh facts of the music industry was fun to read about.

"Lessons In Chemistry " by Bonnie Garmus - Ally VanEvera

2025-01-14 16:05:45 UTC

Overall I think this was a really good book. The book follows Ms Elizabeth Zott through a misogynistic 1950's workplace. From her experiences we learn Ms Zott is resilient and doesn't follow the rules just because they are the " socially acceptable" ones to follow. She wants to start a change where women are treated as equal to the men not just seen as secretaries and housewives. Throughout the book she is fired from her " dream " job, becomes a single mother, proves herself to the toxic men trying to bring her down, and becomes a symbol of hope for women across the country. The way this book was written made it easy to follow and the way the POV switches between the characters allows for a deeper look into the story. While some themes were heavier to read than others the way they were written made them important to the story. This book did an excellent job of depicting the hardships of being a woman in the 50's while also inspiring hope.

"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury - Lawson Farley

2025-01-14 16:15:35 UTC

Overall I think this book is interesting. The idea that it was written in 1953 and it discusses the future which we live in is intriguing and makes the reader think about comparisons between our lives and the book. It's also weird to think that firefighters start fires and not put them out. Firefighters also take on the role of being government enforcers which is what police officers are. The whole time you read the book it keeps you guessing what will happen and when you reach the end of the book you will be left shocked.

Atonement by Ian McEwan - Afton Shoemaker

2025-01-14 17:47:15 UTC

This book was good. I believe that Atonement helps readers to learn about perspective and how a character is influenced by their experiences. This is an explicit book and by seem more relatable because these types of things happen in the real world. The characters experience betrayal, guilt, and sorrows that help the readers connect to the book as a whole.

"A Farewell To Arms" By Ernest HemingWay //Erin Pearce//

2025-01-14 17:47:46 UTC

For this book, it was absolutely captivating in every turn and while the book has some explicit scenes that were DEFINITELY uncomfortable, the book overall kept endearing with it's descriptive scenes and imagery that decorated every chapter. The main character has a thorough, well-written development from his military life to the very end of the book. All the characters are interesting in their own way but some are quick to die off for the book's own purposeful symbolism and to write off war in the way it's intended; graphic, unforgiving, and unpredictable.

Circe -Madaline Miller

2025-01-14 17:49:37 UTC

This book is a very good fiction book. The author captures the setting perfecting and allows your mind to transport to see what Circe is seeing and experiencing. Along with so much more this book is also about self discovery, and allows you to build a personal relationships with the character and relate to her as she grows and finds herself.

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini - Jackson Barnard

2025-01-14 17:50:32 UTC

I did not really enjoy the book but it was a great story and really made you think of how life is in different parts of the world. This book was about two women and how they struggle through and abusive husband together and can do little about it because of the Afghan society that they live in.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

2025-01-14 17:52:13 UTC

Where the Crawdads Sing tells the story of Kya Clark, a girl who grows up alone in the swamps of North Carolina after her family abandons her. Isolated from society, she learns to survive on her own, developing a deep connection with the natural world. The novel weaves together Kya's childhood and a present-day murder mystery, with Kya being the prime suspect. Through her journey, the book explores themes of loneliness, survival, and the search for love and belonging. It's a beautifully written story that balances the mystery of the murder with a moving tale of self-discovery and resilience, ultimately highlighting the power of nature and human connection.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens - Mathis Polk

2025-01-14 17:54:36 UTC

The book, "Where the Crawdads Sing" was overall a beautifully written book. It follows the struggles of a girl from her childhood to her adulthood as she deals with the toughness of abandonment and loneliness. The girl, Kya, is also observed as being stereotyped and slandered as the "Marsh Girl" by the people who live in the town of Barkley Cove, which pushes Kya to become a very independent person who makes great attempts to keep her loved one's close to her, as she becomes paranoid of her past abandonment. I enjoyed this book because of how the author truly convinces the reader that the main character is innocent and only had wrong done to her, but reveals a plot twist at the end of the book that makes the reader rethink their own perspective of the novel, and how they thought that they could trust the narrator.

Parker Roberts - The Stranger by Albert Camus

2025-01-14 17:55:07 UTC

I enjoyed this book greatly and I finished it in less than a week which is not common for me. It explored existential themes which was interesting to me because it is the first book I have read that has done this. I enjoyed learning the motives behind the character's actions along with their unorthodox perspective of society. I do not agree with the themes of this book but I let it open my eyes to another way of thinking and it is in your interest to keep an open mind if you choose to read this book.

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus- Scarlett Johnson

2025-01-14 17:56:34 UTC

This book really opened me up to exploring new feelings and emotions. I feel this book should be read by all young women to understand the upbringing all women before us had to go through. Garmus' writing style is engaging with feminism and a sarcastic dialogue. But this book also goes through emotions of romance and anger. It perfectly describes how it is to live as a woman. So I overall loved this book and would definitely recommend others to read.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by: Delia Owens - Calli van Rossum

2025-01-14 17:59:58 UTC

This book is one for every kind of reader. It is realistic fiction, mystery, coming of age, romance, betrayal, and everything in between. The writing style of Delia Owens is stunning and emotional. Following the story of Kya Clark, the book is written in third person. Kya was abandoned as a young child and had to learn to fend for herself. Then she is found to be the main suspect in the killing of the town golden boy Chase Andrews, while also being looked down upon by the entire town due to her upbringing. The book switches from Kya's perspective as a child to the present time and the perfect blend of that goes to show the vulnerability of Kya as a result of her childhood. The beautiful and captivating story is one that will touch every kind of person and teaches one of the most important lessons in life. Overall, I love this book, I have read it multiple times, and I will recommend it to everyone. 10/10.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Jake Thomas

2025-01-14 18:00:05 UTC

This book was really good, I really like anything science fiction or science related and this book did a really good job in both of those categories. Andy Weir did a really good job at setting up the plot and revealing information to the reader at the right time so that the reader learns more about the setting at the same pace as the main character. I love how realistic the science is and how two of the characters learn to communicate with each other, and the big plot twist/reveal near the end was also interesting. The book has a bunch of different themes in it, from moral development and friendship to apocalypse, space travel, research, etc. I wish there were more books like this ( other than Andy Weir's other sci Fi books like the Martian), and I can't wait for the upcoming film adaptation of this book coming out in 2026.

"All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr - Halle Whitley

2025-01-14 18:00:43 UTC

Overall, this book was very informative and told from an interesting perspective. The way the narration jumped from the different characters and storyline of each was a little hard to keep up with though the more I read it the easier it was to understand. This novel goes through the troubled life of a young girl and her family as they survive through the ending stages of WWII. Along with the life of a young boy, it's discovered that he is knowledgeable about the functions of a radio and this catches the eye of the German Officers. I enjoyed this book because of the scenery of the war and the development of the idea of how to stay hopeful in times of worry and doubt.

"Daisy Jones and the Six" By Taylor Jenkins Reid -- Randi Presley

2025-01-14 18:02:26 UTC

This book was a very well written fiction story. It layout of the book is set to be more like a one on one interview with each band member. It is a very emotional story that can get you thinking about what's gonna happen next. If you like romance and drama this would be a good book. The book is based in the 1970s so some things are not the same as they are today, but overall the book is well written and very good. I would give it a 9/10. I would recommend reading this.

Atonement By Ian McEwan - Cayle O'Connor

2025-01-14 18:02:26 UTC

I enjoyed this book but it can feel a bit slow at times. The book has a very interesting twist at the end that I enjoyed and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and is okay with unhappy endings. I also wouldn't recommend this book for anyone who doesn't like reading books where the main character isn't likable because I found Briony to be the most insufferable person. Her actions made me want to throw the book across the room multiple times, but if that's not a problem for you I would give it a read.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Emma Bennett

2025-01-14 18:06:09 UTC

Daisy Jones & The Six is a novel filled with high emotion, to make it a wonderful wild ride. It is featured in the 1970's, focusing on the popular travelling band. All characters have different priorities and issues that all come together to make a beautifully impactful story. You can love and hate the characters, and the story line, at the same time. Although, some people think of this story as too dark, I think there was a perfect mix of drama and comedic relief. The show based on this novel is very good as well.

"The Song Of Achilles" by Madeline Miller - Evelyn Rogers

2025-01-14 18:34:14 UTC

I appreciate the lyrical prose, intimate tone and poetic writing style. It truly connects the characters on an emotional level and depicts the passion between them. The classical writing style with modern story lines allow the audience to connect on a deeper level and understand the book. On the first read this book was a pager turner with a emotional plot twist at the end. This twist makes the reader rethink how the events truly played out throughout the book. On the second read you get to fully grasp the depth that the point of view takes on the story line. Overall I really enjoyed this book yet like every book there were a couple things that stuck out to me. Such as the authors choice to make Patroclus a traditional feminine character rather than stick to his more masculine origins depicted in The Iliad. In The Iliad he was a strong warrior who was truly Achilles brother in arm yet in The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller chooses to depict him as weaker and less than Achilles while still acting as his brother in arms.

Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury, Eric Huett

2025-01-14 19:15:46 UTC

I enjoyed reading this book. It captivated my attention and kept me reading it and was difficult for me to put down. The story made me consider how people act in society and how little real interactions between people there are sometimes. It also made me think about how a government can shape the culture to force people to think and act a certain way. It highlights how lack of free thinking can cause a society to collapse from the inside out. Sometimes it was hard to follow but I believe it was a stylistic choice by Bradbury. The syntax was interesting and immersed me into the story and made me feel the broken mental state of the main character.

A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway, Weston Schultz

2025-01-14 19:41:33 UTC

I would recommend this book to almost any reader. Unlike most books based around war, the theme is not destruction, death, and action, but rather a story of change, love, and the lengths one will go to in order to achieve something he desires. The book was not too long, but sometimes the reading was hard (after researching I found out that this is almost all Ernest Hemingway novels). If you want a book with action while also telling a beautiful story, give A Farewell to Arms a chance.

1984 by George Orwell

2025-01-14 19:42:16 UTC

1984 is a novel about a fictional totalitarian world in which a character named Winston Smith resides. Throughout the novel, you follow Winston as he seeks to break free of his chains, and cease to be dragged down by the lies, manipulation, and hypocrisy surrounding him. Overall, the book itself is very enjoyable, but also serves as a great lesson, warning against the dangers of totalitarianism and government control especially with growing technology, as well as hammering the importance of remembering and valuing history, information, and freedom of speech, thought, and expression. There is not much else that I can say without spoiling the book, but I would definitely recommend reading this book for both educational and recreational benefits.

The Book Theif - Markus Zusak, Ian Smith

2025-01-14 19:43:14 UTC

I really enjoyed reading this book. It grabbed my attention through its unique narration and made it very difficult for me to put down. The story made me consider my life and decide on whether or not I had been living my life to the fullest, as they explored the extent of kindness and cruelty in humanity. It also made me think about the severe cruelty specifically during World War II. It really highlights the extremes of the human mind as one can be cruel and kind depending on the situation. It also exemplifies the use of colors as a symbol describing each part of the book in extreme detail. The story had immersed me enough to make me experience the emotions as they were described in the book. Overall, I would recommend this book. It is a bit longer than a lot of the books on the AP list, however I believe that it is completely worth the extra time.

The Stranger - Albert Camus, Jackson Gill

2025-01-14 19:43:39 UTC

My eyes were opened to a perspective on life that I did not know existed by this book. It is an outlook that I would never take on myself, but I grew to appreciate the point of view of the character as I read on. I think that this would be a great read because it gives a view point of life that is the complete opposite of the majority of the population which induces much critical thinking.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky- Kiera Kervin

2025-01-14 19:44:23 UTC

This book was a great read. While it had moments that were hard to comprehend, I enjoyed the battle between man and society. There were so many examples of symbolism that I didn't catch until my second read. For this book, I would highly recommend a reread. There was so much that I glanced over that later proved to be highly important.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy- Cooper Myatt

2025-01-14 19:45:50 UTC

Overall it was a very enjoyable book. Great action scenes along with vivid imagery that help you to imagine and understand what the characters were going through. The underlying themes of the struggle for survival and the importance of family were also represented very well throughout the book without being overwhelming or forced. There were some dull moments that dragged on, and plenty of confusing diction that could drive away inexperienced or impatient reader. But I did enjoy this book, and recommend it for others to read as well.

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen - Anna Kate Dodson

2025-01-14 19:46:36 UTC

I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me a while to get into and through the middle but I can appreciate all Austen went through in writing that and it does genuinely add more to the story. I was surprised by the humor I read. Austen really conveyed that humor through sarcasm and often situational irony. It was also a great example of what life and society was like at a time so very different from our own. If someone asked about it and showed interest I would definitely recommend it. I don't think I would just initiate and recommend a book so long and different from popular modern literature.

1984 by George Orwell - Clayton Harris

2025-01-14 19:47:16 UTC

I would definitely suggest to someone to read this book. It is a very famous book carrying an important meaning behind the plot. While it may be slow for much of the time, it does have some exciting parts which keep the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next. It focuses in on the life of a man living in a country that has total control and keeps an eye on everything he does. It deprives the man of many freedoms we enjoy such as limiting what he can say, his relationships, and much more. The main message of the book is to warn the reader of an all too controlling of a power. The book isn't famous for an exciting story line, but the message and warning it holds for the reader.

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak - Brayden Blankenship

2025-01-14 19:47:41 UTC

One of the books that I've been recommended the most and safe to say it did not disappoint. The novel is filled with literary devices that connect the reader to the story. Throughout the story, you experience heartbreak, tension, and shock due to what happens to the characters. Overall the book aims to grab your attention, make you question your life choices, your thoughts about the reality we live in, and the cruel torture people went through in Europe throughout WWII, all of which it accomplished in my opinion. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is look for a read that will change their perspective on life or people who just simply want to have a great experience reading a terrific and ageless book.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Noah Gates

2025-01-14 19:48:14 UTC

I enjoyed reading Fahrenheit 451. Can't say it was the best book I've ever read, but it was still pretty good. The author does a fantastic job of simulating a dystopian future that readers would not want to be a part of. Bradbury's purpose in writing the book, which was to warn against a book-less society, is very well articulated. With that, the ironic differences we see between the society in Fahrenheit 451 and our modern world create a nice read that keeps readers entertained.

"The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson - Kolden Sanders

2025-01-14 19:49:58 UTC

Shirley Jackson's novel, "The Haunting of Hill House," was able to keep me captivated throughout the whole duration of reading it. This book looked through the lives of a group of individuals that stayed in Hill House, a haunted mansion that likes to feed on the fear that the people experience. I enjoyed this book because I was able to lock in and see a different perspective of how the theme of loneliness and isolation can affect one's mental state. While this book leaves readers on the edges of their seats with fear and thrill, there is also a theme that the audience is able to take in, which is very fulfilling to experience. Overall, this became one of the favorite books I've ever read, due to the mind-changing perspective it gave to me as a reader.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

2025-01-14 19:50:26 UTC

The book, "Where the Crawdads Sing" tells the story of the main character, Kya Clark who was abandoned at a young age by her family. Alone in the marshlands of North Carolina, she has to learn how to survive on her own with physical and mental struggles. Throughout the entire book I was hooked, not one part of the story was boring. The ending of the book was also one of the biggest plot twists ever. I would 100% recommend this book to someone.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner - Braeden Metheny

2025-01-14 19:50:51 UTC

This book contains a train of thought writing style that enraptured me as I read. The writing style takes first person accounts from each character in the book, allowing us to see many sides of the story. The metonym, and cross references are difficult to understand, and take a second read through to fully comprehend. It is a sequential novel taking place in 1928, following how an impoverished rural family copes with the death of their mother, via their quest to bury her in the faraway town of Jefferson. The family encounters trials on the road in the forms of outside and inside influences. The book delves into cynicism, hidden motives, mortality, and family. I would highly recommend this book, it has made a distinct impression on me, and is now one of my most beloved books.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens- Jenna Whitley

2025-01-14 19:51:01 UTC

For once I actually did enjoy a book. When I decided to pick this book, there were a lot of mixed reviews. However, I genuinely enjoyed reading this book, and it made me want to read more often. It revolves around a girl named Kya, who lives in the Marsh lands of a town called Barkley cove. She was abandoned by her family when she was a little girl, which sparked abandonment issues within her. She ended up falling in love with a boy, but he had to leave for school. This event sort of sent her into a spiral of emotions. While he had left for school, Kya was arrested for a murder, but in the end of the book you find out who truly killed the boy. Throughout the book you can see how Kya develops a deep connection with nature. I love how detailed her actions and emotions are written. I feel like I was in her shoes when I read this book. This book is one that I would definitely recommend for people, especially if you are looking for a plot twist.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- Mallory Trenthem

2025-01-14 19:52:32 UTC

The Handmaid's Tale is written by Margaret Atwood. This novel is based on a dystopian society that bases women on their fertility. The story follows Offred, who is a Handmaid and is a subject to the Commander and his wife, providing them with children. It explores the themes of journey to self discovery and gender roles. I really enjoyed this book as it showed me just how important women are and the role we play in society, as well as showing me that rights can easily be taken away from people if wanted. Overall, this book was very good and it will fill you with suspense reading it. I recommend it to anyone who likes dystopian novels and movies such as Divergent.

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott - Lilly Jackson

2025-01-14 19:52:33 UTC

"Little Women" is a beautifully written novel that every young woman coming of age should read. It teaches many valuable lessons about family, love, and finding yourself. One of the most important lessons I learned from this novel was how precious being surrounded by family is and how it is worth more than any amount of money. This book can inspire many young women even though it was written long ago, it is a novel that will stick with the reader and is essential to literacy. It is one of the many books that outlive its time. This book was sometimes not as exciting as I would have wished and was hard to get through at times but glad I read it and saw why it is such an important novel.

1984 by George Orwell - Hudson Hall

2025-01-14 19:53:22 UTC

I enjoyed reading this book. There were a few spots that were a little slow but for the most part, it was consistently captivating. I find it interesting to look back when the book was written, in 1949, and see the reason Orwell wrote it. During the Cold War totalitarianism due to communism was a main fear of many Americans. This book allows us to see what fears someone from the past had so we see what really happened and also what still might be happening. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good, thought-provoking book.

"Emma" by Jane Austen - Olivia Uekman

2025-01-14 19:55:33 UTC

This book is a warm-hearted romance that was written in the early 1800s. The protagonist, Emma, decides she will never fall in love and instead tries to play the role of matchmaker for a young girl named Harriet. Throughout her efforts at finding a suitable husband for Harriet, Emma develops new friendships, experiences failure, and discovers more about her own character. Each of these, along with other events, teaches her a lesson that could even be applied to life today. I found that Austen likes to include numerous themes and rhetorical devices throughout her writing and that the plot was clever and hopeful. I enjoyed reading "Emma" and would recommend it to anyone who prefers the romance genre! However, one warning I must give is that the language is not modern at all and can be difficult to understand. Listening to it was definitely helpful!

