Reading is a common hobby among many people, and is a great way to explore new worlds and live many different lives. Perhaps enjoy a new book recommended by someone here at RAHS
Junior Signe Frenthem would recommend Pet Sematary by Stephen King to anyone who is interested in the paranormal and the idea of life after death.
The summary according to Stephen King’s website reads, “The road in front of Dr. Louis Creed’s home often claims the lives of neighborhood pets. Louis recently moved to Ludlow with his wife, kids and pet cat. The local children have created a pet cemetery near Creed’s home. Deeper in the woods lies an ancient Indian burial ground whose sinister properties Louis discovers when the family cat is killed.”
The Collector by K.R. Alexander was recommended by freshman Sabrine Smith. Despite it being required reading she noted that she really enjoyed the book.
GoodReads summarized the book with, “Grandma Jeannie has some strange rules: Don’t bring any dolls into the house. And never, ever go near the house in the woods behind their yard. When Josie’s mother loses her job in the city, they’re forced to relocate and stay with their grandmother. Josie doesn’t question it when the most popular girl in 6th grade and her new best friend invites Josie back to her house to hang out. Not even when Vanessa takes her into the woods, and down an old dirt road, toward the very house Grandma Jeannie had warned her about. As Josie gets caught up in her illicit friendship with Vanessa, and Joise’s little sister, Annie is caught in the crossfire.”
Junior Indya Moore recommends Frankenstein by Mary Shelly. He spoke on how Frankenstein’s monster was great commentary on stereotypes and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Wikipedia summarizes the book as, “Victor Frankenstein spends his youth obsessed with alchemy. As he grows older, he develops an interest in sciences such as chemistry and electricity. After his mother Caroline dies of scarlet fever, Victor leaves home to attend university. Through his studies, Victor discovers how to create life, which he uses to create a humanoid creature, a large and grotesque creature. When the creature awakens, Victor flees in terror. But on his return he finds the creature is gone.”
Sophomore Konstantinos Touloupis recommends The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. He says, “There’s a lot of plot twists that I loved because you never see it coming, it’s so unpredictable.”
The summary provided by GoodReads reads, “Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless, Evelyn Hugo, Hollywood movie icon, has selected her to write her biography. Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.”
Lolita By Vladimir Nabokov was recommended by Senior Christophe Clausen. He said, “The novel does a wonderful job illustrating how men who have inherent power over women will dehumanize and objectify the very women and girls that they hurt to shift blame from themselves
The summary according to Penguin Random House reads, “Humbert Humbert kidnaps and seduces (if not rapes) his fourteen-year-old stepdaughter, Dolores Haze; estranges his victim from her family and friends and robs her of her childhood; plots one murder and successfully carries out another. The morality of these events is never in doubt. What is in doubt is how much of Humbert’s version of these events and how much of Humbert himself we can believe.” * This book contains the following content: Child sexual abuse, victim blaming, degradation of women and similar topics.
Sophomore Olivia Santana recommends A Little Life by Hanya Yahagihara to anyone that enjoys complex characters and relationships. “I like how they explore into topics of friendship and trauma.” Santana noted.
The summary according to GoodReads reads, “Broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. Four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way; Willem, an aspiring actor, JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel painter from Brooklyn looking for an entry to the art world. Despite their relationships souring, tinged by addiction, success, and pride their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself; increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome but that will define his life forever. This book contains the following content: Sexual assault, Child sexual assault self harm, verbal abuse, kidnapping, manipulation, drugs and addiction.”
