Author Archives: Aysha H.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

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If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio is a murder mystery novel centered around a group of theatre students at a university in Illinois. The story is told from the perspective of Oliver, one of the members of the group. The novel starts off with him being released from prison and retelling an incident that put his entire group in jeopardy, and ultimately changed the trajectory of their lives.

While reading this book at first, I wasn’t entirely sure if I enjoyed it, mainly because the style of writing wasn’t my taste and the plot seemed rather slow. However, the story began to build up during the second half, and the plot twist left me shocked. Given that the events were told from the perspective of a student who wasn’t entirely involved with every member of the group, there were several loose ends in the plot that ultimately came together to create an ending that readers would never expect. Therefore, although the narrator could be seen as unreliable, he added a sense of suspense and mystery that the story would otherwise be bland without.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in mystery or dark academia genres. Although it didn’t fully live up to my expectations, I still enjoyed the plot in the end and could see it as something that many readers would be intrigued by.

-Aysha H.

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

The Shining by Stephen King

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In the 1977 horror novel The Shining, Jack Torrance is hired as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, and was invited to stay there with his family during the rough season. Seen as how Jack was battling against a past drinking addiction that put him and his wife in conflict, this was a perfect chance for the family to get closer. However, his five year old son, Danny Torrance, has a psychic ability called “the shining,” which allowed him to sense that the Overlook Hotel is a place of danger. Despite this, the Torrances, needing the money, continued with their plan to go there, leading to a journey of insanity, demonic possessions, and a dark, gruesome look at the Overlook’s past.

One of the best aspects of King’s writing would have to be his extremely detailed imagery. The extent to which he describes each event allows the readers to better picture the struggles and terrors each character goes through, which is an important aspect of any horror novel. The complexity in the characters, especially in Jack, also added a sense of realism to the story. King shows how Jack wasn’t “perfect,” and that his abusive past ultimately impacted the person he grew to be. Yet, he still felt shame towards his actions at the same time, causing readers to feel confusion as they develop their feelings towards him.

Overall, I found The Shining to be extremely engaging and definitely one of the best horror novels I’ve ever read. While still suspenseful and thrilling, I didn’t find the story to be extremely scary, making it more accessible to a wide audience. I do admit that some chapters felt very long and dragged on, but the build up to the end ultimately made these dull moments worth it. Despite any flaws, the characterization, imagery, and impressive writing displayed throughout the novel makes it truly deserving of the title of one of King’s best works.

-Aysha H.

The Shining by Stephen King is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

1984 by George Orwell

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In the classic 1984, writer George Orwell invents a frightening world in which a totalitarian government, otherwise known as “the Party,” rules its citizens through extreme oppression. Within this highly imaginative society, the Party controls every aspect of an individual’s life, down to their very own thoughts. Any sign of rebellion would result in extreme torture till the point of death. Now, I could go on and on listing every aspect of living in such a society, but the Party’s main goal, one in which they try to engrave into the minds of all citizens, can be summarized perfectly into one sentence: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”

Now describing what this dystopian world is actually about, I would say that my favorite aspect of this extremely compelling read would have to be the perspective in which it’s told. 1984 is written through the life of a low-ranking Party member named Winston Smith, who disagrees with the views of the Party and secretly takes part in acts of rebellion. Given his rank, I feel as though Winston perfectly illustrates the experiences of a “common man” in such a society, causing people to sympathize for him as he battles against those “above him.” His philosophical views on life and politics also causes readers to better relate to and connect with his character.

Additionally, despite being a perfect example of Orwell’s brilliant creativity, 1984 also reflects the political climate in which it was written. The novel was originally released in 1949, a time when communism, the Cold War, and nuclear weapons were seen as a global threat to citizens across the world. Learning about this history caused me to appreciate and contemplate the novel even more, as it can also be seen as Orwell’s warning to future readers on a society that can very-possibly come to life if our political landscape isn’t dealt with carefully.