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde - Kaitlyn Hill

2025-01-14 19:58:36 UTC

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the plot interesting, and I loved the symbolism and imagery in it. It was also enjoyable to sit and read the book by candlelight with a cup of tea. It definitely added to the general ambiance that the book gave. I quite like reading about the Victorian era, and this book is set in the Victorian era. The characters were all very interesting and displayed a lot of emotion. The plot has magical elements where a painting gains the ability to reveal Dorian's soul, which brings in some religious imagery and references as well. I fully recommend this book to anyone who likes Victorian literature with some distinct fantasy elements.

Where The Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens, Cayden Pavatt

2025-01-14 20:00:17 UTC

I would definitely suggest someone to read this book. I loved the plot and I loved how much it hooked me throughout the whole book. The plot is amazing, from how Kya grows close with the marsh to where she goes to trial. Kya's character grows an extreme amount as she grows older and as we see how secluded she is from society, and how new the world of love and violence is to her. She was only used to her peaceful marsh life, and when she gets introduced to the outside world we see an amazing character development and the effects of one being cast as an outsider. It is an awesome book and I recommend it to anyone who likes mystery and suspense.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, James Fisher

2025-01-14 20:09:49 UTC

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" as my independent novel. The book follows Huck, a young teenage boy who is escaping his abusive father, and Jim, a runaway slave fleeing further into the south to find his family. Throughout the book, antebellum American ideals of slavery are prevalent throughout many of the characters' ideologies that Huck and Jim encounter along the journey. I was grateful for reading this book, as many novels that feature an author's interpretation of slavery often have a negative/pessimistic ending, whereas Mark Twain's "Huck Finn" ends with a somewhat opportune conclusion. In my opinion, this is a classic book to read!

The haunting of the hill house by Shirley jackson

2025-01-14 20:35:40 UTC

This book was very well written. They did great at introducing and characterizing the characters. I felt hooked on the plot from page one. I will say though they almost spent too much time on characterization. I feel as if it wasn't as scary as I expected it to be. In the books defense I don't believe its very easy to make a book scary. I would absolutely recommend the book to anyone. It reaches out to all audiences.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin- Jacob Fehnel

2025-01-14 20:39:35 UTC

I thought this book was all over the place and the story really went off the rails towards the end and it made no sense. This is a book about 3 people overall Sam Masur, Sadie Green, and Marx Wantanabe. A lot of love and a really confusing. But the up bringing of these characters is interesting and really makes the foundation for a lot of the story telling with getting to know each character personally. I would not recommend this book because the story telling is not the greatest and it really only stays in one setting nothing really changes.

"The Color Purple" - Alice Walker - Natalie Hoffman

2025-01-14 20:40:15 UTC

This story was really very interesting. Every turn in the plot made you want to read more and the more you read the more you saw character development, pain, and joy from the perspective of the story's main character, Celie. Without knowing the plot, you have to keep reading to know what happens yet, and it will keep you anticipating with every page, and you will be hooked from the beginning until the story closes. The story shows the hardships of black women in the south during the early 1900s, especially those that weren't taught to stand up for themselves. All audiences will be able to relate a part of themselves to the story, and I would definitely recommend this to read, because it will give you greater insight into things that seem impossible to understand.

"The Awakening" but Kate Chopin, KayLea Fife

2025-01-14 20:40:17 UTC

I really enjoyed this book. It was very eye opening on the battle of societal restrictions on women not only in the time period it was written in, but also a timeless take of this topic because it is still relevant in our modern times. It is a very short book but it is filled with intense description and imagery which is my favorite. Chopin laid out the plot very concisley as well and did not leave any confusion. I definitely reccomned this book to someone who is a visual learner as it does lay out the plot very vividly.

"Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng- Autumn Paton

2025-01-14 20:41:28 UTC

I really enjoyed this book, I like how different all the perspectives were and how different all of the family members were treated while growing up. She was constantly switching between characters and different time periods which kept me interested. And the constant mystery surrounding Lydia's death, I would recommend this book

"Fahrenheit 451" By Ray Bradbury - Logan Hanson

2025-01-14 20:45:18 UTC

I would say that this is a good book, and I would recommend it. Throughout the book there was lots of foreshadowing and the author does a very good job of creating extensive character arcs. This creates a very ironic feeling with the comparison of our world and their world.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Alaina Wells

2025-01-14 20:46:50 UTC

I absolutely loved this book! It follows an astronaut on a space exploration adventure where the fate of the Earth is in his hands. He's on a suicide trip, and has flashbacks to discover why he's there because he lost his memory. This book is so captivating and easy to read and I could not put it down. I'm a huge fan of science fiction and this book was a 10/10 for me. The way the story is told as well as the story itself was so interesting and original and I love how involved it was. I highly recommend it to any science fiction fans or anyone who doesn't like to read.

The Things They Carried By Tim O'Brien- Spencer Ferguson

2025-01-14 21:00:37 UTC

Definitely one of the best war novels I've ever read as it brings to life the Vietnam War from a soldier's perspective. Throughout this book it tells of the experiences Tim went through during his time in Vietnam and the horrors he experienced. He goes into great detail of the massive impact the war had on him not only physically, but psychologically as he brings up many times how the killing, and explosions still visit him, and can still see the enemy in his sleep. O'Brien makes sure to put everything in great detail to make sure the audience can somewhat understand what he went through and experienced. This was a pleasant read as it gave me a new perspective on our service men and women during the Vietnam War, and to appreciate our service members.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - Alyssa Donald

2025-01-15 01:09:37 UTC

This novel is a very good read, although the subject matter can be a bit difficult to read about. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys fiction but hates the world building aspect that comes with the genre. The Handmaid's Tale is real enough to scare someone about their future but has enough fiction to be bearable to read. Overall I give this book a good 8 stars out of 10, mostly because the TV show was better.

1984 by George Orwell

2025-01-15 14:10:49 UTC

This book was very well written, it had a great constant tone of stress and informality. The book honestly does not pick up much until page 25-30, this is when Winston really finalizes his personal opinion towards the party and how he wants to continue to live. I additionally feel that this book had a deeper meaning in the terms of the year it was written. 1984 was written in 1949 to illustrate the effect of a future constant surveillance state and how it could change life as we know it. The ending of the book is not my favorite but I understand the meaning behind it. I would only recommend this I you are into politics and philosophy.

The Color Purple By Alice Walker - Ally Fulmer

2025-01-15 16:25:13 UTC

The Color Purple has definitely become my favorite book by far! This book, set in the South, really touched base on the struggles of African American women and the oppression of women in general during the early 1900's. It truly helps the reader empathize with women during the time period in the many ways they were slandered. The layout and plot of the book is super intriguing and really ties you into the character's personal lives. If you are someone who likes a thrilling but also tear-jerking novel, this book is a great pick for you. I would recommend this book a thousand times over!

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

2025-01-15 17:23:12 UTC

"Little Women" is a story about 4 girls who have to overcome what society expects from them as women. They all go separate ways in what they do with their future. It was a really eye opening book that pulls on your heart strings. I would recommend that you read this book if you want a good emotional roller coaster.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Addison Gray

2025-01-15 20:48:22 UTC

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that it was an interesting storyline that showed the complex situation of mass hysteria. It went to show how corrupt leaders and government can affect a society and how fast lies can spread. It was a little bit of a difficult read for me because of the format, but other than that, I thought it was very interesting especially due to the time period in which the plot took place. It was interesting to see the dynamic change in the main character, John Proctor, and how his sense of justice changes throughout it and how his eyes begin to open to the sight of injustice.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - Krista Kollias

2025-02-03 16:49:59 UTC

I enjoyed reading this book. It gave a deeper look into a Chinese-American family and how they were individually treated in their lives. The author did a good job of looking into each character and explaining how others interacted around them. The book kept me interested in how the mystery would play out and how it would affect the characters. While the author opens the story revealing the main event, she still was able to carry on the mystery of how it all went down. I haven't read many mystery books, but this one was fairly easy to read and kept me interested.

The Things They Carried - Eli Mallett

2025-02-03 18:22:55 UTC

I really like reading this book. It gave a very good and complex overview and specific views of how war effected the U.S. soldiers of Vietnam. I especially like how the book showed how they each had their own lives, ambitions and reasons they wanted to go back home. The book did that in clever ways. Like what they had on them such as personal items. Most of them reflected directly how the characters acted and their outlook. I also enjoyed the symbolism and deeper look into what the soldiers had to endure. The title itself references the things they carried and while at first it seems like all the heavy equipment is what the author is talking about it changes as the book progresses. In the end of the book it is apparent it is actually representing the emotional torment they had to carry not the physical weight but the emotional weight.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

2025-02-04 15:20:02 UTC

The novel, "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton is a solemn story of love, and loss. The main character Ethan goes through the struggles of infidelity, lust, and regret throughout the novel, and his poor and unfaithful choices lead to him being stuck forever in the place he tried so hard to get away from.

The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien - Jayden Tomlinson

2025-02-07 14:21:47 UTC

This book was honestly such an interesting and fun read. I knew going into it that Tim O'Brien likes to talk about seemingly everything but as I got through the book I grew to love this way of writing. I felt as though I was actually in Vietnam with the characters. And how real their emotions were to me was honestly extremely shocking. I almost never enjoy when I read but this was quite the exception, I honestly looked forward to reading and almost read every single day because I wanted to know what happened next and to see if the characters I learned to love would actually make it out of the war. I felt genuinely heartbroken when some of them died but was even more crushed by the ones who ended up living and being able to return home just for them to continue having to carry the weight of the war. It was extremely heavy for me to see this because I realize that this is not entirely fictional so for me to think about actual people actually going through this it made me extremely sad and empathetic. Which was super shocking to me because I can never seem to feel what the author wants me to feel. I am extremely happy with my choice on this book and would honestly be open to reading another one similar to it.

Invisible Man-Ralph Ellison-read by Bennett Miller

2025-02-12 03:56:43 UTC

Reading Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison was a profoundly captivating experience. The novel's exploration of race, identity, and social invisibility resonated deeply with me. The protagonist's journey through a society that refuses to acknowledge his humanity is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. Ellison's writing is rich and layered, and I found myself reflecting on the complex themes long after finishing the book. The way Ellison blends surrealism with reality made me feel immersed in the protagonist's struggle, making it a memorable and impactful read that stayed with me.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

2025-02-18 14:20:56 UTC

This book was a super interesting read, especially when compared to the movie. The movie offeres a more futuristic take on certain aspects of the book, while the book definitly has more cynical undertones in the phrases and diction used in the dialogue between characters. Usually I can't finish a book, but Fahrenheit 451 was relatively easy to finish.

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Kenadee Housley

2025-04-25 12:58:54 UTC

I really overall enjoyed this book. The narration style was something I've never seen in any other novels. The peek into life in the 70s as a rock star was truly interesting and kept me constantly turning the page. Personally I would recommend this book to anyone. I think anybody could find something enjoyable and relatable in this book.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Meredith Murray

2025-04-25 13:00:56 UTC

This book was an interesting glimpse into the character's lives. I really liked the interview style the novel was written in which I've never read in another book. I liked how it showed the bad and not just the good parts of the characters. It was very interesting and kept me turning the page. It gave insight into the real problems of people you'd never think had them. Overall, it was a very good read and I would recommend to anyone.

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez- Jamie Edwards

2025-04-25 13:01:46 UTC

Overall, this was a decent novel. The begining felt repetitive but once it got to the plot and the investigation part of this book, I couldn't put it down. Readers are able to see the different perspectives and different reactions to situations through the different sisters. I would recommend this book to someone if they dont mind the long backstory before the real mystery.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman - Shiloh Maxwell

2025-04-25 13:02:53 UTC

I honestly really enjoyed reading this book and watching the growth of Eleanor and how she finally got to a point of happiness. Being able to see a main character that wasn't really seen in a romantic light and truly valued friendship was ultimately very refreshing and made this a very good read. I also love the use of the narration and how Eleanor can possibly be described as unreliable. It was truly a very good book and good representation of how things can affect people but with the right help you can really have the growth and happiness that is good for you

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - Austen Verkler

2025-04-25 13:02:58 UTC

Boy oh boy, where do I begin? Let's just say,this ain't one of your Granny's post-apocolyptic books, yeah! This book has a really unique way of showing different perspectives in time, slowly drip feeding you information to keep you hooked, heh! So... yeah. It's good. Buy it. Read it. Love it.

-xXBookCrusher25Xx

Lessons in Chemistry-Bonnie Garmus-Macey Weaver

2025-04-25 13:04:10 UTC

I really enjoyed reading this and I was always wanting to come back and read more. I feel like it was different from something I would normally read, but I enjoyed getting to see things from a different perspective and lifestyle. The story captures the life of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist in the 1960s and the struggles she faces in this position. Despite the struggles she always finds a way to persevere and is never afraid to be herself, which I think is an important lesson readers can learn. I would really recommend this book to anyone, because I feel like there is something in it that will stick out to everyone and allow them to explore someone else's perspective.

The Crucible - Arthur Miller, Bennett Miller

2025-04-25 13:04:39 UTC

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this play. Miller's portrayal of society reacting in such a way to certain problems highlighted the surreal experience of the mass hysteria back during the Macarthy era Red Scares. People accusing others of things based on pure intuition has been going on for as long as we can trace back. Miller dealt with it in his own time and was inspired to write this play. The nobel nature of John Proctor was extremely inspirational. The idea that people who make horrible mistakes can still hold true to their intrinsic beliefs and redeem themselves.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, Lily Andrus

2025-04-25 13:05:02 UTC

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng was a great read. It wasn't too slow where I was getting bored of reading it but it also wasn't too fast paced. The different perspectives and changing timeline really helped bring the story together. Although the ending didn't give great closure, it still was a great book that I think many can relate to. I would recommend this book to someone who likes mystery and enjoys secrecy.

"1984" by George Orwell - Asher Ruple

2025-04-25 13:07:17 UTC

This was an amazing book to read if you are into politics and how a certain type of government can affect a civilization. The text is a great blend of action as well as a mental standpoint where it messes with your mind. It shows a depiction of what the government could do to people. It starts off really slow at first, but as you read the story keeps getting better and better. I honestly loved the deeper meaning that Orwell was trying to relay to his readers. Overall, I think this would be a great read for anyone above the age of say 15, because it takes some type of maturity to be able to understand it, and to fully get the effect it has on the world. I'd give this book a solid 4 out of 5. It is a lengthy read with many details surrounding the main theme, but if you are able to see past that it truly is a great book.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

2025-04-25 13:08:28 UTC

Fahrenheit 451 was a pretty interesting read. It was a decently short book but was filled with as much detailed action with some mild drama as possible. Bradbury was able to turn an already interesting concept into a tangible and amazing book. I really enjoyed reading this book and was able to stay invested throughout the whole adventure.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett- Brookelyn Lee

2025-04-25 13:09:43 UTC

I really enjoyed this book. I found the plot very interesting and easy to follow, and I liked the overall themes and messages being portrayed. The plot is about twin sisters who grow up in a small town where everyone light skinned, and their skin color determines their value to the people in the town. As the girls get older, they take very different paths, one continues to live her life as her true self, and the other leaves and lives her life pretending to be someone she's not. The story follows them and their daughters over many years, and illustrates the reality of finding your true worth. This story also follows the theme of family, race, and the acceptance of self identity. The only critique I would make is that it was kind of boring at first, but once you start reading it, it is very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes unexpected plot twists. It is a great book with very powerful messages surrounding it.

Daisy Jones & The Six- Taylor Jenkins Jones

2025-04-25 13:48:56 UTC

This was a super fun and insightful book. It showed a lot of important topics in a still fun and lighthearted way. I heavily suggest reading this and listening to the recording on Audible because the different characters are read in different voices. This book is full of glam and rock and roll. It discussed themes of drug addiction and infidelity. I truly recommend it!

Bella Massery: Everything I Never Told You- Celest Ng

2025-04-25 13:51:12 UTC

This book was very good! It wasn't too long so it was a pretty easy read. It was highly entertaining and kept me very interested the entire time. It starts with an exciting hook in the very first sentence that makes you want to read the rest of the book. It was super easy to read on a surface level but the deeper you go into the book the more entertaining it gets. It makes you question a lot of things and really start thinking about your life.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel- Jacob R

2025-04-25 13:55:13 UTC

I really enjoyed reading Station Eleven,I loved the story and how relatable the story setting of the story really is. It made me reflect on the COVID outbreak in 2020, and what would have happened if instead of COVID-19 that became a pandemic, we instead had the georgia flu, and how I would have lived and what my life would have looked like. I loved how the author changed its point in time throughout the novel and how it affected the story beyond a surface level analysis. I would 100% recommend the book, because it involves a topic that anyone alive during covid could understand and believe.

Abbey Bangs: Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng

2025-04-25 13:57:30 UTC

"Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng was a very good and entertaining book. It is a heartfelt and thoughtful read. The character development throughout the novel was interesting and made me think a lot. Though it is titled as a mystery book it is not suspenseful or scary, but more of watching the family deal with their emotions. I would recommend reading this book because it touches on important themes such as identity and the pressures that families face.

Purple Hibiscus- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie- Keaton Olive

2025-04-25 13:58:15 UTC

This book is probably a top ten read for me. It was genuinely so eyeopening and enriching for my life to read. From exploring themes of family tension, racial boudaries, christian nationalism, and abuse, the book can be seen a triggering yet beautiful. It was easy to get trapped in this book, and was very hard to put down. The narration style was unique and allowed the reader to explore complexity of how others perceive things that they don't understand. I loved this book.

Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owen

2025-04-25 13:59:22 UTC

This book was very astonishing, the way the plot led the readers to be in suspense until the very end was something I found the most interesting. The story also switches back and forth between a trial and the main characters life, which is a cool way to keep the readers interested. I liked the story overall and the themes within the book are very good lessons. The book shows more on how important human relationships are and the struggle against prejudice. I 100% recommend this book it was so amazing!

Lucas Neil Osborn the Third :3

2025-04-25 13:59:29 UTC

Wow... I don't where to begin, I guess I'll start at the beginning. Dracula is a wonderful villain and the protagonists in this book are STRONG, POWERFUL, and so awesome to root for. While this book is a little scary (SCARY WARNING) a couple people die which I must clarify... *I do NOT support" Bram Stoker is a wonderful writer, and the story is uniquely told through letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings. I really really really enjoyed consuming this book and it was a fresh taste (heh) of something I hadn't tried before.

Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky review by Matthew Harrell

2025-04-25 14:00:06 UTC

I will be upfront and say that the book was enjoyable and an interesting read, and I would recommend it to anybody. However, I had a very different idea of what the subject matter of the book would be handled. I initially went into it thinking it would cover how the main character reacts emotionally to their crime and how that guilt would eat up at them and affect their day to day life. But it ended up being very different in terms of how the main character is presented in a way that was simultaneously much more interesting that I originally suspected, while also being a bit disappointing. Again, I loved the book, I will read it again, but the difference in how I thought the book would be according to my source of recommendation made me a bit bitter about it, and also how some of the relationships between characters are handled makes some "plot points" (if you could even call them that) seem a bit rushed and uninteresting. Still a great read with one of the most interesting characters I have ever encountered in fiction. And again: I recommend this read to anybody and everybody.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

2025-04-25 14:02:07 UTC

I chose the novel "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin. I suprisingly really enjoyed reading this novel and I would definitely recomend this book to other people. The novel explores Sam and Sadie's friendship, the process of creating their game together, and the challenge they face along the way. I normaly do not enjoy reading but the plot of this book really kept me on the edge of my seat making me want to read more.

