Tag Archives: classic fiction

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a thrilling novel. It was written by the one and only Harper Lee, Who has made other great novels such as Go Set a Watchman.

At first glance, I thought this was going to be a very boring book because I had to read it for school. And most books required for school are a pain to read, and very boring. But once I started reading this book more and more I realized that I was hooked. Normally I’m not a huge fan of reading, but I really enjoyed reading To Kill a Mockingbird.

The novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a realistic fiction story. It follows the lives of 2 siblings: 6 year old Scout, who is the narrator, and 10 year old Jem Finch. The both of them are very immature at the beginning of the story. The time period is set in the 1930’s in a small rural town called Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus Finch is the children’s father, who is a lawyer. He is also a wise and loving dad, and teaches Jem and Scout many valuable lessons throughout the story.

The story starts getting intense when Atticus takes on a case. He must defend Tom Robinson, who is a black man. Tom is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, who is a young white woman. The trial has a big impact on Jem and Scout’s understanding of the world, and that everything isn’t always innocent as it seems. Jem and Scout grew much in their maturity after the trial, as they had a new perspective of the world and their surroundings.

I would recommend To Kill a Mockingbird to any readers who enjoy historical fiction and thrilling stories. This novel tackles the injustice that can happen in the world and issues with the society.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Recently, I began reading a multitude of books from the romantic and transcendentalist era for the English class at my school. While I initially came into the unit thinking that there would be nothing interesting about these 19th-century books written mostly by authors I’ve never heard of, save for Emerson and Poe, I was surprised by how interesting some of the other works were, including The Scarlet Letter, which the unit culminated in.

The Scarlet Letter gives the reader a vivid picture of early American society through the eyes of Hester Prynne, who is sentenced to wear a red “A” on her chest as a punishment for adultery after she had presumed her previous husband to be dead. The book begins with a visit from Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, at the jail where Hester is being held. Chillingworth tells Hester about his quest for revenge, as well as his knowledge of the identity of the man whom Hester had an affair with. He then forces Hester to promise not to reveal who he is.

Fast-forward a couple of years. Hester’s child, Pearl, has grown, and Chillingworth’s quest for revenge continues. Although I am not going to reveal who the person ultimately is for the sake of not spoiling the story, Chillingworth begins to masquerade as a friend of the man whom Hester had an affair with and begins to psychologically torture him into confessing and exposing himself to the rest of the community.

Although I won’t spoil the rest of the story, I found this book very interesting because Hawthorne skillfully weaved references to romantic and transcendentalist ideas into the story, while still keeping it engaging. Also, for anybody interested in getting this book, I would recommend the Norton critical edition, as it includes the story itself as well as explanations for some archaic references or vocabulary that we would have a harder time getting. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in reading classic American novels, or novels from the romantic era in general.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

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Let’s go back. This book took me a few months to read for my English class. School is out, yet I haven’t done anything for this novel. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens was not the easiest book I’ve ever read. I won’t lie, online synopses really helped me out in the understanding portion as I read through it. While it wasn’t an easy book to read, it was by no means bad. 

A Tale of Two Cities is a reflection Charles Dickens writes about on the French Revolution as a warning to those in his period. Almost written in a way to stop history from completely repeating itself. It focuses on the Manette family and their story through trauma and hardships, new found romances and family drama. We meet plenty of characters along the way; those directly involved in the French Revolution and people who are victims to the violence. Dickens sets the stage a few years before the revolution, establishing various relationships and connections that affect all the cast in one way or another. The result of violence and loss, made to make the readers uncomfortable, are beautifully crafted to warn and caution society. 

Dickens writes in a way that elongates the ideas he is trying to express as he sprinkles in colorful vocabulary to make it even more confusing for the everyday reader. However, once you figure out what he is talking about and the main point of what is happening, the story becomes much more enjoyable. The whole plot of the novel is like one big mystery. We all know it leads up to the Revolution, but how could a family and group of friends from London get involved with something happening in France? How are these characters important to the story? I really loved how all my questions were answered by the end of the novel, many of which answered throughout the chapters. And thinking back, I find it even more interesting and intriguing how Dickens had written this novel; releasing one chapter at a time like some TV show with weekly episodes. Dickens released its chapters serially, once a week, to keep readers on the hook, ready and waiting for the next “episode” to find out what happens to their beloved characters. 

All the characters Dickens carefully crafted managed to create an impact on me. Every single one had an important role to play, some more than others, yet they all managed to build from each other and grow into even more impressive people that audiences can feel for and connect to. A fan favorite (for me and for many) was Sydney Carton. He started off as someone your parents would tell you to stay away from, the neighborhood drunk and overall not the best person. What’s worse, is that he knew that. Such an emotionally depressing character was not what I expected and I didn’t know what to expect from him. So many I knew loved this character, including my English teacher. But in the beginning, I had nothing to love about him. But Dickens was fantastic in character development. All characters had their own shining moments, but Sydney just happens to have one of the largest and most dynamic developments in the story. By the end of the book, I discovered a grip he had on my heart as I ended my read with him. His story left me shocked and gaping as I was left to wonder about the rest of the cast. 

