Teresa
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical dystopian tale about a farm that experiences a revolution to overthrow the human owner to set up a society run by and for the animals. It does not go well. Their idealistic revolution quickly turns into another corrupt totalitarian society with one group (the pigs) ruling over all the other animals.
This story is used to discuss politics and power grabs that happened at the Russian Revolution. The characters can be paired up with their human counterparts who shaped Russian history (Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Tsar Nicholas II). The story comes to an end with the realization that nothing has changed. The wheel has simply come full circle (corrupt power to idealistic revolution to corrupt power). The only thing that has changed is who holds the whip.
Animal Farm touches on many themes we as a society must face, corruption of power and ideals, the abuse of language written and spoken, the tendency of class stratification and exploitation, as well as the dangers of blindly following those in power.
This is a banned book in many countries (examples: Cuba, North Korea, UAE).
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical dystopian tale about a farm that experiences a revolution to overthrow the human owner to set up a society run by and for the animals. It does not go well. Their idealistic revolution quickly turns into another corrupt totalitarian society with one group (the pigs) ruling over all the other animals.
This story is used to discuss politics and power grabs that happened at the Russian Revolution. The characters can be paired up with their human counterparts who shaped Russian history (Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Leon Trotsky, Tsar Nicholas II). The story comes to an end with the realization that nothing has changed. The wheel has simply come full circle (corrupt power to idealistic revolution to corrupt power). The only thing that has changed is who holds the whip.
Animal Farm touches on many themes we as a society must face, corruption of power and ideals, the abuse of language written and spoken, the tendency of class stratification and exploitation, as well as the dangers of blindly following those in power.
This is a banned book in many countries (examples: Cuba, North Korea, UAE).
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a young adult/children's book set during the American Civil War and the years after. It concerns four girls as that grow to adulthood and face the struggles between family duty and their own growth, the necessity of work and duty, as well as the important trait of being a genuine person.
I had high hopes for this book. I had always heard great things about it. I was disappointed. Unfortunately, the writing seemed choppy and lacked flow from one chapter to another. Each chapter seems to be its own self-contained mini-story. The author also wanted to capture the readers attention on herself and not let the characters tell their story themselves.
This book is not high on my book list and I don't plan on recommending it. There are better ya/children classics to read.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a young adult/children's book set during the American Civil War and the years after. It concerns four girls as that grow to adulthood and face the struggles between family duty and their own growth, the necessity of work and duty, as well as the important trait of being a genuine person.
I had high hopes for this book. I had always heard great things about it. I was disappointed. Unfortunately, the writing seemed choppy and lacked flow from one chapter to another. Each chapter seems to be its own self-contained mini-story. The author also wanted to capture the readers attention on herself and not let the characters tell their story themselves.
This book is not high on my book list and I don't plan on recommending it. There are better ya/children classics to read.
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is an excellent classic romance book. I usually don't like romance books. They usually seems flat and uninteresting to me. However, Austen is an author I love to read. Not only does this book handle Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's character growth into lovers. Austen handles themes of class differences, gender roles, and family connections. This novel is more than just a one dimensional romance story. This is a story about the interactions of people and how they handle those interactions. "Pride and Prejudice" is a novel that I highly recommend.
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is an excellent classic romance book. I usually don't like romance books. They usually seems flat and uninteresting to me. However, Austen is an author I love to read. Not only does this book handle Elizabeth's and Mr. Darcy's character growth into lovers. Austen handles themes of class differences, gender roles, and family connections. This novel is more than just a one dimensional romance story. This is a story about the interactions of people and how they handle those interactions. "Pride and Prejudice" is a novel that I highly recommend.
A good short gothic horror story for October. The story centers on a young woman who is having to deal with a female vampire. As with all vampire stories there is sexuality in their encounter. This leads to topics of the loss of innocence, love and lust, and female sexuality. The sexuality is more blatant than in Dracula. (Be warned if you don't want to avoid this topic.)
Overall, it is a nice read.
A good short gothic horror story for October. The story centers on a young woman who is having to deal with a female vampire. As with all vampire stories there is sexuality in their encounter. This leads to topics of the loss of innocence, love and lust, and female sexuality. The sexuality is more blatant than in Dracula. (Be warned if you don't want to avoid this topic.)
Overall, it is a nice read.
A good classic book written in the 1800's by Mary Shelly. It explores questions about secrecy, knowledge, ambition, and monstrosities. While reading this book, one needs to question who is really the monster; the creature or the creator/humanity? Also, ask how far one can be pushed and ostracized before they crack and do horrible things to those around them.
It is a book that should be read by everyone and explore the questions asked.
A good classic book written in the 1800's by Mary Shelly. It explores questions about secrecy, knowledge, ambition, and monstrosities. While reading this book, one needs to question who is really the monster; the creature or the creator/humanity? Also, ask how far one can be pushed and ostracized before they crack and do horrible things to those around them.
It is a book that should be read by everyone and explore the questions asked.
An excellent classic book with many movie adaptions. It goes over the state of the soul, vanity, corruption, and beauty. The main character, Dorian Gray, keeps putting the blame of his actions and state onto the picture of himself that has been cursed. He believes that if you have beauty, you have everything no matter how decadent, vile, or corrupt you are. He keeps forgetting that he placed the curse and he is doing the actions that are being placed on the picture. He values his beauty more than his soul.
An excellent classic book with many movie adaptions. It goes over the state of the soul, vanity, corruption, and beauty. The main character, Dorian Gray, keeps putting the blame of his actions and state onto the picture of himself that has been cursed. He believes that if you have beauty, you have everything no matter how decadent, vile, or corrupt you are. He keeps forgetting that he placed the curse and he is doing the actions that are being placed on the picture. He values his beauty more than his soul.
A fictional account of a correspondence between two demons on how to influence humans. This book shows the Christian perspective on evil and how it affects humans. The influence is not overt. It's a little bit here and a little bit there that really gets most of us in this end.
A fictional account of a correspondence between two demons on how to influence humans. This book shows the Christian perspective on evil and how it affects humans. The influence is not overt. It's a little bit here and a little bit there that really gets most of us in this end.
