Oliver’s Twist

The Importance of Self-Reflection and Remorse

A person sitting on the couch while holding his head

To abandon a life of self-destruction and negativity takes self-reflection and genuine remorse before one can repent and seek redemption.

In Charles Lewis Anthony’s Let Me Tell You How I Got Save, he mentions several moments when he almost lost his life and how his membership and drug habits alienated him from his family and his so-called friends. And yet, his entanglement with one the law and his involvement in gang-related activities went on for years. There is only one explanation for this- it took him that long to embrace self-reflection and genuine remorse.

In Anthony’s book for a better life, he shares that when he fully realizes that God was always with him, Charles began to contemplate a lot and eventually decided that he would take control over his life and seek redemption.

Anthony’s narrative is not unique and, in fact, very common among memoirs of former thugs, criminals, undesirables, and those who underwent depression, crisis, and even traumas. It took them years and years to move on from a life of despair, fear, confusion, anger, and regrets. Identifying one’s situation or dilemma is not enough to remedy the situation or to break bad habits. While it is necessary to move on to the next stages of acceptance and eventually to take responsibility and action, self-reflection and sincere remorse are essential to change.

Self-reflection or self-awareness is essential because it allows us to look deeply into our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Self-reflection without bias shows us objective truths and helps us assess our thoughts, words, and actions. It also allows us to evaluate ourselves, in particular, our practices, mannerism, habits, strengths, and weaknesses.

While self-reflection can also turn into self-judgment, which is dangerous when it becomes obsessive, it is a valuable tool for self-criticism. Healthy criticism, in turn, is essential in acknowledging where we fell short, what is wrong, what is unhealthy, and how we can right these wrongs and be better persons. For people who have fallen into a life of despair, violence, drugs, and even crime, this will be particularly hard and may take time.

In many cases, a significant event or circumstance may push them to finally self-reflect on their lives. This might be costly for them but necessary at times. Self-reflection is a process of self-acknowledgment and eventually acceptance. Acceptance is the key to forgiveness and redemption.

So aside from self-reflection, why do we need genuine remorse? Remorse is defined as deep regret or guilt over something wrong. It is an emotion closely related to self-resentment. While remorse is a distressing emotion experienced by anyone who regrets their past actions and is ashamed, hurt, or angry, it can only last for as long as they feel responsible for their actions. Meaning, once that guilt dissolves; either a person will move forward to changing their ways or revert to their destructive habits or routines. This is why genuine remorse is so vital if we truly want to seek redemption and embrace a more positive and healthy outlook in life.

But what is genuine remorse? By being genuinely sorry, we mean taking full responsibility and accepting the consequence of our wrongdoings. If one is into drug or substance abuse, it means checking oneself in a rehab facility, embracing its programs, and avoiding relapse. If one has committed a crime, it means turning oneself and serves a sentence.

In general, genuine remorse means doing what is right and doing right by the people we have wronged. This is essential in the road to forgiveness and redemption. Genuine remorse means accepting that we have done wrong and forgiving ourselves by asking forgiveness and being accountable for those mistakes. Being remorseful is a positive trait because it allows us to see past our ego, our self-importance and begin to see a bigger picture. We also acknowledge other people’s feelings by acknowledging our shortcomings and failures, especially those we have hurt in the past. It is also a great motivation for us to do the right thing moving forward.

Together with self-reflection, genuine remorse will ensure our road to a better, more peaceful life. It is also essential to know that while these two are personal, we cannot achieve these two traits independently. Sometimes, we need the guidance of God and those people for us to embrace these significant stages of healing and forgiveness.

Action-Packed Fantasy Fiction Books That Ignite Intense Emotions

As a reader, you often hear the term “fantasy” or “fantasy fiction.” It pertains to a literary genre featuring works with extraordinary storylines, unique setting, amazing characters, and other elements inflicted with awesome twists and literary devices. If you are a fan of books filled with magical and action-packed stories, then fantasy fiction is the best genre to dig into.

In this day and age, there are myriad fantasy fiction books that have been published. Some come in stand-alone novels, while others come in series. So, if you are looking for the best fantasy books that will give you the thrill, fear, action, and excitement that you’ve been searching for for so long; then, you might want to check the books listed below.

