pebbleschun

The Great Gatsby was the required summer reading the summer before sophomore year. I still remember reading it every day on summer nights at my local starbucks. The novel is centered around Nick Carraway, who is the protagonist, but he mostly serves as a vessel to describe the elusive Jay Gatsby, who is in love with his ex-lover, Daisy Buchanan, and throws extravagant parties in hopes that she will attend one of them. The novel is a tragedy, in which Gatsby dies an empty death at the end. The...

This short story was also one that had me in a chokehold in eighth grade: depressing, and hauntingly realistic despite fictitious elements. The novel is about a working man who is the sole provider for his family: Gregor Samsa. One day, he turns into a massive bug, and essentially becomes "useless" and alienated by his family members. The novel has been challenged throughout history due to its depressing nature and criticism of Russia's working class and working conditions. It was also banned...

The Stranger was my required reading this summer in preparation for senior year. I had always wanted to read it, but never quite got around to it. The novel revolves around Mersault, an apathetic and alienated man. His mother had just died, and he attends her funeral, but doesn't feel much. Over the course of the novel, there are foils to him such as his girlfriend, who is very emotional, and his best friend, who is a "bad person". The novel explores themes of existentialism and normalcy, and...