Dickens may not be the easiest author to read from. I must say his diction and syntax are not for the weak. However, he writes a very compelling narrative and builds such meaningful characters. I would recommend this novel to others, with a little hesitance. This wasn’t for everybody. I happened to enjoy it, although I struggled a bit; but others may be wanting an easier, less overwhelming read. But if you don’t mind the challenge, I think that this would be a great historical fiction novel to read. 

-Nicole R.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby. 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

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The Secret History

I recently saw the movie, The Goldfinch, and when I learned it was based on a book I knew I had to read it. After researching the book I realized that the author, Donna Tartt had another book called The Secret History, so I decided to read both of them.

Set in New England, at Hampden College, a transfer student Richard Papen is the protagonist coming from an average middle-class household, Richard is thrown into a world of classic literature and wealthy individuals. Richard joins an exclusive class with only five other members studying classic literature. He believes that to connect with his classmates, he needs to disguise himself as wealthy. He succeeds, and the six of them begin to grow close. Richard soon discovers that this eccentric group of misfits he’s joined has more secrets than what meets the eye.

I liked this book I think that the characters and storyline were well-developed. These characters all have unique characteristics that make them seem real to the reader. I thought that Tartt’s use of Richard’s observant nature to establish the setting and characters was ingenious. The twists create an incredible amount of suspense throughout the second half of the novel. Another thing that I liked about this novel was the realistic nature of the main characters when I was reading, I felt that I connected with the characters and understood their point of view and overall nature. I also enjoyed the overall vibe of the story it felt like a “dark academia” and eclectic type of novel.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction or likes classical literature. Although it does have some dark undertones and is quite lengthy, it is a fun read with lots of twists. I would also recommend Donna Tartt’s other book, The Goldfinch, which has some similar themes that The Secret History reflects.

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.

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.

1984 Book Review

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1984, by George Orwell is a suspenseful and disturbing dystopian novel that makes you anxious but excited to turn the next page. 1984 has very distinct and memorable characters which resemble real traits and qualities of a normal person.

The book is called 1984 because George Orwell wrote the book in 1948 and 1984 is how he imagined the future would be. Orwell’s prediction of the future was that nearly everyone was brainwashed by Big Brother and the Party which was an organization trying to control all of Oceania, where the book takes place. Despite the Party’s efforts not everyone is controlled by them.

Some things I like about the book were its explicit detail which allows you to imagine that the world of 1984 is real. Another thing I like about the book was the suspense that makes you want to keep reading. There are many other things I liked about the book including character development of Winston and the pieces learned of his past.

However, there were some things I did not like about the book. One of these things was that in the beginning there is alot of exposition and it is confusing and boring in this part of the book. Another thing is that the symbolism of objects can be confusing such as the glass paperweight which is related to Winston trying to connect with his past.

Despite the controversial opinion on 1984 I think it is a good book and Orwell tells and interesting but disturbing story to be mindful of how important it is to have your own thoughts and beliefs. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian books, or just looking for something to read.

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

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

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The Picture of Dorian Gray is an influential novel written by Oscar Wilde.  The story revolves around the eponymous character, Dorian Gray.  Early in the story, Dorian is an impressionable young man.  His friend, an artist named Basil Hallward, has painted a portrait of Dorian.  Basil is almost worshipful of Dorian’s innocence and natural beauty.  Lord Henry Wotton, known as Harry, is an associate of Basil.  Harry persuades Basil to introduce him to Dorian.  Immediately, and against Basil’s wishes, Harry begins to exert an evil influence on Dorian.  Dorian becomes preoccupied with his own youthful appearance.  He develops an intense desire to remain youthful forever.  Dorian wishes that his portrait would grow old, while he remains young.  In a mysterious way, Dorian’s wish is granted.

I consider this book to be a cautionary tale about the consequences of selfishness, conceit and other sinful behaviors.  Dorian’s descent into a life of evil was saddening to me.  I felt disappointed that he would fall prey to Harry’s false and immoral philosophies.  The manner in which Harry influences Dorian is very cunning, and seems to be a very accurate portrayal of the manner in which one might be deceived by hedonistic philosophies.

The tone of this novel is rather dark and gothic, so I am not sure that everyone would enjoy reading it.  I personally found it to be quite intriguing and instructive, even though it seemed eerie at times, especially at the end.  This could be considered a very tragic story, but I think Oscar Wilde teaches some valuable lessons in this book.  I would recommend the book to most people, although some people may find it to be a bit creepy.