Overall, I found 1984 to be an enticing and eye-opening novel that exposed me to a world I could have never imagined. I truly believe it deserves to be known as one of the best classics ever made, and I can find myself recommending it to all readers.

-Aysha H.

1984 by George Orwell is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

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The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley illustrates the story of a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein, who desires nothing but to create a living being. Frankenstein eventually fulfills his goals, and creates a monster out of dead body parts. However, the creature’s terrifying appearance causes Frankenstein to run away from it. As a result, the monster forges a plan to murder its creator for abandoning him, as it realizes it’s desire for compassion and love.

While reading, I found that the most impactful theme in this novel involves the dangers of too much ambition. Frankenstein had a life-long wish to “play God,” and accomplish something that no other scientist could ever dream of. However, he never considered the consequences of what his actions may bring, and still continued with his plans. One may never consider the negative effects of such lofty goals, yet Shelly was able to perfectly highlight this by causing Frankenstein to gradually lose himself and everything he loves, showing the negative impact just one decision can have when not dealt with carefully.

Overall, through her imaginative novel, Mary Shelly revolutionized science fiction, inspiring generations of authors for years to come. This story also had a great impact on pop culture and science fiction films as well, making it an excellent classic that should be read by everyone at least once in their lives.

-Aysha H.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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The Secret History by Donna Tartt is narrated by Richard Papen, a new student attending a school called Hampden College in Vermont. Upon arriving, he is given the opportunity to take an ancient Greek class, in which he meets five Classics students: Charles, Camilla, Henry, Richard, and Bunny, who he grows close with within the first few months of the year. However, from the very first line in the prologue, Tartt spoils the fact that Bunny is eventually murdered, leading the novel to center around this event and how it was dealt with by the rest of the group.

Throughout the course of the story, Tartt alludes to several themes concerning the dangers of appearance and the romanticization of the elite class. For example, Richard is initially attracted to the group due to their wealthy, or as he describes, “magnificent,” appearances. He even fabricates aspects of his past in order to better fit in. However, as the group’s secrets, out-of-touch personalities, and extreme flaws slowly begin to unfold, it shows how their beauty never went beyond surface-level. No matter how rich they were, they were unable to cover up the guilt they felt from the damage they’ve caused.

What I found most intriguing and unique about this plot compared to others is that although Richard provides a well-paced, extremely detailed description of the course of events before and after Bunny’s death, he constantly alludes to the fact that he is a great liar, causing readers to question how valid his perspective truly is. Especially since he isn’t as involved in the group’s plans as others, the audience is left feeling as if they need to know more, and that there are gaps in the narration that can be filled by another character’s point of view. Therefore, I found myself continuing to contemplate the story days after I had finished it, making the novel an extremely memorable read that I see myself recommending to almost everyone.

-Aysha H.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo revolves around the story of a young aspiring actress who struggles with the misogyny and overall demanding life of the Hollywood film industry. Beyond highlighting the seven marriages throughout her career, the novel also discusses the objectification Evelyn feels as a woman in the 60s, the discrimination she faces for her ethnic Latino background, and the confusion she experiences with her identity all at the same time.

Through Hugo, Reid was able to showcase many inspiring themes, such as ambition and the ability to stand up for one’s self. Hugo’s strive for success, and her ability to rise to such a high position despite the challenges she faces early on in her career, causes readers to feel a sense of admiration, as well as just genuine care and concern for the character. Additionally, the author also emphasizes how Evelyn grows from a young girl who is willing to do what is asked of her to a strong, independent woman who demands respect, and stands up for her own rights. However, these words wouldn’t nearly do the complexity of the character justice, as Hugo is also extremely flawed, and has made some morally shocking choices that can leave readers feeling confused and frustrated, adding to the overall intense atmosphere.

I would highly recommend this novel as it’s not only an engaging, fast-paced story, but also opened my eyes towards the issues of the entertainment industry and the struggles many celebrities go through to get where they are. However, I would beware of some potentially triggering content, especially towards younger age groups.