Sons of Twilight by Collette Jackson-Fink

This book is the sequel of The Daughters of Twilight and was published in 2017. Readers will definitely get the drive to flip every page and even beyond the final page on Sons of Twilight by Fink. It tells the story of how the team members opt to follow Coles into a strange world and reside with the awesome female warriors that live in the Black Pyramid. After consummating their bonds with the angels, the physical appearances of the men transformed into ore, and it will draw their entire strength to safeguard their home and the earth from a mysterious dark mass that promotes chaos.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is a heroic fantasy fiction book and the first of The Kingkiller Chronicle series. It was published in 2007 by DAW Books. The story is set in a world called Temerant, which is a huge continent that’s split into multiple diverse countries and cultures. It was told using the main character’s voice; thus, the story follows the magical tale of a brilliant young man who became an infamous wizard. The personal narrative of his experiences from his childhood to his life after killing a king has created a thrilling coming-of-age story. This book is definitely a great piece that will bring the readers into the thoughts of a wizard.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is a best-selling and award-winning fantasy book that was published in 2001. It centers on the story of a prisoner named Shadow whose wife died in a peculiar accident a few days before he’s freed. With a heavy heart, he went home, but while he was on a flight home, he met a man named Mr. Wednesday. The stranger claimed that he was an escapee from a war and was a god and king of America. Thus, they jump on a journey transversely to the heart of America while an extraordinary storm surrounding them is about to break. American Gods will definitely bring you to an awesome journey to see the soul of the U.S. and be surprised by the things and people that you’ll discover there.

The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

This book is the third book of the infamous Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. It was preceded by The Sea of Monsters and followed by The Battle of the Labyrinth. It was published in 2007 by Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children. The story focuses on the teenage half-human, a half god named Percy Jackson, who embarks on a thrilling journey together with his friends to save Annabeth Chase, Athena’s daughter, and Artemis, Greek goddess, that is held captive by the titans. Moreover, The Titan’s Curse got nominated in several awards and was recognized as the top The New York Times children’s series bestseller and top 30 in the 2010 Book Sense Summer Pick.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments is a bestselling series by Cassandra Clare, and City of Bones is its first book. It was published in 2007 by Margaret K. McElderry. It follows the story of a girl named Clary Fray who enters a club along with his friends. While in the establishment, she begins to notice various peculiar people doing suspicious acts. That is the first event that leads Clary to uncover her true identity, which her mother tried so hard to protect.

Reasons to Read Thriller Books

Thriller is one of the best genres that ignite a bunch of intense emotions from readers. Its most basic characteristic is the moods that it bring out, which offers the readers intense emotions, such as suspense, enthusiasm, anxiety, and more. Therefore, this genre has the ability to keep the targets at the end of their seats with an extreme desire to turn every page.

What makes a thriller more outstanding is its ability to hide significant information to increase the curiosity and engagement of the readers. Literary devices are its prized possessions. The typical devices that this genre maximizes are cliffhanger, foreshadowing, unreliable narrator, and red herring. In contrast to stories from other genres, thrillers frequently have antagonist-driven storylines, meaning that they introduce and plots the challenges that the main characters should conquer.

Great action and suspense are typically showcased in thriller books. There are also some stories under this genre that somehow features characters that are connected with the law in any way, such as the former CIA field agent on The Secret Empress by Frank Heller, a defense attorney on the False Witness: A Novel by Karin Slaughter, and detective on 21^st Birthday by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.

In this day and age, there are still many people who are drawn and are a fan of this genre. What could be the main reasons to read thrillers? Here’s why.

Experience thrill and suspense

There are a lot of individuals, book lovers or not, who love suspense even regardless of what form they come. That said, through thriller stories, readers can experience being thrilled through the growing suspense and unexpected twists in the simplest way, which is reading. Both thrill and suspense give readers the assurance that they will be entertained and have enough enthusiasm to read the story. Hence, they are the primary aspects that engage book lovers in the plot and different kinds of emotions, which leads to a growing attachment of the readers to the book. It is definitely

Learn to persevere and not give up

Perseverance is a value that many tend to cultivate and apply to their lives. However, life seems to be always one step ahead of everyone and surely knows what lemons to throw at people. That is why there are various situations where giving up is almost the only option left.

But through thriller stories, you can get inspired by the will and determination of every character to survive unfortunate situations and even save the people that have special places in their hearts. Regardless of how hard and risky the circumstances can get, the protagonists are still motivated to face the challenges, heart strong and head held high.

Develop compassion and empathy

Why do compassion and empathy matter? The former is the skill to comprehend people’s situations and generate the want to help them improve their lives. The latter, moreover, is the skill to understand the emotions of others and put you in their shoes. Thus, they are significant because they drive individuals to help, execute kindness, connect with others, and be more human.

By reading different thriller stories, the hearts of the readers will definitely root and go out for the main character and the victim. Upon knowing the backstory of the villain, you may perhaps develop a good understanding as to why he had done those evil deeds. Thus, a thriller is definitely more than just action, suspense, and fights. It is more on touching people’s hearts and giving them learning that they can apply to different aspects of their lives.