The Awakening by Kate Chopin - Jacob Summers

2025-04-25 14:02:11 UTC

The Awakening was a great book that was difficult to like because of Chopin's intentional buildup of the protagonist. Edna Pontellier is an extremely dislikeable character, and straight up just not a good person, but this was done intentionally by Chopin so she could prove the point of the book. There's a bunch of media out there where protagonists are horrible people, but end up likeable because of their redemption arcs. Jaime Lannister, Zuko, Arthur Morgan are just a few, but Edna is the opposite, she grows more unlikeable as the story goes on, which is what makes the book great, while also making it hard to like.

Zoey Garner: All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr

2025-04-25 14:04:03 UTC

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Aubrey Howell

2025-04-25 14:05:30 UTC

This book would get an 8/10 from me, it was a beautiful and emotional piece of literature. It was definitely a bit triggering for some audiences but it is also a great way to become more aware of situations of domestic violence. This setting of this novel is in Nigeria so its also eye-opening to different cultures and lifestyles. My favorite character was Aunty Ifeoma, I loved her warm and welcoming personality and her determination to stand up for others.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

2025-04-25 14:08:15 UTC

This was one of my favorite books I've read in a while, even the slower parts were good. I really liked the descriptions and close relationship between Achilles and Patroclus. It is also set during ancient Greek times which is already interesting in itself. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a complicated love story. Only downside is the end is extremely sad and lowkey ruins the whole story. But I recommend it to anyone honestly!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Makenzie Hocott

2025-04-25 14:08:47 UTC

This book was a very interesting read. Despite being short, this book was filled with a lot of drama and vivid details. The message of the book was very eye opening and made me think and be cautious of the control of our government. This was such an interesting take and a really interesting concept. There is a lot of foreshadowing in the book and the author does a great job highlighting the control that society is held under. I usually have a hard time finishing books but this was a relatively easy read. Overall this was a great book and really interesting.

The Song of Achilles- Madeline Miller

2025-04-25 14:13:07 UTC

wow!!! the novel The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller really made quite the impact on me!! I really really really appreciate the use of well known Greek mythology with a new, fictional story line. This novel is filled with many different twists and turns that captivate the reader. the story being told from the first person point of view of Patroclus really adds a nice touch, allowing the reader to see from the perspective of a poorly treated character. Overall I really enjoyed this novel, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction. It almost makes me want to say WOWZA to Lucas Neil Osbourn III.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir -Caitlyn Wayne

2025-04-25 14:13:07 UTC

The novel, "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir is a science fiction that takes place in the near future centering around the main character Ryland grace that wakes up and cant even remember his name but has the ultimate task of saving earth from a being consumed by a microorganism called the Astrophage. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you wanting to read more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as someone that doesn't enjoy reading I would fully recommend this book.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir- Luke Dunlap

2025-04-25 14:45:38 UTC

"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir is a very inspiring and fun read that will have you glued to the pages and constantly wanting to go further in. This book I did not experience any burnout while reading and I cannot recommend it enough. Ryland Grace, the main character, begins in a ship with no recollection of how he got there or even his name, and slowly begins to realize who he is and his purpose to solve the issue of the sun consuming life form known as Astrophage. Ryland along the way finds an unlikely support figure to assist him in his mission to solve the threatening life form issue. The only issue I had was the frequency of the flashbacks kind of throwing off the main story, though it is necessary for the full scope. I give this book a 10/10 and a must read.

"Project Hail Mary" Andy Weir

2025-04-25 14:45:56 UTC

Project Hail Mary is about a man named Ryland Grace who wake sup on a space ship alone and discovers he's on a mission to save Earth from the Astrophage which is an organism that is draining the suns energy, He teams up with an alien named Rocky to figure out how to stop it through collaborating, which makes a very close relationship between the two. This book is absolutely read worthy, it hooks you right from the beginning and keeps you hooked throughout the book until the very end. It is a beautiful story and heavily will teach you just how important collaboration can be. I normally don't read books unless I have to, but this one is one I did enjoy, and I do recommend it.

Samuel Prout; "The Road" By Cormac McCarthy.

2025-04-25 14:46:28 UTC

I am SO glad I chose to read this book. It had be pacing for hours. It's suspenseful, dreary, and it's made me think alot about certain aspects of morality! At two points I started balling my eyes out, and it can be a little hard to understand the advanced lexicon usage but I was still able to easily understand the scene. It had me GRIPPED once I actually got to reading it. It's somber, but joyous in an odd way. I felt so attached to The Boy and The Man, and I loved the detail of never mentioning what actually brought the world to and end. It's so mysterious. PLEASE READ!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Audrey VanEvera

2025-04-25 14:47:14 UTC

Overall this was a very good book. Its not very long which makes it easy to read in a short period of time. There are also several literary elements to it that could be useful on the Ap exams. The book also contains several plot points and twist that will keep you entertained until the very end. The story is told from 1st person limited POV which makes it feel as though the reader is experiencing the story and the events through Nicks eyes. Definitely worth the read!

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - Lawson Farley

2025-04-25 14:49:31 UTC

I really enjoyed this book as it serves as a reminder that war is not for the weak. Throughout the book we are introduced to numerous characters who give us insight on different views on war. We also see how just because you are a leader, that doesn't mean you are the people's leader. Another big portion of this book that I liked was the fact that Joseph Heller didn't hype up the war and make it seem like it was a fun and adventurous time. Instead he showed the dark side of it and how people die all day and night long.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - Ally VanEvera

2025-04-25 14:53:10 UTC

This book was really good and inspiring. There were lots of components that made it an easy read but the main character Marie- Laure who the book was about stole the show. She was born in Paris, France where she grew up until she had to flee due to the Nazi's taking over Paris. She became blind at six years old so she had to relearn how to do everything and be independent even though she couldn't see. It is written in third person so there is a first hand glance into her live and how she navigates being blind in the midst of war. This book was a great example of bravery, and resilience and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to read it.

The Belljar by Sylvia Plath- Kaylee McDiarmid

2025-04-25 14:54:26 UTC

"The Belljar " is a sad yet impactful novel revolving around "Esther". The theme of women's mental health and the societal standards during the 1960s is showcased fairly accurate in this novel. I enjoyed the Belljar because of the hidden symbols and the figurative language that makes it easier to connect with Esther's thoughts. I would reccommened reading this book to recieve a different perspective on women and the struggles of mental health. Esther's character represents darkness and fears, but also hope as she eventually overcomes her struggles. If you are into self-exploration books and dark topics this book is perfect for you. It made me reflect on my future and all of the many different outcomes I may have.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - Dawson Cato

2025-04-25 14:55:24 UTC

In the novel "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller the story follows the events of the life of Patroclus who is a character who is very close to Achilles from the Illiad. I thought that the beginning of the book had a very slow start, from the time that Patroclus arrives at Phthia to when he chases after Achilles to Scyros was very slow and uninteresting in my opinion due to lack of conflict. After reading the whole book it serves to act a point before the war starts where the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles can develop but when reading it was boring. However, once the war starts there are more characters introduced to the main story and that adds more drama and conflict. I thought that the later half of the book was amazing as you see Achilles try to secure the reputation necessary to achieve godhood and tackle obstacles that get in his way. You also see how Achilles is overtaken by his ego causing more conflict and stressing the relationship the first half of the book created.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - Gloria Thorpe

2025-04-25 14:58:18 UTC

It is an incredible story about a woman in a man dominated field of chemistry in the 1960s. Not only was she a woman but also an unmarried mother. Her journey was told in a back and forth story of present then past and back to the present tense. She is achieving researching great discoveries at Hastings Institute but ran out of supplies and borrows from a famous chemist downstairs, this man becomes the father of her child and boyfriend until he unexpectedly passed in a freak accident. While Elizabeth was trying to get past his death and live her own life, Hastings fired her because "he wasn't around to fight for her anymore." Due to her daughter's lunch being stolen at school, she saught out the kid's father and demanded he make her lunch because she "didn't have time to make food for the whole nation." Little did she know he was a show producer. He offered a cooking show so that she could teach the whole nation to cook like her. She inspired women through her show to be themselves and do what they want despite the manliness of the activity. She integrated chemistry into the cooking show by using fancy scientific words while making the dishes. She quits the show because she was tired of being told to follow the rules; just wanting time to raise her daughter properly.

A Cat's Cradle By Kurt Vonnegut - Erin E. Pearce

2025-04-25 16:48:56 UTC

The tale of A Cat's Cradle is aggressive in tone, unforgiving, and critically judgmental of religious and political corruption.

Overall, the book's plot line for satire is entertaining and humorous. The author loves coming up with fun, quick-witted words that provide emphasis to the book's topic. Kurt Vonnegut's writing style isn't for everyone though, I had to reread chapters a couple times just because of everything that was skipping back to back in topic. Where every character loves to rant rather than talk adversely about the actual topic. Even despite these short chapters, it wasn't too difficult to read and I'd recommend it to anyone who's not sensitive to harsh, raw critique; especially of religion. I don't recommend this to people who're overly devoted to their religion, Christians the most with all the religious innuendos. But I enjoyed it, I'd read it again, satire is always a fun read.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Emma Bennett

2025-04-25 16:51:48 UTC

"Pride and Prejudice" is a historical romance focused on the life of Elizabeth Bennet. Austen created a restrictive society that Elizabeth rebels against. The love story between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth was very conflicting and satisfying. The way Elizabeth navigated her way through conflicts in society and aimed to keep true to her values, was very inspiring. The rebellious yet emotional attitude of this book kept my interest peaked throughout my time reading. The writing was easier to understand, than other works of that time, in my opinion. I would definitely recommend this book to other people.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

2025-04-25 16:52:03 UTC

This book is eye opening to the layers of each characters' lives. The introspective narration, helps readers to examine the complexities of the characters on a deeper level. Everything I Never Told You is relatable in various ways because we have all experienced family issues, misunderstandings, anger, grief, and sacrifice. The style of this book has kept me engaged and helped me to focus on my relationships with others as well as myself. Overall, I would give this book a 9/10, and would recommend this to anybody who enjoys genres mystery, realistic fiction, societal issues, coming-of-age or tragedy.

Where the Crawdads Sing , Delia Owens.-Cannon Wilcox

2025-04-25 16:52:32 UTC

Where the crawdads sing is a very interesting book. It is fully of adventure and and challenges you to examine the world outside of your own shoes. In the novel the the main character, lives on a swamp and after everyone she knows abandoned her she starts to find her way back. I like the way that this novel makes the marsh her safe spot and how she makes her life around the marsh. The Marsh became her parents as it comforted her. This book was special in its own way connecting to readers in just about every way.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Jackson Barnard

2025-04-25 16:52:51 UTC

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens was a great and thrilling book that builds suspense as the book goes on. This book is about a girl that is abandoned a young age ad has to learn to provide for herself. She later accused of murder and is assumed guilty since she is such a outcast. I would recommend this book to other people because it was really a good book and something that was hard to put down.

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift- Mathis Polk

2025-04-25 16:55:27 UTC

The novel written by Jonathan Swift is an amazing showcase of satirical writing and brilliant connections to the world around him at the time the book was written. It was written in 1726 toward the end of the enlightenment era and also a time when Great Britain between the Whig and Tory political groups, as well as the debates between Britain's imperial influence in the world. Swift does an amazing job at representing the nature of mankind, its flaws, and the duality of man, representing them through each new place that Gulliver visits throughout the book. In the way that the book ends, it is easy for the reader to see how Swift proposes that humans are the definition of imperfection, and points out how flawed power systems and hierarchies in society are. He also does a great job at not directly relating these topics, but does a good enough job for the reader to understand what he is referring to with some historical context. I absolutely enjoyed this book and how Swift gets his point across and I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a history buff or has any interest in philosophy, government, or the nature of mankind.

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood - Cayle O'Connor

2025-04-25 16:56:24 UTC

The Handmaids tale is a dystopian novel based on all true and horrible events in history mashed into one timeline. This novel explores the inner workings of a suppressive regime through the eyes of a regular person forced to conform into her new role as a permanent surrogate. This book is fascinating and an excellent read for anyone interested in current world politics. Many of the events align with things happening today, unveiling the sobering reality we may be facing in the future. After reading this novel I immediately watched the show to get closure on the cliffhanger at the end of the novel because the story was so good I needed more. I really enjoyed this read and would 100% recommend this book to others.

"All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr - Olivia Hart

2025-04-25 16:57:32 UTC

"All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr is a novel set during World War II in Paris. The main character Marie-Laure, a blind girl, had to learn to live in a treacherous time as World War II while also the struggle of no eye sight. Marie-Laure was brave, dangerous, and tenderhearted all at the same time. This book really reflected how to stay calm in the middle of a storm. I would recommend this book to someone who likes mystery and adventure. It wasn't my personal favorite type of book but it had a great story line. At first, it was a little bit hard to follow, but as I read on it got easier.

Lessons in Chemistry by: Bonnie Garmus

2025-04-25 16:57:41 UTC

This book is a hilarious, serious, and impactful book written by Bonnie Garmus. It is set in the 1960's and follows the story of a woman named Elizabeth Zott who is a chemist, mother, and window. She is an extremely strong character who combats her extremely sexist and male dominated life with wit and defiance. The book is not all fun and games yet it is not all serious and negative either. It tells an important message about sexism while also having some humor involved to make the book enjoyable for a large number of people. The back and forth time periods and perspectives of the book keep it interesting throughout the whole book and I absolutely loved the writing style. Most people do not like Elizabeth for how she is written, however I found myself able to connect to her blunt personality. Throughout her experiences with sexual assault, making a career for herself, overcoming her disadvantages, being a role model to her daughter, and losing her husband, Elizabeth's story is one that no person will ever be able to discredit. I would recommend this book to a lot of people, however most of them would be women due to their ability to relate more to the book's overall theme and the experiences in it. 7.5/10

Garrett Metheny, The Book Thief- Markus Zusak

2025-04-25 18:38:29 UTC

I think this book is a very good read. It is very interesting and captivating, but it also serves a larger purpose as well. The story reflects that of history and the future, and reaffirms important messages throughout the novel. Without giving too much of the story away, I will say that this book was enjoyable and taught me new things, reminding me about the importance of books. It serves as a reminder to all about what happens and what could happen if we do not heed the warning of this book.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - Jackson Gill

2025-04-25 18:40:48 UTC

I found this novel to be one that can open your eyes to the lives that other people live that go unseen. It showed how people can be preyed upon by things that seemingly have no life. Hill House preyed upon the vulnerability of its main character in ways that all could have been merely psychological. I would recommend this to others because if you take a deep dive and really analyze it it can open you up to world of possibilities.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Mallory Trenthem

2025-04-25 18:42:12 UTC

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting read. It follows the 1970s rock band scene and gives insight into what living like a pop star would actually be like. It has deep themes but also humor and lightheartedness. My favorite thing about this book was probably the style it was written in, which is set up as if they are doing multiple interviews with the different characters.

"Station Eleven" - Emily St. John Mandel, Kiera Kervin

2025-04-25 18:42:47 UTC

"Station Eleven" is a dystopian novel set 20 years after a fictional pandemic hit and wiped out just over 99% of the world's population. Emily St. John Mandel does a lot with time and perspective throughout this novel. Every few chapters, you'll either be thrown into a different time, or view the story from the eyes of someone new. You see the novel through the eyes of 5 different characters. There are a lot of sections that focus on the character's lives before the pandemic hits. At times, it's hard to follow. A lot of questions are left unanswered, and then more questions are piled on. This novel requires quite a bit of focus, in order to not get lost in the changes. All in all, the novel was highly entertaining and I would recommended it to anyone looking for a good dystopian.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel - Anna Kate Dodson

2025-04-25 18:43:14 UTC

I really enjoyed this book. Science fiction is usually not a genre I read or gravitate towards so I felt like I was taking a chance, but it was worth it! We follow many main characters across two points in time, one before the collapse of society and the other after the outbreak of a deadly virus that killed 99.9% of the population. Most of the story revolves in some way or another around Arthur's life and death. I would recommend this book to someone else especially if it's someone interested or involved in theater/Shakespeare. A lot of the time spent with character after the collapse is spent with people of The Traveling Symphony: a group of musicians and actors that preserve music and theater for those little settlements that still scatter the United States.

Lessons In Chemistry - Lilly Jackson

2025-04-25 18:43:15 UTC

I liked this book because it was an easy read to get through before the deadline. It is newer so it is easier to understand and not having to go into that complex literacy saved me a lot of time as well. It was a great story and had some impact on me however I did not connect with the main character enough for me to LOVE the book. She sometimes had no emotion and that was hard for me to read because with all that was going on in the book she had no reaction at times. I would recommend this to others but not if you like being able to connect with the characters like I do.

The Stranger by Albert Camus - Weston Schultz

2025-04-25 18:43:40 UTC

This book is really hard to form an opinion on. It is very dull and to be honest, not the most exciting, but where it lacks it makes up for in depth. Meursault, the main character is very different from most main characters in books because of his odd personality and outlook on things, and this sometimes causes patches of the book where it feels like the reading is monotonous, but it also creates some interesting scenes where the book takes unexpected turns that most books would not have. I think this book is worth reading, I liked it, but if you are like me you'll probably get bored at points or heavily disagree with some of Meursault's actions, however this is just part of the fun as it allows you to experience a life so different from yours. If you read this, keep in mind the question "At what point can we stop accepting the differences between people?" and see how it changes your views.

"All the King's Men" by Robert Penn Warren - Noah Gates

2025-04-25 18:43:46 UTC

Overall, I enjoyed reading the book. I like reading about politics and historical events and this book was a good example. Also, there are several plot turns and unexpected events that really make it enjoyable to read--at no point can you guess correctly how the book is going to end. However, one thing to note is that the author is incredibly descriptive with every simple event. Sometimes it's appreciated and other times you wonder how he could spend so much time describing said event. But with all of that said, I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in politics.

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus - Kolden Sanders

2025-04-25 18:47:51 UTC

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus is a novel set in the early 1940's in Algiers, which was at the time a part of French Algeria. It followed the somewhat boring life of the main character, Meursault, as he navigated through different perspectives of life. More specifically, he viewed this life through an emotionally detached lens, which is an interesting point of view to experience. In this novel, society is seen to treat Meursault as sort of an outlier, mainly because of his different and nonchalant views of the world, like death being inevitable, and life has essentially no meaning. I enjoyed reading this book because it gave me another perspective which I've never seen before. I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading through different views of an individual, such as something you wouldn't agree with yourself. I liked the way this novel depicted every single one of his thoughts, with readers being able to know exactly what Meursault was thinking.

