Category Archives: Authors We Love

A Guide to Discovering New Books

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Sometimes you get stuck in a reading slump. Maybe the last book you read was so good nothing seems to match it. Maybe it was so bad you’re starting to lose hope. Instead of pulling random books off the shelves, use these tips to strategically find books you’ll love.

(Tip 1: Preferences?)

A good start is identify what your preferences in books are. Instead of just randomly selecting books, try to think about stories you’ve liked before. What connects them? 

  • Genre. It can sometimes be deeper than just fantasy or realism. Maybe you love sci-fi romances, or you’re a sucker for slice-of-life.
  • Length. Some people think a book isn’t worth it if it’s under 70,000 words, and some people think that’s too much. Finding where you lie on this spectrum is a good way to make sure books aren’t too over- or underwhelming!

    (Tip Two: Authors)

Keeping up with the theme of looking back, tapping into an author of your favorite work is a consistently reliable way to find books you’ll enjoy!

  • Many authors have websites that list their complete bibliography. Explore their other works, paying attention to blurbs and reader reviews.
  • If you loved a particular series, see if the author has written other series in a similar genre or style.

(Tip Three: Recommendations!)

Lastly, a good way to find new favorites is to tap into your fellow readers! Ask some bookish friends, family, and others for recommendations. Sometimes you’ll find out you have a lot in common genre-wise, and sometimes you’ll end up reading something completely new. 

Actually, a good place to start is on this very blog! Check out some of the reviews people have posted to see if any seem to match your interests.

Feeling lost in the vast sea of books is a common experience. But hopefully, if you identify your reading preferences, explore the works of authors you enjoy, and tap into the recommendations of fellow bookworms, you’ll remember, the joy of reading lies in the journey of discovery. Happy reading!

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

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“Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe is a poem about a young man and woman’s love story. The story follows a love that provokes even the angels to strip the man of the woman as she passes away in the poem. The poem surrounds the themes of love and how both deep love and death cause great grief and sorrow. 

I particularly love how Poe develops the poem and creates it into a short story. While reading, it barely feels like a real poem, and rather a simple story about a couple in love and their tragic ending. I also love the way that Poe describes the couple’s love as he conveys their love as almost ethereal and something only seen once in a lifetime. The reader is truly immersed in their love especially with how Poe emphasizes how they had a “love that was more than love.” 

I did not dislike anything in particular, except for Poe’s eccentric habit of writing about a young, beautiful woman’s death. I find Edgar Allan Poe an extremely odd man who often wrote about darker themes. Despite how much I enjoy his poems, they may appear a bit strange or may carry hints of weird recurring themes. 

I truly enjoy this poem and recommend that anyone reads it. “Annabel Lee” is a short poem that is easy and fun to read that makes you wonder more about the couple’s story. Please give it a try as well as Edgar Allan Poe’s other works like Tell Tale Heart, a short novel, or even “The Bells,” another poem.

Kaiya T.

Books by Edgar Allan Poe are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot

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Agatha Christie, the most widely published author of all time, has written over 60 detective novels, as well as 14 short story collections. Among those many stories is a peculiar Belgian detective by the name of Hercule Poirot. Poirot has appeared in 2 plays, 33 novels, and over 50 of Christie’s short stories. This beloved detective is by far my favorite literary character, and I implore you to use your “little grey cells” to deduce why.

Poirot first appeared in Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920. The detective was described as a short, somewhat pudgy man, with lovable mannerisms, an egg-shaped head, and an immaculate sense of cleanliness. Poirot refers to his brain as “ze leetle grey cells” and values method over all else.

Poirot’s friend and detecting sidekick is known as Captain Hastings. Hastings works with Poirot and narrates many Poirot stories, although according to Poirot, Hastings fails to employ his little grey cells. Despite Poirot’s charming self-absorption and constant rudeness to Hastings, the two remain good friends and have lots of adventures together.

In short, this lovable, egg-shaped detective is so much fun to read about, and I highly recommend any mystery where Poirot is involved.

Books featuring Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot are available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. They can also be downloaded for free from Libby. 

Authors We Love: Mary Shelley

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A contributor to the Gothic and feminist movement, Mary Shelley was an extremely influential author of the 19th century. Shelley’s legacy can still be seen in literature, which is why it’s important to understand her background and what prompted her works.

Shelley’s feminist nature was undeniably a result of the influence of her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Wollstonecraft was an extremely radical writer who wrote a Vindication of the Rights of Women, calling for equality for women and trailblazing the empowerment of women in education. 

Another notable figure in Shelley’s life that had a great influence on her writing was her husband, Percy Blysshe Shelley. Percy Shelley was a famous poet who is best known for his poems: Ozymandias, Ode to the West Wind, and Adonais.