See the value of courage and apply it

Courage is the sense of taking action in a manner that suitably answers to risks but not in an excessively confident or too cowardly way. Given that most thriller stories involve great actions, fights, suspense, and other twists, the main characters always showcase their bravery so they could solve the problem and conquer the struggles that come their way. With every bit of courage displayed by these amazing characters, readers will definitely see and realize how important and what it means to be brave. Then, use their courage in situations that they deemed necessary, regardless of how big or small the circumstances may be.

Best Science Fiction Books to Read Before Summer Break Ends

Everyone knows that summer is the most amazing time of the year. But, what makes it more awesome is the time that you can get off from school and other responsibilities. For the people in the workforce, you can take a couple of days for vacation or maximize the sunny and bright days to relax by reading novels. Science fiction books would be great to read since they can bring you to extraordinary worlds, take you on a thrilling adventure, and put your imagination to work.

If you are looking for great reads under science fiction for your summer break reading list, then here are the titles that you might want to check out.

Cyberbrain by Benoit Blanchard

Cyberbrain by Benoit Blanchard was published in 2020 by FriesenPress. It is the first book of the series and was followed by Cyberbrain: Guardian Angel. The story centers on the fight to whether or not people need to implant a “cyber,” the developing technology that a corporation invented to keep people from doing bad deeds to eradicate crime, on their brains.

In the U.S., the Cyberbrain Corporation is definitely making a buzz, but their plan for Canada expansion seems to go nowhere. Dr. Alston, the doctor, offered by Patrick Kobayashi with the business expansion, tried and successfully got rid of the implanted cyber from a person named Max and discovered that the invention could put society to risk. That’s when the action starts to boil.

The Madhouse Projects by Rick Badman

This is the first book of the remarkable science fiction series by Rick Badman. The Madhouse Projects centers on the story of a former professor who shifted career and begins working in an underground research and development institution referred to as the Madhouse.

Dick Thurman encounters diverse individuals and collaborates with them to work on projects for a particular organization called BOSS. Thus, he created fly-wheel-power electric Indy cars that are raced at the 2037 Indianapolis 500. Thurman’s wife followed him in the Madhouse and also started a new job there following their fake deaths.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

Christopher Paolini’s To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, published in 2020, already became a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller. It also won the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction in 2020. The book focuses on the story of Kira, who discovered an alien relic during their routine inspection mission on a certain planet. At that moment, she was delighted, but her happiness was exchanged with fear when the ancient dust surrounding her starts to move.

While a battle among the stars breaks out, she is sent into a galaxy-spanning journey of revelations and transformations. As she discovers significant things and faces her fears, she becomes the only hope of the poor humanity.

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook

The New Wilderness by Diane Cook is an award-winning and bestselling book that was published last year. The book tells the story of Bea and her daughter Agnes. The latter is struggling to survive the toxicity and pollution of the overdeveloped city that they reside in. Bea is torn between staying in the city and letting her precious kid die.

There is only one place that is ideal for humans to live, which is what they called the Wilderness State. It is the last piece of land that hasn’t been touched and innovated but is strictly forbidden for everyone to access. When the said land searches for people to be lab rats to evaluate if humans can live in the area and maintain everything inside the place, Bea, Agnes, and others primarily volunteered. Would they live up to their mission and survive?

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

Del Rey published Micaiah Johnson’s award-winning and a bestselling book titled The Space Between Worlds. The story focuses on Cara, the individual whose parallel beings seem to be outstanding when it comes to dying for different reasons. Thus, her life has been shortened to 372 worlds. The thrill began when multiverse travel was developed. However, you cannot go to another world if your counterpart is still living. Currently, Cara is living on a dystopian planet Earth where there seems to be no problem. But, trouble emerges after her eight doppelgangers peculiarly face death, driving her to a new realm with an old secret.

Tips in Creating Stirring Action Scenes in Your Novel

Action scenes are integral parts of a story. But, they don’t necessarily be in every novel because it depends on the author whether a fight scene is relevant and essential or not. Moreover, the said scenes are commonly seen in works under action, thriller, crime, and mystery genres. They are often created to enhance the mood and increase the tension of a story.

Among the best works that feature some good fighting events are A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, The Jungle Rules Trilogy by Paul Shemella, Ocean Prey by John Sandford, The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton, and Photographing the Dead by Dean Koontz.

So if you want to be the next best-selling author whose works are recognized for their amazing fight scenes, then here are some tips that might help you in crafting one.

Read more books with great action scenes

Knowledge is power. With enough knowledge, you can definitely give justice to your characters and story by giving them intense fight scenes. Reading different kinds of books with great action bits can help you analyze and conceptualize how you want to write yours. You can delve into the stories of popular thriller or action authors. Try reading them objectively because you can definitely examine the scenes in a thorough manner using an objective point of view instead of becoming subjective. By getting to know their works, you can pinpoint how each part enhances the tension, develops the characters, moves the story, and magnets the readers. Thus, read, study, and write.

