Category: literature

Books, Classics, fantasy, fiction, Historical, literature

The message in Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story, “A Christmas Carol”

Charles Dickens‘ novella A Christmas Carol might just be the most poignant, touching, and popular Christmas story of all time. There won’t be many who wouldn’t of heard of the story – especially since there has been a massive amount of re-versions of it. Plays, films, animated movies, soundtracks, stories – every way that this story can be covered, it’s been done. First published om … Continue reading The message in Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story, “A Christmas Carol”

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academic, Books, Classics, fantasy, fiction, Gothic, horror, literature, Science Fiction

The warning in “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

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

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academic, Adult Fiction, Books, Classics, fantasy, fiction, literature, Science Fiction

The warning in Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”

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”

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academic, Books, Classics, fiction, Historical, literature

The message in John Steinbeck’s classic novel, “Of Mice and Men”

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”

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Adult Fiction, Books, contemporary, fiction, literature, Romance

Our everyday choices about who and how to love are what matters in Tara Conklin’s “The Last Romantics”

There are a lot of books about love. Some show us what we think love is supposed to look like, others teach us about both love and loss. Some remind us of why love is worth fighting for whilst others demonstrate the hardships of marriage. First love, unrequited love, platonic love, true love, parental love, sibling love, once-in-a-lifetime love. It’s all there, in thousands and … Continue reading Our everyday choices about who and how to love are what matters in Tara Conklin’s “The Last Romantics”

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academic, Books, Classics, fiction, Historical, literature, Romance

The important message in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”

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”

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Books, Classics, fantasy, fiction, literature, Poetry, religion

Dante Alighieri takes us back to the root of all religion with “Paradiso”

I’m not a religious person. Spiritual, maybe, but not religious. But I do believe that religion can be beautiful. The way it can bring people together, the way it makes people feel less alone in the world, the way it can give people something to hope for, even if it’s just for a better tomorrow. Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy touches on this belief. This … Continue reading Dante Alighieri takes us back to the root of all religion with “Paradiso”

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Books, contemporary, fiction, literature, Philosophy, Romance

The truth about what makes a person beautiful in Alain de Botton’s “On Love”

There are a lot of books about love. Some show us what we think love is supposed to look like, others teach us about both love and loss. Some remind us of why love is worth fighting for whilst others demonstrate the hardships of marriage. First love, unrequited love, platonic love, true love, parental love, once-in-a-lifetime love. It’s all there, in thousands and thousands of … Continue reading The truth about what makes a person beautiful in Alain de Botton’s “On Love”

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Adult Fiction, Books, Classics, contemporary, drama, fiction, Historical, literature

Khaled Hosseini presents a way for us to heal a shattered world with “The Kite Runner”

The Kite Runner is not for the fainthearted. It is an incredible, but brutal, fictional story based on very real experiences of those who lived in Afghanistan during the county’s worst times. Khaled Hosseini paints a tragic story of love, second chances, friendship and the consequences of our actions in what can only be described as a powerful, one-of-a-kind novel told over the span of … Continue reading Khaled Hosseini presents a way for us to heal a shattered world with “The Kite Runner”

Paige Beresford3 Comments
academic, Books, Classics, fantasy, fiction, literature, Philosophy, Poetry, religion

What is Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” really about?

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?

Paige Beresford2 Comments