All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren - Clayton Harris

2025-04-25 18:48:30 UTC

All the King's Men is an interesting yet long book based on the Governor, Huey Long of Louisiana. The story takes place mostly in a rural area in the 1930's, from the point of view of Jack Burden, the governor's right hand man. While the book can be hard to read at times overall it is an interesting story and can show the reader what corruption within the government commonly looks like. This book feels quite boring at parts and even more so with how detailed it seemed while reading it. Despite that, I would recommend someone read it since it is quite an interesting story and even more so since it is based on a real person and his political career.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr- Olivia Uekman

2025-04-25 18:49:14 UTC

This book is a duel-perspective novel set in Europe during World War II. One of the main characters is a young, blind, French girl named Marie-Laure. She is forced to navigate the terrible effects of war, including several family deaths. However, she is the unknowing keeper of a powerful gem known as the Sea of Flames. It is believed to protect its owner from death but at the cost of tragedy around them. Marie-Laure also secretly broadcasts an anti-fascist radio station. This is where the other main character, Werner Pfennig, connects. He is an intelligent, German boy with a knack for fixing radios. When he is enlisted by the Nazis, they use him to find channels that secretly send messages to combat their mission. Werner becomes fascinated with Marie-Laure's station and hides it from the Nazis, though. This leads to a whirlwind of events that later reveal the idea of hope despite tragedy. I think this book was well-written but a bit confusing. I can tell the author knew a lot about the time period, and I enjoyed the inclusion of a fantastical element. It was also very easy to find different themes throughout this novel because of the setting and subject. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the war or historical fiction genres.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - Ian Smith

2025-04-25 18:49:32 UTC

Catch-22 is a satirical critique of war and bureaucracy that is set towards the end of World War Two. It follows a Captain Yossarian and his attempts to avoid combat mission in Italy. The novel explores the problems with bureaucracy and the absurdities that follow it. This is one of the best books I have ever read. However, it is confusing at many parts because of the non-linear timeline. Despite that though the book is so in depth about every little detail making sure that you can visualize and make your own assumptions on many things. On every page there are so many different uses of comedy and serious tones to show flaws in the political systems during war times. I really appreciate Heller's ability to blend humor with the often dark tone of war to highlight the flaws that come with war. You can really tell that the author spent a lot of time writing this book because every little detail is intentional. Especially the order of events in the book that shift you around time. Overall, this book is a classic. It has been praised as a cornerstone of American literature and continues to enrich society. It did so well many people now use the phrase "Catch-22" as a way to describe something because it has been so popularized by many different types of literature.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Brayden Blankenship

2025-04-25 18:50:53 UTC

"The Great Gatsby" is a good book and I enjoyed reading it. Although I liked it and thought it was good, I wouldn't say it was "Great" (get it?). The novel is definitely a product of its time with many characters and their choices being questionable at times and other times making genuinely no sense. However, while I had my problems with it, I did enjoy our 2 main protagonists; being Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby and their genuine friendship. While I like those characters, I can't say the same for the rest. Many of them are the same character outside of a few small changes being how they got their wealth. The main story line of the novel is the part I really enjoyed however. With the entirety being the rise and unfortunate fall of Gatsby. The symbolism the story uses to tell this story in my opinion is excellent with most of it being a reflection of the American Dream that everyone was chasing during the Great Depression. Overall, I would recommend that if you ever get a chance to read it I wouldn't hesitate to do so, but to not go into reading it with high expectations as it might fail to meet them as it did mine. 6/10

Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel - Kaitlyn Hill

2025-04-25 18:52:54 UTC

This epic poem follows a character named Beowulf through many of his pursuits as he faces many powerful enemies. He is praised by many along his journey and widely respected for his power. He develops close ties with quite a few people he meets, and is overall beloved by many. It is said to be the oldest poem in a modern European language. I did not particularly enjoy this story, as many parts of it felt like the characters were rambling and the topics seemed unimportant as a whole. I lost interest about halfway through the book, and only regained interest at the end. Perhaps if the different stories of Beowulf were told separately, with less filler from some characters rambling about older events, then it would have been more pleasant to read. The three main foes he faces are interesting, and if the story had focused on the battles more, I feel like it would have been more straightforward and easy to read and comprehend.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury | James Fisher

2025-04-25 18:56:01 UTC

I loved the message that this book gave about fighting oppressive governments and breaking free of the perspectives that Guy Montag was forced to conform to in his society.

Overall, I loved the dystopian feeling the book gives -- society is not allowed to possess books or share knowledge with one another. Fireman Guy Montag meets a peculiar character in the story that changes his perspective on the ideals of life he values. Shifting from a burner of books to a protector of books by the end of the novel, Montag's character does a figurative 180 when he becomes a completely different person who flees from the government in a massive manhunt at the end of Chapter 3. The book highlights how oppressive governments can control the mass public through forms of technological media and strict rules.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves books or other forms of media with a dystopian feel (specifically people who love the Hunger Games series or documentary films).

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien - Hudson Hall

2025-04-25 18:59:13 UTC

This is honestly one of the most interesting books that I've read so far. We don't often hear about the US soliders' stories from the Vietnam War so to be able to read this book full of first hand accounts gives insights that are seldom found elsewhere. Soldiers are also not usually thought of as normal people, however, all of the soldiers that have fought in every war have had normal lives with family and jobs and friends. This book shows that the only thing separating soldiers and civilians is the decision they made to fight. Throughout the book, O'Brien discusses everything that the soldiers carry from practical objects to lucky charms to emotional baggage and trauma. We see that, from what they carry, the soldiers hurt physically and decide to toss certain items in order to lighten the load whether that decision has a negative impact later or not. We also see the soldiers attempt to cope with the emotional baggage of things they've seen and done and also what's been done to them. O'Brien manages to discuss complex ideas and topics seamlessly transitioning to a joke or other thought about his experience in the war to truly give the reader a grasp of the nature of the Vietnam War. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to truly appreciate the men and women who serve our country to keep the peace. I look forward to reading more books similar to this one in the future.

Braeden Metheny. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

2025-04-25 19:02:43 UTC

This novel is tedious, irritating, far longer than it needed to be, and one of literature's finest works, with incredible figurative language and symbolism. It was originally three separate entries in a newspaper, and thus is broken up into 3 parts. This period piece is on the French revolution, diving into what lead up to it, how it went down, and the direct aftermath of the event. The author shows this happening through a closely knit group of characters, and how their relationships change over time. The book is often very tedious, but taking the time to look into it uncovered very interesting themes on violence and self determination. The book presents complicated moral conflicts on injustice, and what should be done in an unjust situation. The theme that people are redeemable is beaten into the reader's brain in nearly every chapter, and spelled out so plainly you would have to be headless to miss it. The characters in this book range from complex and interesting to dull as cheese, but the characters done well are done expertly so, such as doctor Manette, an excellent conduit for the theme of redemption. The book paints its action scenes colorfully, and is able to very thoroughly drive a point home, which almost makes the drudge through much of the book worth it. The book is far more interesting to discuss than to read.

The Stranger - Albert Camus (Mason Voss)

2025-04-25 19:36:53 UTC

This is a great novel that really made me think. It allows the reader to be introduced to a new philosophy and it is really intriguing, almost disturbing as to how the main character, Muersalt, goes about life according to this philosophy. The novel shows how society reacts to those with the philosophy, and the book itself is a paradox as this philosophy, (I don't want to spoil it but the philosophy is absurdism) goes against almost all morals and standards that western society holds for us. It is a short book that didn't take me long to read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a different perspective on life. I will say that I appreciated this book and it was quite easy to analyze. I would recommend it to anyone, even if they do not want to incorporate this philosophy in their life. I personally, will not be.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid-Autumn Paton

2025-04-25 19:41:42 UTC

I think this book was kind of dragged out and I didn't like that it was written more like interviews. This book follows a rock band from the 70's and shows what it was like during this time. I did like that it wasn't just showing all the happy aspects of the band but also the bad part, with all the struggles. It talked about addiction and finding your self-worth. I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman

2025-04-25 19:44:22 UTC

This novel walks you through the life of a middle aged woman, Eleanor Oliphant, who is decidedly not completely fine. We unfold the story of her past and learn what makes her who she is and all of the reasons she is the way she is. From her solitary work to her almost empty apartment, everything she does is by herself. She has always been socially awkward and has a strange attachment to her imprisoned mother. As the story goes on, we can better understand the truths of her childhood, and the trauma and horror her mom caused in her early life. I would recommend this book to someone who wants a story with lots of plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It will help you to see a new perspective of the world and the people in it.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - Reese Buckley

2025-04-25 19:47:32 UTC

Lessons In Chemistry is an amazing book that I recommend everyone read. The main character, Elizabeth is a very hard character to connect to but that doesn't stop the book from being really good. I couldn't put the book down, it was that good. It was a fairly easy read with it being newer but it had some topics that were hard to read about. The overall story was very interesting and was quite the emotional roller coaster. This is the second book to ever make me cry and it also made me laugh, so if you like books that change it up on you I would for sure recommend it.

1984 by George Orwell - Alaina Wells

2025-04-25 19:47:47 UTC

This novel provides so much insight and perspective into not only the plot or the idea of government, but the outlook for the future and the history of the past. While reading this, I noticed so many parallels to real life, mostly in the government. It seriously makes the reader think, and takes a lot of comprehension to fully understand. I don't think I fully understand it, but what I did catch onto is profound. I feel if everyone at least tried to read 1984, the world would be very different. It would make people aware of how knowledgeable and dangerous the government can be, and possibly reconsider their way of thinking. The main character's entire paid occupation is to delete and rewrite history to make the government seem always right and trustworthy. The government is always listening and watching, and if someone does one thing that seems slightly out of place, they disappear. It's dystopian at it's finest, with the possibility of happening in real life in the near future. Especially the ending, which was completely unexpected and hard to read and stomach, shows parallels, and scares the reader into thinking this is how our lives may end up as well.

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Logan Hanson)

2025-04-25 19:47:57 UTC

This novel is amazing. I suggest reading this all the way through. From the start to finish Andy Weir creates a curious and enticing tone through the idea of someone losing memory and living in solitude. This makes for not only an amazing read but for a good life lesson that if you are ever in a situation that seems extremely impossible. Just keep trying. Be persistent. Eventually you will get an outcome. Sometimes it’s the one you wanted, sometimes it’s the one you needed, and sometimes you just get plain unlucky. All in all it really is a good book and I suggest it to anyone who would ask. Lots of good themes to take from the book in general.

Circe by Madeline Miller - Jordan Medine

2025-04-25 19:49:17 UTC

This Novel is a amazing depiction of the Epic that has been told for the past 2500 years, it is very intriguing based on the fact that you are seeing the details of the epic from Circe herself. This unique perspective adds to the development of her character and gives a backstory as to why she chooses to take certain actions rather than others. I loved this book, normally books based on epics are not for me, but this one depicted this tail like no other. Circe goes through trials and tribulations with her family/siblings, strangers and with her "friends" which cause her personal character to change and mold into almost a completely new person, she goes from someone who is scared and quiet, willing to do whatever it takes to help others first, to someone who does what it takes to keep herself safe and never be hurt again. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading anything related to the Greeks or Romans mythology and or there epics.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Randi Presley

2025-04-26 04:19:48 UTC

This book is based on a middle aged women that has trauma and social anxiety. The layout of this book takes you through the life and thoughts of Eleanor Oliphant. From having childhood trauma from her mother, then working at the same job for nearly a decade to finally having a friend. Gail honeyman takes you through the troubles and achievements that Eleanor had to overcome. The message that Gail HoneyMan gives throughout this book can really speak to you if you have faced social anxiety.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend. This book is filled with overcoming fear and anxiety. And showing that you can do anything with the help of the right person!

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- Jenna Whitley

2025-04-28 01:58:22 UTC

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel. It is about a place called Gilead, which was once America. The women of Gilead have been completely segregated. This society simply thrives off of hierarchy, and absolute fear. Women no longer have rights and their role is solely based upon their fertility. It truly digs deep into the government, and even aligns with many problems we have in today's society. Overall, I could not put this book down. Normally, I am not big on reading in my spare time, but this book kept me interested at all times. It made me feel many emotions of anger, and gave me a sense of thrill.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to others.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong - Ally Fulmer

2025-04-28 13:04:50 UTC

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous is a true story about the author. Ocean shows the struggles of growing up during the Vietnam war and the effects the war had on him and his family. Not only this, but he shows the difficulties in being a gay Vietnamese boy in an extremely strict and abusive household. This book very well represents the theme of "your past doesn't define you." I personally enjoyed this book a lot. It was very emotional, with some parts of it hard to read, but also makes you think about the real struggles people around you might be going through in private. This book is definitely one that is hard to put down. If you are looking for a novel that is very realistic but also super emotional, this would be a great book for you.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- Eric Huett

2025-04-28 14:27:50 UTC

Where the Crawads Sing is about a young girl who is abandoned by all those around her and is forced to survive in a marsh by herself. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this story, however, it does start a little slow. The story took me through many twists and turns as I learned more about the murder of Chase Andrews. There were multiple different times throuhgout the story when I was pretty sure I knew who committed the murder. I also appreciated the insight that the story gave into the life of someone who is not accepted by the rest of society.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker- KayLea Fife

2025-04-28 16:02:13 UTC

This is a very moving and emotional book. It is one of the most heart wrenching stories I have ever read. Every page is heavy with raw emotion and is very beautifuly written. Alice Walker doesn't just write a story she pours every emotion into her words.

I loved the message that it portrays about how cruelty can hurt and help ones journey of self-freedom. I definitely reccommend this to readers who want a captivating story about women in the segregated south.

The Great Gatsby: Alyssa Donald

2025-04-28 17:36:44 UTC

The Great Gatsby is set during the Jazz Age, the 1920s, in New York. The entire story is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway. At the beginning of the novel he moves to a town called West Egg in order to work in the bond business. One perk of being in New York was that he was close to his cousin and her husband, Daisy and Tom Buchanan. Another perk, although not known to Nick at the time, is that he was living next to a very mysterious and wealthy man named Jay Gatsby. Nick has the opportunity to reconnect with his cousin and the first new person he meets is her friend, Jordan Baker. Later on Nick is invited to one of Gatsby's parties and before the night is over he ends up meeting this mysterious man himself. Eventually Jay figures out that Nick knows Daisy and from then on out he is on a mission to get Daisy back. He reveals to Nick his love for Daisy and when it all began, before her and Tom were ever married, and just how much he has done to try and find her once again. Nick arranges a meeting between her and Gatsby and they are able to rekindle their affair. This doesn’t last long before Tom realizes their love for each other. When confronted Jay insists that Daisy never loved Tom, but Daisy hesitates. Tom and Gatsby get into it which overwhelms Daisy. Daisy and Gatsby are headed home in Gatsby’s car, which Daisy is driving, when she accidentally hits and kills Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Because of the previous conflict Tom convinces Myrtle’s husband, George Wilson, that Gatsby is responsible for the death of his wife. It takes no time for George to find Gatsby and shoot him dead. Shortly after Daisy and Tom pack up and take themselves and their daughter and leave town. Not soon after Nick finds himself the only one at Gatsby’s funeral. He can not understand why after everything that Gatsby gave to the community and how many people always came to celebrate at his house why there was no one, not even Daisy, showed up to his house for the funeral. After returning to the Midwest Nick realizes that the “American Dream” isn’t all it's cracked up to be. I really loved this book. I connected with Gatsby in particular because of the fact that he is a hopeless romantic who suffers from mental health issues. While reading this book I didn’t realize that Gatsby could be mentally ill, it wasn't until my sister told me that I realized. I would choose the person I love over anything any day because nothing could ever fill the void of true love, and those who truly love you will do so regardless of the struggles you may have.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus- Evelyn Rogers

2025-04-29 01:45:56 UTC

Lessons in Chemistry isn’t just a novel, it’s a powerful, emotional story that takes a hard look at the barriers women have long faced, especially in science. Bonnie Garmus has created something that hits home, particularly for those of us starting in STEM. What makes the book so impactful is how honestly it shows the obstacles women have had to overcome in the scientific world. Elizabeth Zott isn’t just a character, she feels real. Her brilliance, determination, and refusal to play by outdated rules are inspiring and eye-opening. Through her, the story becomes more than fiction it becomes a reflection of the very real struggles so many women have faced just to be seen and heard in labs, classrooms, and research spaces. Her journey is a reminder of how far we've come and how far we still need to go.

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

2025-04-29 13:04:21 UTC

To Kill a Mockingbird is a story set in the town Maycomb Alabama. The narrator is a young girl named Scout Finch. We see Scout have to face hard hitting topics such as racism, injustice, and prejudice. We see Scout go from a young kid who believes everybody is good to realizing that people are extremely complex and not everybody has good things at heart. I really enjoyed this book because many of the things the characters had to face applied to me in my real life. Although I couldn't relate to many of the points the principles the author includes in this book actually changed how I see people. This book reminded me of how powerful a book can be, regardless of when it was written.

In the Time of the Butterflies- Madison Crum

2025-04-30 14:51:17 UTC

In the Time of the Butterflies is a historical novel that tells the story of the Mirabal sisters (Patira, Dede Minerva, and Maria Teresa) who live in the Dominican Republic uner the oppressive regime of Rafael Trujillo during the 1950s. This story goes on to show the differences of the sisters and the different lives that they live which all lead them back together in order to fight for their freedom and the freedom of their people. Overall, I thought that this book was good for the most part. I really liked the multiple POVs and how the story managed to get the essence of each of the sisters while also bringing their stories together so that the readers could see the interactions that they had with each other. The only thing that I might have liked to be different in the novel is for the beginning of it to be a little more action packed because it was a little slow in the beginning which made it hard to read.

Project Hail Mary Parker Roberts

2025-04-30 16:10:51 UTC

Project Hail Mary was a great read about an astronaut saving the world from an alien eating the sun. This is one of the longest books I have read so it did take me a while but it was very rewarding to finish. I also thought that the way part of the story was told through the main character getting flashbacks was very interesting. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the slightest in Sci-Fi.