-Oliver H.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. It can also be downloaded for free from Libby.

Howards End by E. M. Forster

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Howards End - (Illustrated) - Kindle edition by Forster, E. M.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Howards End is a humanist work with female protagonists to explore the themes of connection and freedom. It explores the political, economic, class, gender and cultural issues of British society in the early 20th century. It has its specific character depiction, besides paying attention to the emotions of the Schlegel sisters, it pays more attention to the family and the view of money and interests, revealing the huge social inequality caused by the widening gap between the rich and the poor. This novel describes the relationships and entanglements between three families from different social levels, showing the status of class struggle in Britain at that time.

The Schlegel sisters, who represent the spirit and culture of the upper middle class in Britain, and the Wilcox family, who represent the same class in their practical, imaginative and arrogant ways, as well as the complex relationship between the upper middle class and the lower middle class in Britain. No matter the main characters’ detailed psychological narration or the few words of minor characters, Forster vividly depicts the mentality of all kinds of characters under the social conditions at that time. The Wilkes family from the upper classes was cold and hypocritical; the Bast family from the lower classes struggled to make ends meet and could not pursue their own ideals.

The middle class Schlegel sisters were privileged, but were deeply influenced by the democratic and liberal ideas of the time. Among them, the elder Margaret hoped that understanding and tolerance would bring people from all walks of life together. Her sister Helen, on the other hand, was full of sympathy for the lower classes and made no secret of her disdain for the upper classes. Howards End is the country home of Henry Wilcox, the hero of the novel. Henry’s ex-wife, Ruth, often talks about the home she loves to Margaret Schlegel, their accidental friend.

She even wrote a note to give it to Margaret before she died, and the Henry family, surprised and hurt by this, tore it up. Margaret then missed out on Howards End several times. Helen had an affair with Leonard Bast, and the children of a man and woman from different classes, equally despised by the upper classes, inherited Howards End and represented a new force in England. In Howards End, the protagonist Margaret reflects the social ideal of the author Forster. By means of symbolism, the author proposes that spiritual and material things should be connected.

Only by joining together, the symbol of The United Kingdom, “Howards End” can be saved. Howards End is a symbol of family, and Margaret’s visit to Howards end is also a cultural journey to find her roots. Howards End presents all kinds of social contradictions faced by the British society under the impact of industrialization and mechanical civilization in the early 20th century. The novel revolves around the complex relationship between the Howard manor and three characters of different classes, realizing the unity of material ecology and spiritual ecology.

In his novels, Forster praised nature, reflected on the relationship between man and nature, and expressed the survival thoughts of integrating into nature and returning to nature. This reflects the author’s creative and forward-looking green thinking, humanistic spirit and modernist spirit, and has some enlightening significance to the goal of building a harmonious society. The narrative modes and techniques used in the novel also influenced the modernist novels and inspired the writers of modernist novels to continue their pursuit and exploration of artistic truth. Through Howards End, Forster arouses the British people’s thinking about modern civilization and traditional culture, and urges them to re-examine the conflict and integration of different cultural identities and different classes.

Authors We Love: S.E. Hinton

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Ideally, in every form, artists try to mold creations from what they see in their everyday lives and the world they have inherited. S.E. Hinton, boldly nicknamed called “the voice of the youth,” has demonstrated this artistry in each piece she has written, displaying the realities and complexities presented throughout her life growing up in the race and class divided 60s and 70s.

Two of her most famous books, The Outsiders and That Was Then, This Is Now, are written from the perspectives of young boys experiencing the ups and downs of adolescence alongside their close friends and siblings. Though written over 50 years ago, the themes presented in her novels still ring true to this day, to children, teenagers, and adults alike. The slang used in her novels reflect the time periods in which they take place, making for nostalgia and remembrance of decades past.

Hinton’s writing style is simple yet sincere and is relatable to the wide variety of people contained in her audience. Her ability to describe her personal experiences through different lenses ultimately allows her to assimilate herself with the audience, strengthening the relationship between the reader and the author, bringing us closer together.

The events depicted in Hinton’s novels are strikingly mundane when presented alone, but with the accompaniment of her likable and authentic characters, they hit close to home. The ever-present themes of loyalty and friendship are heartfelt, and only make the stories all the more pleasant to read.

In addition to her publications, multiple films have been made as counterparts to her novels, including The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. Similar to her writing, the films have an uncanny ability to universalize emotions and situations to strike the hearts and minds of the audiences.

Whether you are young or old, male or female — S.E. Hinton has something to offer. With her profound and humble stories, every aspect of the story comes full circle. Savvy?

—Keira D.

The works of S. E. Hinton are available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library. They can also be downloaded for free from Overdrive.