One of the main reasons Mary Shelley’s impact can still be seen today is due to her most famous book: Frankenstein, also known as the Modern Prometheus. In Frankenstein, Shelley explores many themes such as nature vs. nurture, familial responsibility, romanticism, and revenge.

 Frankenstein is still a required read for many middle schools and high schools, which is definitely necessary as it can teach important life lessons to people of all ages. The ideas within Frankenstein such as the danger in pursuing advancements in technology are extremely applicable to today with the developments we are seeing with AI technology.

Mary Shelley was an extremely powerful force in literature during her time as an author, and this legacy has certainly lived on into the 20th and 21st century as we can still see her influence in a variety of artistic works today.

– Taylor O.

Books by Mary Shelley are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Authors We Love: Donna Tartt

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Donna Tartt is an American novelist who writes psychological fiction. You may have seen her literary works before, some of which include: The Secret History and The Goldfinch. Personally, I have read many of her novels, and enjoyed all of them. She has an intense, nuanced writing style that really draws you into the world that she creates.  Her novels have a very mysterious, often melancholic vibe to them. 

Her most recent novel, The Goldfinch, is a stunning 780 pages long. Despite its slow-pace, Donna still manages to maintain a captivating and engaging story. It is one of her most intricate and emotionally profound novels. It– rightfully so– has earned her many awards. In 2014, Tartt won not only the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, but additionally the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2014. The book was also adapted into a film.

Similarly, The Secret History is another prominent novel by Donna Tartt. This book has such a distinctive feel to it. I recommend you give it a try if you haven’t already. It is an incredible book; I wish I could read it for the first time again!

Tartt has touched many people with her novels. In an interview, she states that,” I’ve had some moving letters from people in prison. I also love hearing from young people who have been inspired to study classics.” Tartt highly values the deep impact her books have on readers. She is also a very humble person, who is genuinely passionate about literature. She is also incredibly talented, even at a young age. She wrote her first poem at just five years old! 

Overall, Donna Tartt is an amazing author. Her novels are a work of art, and she is an inspiring person. I recommend you give her books a try.

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

Why Should We Read Shakespeare?

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Recently in my english class, we started to read Hamlet which left me skeptical at first. I’ve always known Shakespeare to be one of the greatest and most influential writers of all time, but I wasn’t entirely sure what the point in reading seemingly outdated literature was when it came to solving the issues that face us today.

Almost immediately, I realized that this preconceived notion I had about old plays (and literature in general) was extremely wrong. 

It is definitely true that some sentiments in old writing will not seem as relevant to us today, but a lot of the concepts certainly are still relevant. One of the things Shakespeare did best was his ability to analyze the time in which he lived and what issues prevailed around him, and wrote about them in such a way that they could maintain relevance centuries in the future.

A few themes I have noticed in Shakespeare’s work that are still issues faced today are gender, race, and class discrepancies in society. While these issues certainly looked different in the late 16th to early 17th century time period in which they were written about, they still manifest in daily life and are at the center of many political debates.

If there’s one thing I have learned from previously my wrong assumptions about Shakespeare, it’s that I want to encourage people to read historically significant works to help them understand what paved the society we see today like I have recently done as it has greatly changed my outlook on life for the better.

– Taylor O.

Many works by William Shakespeare are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

Authors We Love: Toni Morrison

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Nobel prize winner and renowned professor, Toni Morrison, is a very influential writer whose impact deserves more discussion.

Hoping to inspire multiple generations, Toni Morrison created her works to appeal to both a young adult audience and an older audience. Her main focus throughout her writing was to show the beauty within the culture she grew up in under the influence of her family.

By incorporating Black culture into her writing, Toni Morrison has gone on to inspire not only the African American community, but other communities as well in an effort to foster a society that celebrates originality and a strong sense of character.

Some of Toni Morrison’s most famous works include: Beloved (which won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction), The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon. Beloved specifically details the story of Sethe, a runaway slave, as she navigates life in a world where the ghost of her deceased daughter haunts her family. This story was extremely touching for me to read because I have always had a love for history, and hearing a historical fiction novel Morrison’s perspective was specifically enlightening for me. 

The importance of examining the work of Toni Morrison in literature is evident as she has served to showcase the unjust society in which many African American people lived, specifically women, and its impact on the world we see today.

 Morrison’s perspective is one that goes beyond what schools often teach from textbooks, and gives a deeper meaning to the hardships that many faced in the 19th century.

– Taylor O.

Books by Toni Morrison are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Authors We Love: Kate Chopin

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Influential and inspirational, author Kate Chopin is a notable individual for her necessary contribution to American literature.

Acting as one of the earliest feminists in her time, Kate Chopin wrote frequently in hope of defying the societal norms for a woman in the mid to late 19th century. Chopin embodies this  same mindset as reflected in her novels, such as The Awakening in which she uses a strong female character to show what it means to develop a sense of individuality.