The Haunting of Hill House-Cooper Myatt

2025-05-02 13:09:12 UTC

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson was a very intriguing read. It tells the story of Eleanor Vance and her journey through the haunted mansion that is Hill House. This book has dark themes implicit of loneliness and the paranormal, that keep you interested throughout the whole book. Her mental breakdown is representative of humanity as a whole. This book can be a difficult read for those who are squeamish or easily scared, as it is a horror book. But other than that I would recommend this book for a majority of people. Being a fairly easy read especially for the time period it was written in with an interesting topic.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson- Krista Kollias

2025-05-02 13:09:25 UTC

The Haunting of Hill House was a very intriguing and interesting novel to read. I enjoyed being able to be taken along with each step of these characters as they stayed in this house. Shirley Jackson did good of giving each characters background story leading into their stay. Jackson also gave us the background of the house and the deep mysterious backstories it had. This helped to show that even though it was just a house, it manipulated and tormented the characters causing psychological distress. This book dove deep into the psychological and mental well beings of these individuals and how it affected each of their stay. I would recommend this book to everyone, because it helps to understand a new perspective on peoples mental states.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

2025-05-02 13:21:24 UTC

Honestly, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver was really something else. Most will look at the page count being over 500 pages and think "no way someone can have that much to talk about", but in my opinion, for all the content that was displayed in this book, 500 pages was not nearly enough. The amount of twists and unfortunate events that take place in this book will leave you shocked. At absolutely no point during this read was I ever bored. The point of this book was to bring light on foster care and the life of those who grew up in it, as well as to give a new perspective on drug abuse; which I think this book did a wonderful job at. Kingsolver did an amazing job at making the reader feel exactly like Demon, through his thought process and his actions. She flowed through the retelling of his life effortlessly, making it quite an enjoyable read. The way she showed the growth of Demon's mindset was absolutely incredible, almost seamless, but if you were to go back and read it for a second time, you'd see the subtle changes in mentality as Demon starts to get older. I'd 110% recommend this book to anyone looking for a raw, and almost heartbreaking read. It's one I wish I could read again for the first time.

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid -Reese Peterson

2025-05-02 13:25:37 UTC

Daisy Jones and The Six follows the life of a young singer and song writer as she runs wild along the LA strip. She joins a band known as The Six and must navigate fame, addiction, and forbidden romance with the lead singer, Billy Dunne. This book is written in the style of an oral interview, allowing for viewpoints from all the characters. I feel as though this made the book especially unique and interesting to read. Not only does it allow readers to get a glimpse of what the world of rock and roll was like during the sixties and seventies, but it also touches on timeless topics like the battle of addiction, navigating fame, and the destructive side of love. While Daisy and Billy's love lives are a major topic of this book, it is not your typical romance. This romance is messy, painful, and forbidden. Overall, I feel as though this book is an easy read due to the unique formatting and has themes that anyone can relate to. It is definitely a page turner and will leave you wanting more.

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez - Madison Gregg

2025-05-02 13:49:33 UTC

Afterlife is a good and thoughtful book about grief, family, and responsibility. The author tells the story of Antonia who is a widowed writer, as she faces different challenges. What makes this book special is how Alvarez puts together personal struggles with social issues such as immigration and cultural identity. Antonia struggles and challenges she goes through are universally relatable. The book gives you a deeper connection with the characters and their experiences.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Zandrea Story

2025-05-02 15:49:46 UTC

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an emotional novel told in the format of a fictional oral history. It follows the rise and fall of a 1970s rock band, capturing the energy, chaos, and passion of the music industry during that era. Through interviews with the band members, managers, and those close to them, the story explores fame, creativity, addiction, love, and the complicated relationships that drive artistic success. In my opinion, the book is incredibly engaging and unique because of the interview-style format. It made the characters feel real, and I found myself emotionally invested in their journey. The writing captures the spirit of the ’70s perfectly, and the themes are deep without being heavy-handed.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - Keaton Weinbrenner

2025-05-02 21:45:45 UTC

The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, is a book that really sticks with you. It's about a teenager named Holden Caulfield who tells his story in his own words. The book takes place over just a few days after Holden leaves his school. What makes this book special is how real Holden's voice feels. He talks like a real teenager, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and often confused about the world around him. He uses words that teens used back then (the book was published in 1951), and you can almost hear him speaking to you. Holden is dealing with growing up and he doesn't like a lot of what he sees in the adult world. He thinks many people are "phony" meaning not being true to themselves. Throughout the book, he wanders around New York City, meeting different people and thinking about life. The story is simple on the surface, but underneath it's about bigger things such as trying to hold onto innocence when everything around you is changing. That's what the title means (Holden explains it in the book).

Holdens thoughts about people and society still make sense today, even though the book was written over 70 years ago.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - Noah Lord

2025-05-05 13:17:33 UTC

I don't read often but this is the best book I have read in a long time. Kingsolver did such a great job making Damon real, observant and hilarious at times. His introduction to drugs, and his description of how they make you feel, made me think the author has spent time with an addict in their life. Some of the reviews I read talked about how the ending of the book was boring and made people want to stop reading the book. I personally think that the ending was wrapped up a little to neatly but also well for Damon and the story line. I also loved the people in his life that he cared for so deeply, and who kept rooting for him, despite all of his many bad choices.

All the Light We Cannot See Anthony Doerr- Jacob Fehnel

2025-05-05 14:13:31 UTC

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is Set during World War II, it is the parallel tale of Marie-Laure, a blind French teenage girl, and Werner, a German orphan radio technology prodigy, whose paths cross in the final minutes in occupied France.

One of the novel's strengths is its humanization of both sides of the war without resorting to moral degration. Doerr highly sensual and poetic, often placing the world of senses itself in the role of a kind of actor most notably through the intensified world of touch and hearing accessible to Marie-Laure. The nonchronological structure and short, alternating chapters are effective in building suspense and emotional tension, even when there is a jagged pace at times.

Even where a few of the reviewers find fault with the conclusion as sentimental and others that parts of it upon (especially the diamond subplot, the Sea of Flames) extend beyond in the symbolic than the actual movement, these as well render the novel its own mythic coloration which distinguishes it from much of historical fiction.

At its essence, All the Light We Cannot See is a poignant journey of determination, the unexplainable connection between individuals, and abiding hope when all lights seem to be out.

"Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell - Halle Whitley

2025-05-05 17:06:46 UTC

This novel was a book I genuinly could not put down. It was a really good read into the dystopian world of a town ruled through a totalitarian government. Orwell's novel highlighted the idea of a controlling government and the affect it had on the civilization. At the beginning of the novel, it was a little harder for me to get into and get an understanding of what was going on, but once I understood the detailing behind the chapters, it was a very good read. The novel is the type to mess with your mind and really explores a life where the governments manipulation shows the disaster it can cause. I feel that this novel should be read to make people aware and knowledgeable of how dangerous a life like this could be, and even alter the way they think. Overall, I think that this book was a very good read for the more maturity population, though the themes explored in the text is something I belive that people should read to better understand the way of living a life with no identity and under the control of an unwanted figure.

Daisy Jones and The Six- Taylor Jenkins Reid- Scarlett Johnson

2025-05-05 17:12:42 UTC

While I am not the most knowledgeable in literacy, this book helped me understand a lot of things in literature that I have usually struggled with. The novel is more like an interview with all of the characters. The novel focuses on the story of Daisy and how she struggled throughout her entire life. She had realtionship problems with minor character, Billy, which lead to frustration for the reader but also tension and ultimately led you wanting more. The novel goes through music descriptions which makes youf eel like you can hear the songs that the band wrote and performed. The whole band is like on chaotic family that is just trying to survive together. This is a very investing and powerful book. It also highlights real world problems like drug abuse, controlling relationships, and alcoholism. This work of literature is a rollercoaster of emotions and love stories, this is definitely a must read.

The Stranger by Albert Camus (Cayden Pavatt)

2025-05-05 19:06:13 UTC

The Stranger by Albert Camus is a novel set in the 1940s in France. The story starts with the main character, Meursault, having a major life issue and us seeing the first glimpse of his emotional detachment. Meursault goes through many different things throughout the course of the novel. Meursault has a very mundane life, and he goes about it very simply without any major disputes. Meursault can not seem to build any real emotional bond with anyone, which proves to be a driver of his decisions, and ultimately his downfall. This novel shows a theme of society alienating those who don't meet their standards and those who have no emotional attachment to others have no care about what happens to others. I enjoyed reading this because it gave me a view on what life is like for someone like that. I have never seen life through the eyes of someone other than myself, and reading this gave me the chance to do that. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys realistic novels, and anyone who enjoys psychological books. I also recommend it to anyone who just wants to look at the world through a different light. I enjoyed the deep insight to Meursault's mind that Camus presented, and how it was such a good visualization that I could imagine being there for every word I read.

The Grapes Of Wrath (John Stienbeck) - Taylor Crum

2025-05-06 04:27:59 UTC

In my op pinon I believe that this is a good book. It is more of a historic fiction novel witch is important to know if this is not your favorite genre but I enjoyed it nevertheless. It goes through the struggles of a family in the Midwest during the time of the dust bowl and puts in to perspective what it was like to live during that time. This book helped my appreciate the life that I live now and what I might take for granted on a day to day basis. There were many challenges thought the book that you might not expect since we never see it in today's society. The book was very well written and easy to follow through and the use of different perspectives from different characters help show what everyone is feeling so that the reader can grasp everyone's thoughts and feelings. Overall I would recommend the book and can confidently say that you will not be disappointed if you read this book.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng- Mia Sothall

2025-05-06 13:24:00 UTC

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is a very tragic yet interesting story that captures the social struggles of racism and discrimination against the social norm. This book flipped from time period to time period throughout the course of the read. This was one of the things i really did not like about to because while it was a unique way of setting up the book and it allowed readers to wonder and infer, it was sometimes hard to keep up with and slightly confusing. Other than this the book kept me on my toes and was so unexpected. Because of the writers choice of words and and descriptive language you could really feel how every character felt and see what every character thought. Overall, I thought this book was alright but probably not one I would go back and read again.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Eli Mallett

2025-05-06 15:38:48 UTC

Project Hail Mary is a combination of Science Fiction, Self Discovery and the Human Condition. Throughout the book you will read about the main protagonist floating through space with the weight of his entire world on his shoulders. He discovers his purpose and what his mission is and along the way he finds surprising help with his cause and makes very difficult choices along the way. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is into either science fiction books or stories about self discovery.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker - Addison Gray

2025-05-08 17:52:44 UTC

The Color Purple was a good book that I would recommend. It was a hard book to read just because of the graphic nature of the scenes and some of the language used. But, there were good lessons about finding yourself throughout the book. I also thought that Walker did a good job with writing it and thought it was good from the personal perspective of letters. It made it easier to connect to the readers and audience members. It shows a different perspective of femininity from a woman's voice during a time that normally wouldn't be heard. It covered topics such as abuse within a society prejudiced against and how it effects how you view yourself. I also really enjoyed the character development and personal touch to Celie and how we see her thoughts and words to God and to those around her.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people who are willing and able to read some violent scenes but see the beauty that can come from that.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

2026-01-12 14:01:07 UTC

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is set in the near-future totalitarian society of Gilead, in around the year of 2005, which has replaced the United States after environmental collapse and declining birth rates. In this patriarchal society, women have been stripped of their rights and divided into social classes based on their reproductive and domestic functions. Prior to reading this book, I did not know much about the story of Offred, or only interpreted her story based off of what I have heard from the television adaptation. This novel details Offred's tragic story through a broken narrative that makes readers feel as if they are Offred at times. Atwood does an amazing job on implementing fear and confusion among the readers, emotions that the characters themselves are forced to feel. The variety of themes explored in this book, such as the fear-driven totalitarian society, demonstrates civilizations we may see in our modern world. I highly recommend this book to anyone passionate about women's rights and birth rights in general, or anyone looking to see their contrasting point of view. This book had me on the edge of my seat at some points, wondering what Offred would do when facing deadly challenges. If you have a hard time picking up a book, the beginning might be hard to grasp onto, but as Offred's story develops, you will easily urge to know more.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens- Sadie Saunders

2026-01-12 14:02:16 UTC

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is about a young girl, Kya, who is abandoned by almost everyone around her. She is is forced to survive in the Marsh, which is her home. The people of Barkley Cove treat her as a nobody, and Kya figures out how to make something of her life anyway. Through her hardships, Kya is accused of murder. This novel took several twists and turns, which kept me constantly turning the pages. I read this in less than a week, and wish I could read it for the first time again. It is absolutely amazing compared to the movie, which is also great. Aside from the great story that keeps you entertained, this novel has so many symbols, and different meanings that compare to real life on a daily basis. I would 100% reccomend this book.

Where The Crawdads Sing - George Ballew

2026-01-12 14:02:39 UTC

Where The Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age story written by Delia Owens. It follows the development of Kya, a young innocent child. This book flips between the point of view of Kya, and two sheriffs that solve a murder. Within this story, readers feels sensations of empathy and anger, learning just how much childhood development impact someone's adulthood. The book itself was easy to read, follow along, and has simple details that still make the story worth readig. The book has a small portion of romance, but not enough that it pulls the focus away from the main story. The book itself was relatively cheap, so if someone decides to buy it and ends up not liking it, it's not a major loss. I enjoyed the ecology aspects of the book, and would recommend this book to any nature-loving people.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir- Kailia Hutchins

2026-01-12 14:02:50 UTC

I had a lot of fun with this novel. It is a sci-fi novel, but there isn't too much science jargon that's hard to understand. It's a good introduction to the genre if you are someone who has never read any books from it before. I thought the characterization of the main characters was unique compared to other novels. The main character is genuinely a good person who grapples with hard decisions outside of himself instead of him trying to justify his own morality to the other characters. When he does have his moment of reflection on his past choices, he is able to look past his mistakes and focus on making the next best decision. The novel was a little slow at first with very basic physics that was built up to be some large scientific discovery, and a lot of the science is way too fictional, but it's still a good read. There is a larger emphasis on the journey the characters take physically and psychologically, than the actual science. The Martian by Andy Weir has a stronger focus on the science than the character's growth. If you're someone who doesn't like science but you still want to give sci-fi a try, I recommend this novel.

1984 by George Orwell- Oakley Caudle

2026-01-12 14:03:44 UTC

Overall I loved this book. It was a little slow getting into it but just keep reading and everything will start making sense. It has a lot of twists and exciting moments. However, there are a couple of boring parts but they don't last too long. The main character Winston is a very interesting man to follow and I enjoyed getting to learn more about him and his story. Although, if your not willing to do a lot of thinking this book is not for you. To be able to really enjoy this book I would try to get everything you can out of it. It covers a lot of exaggerate topics that can be seen in our world today. The place which this book is placed in, Oceania, is a terrible place to live, and we get to see how Winstion handles it. If you like politics, psychology, thrillers, or adventure books you´ll probably enjoy this book.

The Road, Cormac McCarthy - Isaac Kelly

2026-01-12 14:03:47 UTC

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, is a very suspenseful and drawn out story, but is kind of slow. I enjoyed the story and how we see the characters relationship grow and their journey become more devastating. I really liked the idea of a father/son relationship throughout the burned wasteland. We see how the father and son grow, and we also see their difficult struggles. Its emotion filled with suspense, and all the devastating hardships. Showing how their journey questions their Morales and how hard it was for the father to raise a strong yet smart and caring son in a world of hopelessness. I wish there was a little more action and depth though, it feels like there are many moments of long descriptions, to create imagery, but it also makes the book feel more slow and drawn out. This book is still very well put together and definitely a recommended read.

Overall the book was a very good story with really strong themes to show signs of hope and purity, just a little slow but still suspenseful and flavorful.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

2026-01-12 14:03:59 UTC

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was a fictional dystopian book set in futuristic America. For being published in 1953, the book had very scary parallels to the world today. I think this is one of the many aspects that made the book so interesting to read. The main concept behind this book is that all novels are banned. This is to eliminate conflict, because by banning all books, all the different ideas were also being banned. This allowed for the futuristic government to heavily censor the media and news the citizens were hearing - and in effect, controlling the thoughts and ideas in those individuals. A Firefighter, who was raised to hate and burn books, turns rebellious and learns maybe books aren't so evil after all. Fahrenheit 451 follows Firefighter Guy Montage, and his journey on discovering the negative effects of too much government censorship and the importance of individual thought and preserving history.

The Song of Achilles - Sophie Badders

2026-01-12 14:04:10 UTC

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is a emotional retelling of the events of the Trojan War. We see the events unfold through the eyes of Patroclus, a young outcast. The story follows the close bond between Patroclus and Achilles, a Greek Hero. The book deals with themes such as love and the battle for honor, and also death. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys those themes, and also enjoys action. The book starts out slow, as the war hasn't begun yet, but once it starts, the book gets more fast-paced. If you are looking for a book that will make you tear up, this is the one. The relationships shown throughout the book are portrayed greatly. Overall, the book was amazing and I will be reading it again.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Delilah Puchta

2026-01-12 14:06:10 UTC

Where The Crawdads Sing is a coming of age novel that follows a young girl throughout her life and shows the resilience she has to have. It was a great read and a book I would recommend to anyone. Throughout the book the author built tension and suspense keeping the reader wanting more. It gave descriptive details and created a relationship with the characters. It flips back and forth between different timelines but eventually they all come together. Throughout reading the book you can see why the author does that and the way it helps to build the tension and anticipation for the reader. The young girls life that you follow is full of hardships and suffering. She is forced to make decisions not based off choice but based off necessity to survive. The book is a great read and keeps you entertained throughout. I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense and detailed books that also flip timelines.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Brody Wilcox

2026-01-12 14:12:29 UTC

The Road by Cormac McCarthy follows the life of a man and a boy, both unnamed as they trek through a post apocalyptic world. At first when I saw this I imagined they would be facing, zombies or something of that sort, the usual when you think of a post apocalyptic book. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no zombies. I think that is what makes this book so different from the usual post apocalyptic book, is that the man and the boy are trying to survive against the world itself. Humanity has turned to ruin, there are hardly any resources left to survive on, and ash fills the air making the climate brutally cold. The man and the boy are forced to make hard, split-second decisions that ultimately could mean life or death if they choose wrong. There are many symbols and McCarthy uses foreshadowing to create a big ending in the book. I think this book was a really fun and intriguing read, and different for those who are interested in the post apocalyptic genre.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng- Emily Keegan

2026-01-12 14:13:09 UTC

In the novel Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, the story focuses on a disappearance of the daughter of a young family. Although, this book explores the intertwining and secretive pasts of each family member discovering the true feelings of being "normal" in society. Each family member reflects on society normal whether through their race, sexuality, or affairs to discover the true significance of the missing child. This book was extremely sad to me, I felt most of what was expressed and hinted at was very significant to those who feel they don't belong in the society today. This story was very interesting, and I loved being able to figure out the hidden secrets and the mystery of the disappearance as well. I would definitely recommend this book to those who can understand the absurdities of societal expectations. One thing I was not fond of in this novel was the character decisions and plot of the family mainly because of their lack of compassion and empathy, although this was intentional in the novel and overall is essential to develop the story and a specific piece of the plot as well. Overall this book definitely made me feel strong emotions for it, and I would definitely reread this book.

