The Song of Achilles is a retelling of the Iliad with a twist. The book, written by Madeline Miller, focuses on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, from their boyhood to the fateful events of the Trojan War. It’s a tale of love, war, sacrifice, and the destructive power of pride.
Set in the 1950s and 60s in the North Carolina marshes, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ is a coming-of-age story of the ‘Marsh Girl,’ Kya Clark. It intertwines a murder mystery with a tender love story, while portraying Kya’s life of solitude, survival, self-education, and her journey to peace amidst social rejection.
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel set in a future America renamed Gilead, where women’s rights are completely revoked. The protagonist, Offred, is a Handmaid, assigned to reproduce for the elite. She navigates through this oppressive society, recalling her past and attempting to regain her lost freedom.
The Nightingale is a gripping historical fiction by Kristin Hannah, set in France during World War II. It tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who respond to the war in very different ways. Vianne, the elder sister, tries to keep her head down and protect her daughter, while Isabelle, the younger, rebellious sister, joins the French Resistance. The book is a powerful exploration of the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee. Set in the 1930s, it explores the racial inequality and injustice prevalent in the sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama through the eyes of a young girl, Scout Finch. As Scout and her brother Jem become friends with a boy named Dill, they become obsessed with a reclusive man, Boo Radley. Meanwhile, their father, the idealistic lawyer Atticus Finch, defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is an unforgettable story set in Nazi Germany during World War II. The protagonist is a young girl named Liesel Meminger who lives with her foster family in a small town. As Liesel learns to read, she finds solace by stealing books and reading them in secret. The story explores Liesel’s relationships with her foster parents, a Jewish man hiding in their basement, and her neighbors, as well as the impact of war and censorship on their lives.
The Great Gatsby is an iconic piece of American literature by F. Scott Fitzgerald, set in the Roaring Twenties. The book scrutinizes the American Dream through the journey of Jay Gatsby, a man with an enduring love for Daisy Buchanan, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. The novel explores themes of wealth, love, and tragedy, painting a vivid image of the Jazz Age.
Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It tells the story of a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, who enters a BDSM relationship with a young business magnate, Christian Grey. Their relationship evolves as they explore their sexual fantasies, dealing with themes of control, submission, and love.
The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel set in the totalitarian nation of Panem, divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. The novel follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister Primrose Everdeen.