-Aysha H.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath revolves around the story of Esther Greenwood, a young college student who dreams of a bright future as a poet. During a summer internship in New York, Esther is held back in pursuing her dreams as she struggles with identity and societal expectations. The reader is give a deep look at her mental processes as she slowly falls into a suicidal state. In other words, Esther is stuck in a “bell jar” of her own thoughts, where she feels as if she is unable to connect with the world around her.

The most impactful aspect of this novel would be the overall message it shares to its audience on the struggles faced by those with clinical depression. Esther’s narration is given through elaborate imagery and effective analogies, causing the audience to both pity and understand the situation she is going through to a much greater extent. Additionally, Plath’s subtle comments on the societal pressure put on women in the 60s further adds to the complexity of the novel.

Overall, I would recommend this book to most people as it is both beautifully written and very eye-opening. However, I would remain cautious of some potentially triggering material such as mentions of suicide.

-Aysha H.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follows the story of the Bennett sisters, whose mother desires nothing but to get them all married. Early on in the book, the family is introduced to a neighbor’s friend- a wealthy man named Mr. Darcy. The author beautifully develops the relationship between him and one of the oldest Bennett sisters, Elizabeth.

Jane Austen’s ability to realistically capture the struggles in a relationship is the quality I admired the most while reading this book. The author is able to eloquently show the obstacles one must overcome in order to find true love, such as pride, arrogance, and social class. While reading, I found myself at the edge of my seat, wondering what the outcome would be of the protagonists’ turbulent relationship. I also enjoyed how the novel shared the struggles of other family members as well, while still keeping the main focus on Darcy and Elizabeth.

I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in classics, or the romance genre in general, as this is truly one of the most iconic love stories of all time. Although it is difficult to adjust to at first, Jane Austen has an iconic writing style that demonstrates her creativity and elegance, giving her stories a tone that fully immerses readers into the same time period as their favorite characters.

-Aysha H.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

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Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a nonfiction novel that takes readers through the author’s journey of creating his own law firm and and defending his clients. Stevenson works with racial minorities, disabled people, women, and children who have been wrongfully convicted or treated cruelly in prisons. The novel mainly revolves around the case of Walter McMillian- an innocent black man who was blamed for the murder of a teenage girl named Ronda Morrison. However, the author still shares dozens of other cases that involve different groups of people.

Personally, I found this novel very eye-opening, as it informed me of the situations involving our country’s justice system and current prison conditions. It caused me to rethink the conditions in which someone should receive a capital punishment, as well as whether or not the death penalty is considered inhumane. I was also impressed by the several themes in the novel that could be applied to not only my own life, but society as a whole. For example: It shouldn’t be okay to judge someone without considering the situation they are currently in, or what they have been through in the past.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about criminal justice and law. Although there are some legal terms that require extra research to understand the meaning of, the overall plot is very easy to comprehend, especially with the clear, detailed descriptions of each case.

-Aysha H.

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

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And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is an exhilarating mystery novel revolving around the story of ten strangers, each invited to an island by a mysterious host. Their arrival was followed by a series of inexplicable murders, causing the guests to work together to catch the unknown culprit. The novel is based off a famous poem by Frank Green titled “Ten Little Indian Boys.”

Overall, I find this book to be a fairly quick read that keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end. The setting, as well as Christie’s fast-paced storytelling and mysterious tone adds an air of suspense that leaves readers feeling anxious, yet eager to find out who the murderer really is. Furthermore, the way the author flawlessly transitions between different perspectives and gives detailed descriptions of each character’s inner thoughts leaves readers relating to, and understanding the guests at a higher level. All this combines for a fully immersive experience into the world of mystery.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery read. Agatha Christie is considered one of the best selling authors of all time, and I believe everyone should encounter her phenomenal writing at least once. However, I would be aware of the violence and overall gory imagery used, which many readers could be sensitive to.

-Aysha H.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.