Song of Achillies

2026-01-12 14:48:36 UTC

Patroclous was exiled as a young boy, for accidental murder of Clysonymus. He was sent to the court of king Peleus, where he met his future lover, Achilles. They had gotten closer, Patroclus following him around to his lyre lessons and eventually to his fighting lessons and practices. They had begun to “experiment” with each other for lack of better words, and this ended up with them becoming inseparable. Achilles was sent to Chiron to continue his training, with Patroclus following behind him. There the two of them continued deepening their relationship with each other, Patroclus learned how to practice medicine while Achilles learned to improve other skills. They were called back home, and were informed of the capture of Helen, of Sparta. Thetis attempts to keep Achilles from the war, by sending him to the island of Scyros, where Achilles disguised himself as a dancer. Here, Achilles ends up having a kid, who later would be named Pyrrus. Odyesseus and Diomedes arrive at this island, and end up revealing who Achilles was pretending to be. Patroclus ends up following Achilles into the war, when they were finally invited by Odyesseus and Diomedes. due to the love that he feels for him. Achilles is prophesied to be the strongest warrior, after killing Hector he would find his demise shortly afterwards. The war consists of conflict between both of the armies, and conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon, the leader of their army. Achilles had tried to take all of the prizes that were women, due to Patroclous asking him to. They met Briseis here. Here, Achilles learns how strong he really is. He learns to enjoy the adrenaline rush that he gets from killing. Patroclous starts to dislike him for the enjoyment that he has gained from killing. Patroclous had learned to keep himself busy by helping out with medicine, to help keep his mind off of the impending doom that Achilles would face. Agememnon had taken achilles prize Briseis, which had begun the conflict between them. Achilles had protested this by refusing to fight for Agamemnon. Due to Achilles absence, the opposing army had been able to gain enough movement to meet them at their camp's border. This resulted in Patroclus begging Achilles to do something, of which he did nothing, because he had talked to his mother about making them lose due to the loss of Achilles as a fighter. Achilles flat out refused to fight, so Patroclus took his army and fought in his place. Patroclous made his way to the other army's wall, due to everyone thinking that he was Achilles and being fearful. Patroclus decided he could climb the wall right then and retrieve Helen, so he had begun to climb the wall. He was thrown off by Apollo. He was thrown off twice, and this caused his armor to come off. When the opposing army found out that it wasn't Achilles, The Trojan prince Hector killed him. Achilles found out about this, and he crumbled. For many days he just stayed by Patroclus' side, and then he went and fought against them. Achilles went to kill Hector, and in his path killed everyone who was in his way. Hector was wearing Achilles armor that had been given to Patroclus when he went to fight in Achilles place. He killed Hector, and then tied his body to the back of his chariot and dragged his body back to camp. Hector's father came back to their camp asking for his son's body back to properly bury him. Both Thetis and Patroclus had spoken to Achilles asking him to either return his body to his family or to burn it so it could have a proper burial. The next day Achilles finally burned patroclus body, asking the greeks to mix their ashes together when Achilles finally passes. Achilles goes on to kill memnon, the king of aethiopia, then the horsewomen penthesilea. Achilles goes on to kill Priam's youngest son Troilus. After this, paris strings a bow from atop the walls and kills achilles. The sea nymphs take Achilles body to burn, while a lot of the people attending his funeral didn't cry at all. They ask thetis what to do with the ashes, but she says she doesn't care. So achillies ashes was mixed with patroclous and was buried together. Pyrrhus had decided where to bury his father, but was confused as to why he was buried with another person. Pyrrhus had met briesis and asked why Achilles had refused to fight because of her, and learned that Achilles never slept with her. He was told that achilles was in love with Patroclus. Pyrrhus had told her to come closer, and briseis had attempted to kill him. She stabbed him and then ran to the ocean, swimming away. She would have been out of the reach of any normal person, but pyrrhus spear had hit her and killed her. Troy had fallen with Pyrrhus help. He kills Priam and finds Hector's wife. He ends up killing her child by smashing it against the wall. The night before everyone packs up camp, Pyrrhus demands a sacrifice in Achilies name. He decided that the trojan princess was a good fit and slits her throat as a sacrifice. Odyseous tells Pyrrhus how much Patroclus meant to Achilles, trying to convince them to add Patroclus' name to the grave. Patroclous was stuck in limbo per say, and was living as a spectator at the grave. He was stuck there until thetis came to visit, where he was able to convince her to add his name through showing the memories he had of Achilles. He was able to rest at peace with Achilles in the afterlife.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson-Macy Carlton

2026-01-12 14:49:13 UTC

The Haunting of the Hill house by Shirley Jackson is about Dr.Montague who invites a bunch of psychically sensitive individuals to Hill house, to study supernatural phenomena. Only 3 people show up out of all the ones that were invited. The book is given from Eleanor's perspective. As they stay in the house they experience things they cannot explain like voices, shadowy figures, doors that shut on their own, and loud noises. The house seems to prey on their psychological state, making them question whether it is paranormal activity, or all in their head. The house had attached itself to Eleanor, the weakest one with the weakest psychological state. She was always questioning herself, and the others around her. Throughout the story it explores fear, isolation, and the impact that supernatural has on people minds. I liked the book and would recommend it. The only thing was it had a lot more descriptions, so you did not get to see a lot of paranormal events happening.

Everything I never Told You by Celest NG-Lacey Hardy

2026-01-12 14:54:48 UTC

Everything I never told you by Celest NG is a suspensfull novel that follows the story of a young girl named Lydia who goes missing. The main question of the story is was she murdered or did she commit suicide? The novel goes into not only Lydia's life, but also her siblings Nath and Hannah, and also her parents James and Marylin. The novel reveals several secrets that Lydia had kept from her family and secrets her family kept from her and each other. At the beginning of the novel the police drag the lake that was near the Lee's home and finds Lydias body. So now the question becomes did someone push her in or did she go in willingly, knowing she can't swim. Lydia's parents learn that they truly never knew their daughter and now never get a chance to apologize. The main suspect in the investigation is a boy named Jack who Nath and Marilyn are certain have something to do with her death but no one else is. This novel is super thrilling and interesting with all the secrets and plot twists and its an engaging read. I was hooked into this book and couldn't put it down for days. 10/10 would recommend.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Isaac Theis

2026-01-12 14:54:54 UTC

This book takes place in the year 632 AF, or 2540 AD on the Gregorian calendar. In the 600 years between modern day (1930s when the book was written) and the time the book starts, there has been a great world war. The war resulted in the deaths of millions and the destruction of many. After this war, a new world order called the world state is set up to insure happiness for all and to create a functioning Earth. This involves a quota that each country and citizen has to purchase in goods and materials. With these new quotas, comes new societal norms, such as the shaming of monogamous, committed relationships, the destruction and banning of all forms of media before the World State took over, and genetically manufactured humans that fit into a caste system. Alongside this, the World State has managed to cure all diseases as well as stop aging, which inherently renders religion useless, as nobody is afraid of death anymore. People are required daily doses of this drug named Soma, it is used to keep people happy, if anybody feels sad then they take a dose of Soma. In this society, there is a caste system introduced to go along with the genetically manufactured humans, the Alphas are seen as the top of the top and get designated the hard, technical jobs. The Betas who are one below the alphas but still important and powerful. Then there are the bottom 3 casts, the embryos of the bottom casts get blasted with radiation, injected with liquor, and cloned 76 times to create physically inferior children. The Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons (in that respective order) are the ones who do all the dirty, hard jobs that make society function correctly. The story is told at first from the point of view of Bernard, an alpha of underwhelming stature. In this world, alphas are supposed to be tall and strong, height is seen as a sign of power, however, due to Bernard’s stunted growth, he is looked down upon as an alpha and seen as unattractive by females. He isn’t just odd in a height sense, he also has these feelings regarding polygamy and not committing, he wants a well committed, single person relationship, something that hasn’t been around in centuries. He falls in love with a woman named Lenina, the two of them constantly struggle between the want of commitment from Bernard and the free partner, orgy loving Lenina. After enough time, Bernard convinces Lenina to take a holiday with him, in which they visit a place called the Savage Reservation. It was rumored that the head of the London human hatchery had visited there with a woman years ago, but came back without her. The Savage Reservation consisted of humans living the old way, they got old, they got sick, they died, they had old books and movies, they had god. While on this trip, they meet a woman named Linda and her son, John. Bernard comes to the realization that Linda is in fact the woman who the director took with him all those years ago. Once back in the UK, the director of the hatchery informs Bernard that he will be exiled, however this takes a turn when it is revealed that John and Linda both came back, after a confrontation and John revealing the director as his father, the director has no choice but to step down and resign in disgrace. When word gets out about John being in the Brave New World, everybody lines up to meet him, they have him on TV, but in order to talk to him, they had to talk to Bernard first. Because of this, Bernard got propelled into stardom, nobody disrespected him, everybody loved him for the first time. This then takes a turn when John decides he doesn’t want to be a thing for people to awe and gawk at, he starts denying people conversations and in turn it kills Bernard’s reputation. The story then switches to John’s point of view, as he tries to navigate this new world. He hates seeing clones of people everywhere he goes and it all comes to a head when he is in a hospital and sees groups of people prepared to take Soma, he loudly tells them not to take it, that soma is poisoning them. This creates a mini riot that is suppressed by the group getting gassed with Soma. John and Bernard are then brought before Mustapah Mond, the leader of the new world. He explains to them that all the rules they have in place are there to keep people happy, he explains that they sacrifice emotion and spirit for world happiness and peace. After this speech, John and Bernard are forced to be punished, Bernard is exiled and John is kept in the brave new world. Throughout the rest of the book, John is struggling to adjust to his new world, he also develops feelings for Lenina but once again, she is programmed to not commit. His life takes a turn for the worse when he moves to a remote lighthouse, trying to get away from everybody and everything, but the media follows and crowds form. In the middle of it all, Lenina comes forth and starts talking to him. John, a man of commitment and religion, engages in conversation but is appalled when Lenina takes her clothes off and tries to have sex with him. Outraged, John beats Lenina senseless, his hate fueled by this new world and taken out on her in front of this crowd. However, the crowd doesn’t become disgusted with John, they are so excited by the violence, a mass orgy breaks out because of it. The next day, the press arrives at John’s house, only to find him hanging, he kills himself out of shame and rage toward the Brave New World. I overall very enjoyed this book, the switch in narration was nice to show the difference in past and present. The ending threw me for a loop,I wasn't expecting anything like that, the hero losing almost never happens so I was just shocked. The overall message of censorship and the dangers of erasing the past really hit home, especially with what's unfolding in the world at this point in time, I feel like we are closer and closer every day.

Circe by Madeline Miller - Garrett Girdler

2026-01-12 14:55:54 UTC

In the novel Circe, Madeline Miller tells the story of a minor Greek figure, but on a much wider and much more detailed scale. The story spans over hundreds of years, telling the tale of Circe's long life as she meets other characters throughout Greek mythology. At the beginning of the story, Circe is not very confident in her abilities, remaining in the shadow of her father. But as she becomes more powerful and confident, Circe is shaped into a strong, independent figure. Circe is a novel where Madeline Miller uses very strong, emotional, figurative language throughout, and her ability to capture the raw, powerful emotions of Circe is, in my opinion, one of the book's strongest points. While the novel does have other minor characters, but the majority of the focus is on Circe as a character and her growth and development throughout the story. Miller also has very interesting and captivating interpretations on various events throughout Greek mythology, contextualizing them from Circe's perspective. As a whole, Circe is a novel that, literary wise, feels like an older classic, but is still a fresh new take that came out in the last decade.

The Things They Carried - Jaxon Reynolds

2026-01-12 14:56:58 UTC

This book was really fun to read. It went very in depth about the soldiers personal lives. I really liked how the book showed the individual things special to that character. The way it was written made me want to know what happened next so it kept me interested. The topic of war is interesting to me especially in movies, and I feel like this book did a great job of making it interesting. I like how the book talks about things that you don't always hear about in other war movies or books. Showing the characters life outside of the war shows us what side effects war might have on soldiers that aren't talked about often. When some of the men die in the book it seems more real because we see the characters change permanently due to the death of their friends. It was fun to see how the characters lives changed throughout the war and the book.

The Haunting of Hill House | Shirley Jackson | Thomas Mullins

2026-01-12 14:57:23 UTC

In the novel, The Haunting of Hill House written by Shirley Jackson, the story is based about a house that provides a symbol throughout the work of the book as corruption. The main character, Eleanor, struggles with her personal life at home, and she is treated poorly by her own family. That is until she receives an offer from Dr. Montague, a doctor looking to do an observation on Hill House's supernatural abilities. Multiple different people are invited to Hill House, but only 3 people show up to Hill House. Because the book is given from the perspective of Eleanor, we see her thoughts only about Hill House. Eleanor hears different noises like doors shutting, shadow people, voices, and loud noises in general. It is evident that the house preys on fear and weak psychological state of mind. Eleanor being the weakest, was the number one target for Hill House. Overall, the book was great with the suspense and anticipation it provides. I would recommend it.

Remarkably Bright Creatures- Alexis Holtz

2026-01-12 14:58:12 UTC

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt was a very interesting novel. It told the story from multiple points of view that changed each chapter, mainly coming from the main characters as well as how the Octopus perceives their lives through the tank. This book explores extreme topics of grief and finding indentity, as well as how what's around you is a deep reflection of your life on the inside as well. Tova spends her life in a small town as an isolated widow who works the night shifts in the aquarium cleaning, when she stumbles upon a new friend. Throughout the book they each have trials and have to open their understanding to the world around them and to overcome their struggles. Overall, this book was amazing at expressing the importance of getting through grief and how much of a task it really is, as well as being heart-warming, emotional story.

Lessons in Chemistry

2026-01-12 14:58:25 UTC

Lessons in Chemistry is an impactful novel that I would recommend. It features a character named Elizabeth Zott who is a brilliant chemist who faces heavy discrimination in a male-dominated field in the 60's. After losing her research job, she unexpectedly becomes the star of a tv-cooking show. She uses her platform on TV to teach women about science and empower them to change their lives. I found the book's theme about gender equality and standing up for yourself very inspiring. The story is both heartbreaking and funny, making it a very captivating read. The writing style reflected by Garmus highlights the unfair challenges women faced during that era. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys stories about strong, unconventional women.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - dayzee jones

2026-01-12 14:59:47 UTC

The novel Catch-22 follows a pilot named Yossarian, who flies planes in the war. He is based in the island of Pianosa, where him and many of his peers fight together and face many different challenges. These challenges include adversity against the war, authority, relationships, and loss. The action starts up very early in the book, so you don't have to wait. Also, there is tons of symbolism that is helpful when writing the essay. The book contains a lot of paradoxical material, which is extremely helpful when looking at the main theme. My opinion of the book is positive, because while sometimes the book was hard to follow due to the way it is written, it is funny and a great story. If you have confidence that you can follow along in books well, then I recommend this to you.

1984 by George Orwell - Alyssa Price

2026-01-12 15:02:49 UTC

This was an overall well written book and I enjoyed it. I would definitely say that this book starts out really slow, and takes a while to get into. While the book is setting the scene in the beginning, you meet the main character "Winston" and you find out the style of the government that controls the rest of the story. There are a lot of complex ideas throughout the story that take a lot of thought, so although it may seem intimidating, I think that it is a good read. Throughout the story, Winston commits many small acts of rebellion against their version of the government, "The Party" to try and feel like he wasn't as oppressed by them as he really was. All of this leads up to a large event at the end of the story that really makes up for how slow the story goes in the beginning. I believe this story was way before its time, being written in 1949, it displays a lot of complex ideas that can be seen still today. Overall, this was a really well written book and I found it really interesting. If you enjoy dystopian and political fiction then this would be a good book for you!

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson- Laynie Staggs

2026-01-12 15:04:42 UTC

In the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, the wonder of the mind and supernatural incidents are discovered. The focus on one person and her search of belonging takes a turn with the introduction to the House. Introduction of each character, linking them to different incidents in the house, but focusing on Eleanor. Her mental state is discovered during the duration of the stay with each incident. The House prays on the mental state of each person, leading to questions on if each incident is their mental state or paranormal activity. Eleanor is praised the worst, breaking her down to the worst. Ending in a tragic incident from the length and mental state of this specific character. I think people should read this book because it helps discover how it is hard to accept being in a different mental state than others. The search for something missing can lead to the worst and this shows how.

Very smart man right here ^

Great Job =D

Yes

oh yeah a major theme is breaking societal norms

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, Carson Stell

2026-01-12 15:11:30 UTC

Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, is a dystopian political fiction written regarding the effects of extreme censorship within a first world society. This idea of extreme censorship reflects issues in modern day society, and serves as a lesson for the importance of free thought in daily life. Although this book is quite short, barely under 160 pages, the message is perfectly defined within its words. The major disconnect between this society and our own is that the "Firemen" of this world burn and destroy books in order to promote censorship and remove bad feelings from its populace. The story follows Guy Montague, a fireman who is struggling with his own feelings of self identity and internal happiness, who decides that the answer to his problems is the very thing he has used his life to destroy, and with this decision, goes on a (what would be deemed terroristic by its government) journey of self discovery with the help of the people that he has met. I found this book to be very impactful to my view of the world and the effect that technology has upon it. I found that the idea of being emotionally caged is very representative of the world in which we live. Technology is a very apparent catalyst within this novel that defines its censorship (the censorship is derived through the usage of technology) and is used to dull the internal senses of the people that live within this society.

A Thousand Splendid Suns- Khaled Hosseini

2026-01-12 15:17:58 UTC

A Thousand Splendid written by Khaled Hosseini is a great read about two women who go through many troubles in the country of Iraq. Mariam a girl who was conceived out of wedlock so Mariam and her mother were sent out of the city to live so they did not hurt the image of Mariam's father. Also Laila who was born into a loving great family but killed by a talaban rocket strike. They both go through troubles and end up marrying the same man. This is not just any man he is cruel and abuses them throughout their marriage. At first the two girls don't like each other but over time they bond and start to defend each other. Then towards the end the beating gets worse and worse. Then Laila figures out that her husband lied to her about a close friend dying when he didn't really die. Then their husband Rasheed tries to beat Laila for rebeling and Mariam kills Rasheed. After that the talaban kills Mariam for murder. Laila then marries her close friend who returned.

The Road- Cormac McCarthy

2026-01-12 15:29:01 UTC

In this post-apocalyptic novel, The Road, we follow along the journey of the man and the boy throughout this world. Both unnamed, they struggle to survive in this world as they make their way south to find warmth and safety. My first thought when I saw this book was zombies or a pandemic, but the cause of the apocalypse was unknown. Throughout this book they had to make a lot of hard decisions, most splitting life and death. Most of this was to protect one another and dealing with harsh climates made it worse. The world and the roads were full of ash, darkness, and the unknown. This book was full of the ruined humanity that the world has seen, there are so many symbols that the author uses to foreshadow what happens at the end. This is a really good book and you never know what is going to happen next. Definitely recommend.

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

2026-01-12 15:33:34 UTC

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a very compelling novel that covers the themes of a creator's responsibility toward's their creations, as well as the dangers of unchecked ambition. As someone who hadn't seen any adaptation of the story I was really excited to read this before knowing everything, and it surpassed my expectations. The characters were especially moving, with Victor and his creation having a very interesting dynamic that was quite enjoyable to read. The monster in the story offers an emotional anecdote in the second volume that gives me more empathy for a non-human character than I have ever felt. On top of this, the novel also has some great imagery, giving you in-depth looks at the characters as well as the beautiful scenery that Victor traverses through the novel. The pacing kept me engaged throughout the book, however the prologue was a little slow, especially if you go into the book with the expectations of getting directly into Victor's story. Even though the prologue seems slow when you begin reading, it's easy to see why it's included, and how the themes of Walton and his voyage to the North Pole directly relate to Victor's ambition. Overall the novel is a great read and despite some older English, not too hard to read.

