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The Awakening
Chopin, Kate
Reviewed: July 19, 2023
The Awakening is about Edna Pontellier who has everything that she has ever wanted in life. Edna is a mother of two children with a very loving husband. He cares dearly for her, and he provides her with a comfortable lifestyle. Yet, Edna complains that her life is difficult because she has responsibilities, and she believes there is something missing from her life.
Even though Edna has a loving and caring husband, she thinks he does not love her. As a result, she decides to cheat on him with some Playboy (and she seduces additional men!). But in reality, you can tell that... Read Full Review
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The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
Sacks, Oliver
Reviewed: July 12, 2023
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat is a thrilling book about the patients of Dr. Sacks. As a neurologist and talented poet, Sacks unravels his experiences with different psychological disorders. Although the book may seem daunting at first with the intense medical vocabulary, it incorporates Dr. Sack's great sense of humor into each case. Each case history is based on a different patient’s visit with Sacks, goes over the patient's symptoms, and nicely illustrates a unique worldview. A good portion of the book revolves around hallucinations; the man who mistook his wife for a... Read Full Review
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The Selection
Cass, Kiera
Reviewed: July 5, 2023
The Selection by Kiera Cass is the first book in the series. This dystopian romance follows America Singer, who is considered a part of the lower class, living her life as she desires with her first love. Suddenly, when the news spreads that the Prince will select his queen, America is thrust into the world of glitz and glamor, where she doesn't want to be. America misses her love back at home deeply but forms a friendly bond with the Prince, which doesn't go over well. Throw in some twists and humor, and you have a pretty good book.
I read the whole series during COVID,... Read Full Review
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Daisy Jones & the Six
Reid, Taylor Jenkins
Reviewed: June 30, 2023
Daisy Jones... Read Full Review
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
Hosseini, Khaled
Reviewed: June 14, 2023
A Thousand Splendid Suns is the second book created by Khaled Hosseini. Published in 2007, it shares many similarities with his initial release (The Kite Runner). A Thousand Splendid Suns takes place in Kabul, a province of Afghanistan. In contrast to his original release, which displays Afghanistan through the eyes of a man, this is the story of a woman from Afghanistan. The main character Mariam starts the story as a young girl. Through the story, we progressively move through her life and the hardships she faces through the Soviet-Afghan War and the initial... Read Full Review
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Notes From Underground
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor
Reviewed: June 7, 2023
Notes From Underground is a novel that completely changed my view of literature. I would hate to spoil the potential mind massage that would come from this book so I’ll keep my thoughts brief. “Notes From Underground,” however, remains anything but brief. We are shown an unfiltered series of our main characters' thoughts. We learn this nameless man is a pessimistic and cynical man with a troubled past. This information leads us into his heart-wrenching past where we see an insecure and socially awkward man try and communicate to women and his fellow peers while trying to feel... Read Full Review
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Fahrenheit 451
Bradbury, Ray, 1920-2012,
Reviewed: May 31, 2023
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is about a world where books are banned from society. The government does not care what their people do—unless they have a book. The main character is Guy Montag who is a fireman. But instead of putting out fires, as a normal firefighter would, a fireman starts fires. If someone is found with a book, an alarm goes off warning the firemen that someone has been seen with a book. The consequence is that the firemen burn the book owner's house. In the beginning, Guy meets a curious little girl who makes him wonder about the government's rules against... Read Full Review
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Syro Aphex Twin
Aphex Twin
Reviewed: May 24, 2023
Syro is the sixth album created by the popular artist Aphex Twin. This album was recorded over a period of a few years and is an electronic album. It has a mix of tracks that are extremely enjoyable, some that are incredible, and some that are average or bad. It is a very mixed album, but when it has the opportunity to shine, it does so in an extravagant manner. A notable track is "Produk 29", which feels very similar to the older works of Aphex Twin. The track is quick and action-packed but begins with an interesting, semi-calm introduction. Another notable track and probably the... Read Full Review
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All the Light We Cannot See
Doerr, Anthony
Reviewed: May 17, 2023
One book I have recently enjoyed is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The book has two timelines, alternating between 1944 and the years leading up to it. There are two protagonists: Marie-Laure, a twelve-year-old who is blind and lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History where her father works, and Werner Pfenning, an orphan who grows up with his younger sister and later gets recruited to be part of the Nazi Youth. Marie-Laure and her father leave Nazi-occupied Paris and flee to Saint-Malo, where her great-uncle lives in a house by the sea, which ultimately... Read Full Review
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The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made
Sestero, Greg
Reviewed: May 10, 2023
The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made is a nonfiction book co-written by Tom Bissell and Greg Sestero. It’s a biography recounting Sestero’s time in Los Angeles while working on the film The Room, a movie that although its box office income of less than $2,000, has absolutely soared in popularity in recent decades. The initial box office income was a comparative grain of sand next to the nearly $5,000,000 it has made these days.
Greg Sestero’s recollection of events is a tale as old as time, "a young actor looking to make a... Read Full Review
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Citizen Kane
Reviewed: May 3, 2023
Rosebud. This is the final word spoken by the immensely influential celebrity, politician, and owner of the New York Daily Inquirer. Moments before he collapses, this singular word erupts from his lips. A nurse soon rushes in, and it is reported that Charles Foster Kane is dead. The world is shocked by his passing, which has huge ramifications on the world after he’s gone.
To understand the meaning of Kane’s mysterious word would be an amazing scoop for reporters and be immensely valuable information, and they flock to uncover the meaning of his last word. They begin to uncover... Read Full Review
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The Sea of Trolls
Farmer, Nancy
Reviewed: May 3, 2023
The Sea of Trolls is the first book in a three-part series by Nancy Farmer. The book is set in 793 A.D., following the main character, Jack, who is the son of a farmer. His father plays favorites with Jack's sister, Lucy, and never respects him no matter what he does. When Jack goes to feed the village Bard, he is asked to become the Bard’s apprentice. He learns all about the "life force" and is trained for about a year before everything spirals out of control. The Bard goes insane, Northmen attack Jack’s village, he and his sister are captured by the Berserkers, and they are... Read Full Review