Around the world, Chopin is recognized as one of the world’s most essential author’s, and the lessons within her novels have transcended the era in which they were written. 

Like many other important authors to us today, Chopin was criticized during her time–even having her books banned–as her work was controversial in nature. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate and commend the impact her work has had on female writers worldwide as she was often disregarded during her own time.

Chopin’s work helps us to understand many themes such as existentialism, transcendentalism, and realism, in order to see how these themes were perceived throughout history. Her work itself was often influenced by her personal life and her beliefs as a woman who fought the incarcerating gender roles experienced in the 19th century.

If you happen to stumble upon a writer whose work was once banned due to it sparking controversy, consider their position and learn more about them. Oftentimes, the books that were the most poorly received during their conception are the most impactful to our lives today.

– Taylor O.

Works by Kate Chopin are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Authors We Love: Franz Kafka

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As one of the most notable authors of the 20th century, Franz Kafka has continued to influence and inspire a new generation of writers. In order to understand the immeasurable impact Kafka has had on literature, we must first come to appreciate his story.

To say the least, Kafka did not have an easy upbringing. Born on July 3rd, 1883, Franz Kafka immediately found himself in an abusive and demeaning parental situation. While Kafka’s overbearing Dad initially halted his dreams of becoming an author, Kafka certainly did not fail to produce beautiful works. 

Kafka is well known for his ability to manipulate characterization as a tool to embody real life problems and situations. His most notable work achieving this feat is a novella titled The Metamorphosis.

The Metamorphosis tells the tale of traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who finds himself waking up as a bug-like creature one morning. Within the novella, Kafka uses Gregor’s character to emphasize the melancholic nature that lies within the overworked and underappreciated working class. This ability to commentate on the state of society within literature is a major strength of Kafka that has continued to live on in the efforts of following author’s.

Kafka’s influence lives on every day, and this impact in literature has even been coined with a term: Kafkaesque. Meaning “a characteristic of the oppressed or nightmarish qualities” shown within “Kafka’s world,” the term Kafkaesque has grown in great popularity in recent times. 

So, whenever you are reading a new book, consider the influence that Kafka may have had on the author. I guarantee if you learn to appreciate Kafka’s work, you will see the world in a new light.

– Taylor O.

Works by Franz Kafka are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.

BOOK REVIEW – Loveless by Alice Oseman

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(NO {major} SPOILERS! Spoilers will be indicated!) 

Alice Oseman. She’s coming back to steal my heart after Heartstopper. 

This book was aromantic and asexual representation done perfectly. 

If you were to ask me what book I’d recommend to become a new, coming of age, teen-audience type of movie, I’d choose Loveless by Alice Oseman. Without a doubt. 

You may know Alice Oseman as the creator of Heartstopper, a cute LGBT comic that later adapted into the Netflix series of the same name. In addition, she created this  pull-on-your-heartstrings masterpiece. 

Loveless is a coming of age, coming out story of theater girly, Georgia and her small group of friends who desperately try to save their club, the Shakespearean Society, by putting on a strange play. Accompanied by love triangles and corners and plans to find love (ooh, that’s rough), and incredibly strong opinions on Scooby-Doo, this is definitely one of my Top 10 books!

Best of all, it contains my favorite trope: the main character realizes that platonic friendships can be better than romance! 

This book made me cry in my pillow because I felt so understood. 

This book made me see the world through the eyes of a few of my friends. 

This book made me realize that LOVE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ROMANTIC. 

WHY ISN’T THERE MORE REPRESENTATION IN BOOKS?!?!?

Although there were moments where I wanted to throw the book across the room out of disgust and/or “why why why,” overall, I feel like my entire perspective on life changed. Skimming the book again, maybe it’s because Oseman didn’t shy away from topics that are normally not explored in your typical young adult novel. 

Maybe it’s because there were so many lines that resonated with me (spoilers in the next paragraph). Maybe it’s because I realized that friendship is something I could romanticize. 

(SPOILER) I think what hit me the hardest was the fact that near the end, Rooney, our main character’s best friend, says something like: although we’re not romantic partners, I love you. We’re friends, and this is something that I will commit to until the end of time because I LOVE YOU. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH I NEVER CRIED HARDER AT TWO IN THE MORNING. Rooney also says something like: I’m scared to lose any of my friendships because THEY ARE MY ROMANTIC PARTNERSHIPS EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER HAVE ROMANCE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS I’LL EVER HAVE. 

Loveless was quite possibly the only book to make me sob, make me laugh, make me question my life, and change my perspective… on everything. Everything possible. I love my friends. 

Loveless by Alice Oseman is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.