Project Hair Mary By Andy Weir - Christian Dearasaugh

2026-01-12 15:43:24 UTC

This book completely changed my perspective on reading novels. The story of Ryland Grace exploring the great vast space was so intriguing and entertaining. The focus on one person and his search for the key to saving the universe. The introduction for Ryland was so intriguing and interesting for my brain. The idea of giving up everything you know for the key. And giving up his only way home to save his friend. Andy's story portraying Grace as the hero reminded me of my dad which was really heart warming.

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

2026-01-12 15:48:15 UTC

It was a great read with a surprising amount of symbolism and I can see why it's so popular for book reports. The book had enough literary devices in it that every page has something for me to write about, I could just remember quotes. on top of that it was just a fun read, the Dystopian aspects got really heavy In the end making it fell like an actual apocalypse, and watching Guy lose his actual mind was like a train wreck you didn't wanna look away from. all in all a great book easy to write on and a fun read even if it was a train wreck of a world. The way the characters spend most of their time looking into themselves honestly opened my eyes on how internal thoughts should be written. Bradbury delves into what I can only describe as a hatred for lack of thought, any thought whether it be bad good or just normal the book calls out how the world lacks it, and Bradbury shows every single type and why it's necessary. altogether Bradbury makes a great counter argument to the whole "I'll never use any of this in the real world" when people talk about learning anything, there's no piece of info that you shouldn't want, and if you don't want it then you haven't found the right type.

Clock Dance - Anne Tyler

2026-01-12 15:49:12 UTC

I found this book to be an easy read as it was simple yet meaningful. It didn´t have many super dramatic scenes or things that were really interesting so I did find it a little difficult to stay interested throughout the book. I did however enjoy the simplicity of it. It was definitely a good book for beginner readers like myself. The symbolism in the book was great. The description of the characters was also good. I probably would not choose to read this again but it was not a bad book by any means. I would recommend this book if you´re looking to start getting into reading or simply just want an easy read.

Frankenstein, Mary Shelly

2026-01-12 15:49:58 UTC

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly is a fascinating Gothic horror novel that is much more sophisticated and in depth than I initially would have assumed. I quite enjoyed the format and premise, and thought that the in-universe explanation as to how the information in the book was transcribed was quite clever. The book differs vastly from the adaptations seen in other places, which made it much more interesting to read. Additionally, the book is quite short, meaning it is good for light readers (Of which I am not, but I enjoyed it anyway). The book creates a fascinating dichotomy between the two major characters. Additionally, the sequence of the plot and the way the events evolve create a smooth and suspenseful flow. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and you should read it.

Project Hail Mary; Andy Weir - Liam Ware

2026-01-12 15:51:30 UTC

I was frankly very impressed with this book. I was very drawn in from the beginning, largely by the science aspect of the book. I loved the in depth explanations of the scientific processes. From the physical sciences, like the engineering and the chemistry, to the microbiology and alien biology, the sciences were very well done through out the book. My only complaint is that some of the science doesn't make sense, and that a lot of it doesn't feel fully attainable. For example, the way the Hail Mary is powered and the main conflict of the story, the Astrophage, seems to differ in power output through the book. In addition to that, the power methods for the Hail Mary don't make the most sense to me, but that field is entirely beyond my scope of understanding. My main problem was how the book ended. While it was a funny, feel good ending that catches you off guard, it was a little frustrating not getting to see the results of Doctor Grace's efforts back on earth, seeing if Earth survived and what happened while he was gone. Overall, Project Hail Mary is a great book and I would highly recommend it.

The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson

2026-01-12 16:00:21 UTC

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a gothic horror novel, published in 1959. This book is widely considered the pioneer of psychological approaches to haunted houses and the supernatural. It follows the journey of Eleanor, and 3 other guests who are researching the Hill House. While the haunting begins as supernatural, it morphes into something else entirely as the book progresses, delving into themes of mental health and trauma. This book explores important themes in a unique way, and was revolutionary for its time. Although this book does explore very important themes, I found it was not very frightening. This is because it focuses more on the slow build up of terror, rather than jump-scares or shock. It was also very slow and took me a while to get through.

Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen

2026-01-12 16:00:30 UTC

In the Novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses the characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy to show the overcoming of societal expectations. In this specific time period, women were expected to marry for money and a comfortable home. Elizabeths choice to rebel against these ideals shows that she cares more for character. Throughout the novel we are introduced to the different characters. Both of the main characters pride kept them from seeing each other's true character. Once they both put pride aside, they saw each other for who they truly are. This novel truly is one of my favorites. Although the old English language is hard to understand, this is a beautiful and timeless love story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in period piece literature or anyone who likes to read love stories. My favorite thing about reading this book was learning the humor that was used back in that time period. I found the old English interesting and would like to read more books with that kind of language.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Mason Stallings

2026-01-12 16:01:23 UTC

This was my favorite book I have ever read. I normally do not enjoy reading books but once I started this book I was hooked. The introduction really good because it hooked me from the start. As soon as I started reading I wanted to figure out why such and such was happening. This book was packed with so many details and I felt like I was right there with Grace throughout the whole book. I really liked how brave Grace was he risked his life multiple times. He did this to save many life's which is really inspiring. I would personally suggest this book to anyone who wants to read an amazing book.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Carson Yarberry

2026-01-12 16:03:42 UTC

I am not typically big on reading novels, but this book was very interesting. The set up was very different than other books. There was very little dialogue and the dialogue that was there didn't have any quotation marks. The story mostly focused on the dark and cold setting of travelling south after an unnamed apocalypse. The characters did not have names, they were just referred to as the Man and they Boy. The characters were very inspiring because they never gave up on their goal. They were in constant danger and bad weather, but they pushed on to the end. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a mysterious journey.

Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng

2026-01-12 16:03:58 UTC

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng follows the struggles of a family that faces isolation, misunderstandings, racism, and even more challenges throughout their lives. In this book we see the perspectives of each family member and get to see their view on things they experienced in the past and present. We as readers get to truly understand why the characters feel the way they do and make the decisions they make. This story also touches on family struggles which adds to the intensity of the challenges the family goes through. Overall this book was a really good book. I enjoyed the plot twist and getting to know each of the characters. It was a bit slow at the beginning however it did pick up towards the middle and end. It was kind of sad but there were some funny and shocking moments. I would definitely recommend this book especially if you enjoy family drama.

the Iliad (Emory Bradley)

2026-01-12 16:04:15 UTC

the book the Iliad is pretty cool there is great epic fight scenes and big godlike characters there also are gods was pretty difficult to read but you find the rhythm and it becomes pretty easy the book starts off slow but picks up to a sprint fast and its really good also you gotta know about the stuff that happens before because it kinda through you into a war that's been going but it makes the story better the war truly isn't the main purpose it uses it to show the relationship and similarity that the sides have most of my favorite parts were when they weren't fighting book 6 one of my favorites I HATE Achilles but he one of the best characters the characters feel different from each other which is nice you really start to understand what drives the characters and root for or against them it shows the power of the gods very well and you can grasp how powerful they are pretty cool I would recommend it to people

The Iliad - Homer (Clayton Freeman)

2026-01-12 16:04:21 UTC

The Iliad by Homer is an epic about the later part of the Trojan war. The book tell the story of how Achilles left the war and then joined back in due to his friend dying in the war. It goes into how Achilles and Patroclus is scared of their death and the dangers of the war. On the opposing side there is Hector who is fighting for pride even when he knows how it could end. Personally I felt that there were times in which it was too many emotional characters. I also felt that it seemed like we didn't see enough of the Trojans. That can also go for some characters like Agamemnon and Helen of Troy. I would have also like a little more on the topic of why Achilles dropped out initially.

The Turn of the Screw - Henry James

2026-01-12 16:05:55 UTC

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is a 1898 horror novella that revolves around the main character, the Governess, who is set to care for two children in a Mansion in the small country of Bly, located in England during the Victorian era. Initially, I was quite overstimulated by how the governess just appeared out of nowhere with no context, along with James's not-so-exquisite use of punctuation, but eventually I built up to it. The more you read, the more confused you will feel at times; you'll wonder whether you've skipped pages by accident. Despite the book's category being horror, I'd say it's less horror and more of a suspense due to the immense amounts of ambiguity present in the book: from the characters themselves to questioning these things the governess sees, there's no end to how many possible interpretations this story can have coming from a single person. The story develops, and it all comes down like a trainwreck at the end, where your interpretation is finally settle,d and you will wonder what the real meaning of this book could be. This being said, it is not a bad book, but definitely not the best. Despite the influence it has had in the past 100 years, I'd only suggest reading this if you're a big fan of ambiguity.

Haunting of Hill House By Shirley Jackson- Carmen Ferrell

2026-01-12 16:07:12 UTC

In this novel the focus is on one character and her search of belonging which then is taken over by the house. Eleanor's mental state is discovered by each incident happening within the house. Each character is linked to the incidents happening in the house, but Eleanor is the most vulnerable, which makes her the target for the house. The house focuses on her leading to see if the incidents are connected to her mental state or paranormal activity. This book has dark themes of loneliness and the paranormal, which keep you interested throughout the book. Her mental destruction is representative of humanity as a whole. I would recommend this book because it helps to understand a new perspective on people's psychological states.

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

2026-01-12 16:09:20 UTC

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent reading the Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka's exploration of the loneliness that Gregor Samsa faces and the parasitism of his family on his wealth are saddening but rewarding as a reader. Small hints given for a character's characterization in an earlier portion of the story showing up later in the story happen quite a lot, and is sufficiently rewarding. Though the story is a translation from the original German, Kafka's style is still apparent and distinct throughout the work. The way story details are indirectly told throughout the story to the reader is interesting and engaging. What I most enjoyed when reading this book was trying to figure out Gregor Samsa's character. Gregor, as a character, interested me greatly. I would call his personality and inner thoughts regarding his family to be the most intriguing part of his character. How Gregor took abuse from his family while seemingly to not mind very much is very different than what I am used to, and sufficiently details a recurring theme of the story regarding one-sided love. Ultimately, I found this book a very rewarding and thoughtful read. I would definitely find a chance to read it if you haven't. Everything from the storytelling to the characterization is masterful and meaningful. I finally understand why The Metamorphosis is Kafka's most popular work.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

2026-01-12 16:10:05 UTC

The book, "Atonement" is set in 1935 on the Tallis Estate in England. This book is mainly centered around the perspective of Briony Tallis, a young, naive girl who has a passion for storytelling. The book also offers the perspective of Briony's older sister, Cecilia, and her childhood friend Robbie. I enjoyed how this book offered multiple perspectives of the story. After Briony finds out that her cousin, Lola Quincey, has been violently assaulted, Briony falsely accuses Robbie of being the perpetrator based on a series of events that caused her to have misunderstandings on Cecilia and Robbie's relationship. This decision Briony makes as a young girl affects the trajectory of everyone's lives, causing her immense guilt and a longing for atonement. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes historical fiction, romance, or tragedies. This book was interesting to read and made me think deeply about the impact that one decision can make.

Luke McKinney: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain

2026-01-12 16:11:08 UTC

Overall I thought the book was good, like a 6/10. I personally don't think trying to read the book is a good idea for someone that doesn't want to be confused, in regards to the dialect (The book takes place in the south during the 1830s so the charters dialect is hard to read). I listened to the audio book primarily and I had no problems understanding the book. The plot was alright; the beginning and middle were good, but towards the end it gets kind of pointless. Oftentimes in the book a something that seemed like a major event or something crazy would happen and the charters would barely acknowledge it. some parts of the book felt repetitive because half of the plot is Huck and Jim on a raft. The book did have lots of cool parts to it and most of the morals of the book were very obvious, making it ideal for the point of the reading.

1984 by George Orwell - Luke Bagby

2026-01-12 16:19:35 UTC

This novel is a very interesting read. It is a dystopian society set in the future of the time it was written. There is indeed a mildly less eventful story. But, that is replaced by great introspection and thought-provoking commentary. There is a very vivid setting created in this story. This detailed image conjured in the mind of the reader sets the stage for the commentary, themes, and events in the book. Additionally, there is a large amount of political commentary. Especially speaking upon totalitarianism and its effects. There is also a focus upon communism and capitalism and the tensions between the two. However, what was most impactful in my opinion was the deep philosophical questioning provided in the novel. These questions were inspired and produced due to the totalitarian regimes which the nation is under.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

2026-01-12 16:20:24 UTC

In this dystopian novel, the Brave New World, the novel's plot revolves around Bernard, Lenina, and John the Savage. The novel introduces two city's. One filled with high-tech comfort were people are conditioned to embrace conformity, consumerism, and promiscuity, and the other a savage reservation filled with sickness, old age, and death. Lenina is a perfect example of the World State, the city which is filled with high-tech, she is perfectly conditioned to their ideas. John the Savage is from the Savage reservation, and has contradicting ideas from Lenina and the World State. John gets introduced to the World State, and when the ideas of both worlds collide, it crushes John who feels like an alien in both places. The novel express two different ideas through two different places, the theme ultimately is asking if sacrificing an individual's right to struggle for truth is a fair exchange for engineered comfort. Overall I thought the book was pretty good, however the different ideas that the World State has was weird to me at first. The beginning of the book was okay, but the middle and end are the parts I like the most and were the most action is. My favorite character was John the Savage, and his strong moral compass.

Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt

2026-01-12 17:08:20 UTC

This book was an engaging mystery that I enjoyed reading. With the interesting incorporation of an octopus´s perspective used to tie in humor and missing parts to dramatize the revaltion at the end. It takes two broken characters and brings readers through how they both allow grief to control them, relationships they have, and living their everday lives. If you don´t like books that are formated from different characters perspective, this one won´t be for you. It won´t take that long to read if you actually sit down and give yourself an hour or two to read. I can´t really say too much about the book without ruining the plot, but there is situational irony throughout the book that keeps it intertaining. There is also details that Van Pelt cleverly waits to reveal to allow you to guess on which way she chooses to go. Meaning, if you like to make your own assumptions about books before the answers are revealed this would be a book to look into. There is also the reuniting of family in the novel, so it is pretty wholesome. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and puzzles.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - Braxton Jerry

2026-01-12 17:24:11 UTC

In the novel Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, the novel focuses on the daughter(Lydia) who disappears. The disappearance is confusing to the entire town. The town begins wondering why this happened to her and her family. The book goes through the entire family trying to figure out why she went missing. The book reveals secrets that Lydia kept from her family and secrets her family kept from her. Lydia is found in the lake near their home. Throughout the book, readers are trying to figure out how she ended up in the lake. We later figure out that Lydia's parents were unaware who their daughter really was and who she wanted to be. The book is really suspenseful and thrilling. I would suggest reading it and figuring out how she ended up in the lake.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir -Gunner Alred

2026-01-12 17:25:03 UTC

Overall, I thought that this book was well-written. It had a great story, and even though it jumped from the future to the past quite often, the book always smoothly transitioned. I never got tired of either the past events or future events. About halfway through the book, the plot picks up, and keeps you wanting to read. My only problem with this book is that the end of the book leaves some to be desired. The story builds up to being able to take revenge, but the main character winds up taking a whole other route, even though he is given the other option. While this could still be a very good way for the ending, it just never worked for me. Overall, I still really enjoyed reading this book, and I may see the movie if it ever comes out.

Joshua Leverton - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

2026-01-12 17:26:01 UTC

I really appreciated reading "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" as my solo novel. The story revolves around Huck, a teenage boy running away from his abusive dad, and Jim, an escaped slave, journeying deeper south to reunite with his family. Throughout the narrative, antebellum American perspectives on slavery are evident in the beliefs of numerous characters that Huck and Jim meet during their travels. I appreciated reading this book because many novels that depict an author's view of slavery typically conclude on a pessimistic note. At the same time, Mark Twain's "Huck Finn" finishes with a relatively favorable ending. I believe this is a must-read classic.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

2026-01-12 17:26:44 UTC

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a dystopian novel that discusses the effects of censorship and how it can affect a society. There was a lot of symbolism in this book. The protagonist starts out as one of the main people who is responsible for all the sensorship and he has an epiphany that makes him realize what has been going on. He goes down the rabbit hole. I saw a lot of similarities between this book and the story of the matrix. Some of the general ideas and messages that I got out of this book were the dangers of censorship, and self-discovery. A lot of the book is written talking about Montag's inner thoughts. It does a good job of building suspense and making you want to keep reading until you figure out what goes on.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Jack Palmer

2026-01-12 17:27:14 UTC

I enjoyed this book a lot actually and would definitely recommend it to anyone that is interested in Historical types of things. There was lots of action going on throughout the entire time. I learned a lot about the history of the Dust bowl and the great depression through this novel. The focus was on a family who was forced to leave their farm because of the dust bowl. They became so poor that they had to go find jobs and opportunity in California. I was very interested in the book the whole time. I loved reading about all of the hardships and the journey this family took and I would reccomend it to everybody. It isnt a super long book either so that was another plus.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy- Salter Mahan

2026-01-12 17:27:44 UTC

I thought The Road was okay it was a little boring at times but I would rate it like a 7/10. The main characters are not named which adds a level of suspense. There are vivid descriptions throughout the book. The author does this to create imagery. I feel like this book is different from other post apocalyptic books. Other books in my opinion focus on like monsters and other unrealistic stuff. The Road is more realistic in my opinion. I would have liked a little more action in the book but I would still recommend this to a friend.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

2026-01-12 17:27:52 UTC

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng is a suspenseful and mysterious novel based in the 1970s. In this time period it was hard for people who were not white/different race to fit in. This novel is based around one specific family in a small Ohio town who were Chinese American. And how one specific daughter carries all of the family trauma and stress on herself and it ends up overtaking her in the end. The story starts off on a turn talking about "Lydia is dead, but they do not know this yet." That set the whole tone for the story and allowed me to be very enthralled throughout the novel. I really enjoyed reading this and all the twists and turns it had. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who has a hard time paying attention to books and staying involved.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy- published in September 26, 2006

2026-01-12 17:29:24 UTC

In this Apocalyptic dystopian fiction, A father and his son have a treacherous journey in the unforetold horrors within this apocalypse caused by unknown catastrophes. What I like so much about this novel was the amount of mystery, we are never told the characters names or where they live or even what caused the radioactive world they live in. Its entirely up the reader to put in their own interpretations of the novel. There aren't even chapters in the book or chapter names. The book has a multitude of symbolisms and tragic very emotional moments. I wouldn't want to spoil it but fully expect to be engulfed in the story and finding it hard to find a stopping point. While i read the book it kind of felt like i was reading someones life just put in a journal.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy - Blake Starr

2026-01-12 17:30:48 UTC

This book is about a post-apocalyptic world were everything we know is burned to ash. The main characters are the man and the boy. We never get their actual names which adds some desensitization to their feelings. The man in the book only has one purpose, and that is taking care of the boy. He makes it very clear in the book that he would have gave up or became less humane like the rest, if he did not have the presence of the boy. We know that the boy gives the man a purpose or some hope but the boy also gives him a will to live. While the harsh environment and other people seem to harden the man, it seems to give the boy a since to keep goodness and humanity alive. The surroundings of the man and the boy truly shape who they became in this story.

