Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year, and for a special treat this holiday I’m taking a closer look at the messages weaved through one of the absolute classic Halloween stories – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Frankenstein, which has become one of the most well-known 19th century Gothic novels of all time, is an incredible story of revenge, prejudice and loss of … Continue reading The warning in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
Ray Bradbury is one of the best writers of our time, our parents’ time, and our grandparents’ time. His works have influenced generations of readers who became fans and went on to become epic storytellers themselves, like Steven Spielberg, the director of films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T.. Bradbury was, and still is, a muse for writers of all ages. He … Continue reading The warning in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel Of Mice and Men is one the most symbolic stories ever written. It’s powerful, yet tragic, portrayal of it’s main characters, George and Lennie, accurately demonstrates the impossibility of the American Dream, especially during hard times like the Great Depression. It’s a story that makes you root for the characters and makes you frustrated at the injustice of the ‘real world’ … Continue reading The message in John Steinbeck’s classic novel, “Of Mice and Men”
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have heard of The Great Gatsby. A timeless classic from F. Scott Fitzgerald about the ultimately hopeful Jay Gatsby who falls in love with the rich, selfish Daisy Buchanan in Long Island, New York, during the roaring jazz age of the 1920s. It’s a tragic, yet beautiful story that stays with you, touching on the American Dream, … Continue reading The important message in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”
There are countless of Holocaust stories that have been written, but arguably the most popular one is The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. If it’s not deeply remembered for the novel then it’s because the film was a worldwide sensation. It’s a heart breaking story full of innocence and naivety and, yet, laced with the irrevocable loss of childhood and life in what was a … Continue reading “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne: The rest of us live on the other side of the fence…
It is iconic for a literary work to survive 700 years and still maintain its mesmerising capacity to capture a person’s attention, and Dante Alighieri has reached that status. Most people at least know of Inferno, a long poem whose narrative describes what amounts to the poet’s tour of the afterlife, even if they haven’t read it. Guided by the poet Virgil, Dante plunges to … Continue reading What is Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” really about?
USA Today bestselling author Rachel Schurig‘s first novel in her 6-part series, Ransom, is a beautiful new adult contemporary romance story that leaves us with a heart full of hope and a head full of dreams. Where we sometimes feel afraid to open up to the people we love, Schurig reminds us that something good will always come of it. Ransom is a story of love, … Continue reading What it means to go through the hard things with someone who loves you in Rachel Schurig’s “Ransom”
Chasing Olivia is the second novel in Micalea Smeltzer‘s Trace and Olivia series. It’s a beautiful yet ultimately heartbreaking story that reminds us to always have hope and live our lives to the fullest. Through her series, her characters and their stories, Smeltzer makes us believe in the impossible and the power of love, and Chasing Olivia holds the best message of all. How far would you … Continue reading Finding the good in “Chasing Olivia”
The Catcher in the Rye is one of the classic, coming of age novels that’s recommended for everyone to read, whether you’re a reader or not. J.D. Salinger is well known for this particular novel as Jane Austen is for Pride and Prejudice or F. Scott Fitzgerald is for The Great Gatsby. The Catcher in the Rye is Salinger’s world-famous novel of disaffected youth. Holden Caulfield … Continue reading Is “The Catcher in the Rye” really a classic?
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