The Iliad-Homer (Lonnie Shaw)

2026-01-12 17:42:12 UTC

The Iliad is an Epic by Homer, about the end of the Trojan war. The book tells the story of Achilles and the Greek army. I enjoyed the book a lot. My favorite things about the book were the fight scenes and getting to see the gods interact with armies. The book was a little repetitive though. Some of the fights were also confusing with a lot of different names and repeating. I would have liked to see more of Achilles and his Mother, and the gods fighting. I also would have liked to see more of Achilles in the beginning of the book. Overall i would rate this novel an 8/10.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker - Baylee Richards

2026-01-12 17:43:53 UTC

The Color Purple is a story about a girl in rural Georgia in the early 1900's. The girl Celie tells her story through her letters she writes as a way to cope with her trauma. It showcases how the people in that time were forced into arranged marriages, forced to endure abuse and hardships that most people in our time couldn't fathom having to live through and survive. The book really does make you rethink how fortunate we are in modern times, especially for women, because we have rights to get out of any of the situations we can end up in. It really pulls at your heartstrings, and it did really make me sad personally. The way the abuse is described, especially in the beginning with her dad is so hard to read and process, because of how its written. Walker did an amazing job to show the literacy level that Celie would have had in her time, and it all adds so much to the atmosphere of the story. I would read this book again, and I would encourage people who want a good, historically accurate story to read it as well.

Richard: Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng

2026-01-12 17:44:25 UTC

Everything I Never Told You was a great book, mainly focusing on the disappearance of a young kid and the effects on others. Sadly when picking this book I didn't understand it's full content which leaves me to put a somewhat negative review. The book does inspire great feelings into the reader mainly based on family and also has a great mysterious air which I appreciated. The book also has a way of drawing one into reading further. Personally I didn't dive deep into the book to understand it better but it still leaves a nice feeling as of finishing. One massive problem which led me to not like the novel was the way it was written, it just didn't feel right. It was also hard for me to connect with any of the characters past the plain portrait that I imagined. I don't know if it was just how I read the book but it felt both engaging but lacking. Although my overview is negative I still recommend the book for people who are looking for a more sad or devastating type of book, personally not a favorite but still good.

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens - Laynie McGuire

mcguirelaynie26 — 2026-01-12 17:54:36 UTC

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a mystery novel centered around Kya. She is the main character who experienced many hardships early in her life, such as her whole family abandoning her. Kya was left to survive in the marsh of South Carolina, and discovered her passion for learning about the marsh. As the chapters progress, Owens switches between time periods sharing information leading up to the murder being solved and the events that lead to it. As someone who does not like to read in general, this book was easy to follow along with and kept me engaged. I would recommend this book to anyone who finds it difficult to stay entertained while reading, anyone who likes reading mystery novels, but also people who like nature. I read a few chapters throughout the school day when I had time, and a little at home so I was able to finish it pretty fast. If I had to say one thing I did not like about the book was that sometimes Owens dragged things out too long. It was not often throughout the book, but occasionally I did feel like some parts could have been shortened without losing anything, but overall she made sure to have strong details. I would highly recommend this book for one of your Independent Novel Projects.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - Peyton McLendon

peytonmclendon10 — 2026-01-12 19:41:26 UTC

Catch-22 is a satirical novel set on the fictional island of Pianosa during World War 2. The book follows the perspective of a bomber names Yossarian, who does everything in his power to escape his responsibilities in the war. Overall, I liked the book but I felt that it was confusing in some parts or dragged on. The book is written in a non-chronological way, which I did like most of the time because it felt like lots of stories were happening at the same time. Other times though it felt confusing having to rely on the amount of missions the soldiers had to fly in order to find out where a certain part in the story takes place. Along with this, the story is good in what it talks about and what it satirizes, that being war itself. I think that the problem I have with the book is how much content there is that isn't directly related to the main story. There will be entire chapters that have a few important points, but other than that the chapter is a lot of filler text about a character that you just now learned about. This part of the book is what made it drag on to me, but overall I did like the book.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Ethan Smith

2026-01-12 19:42:19 UTC

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir was a very intriguing book. It started off with a man named Grace who woke up on a ship known as the Hail Mary, and he starts off not remembering anything about where he is, who he is, and what is going on. Throughout the book he slowly regains his memory. I thought this part of the book was really cool because the more that you know as you read, the more that the characters know as well. So it kind of feels like you are going through the journey together. Another thing I liked about this book was the lessons you learn as the book goes on. It teaches a lot of lessons that not only make the book better, but make the reader better as well. One thing I did not like about this book however was it did not really explain what life was like after Grace chose to sacrifice his world to save Rocky's. It kind of left the reader to make an inference by just explaining how Grace taught the population on Rocky's planet about a lot of stuff. Other than that, it did not really give an explanation. Overall though, I think this book was a very good read and I would totally recommend it for someone who likes action and science books!

Daisy Jones and The Six -Taylor Jenkins Reid

2026-01-12 19:42:57 UTC

Daisy Jones and the Six was a great book to read. It followed the two main characters Daisy and Billy. You get to learn about both characters individually and then once they meet you get to watch their story unfold. Daisy had a difficult childhood growing up. Billy has his own issues he developed once he went on tour. As the audience you are able to see how their issue brings life to their music. All the members of the band play a significant role in the overall story. This is definitely a good book to read if you are interested in music or just a fast paced book.

Circe by Madeline Miller - Maya Barrios

2026-01-12 19:43:00 UTC

The book Circe follows the Greek goddess Circe throughout a major part of her lifetime. Circe is a daughter of Helios, the titan of the sun. However, she is one of his least attractive daughters, and is generally overlooked. However, that changes as she discovers her own talent in witchcraft. She is then banished to the island of Aiaia for the rest of her life. And although the scene doesn't change much, this book is far from uneventful. This book spans over many, many years, and she has many experiences with commonly known characters from Greek mythology (Icarus, Daedalus, Athena, Odysseus). Overall, this was a very fun book to read, and I would recommend this to anybody who likes reading books with mythological references in them.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury- Nicole M.

2026-01-12 19:44:16 UTC

The story of Fahrenheit 451 is about a more futuristic world however, instead of having the power and knowledge of books they choose to burn them. Any building or space containing books are burned to ash my Guy Montag and the rest of his fellow firefighters. Throughout the story Guy Montag comes across the rocky road of what curiosity can really do. He slowly leans into the idea of books being a more positive thing and started to gather some of his own. He then, although knowing what would happen, began to keep them hidden within his own home. Towards the end of the story Montag is searched and chased down in order to be found due to having such books. To clear the path of it all, the police begin to suspect people were catching on to the idea of what might be in books and they kill and innocent man who has the same looks as Montag to prove a point of what is to come.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Madel - Ava Corker

2026-01-12 19:44:32 UTC

I enjoyed this book a lot! I am normally into romance or dystopian books but Station Eleven did not disappoint. This book takes the character back and forth from two different time periods. One time period being before the outbreak and the second being after the outbreak of a deadly virus. This virus took out the majority of the population. This novel focuses a lot on the character, Arthur, and his life before death. I would highly recommend this book to people who are into theater or plays. There is a lot about Shakespear due to a group in the book called the Traveling Symphony. This was a group of people who traveled all around spreading their love for music and theater to the remaining population.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Luke Rupert

2026-01-12 19:46:08 UTC

The book project Hail Mary is a story centered around a man named Ryland Grace and his adventure through space. This story flips from the past to present pretty regularly throughout the book, but it keeps the reader very engaged throughout the book. It talks about Ryland Grace's past memories, and they slowly help him throughout the book. About half way through the book, Ryland Grace meets an alien named Rocky, they work together and end up discovering the fix to the astrophage problem together. This was very unexpected of me, because I knew absolutely zero things about the book before I started reading. Overall I would absolutely recommend this book to people who have not read it before, I loved it.

Blair: Everything I Never Told You-Celeste Ng

2026-01-12 19:46:19 UTC

Everything I never told you was a very good book. This book really keeps you turning pages to find out all of the deep secrets held within the Lee family. I did not like how it ended because the main characters death was deemed a accidental drowning and it literally was, I was really hoping she was going to make appearance. I did love the way it was written by going from past to present tense I feel like that created a whole image of why the lee family acted the way they did in the book. I did not like the fact that the mom did not get to be able to be a doctor because I feel like she should have been able to go back to college without running away. Another thing I did not like about the book is how negative all the characters were it was very depressing for allot of the book. I did like how I felt like it was an easy read and not to difficult and wordy. Overall I think that it was a good read though.

Atonement by Ian McEwan - Anthony Silva

2026-01-12 19:46:21 UTC

Atonement is a redemption story with hints of a tragic romance. In it you can see how a child's perspective of the world can lead to unforeseen consequences. It uses multiple POVs, changing from the main characters through each part of the book, in which there are three. I was honestly kind of confused at the beginning because of the way it was written. A major plot point is how the main character Briony is a playwright/ novelist and struggles to find a way to express herself through her stories. It was an interesting read with the themes of war, survival, death, romance, and even some mystery. I struggled to visualize the scenes and the characters. As I continued to read and learn about them they became easier to visualize. The world building and characterization are well done and although I didn't personally like the ending that much, I did think it was overall a good book.

Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

2026-01-12 19:46:28 UTC

This book looked on a society that was overtaken by a regime called Gilead, where the women were seen only for reproductive reasons and the men completely ruled. Offred is the main character and we follow her as she got split from her family and her rights, to the Offred we know as the handmaid. The Handmaid's Tale was a great book overall. I think it is a great read because it can help open our eyes to things that can happen in the future if we do not wake up and see the issues going on within our world. The thought of having a totalitarian society is extremely scary, but if we let things slide by our government this very likely could happen in the future. Offered was the main character and a great example of resilience and not letting something completely control you. She sought many ways to go against Gilead which is a great example of courage and strength, even in the subtle ways. This book is also very difficult and sad to go through because of the control the women were under and reading through the experiences where they could not stop the attacks against them. The women banding together to try and go against was also very inspiring and something I can reflect on in the future.

Fahrenheit 451

2026-01-12 19:47:47 UTC

The Book Fahrenheit 451 was a very great book to read. This book focuses on a dystopian society that added an extreme amount of Technology and banned all books. the main character was a fire fighter who burned books but eventually began to get curious about what he was burning. this caused him to take a deeper look into it and ultimately throughout the book which led to him finding out the truth caused him to break away from society. This was a very good book because it forces you to think about hard topics like freedom of though and if technology is really good for us. I highly recommend your this book if you are somebody who likes books about characters going against the grain and rebelling from a evil society. the bigger message and the ending was also very sad but good i totally recommend this book to anybody who likes to think.

Enoch Assan

The Poisonwood Bible - Zane Bronwlee

2026-01-13 14:17:14 UTC

This book, published in 1998 focuses on several subjects; including human rights, post colonialism, and exploitation through the viewpoint of a missionary family in 1959. I was very impressed with this books narration, as each chapter swaps through 4-5 different 2nd person narrators. Each narrator is a different child in the family, and in some chapters the narrator switches to the mother. The different viewpoints show the reader the ways in which the same event can be viewed by different people and can cause different conclusions. The book also focuses heavily on the history of the DRC, and the U.S. involvement in the country, which leads into deeper focus on human rights (specifically sovereignty). The story provides several alternate viewpoints to a real world event that can be useful in educating and expanding the minds of many people, I defiantly recommend this book to anyone.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2026-01-13 18:01:30 UTC

This is a brilliant post-apocalyptic novel, published in 2006 by American writer Cormac McCarthy. The book details a grueling journey of a father and his young son over a period of several months. They struggle to cross a landscape blasted away, that destroyed industrial civilization and nearly all life. They keep moving on, heading south and walking towards the coast, fearful of remaining in one spot for too long. Even when they luck upon food or water or shelter, the man and boy continue to move onwards. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves post apocalyptic novels. It is very slow but if you search for deeper meanings, you will find too many to count. I would rate this book overall an 8/10, just because It was very hard to get into. But once you enter you can hardly put it down.

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

2026-01-14 15:12:02 UTC

After reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, has opened my perspective on the realities that happen to those who have served in war. This book features Tim O'Brien who writes war stories describing the events and tragedies he and other soldiers experienced during the Vietnam War. Upon reading the book, there was so much to take in as O'Brien presented the difficulties and hardships that they had to manage throughout. From describing the things they literally carried to the expanse of emotions they felt, war affected them physically and mentally. The author gives the reader periods of O'Brien from before, during, and after the war. Additionally, O’Brien would use repetition and imagery to describe a scene which made me feel as if I was there for myself. He would go into great detail and was written in a way that is easy to understand. Overall, I think this book was well written and went deep into the explanation of each topic. Mason M

Circe - Matthew Ballew

2026-01-14 20:38:53 UTC

Circe, by Madeline Miller follows a Greek witch Circe, who is the daughter of the son God Helios. The book shows her life before, during, and after her banishment to the island of Aiaia, and the reader sees how she changes as a person. This book was fun to read because of 2 factors: the pacing and how we as the reader got to see how Circe changed over hundreds of years. The pacing was creative because it was fast, yet I could also imagine the centuries going by between each event. It felt like I was actually in the story. Seeing how Circe changes over the book from her perspective was also interesting because the author revealed to the reader the meaning behind Circe's choices and the change of her mindset over the centuries she was on the island.

Little Women - Rylee Brawley

2026-01-15 01:13:26 UTC

Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women is an amazing example of a story that remains timeless and allows readers to take a moment and slow down to reflect on life itself. This is a story that is very important to me. This story follows the lives of the four March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, ad Amy. In my opinion, one of the best things about this book is how it explores the different personalities and values of each sister individually instead of just lumping them all together. These sisters grew up in Massachusetts during the Civil War, which their father served in. While their father is off at war, their mother guides her girls through tough times and struggles, while also helping them to become the best version of themselves.Throughout the novel, Alcott portrays themes like family, perseverance through times of challenge, and personal growth. Overall, this story left me with a lasting impression by reminding me the importance of compassion, resilience, and staying true to myself.

Where the Crawdads Sing- Delia Owens

2026-01-15 17:50:15 UTC

After reading Where the Crawdads written by Delia Owens, I was presently surprised by the amount of details in the novel. This book takes place in the deep marsh's of North Carolina, where the society expectations were very much different in the marsh compared to the town. In the novel, we get to know insight on a girl named Kya who had been abandoned by everyone who was ever in her life. After a man turns up dead, the whole town turns the blame on her for his death. Without spoiling it, I will say that this book was full of great details and moments of surprise. I loved this book mostly because it was easy to follow along, even with the drastic amount of flashbacks. Overall, I think this book is well written and very intriguing.

Frankenstein- Austin Bush

2026-01-16 14:58:07 UTC

On his voyage through the North Pole, a man named Walton stumbles across Victor Frankenstein and listens to his story. Victor Frankenstein grows up in Geneva with his family and adopted sister, Elziabeth Lavenza. He leaves for university to study science. There, Victor becomes overly obsessed with life and death. Victor spends most of his time putting together a creature. This creature eventually escapes Victor and goes to Geneva where he kills William, Victor’s brother. Victor finds the creature in the mountains and listens to what the creature has been through. The creature is unable to make connections with humans, but despite this is very educated, having learned how to read and write. The creature demands Victor make another one so could have a mate. Victor obliges and starts, but quickly destroys the second creature in front of the first one, causing it to go into a vengeful rage. The creature goes on to kill Victor's childhood best friend, Henry Clerval. Henry goes back to Geneva to marry his adopted sister Elizabeth, but on the night of their wedding, she is murdered by the creature. This sends Victor on a quest for revenge. This quest would eventually lead him to Walton. The creature makes one last appearance standing above the lifeless corpse of Victor, where he vows to take his own life in the mountains so no one finds him and tries to replicate him.

Where the crawdads sing- Delia Owens

2026-01-16 15:16:22 UTC

Where the Crawdads sing is a mystery book. This book keeps you intrigued and has an ongoing plot. It is one of those books that you can't put down no matter how much you want to. I love the way that the book goes back and forth in time in order for the reader to understand the whole plot and story line. Delia Owens does a incredible job of making the reader have a connection with kya. and feel sympathy for her and her situation. She is abandon by everyone in her life that she loved and is forced to survive on her own in the marsh. She falls in love with a couple of boys but she had a bad reputation in the town and no one was ever nice to her. On in the book kya ended up getting raped and then he showed up dead this made her the number 1 suspect and having the town in the court it made things really hard on her. you will have to read the rest to find out what happened. But I highly recommend it to anyone who is in to mystery or just a good book

Invisible Man - Olivia Berry

2026-01-20 05:59:46 UTC

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is a powerful novel that highlights systemic racism, and dehumanization and alienation in a way of how society often ignores or erases certain people, through a series of the unnamed narrators recallings and his reflections from isolation. I connected with the theme of isolation in this novel both as a girl and as someone who doesn't always fit the image society expects, so it all felt very moving and real to me. One detail that really stood out to me was the fact that the Black, unnamed narrator or "invisible man" was creating a pure white paint, a vision of America, while no one acknowledged his work, showing both his racial invisibility and alienation in society at the time (which ended up leading to his long-term isolation). It was even more striking when I made the connection that the Sherwin-Williams color of the year for 2025 was a shade of white, which made the symbolism in this novel feel even more timeless. The book shows that the issues that Ellison explores are still relevant and true today, from prejudice to how society treats people as invisible. Ellison clearly demonstrates how people, especially people of color, can be dehumanized even when their work or presence is essential to society. The story is overall very thought-provoking and it definitely left a lasting impression on me. All in all, Invisible Man is a truly unforgettable novel, full of all kinds of well written truth, and it challenges readers to open up to a widened horizon of perspective and recognize the realities of society and the human connection within it. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is a young adult or older, and to someone who can look at the world through a wide-angled lens, able to put themselves into another man's shoes, mostly without bias.

The Things They Carried - Ethen Bridgeman

2026-02-02 03:45:01 UTC

Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried is one of those rare books that feels both brutally honest and strangely poetic at the same time. Even though it’s set during the Vietnam War, the stories focus less on battles and more on the emotional weight the soldiers carry—fear, guilt, love, and memory. O’Brien’s writing style is vivid and immersive, making even small details feel meaningful. What stood out to me most is how the book blurs the line between truth and storytelling, showing how people use stories to survive difficult experiences. The characters feel incredibly real, and the book captures the complicated mix of courage and vulnerability that defines them. It’s not a traditional war novel; it’s more reflective, more personal, and often surprisingly beautiful. I found it thought‑provoking and emotionally powerful, and it left me thinking about the cost of war long after I finished reading. Overall, I’d recommend it to anyone who likes books that explore human emotion as much as action.