Write with your own style

Every writer has an artistic license. What does it mean? It simply implies that the individual has the right and liberty to disregard the rules or principles that typically govern the art in which he practices, writing in this case. After you have read some action-packed stories, apply your learning through writing the fighting scenes in your own book. Writing a story using your own writing style is important in this process. This will not only help you craft great action scenes but also give you the identity wherein the readers can instantly recognize your work from the way it is written. But, you must make sure that your style perfectly fits the tone and pacing of your story.

Ensure that it maintains the progress of the story

A story that doesn’t move forward won’t make sense. Readers always expect developments in books. Hence, knowing that action scenes can create a magnificent impact on the story’s progress, then you should ensure that they can advance the tale while maintaining the same pace. Write the fight scene on the most suitable part of the story, then read it. Afterward, delete the action scene and reread your work. If the former works better than the latter, then that’s when you can tell that the exciting scenes are integral in your work and are propelling your story forward. But, make sure

Make the events more realistic

If you are writing a detective, crime, mystery, or another story that highlights the tension and ignite intense emotions, then you should make your fight scenes closer to reality. You have already read books or have seen movies where there are impossible parts where the main character survives horrible and near-death events. Whether you still haven’t witnessed a shooting incident, assault, or another form of violence, or you already have, it still won’t stop you from writing those scenes.

You can always do your research and pick what type of violence you can inflict on your planned action scenes that will be relevant to your plot. Do your research first prior to writing that particular section of your story. Know the entities that should be involved, terminologies to be used, and more. In that case, every punch, gunshot, bleeding, threatening, and begging will be pictured out and felt by the readers because they also happen in real life.

Don’t forget the pre and post-fight details

Transition is important in every story. As an author, you know how the plot works. Thus, you should always supply enough information to your readers. A fight couldn’t just pop out of nowhere without motive or reason. Also, it wouldn’t suffice if there will be no resolution after an action happens. To create a stirring action scene, there should always be great storytelling before the fight takes place for readers to know the root of the conflict. The same as the aftermath, you should also give the readers some details whether the characters resolved the issue or are there other consequences that emerge. Brainstorm, plan, and write.

Promising Contemporary Novelists Bookworms Should Know

In this contemporary literary period, the author community has become bigger compared to the past eras. There are already different means where remarkable novelists gather, share stories, and interact with one another — such as online forums, book fairs, social media platforms, and more. These authors can be writing in different literary genres, telling various tales, and touching lives of several readers.

Novelists differ from each other. Most of them have diverse backgrounds and belong to a wide array of social classes, which may have influenced their works. The general reception of the book, literary criticism, and the influence of the authors’ life to his writings and characters can lead to the novelist’s private life and identity being inflicted to the works’ fictional aspects.

So, if you are a bookworm and want to get to know more remarkable novelists, then here are the names that you might want to check out.

Haruki Murakami

Are you a fan of the books Kafka on the Shore, Norwegian Wood, or 1Q84? Then, the name Haruki Murakami might ring a bell. He is a Japanese writer who authored multiple bestselling books that were translated into several languages, including the ones aforementioned. Murakami has gained a wide array of awards for his works. Among these awards are the Franz Kafka Prize, Gunzou Prize for New Writers, World Fantasy Award, and more. Moreover, he was born in January 12, 1949 in Fushimi-ku Kyoto, Japan but grew up in Nishinomiya, Ashiya, and Kobe. While growing up, he was fond of reading various stories written by European and American novelists, such as Charles Dickens, Jack Kerouac, Franz Kafka, and more.

RC LeBeau

RC LeBeau is the author of the brilliant book titled Donut Hole, which is a story that recounts his personal experiences as one of the Marines who fought in the Vietnam War. The book was published last year by Barnes and Noble Press. He is a Detroit Michigan born war veteran who was sent to Vietnam and was assigned to the FLC unit when he was 20 years old. The said unit is responsible for every supply and ensures that all those supplies are received by the different units; especially the ones battling in the frontlines. Moreover, the Boy Scout training that he experienced when he was young has proven useful when he was in the military.

Gillian Flynn

The phenomenal woman who authored the books Sharp Objects, Dark Places, and Gone Girl goes by the name of Gillian Flynn. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri but grew up in Coleman Highlands neighborhood located in the midtown of the city. Before becoming an author, she got a freelance job at U.S. News & World Report. Then, she became a feature writer at Entertainment Weekly paving her way to get promoted as a television critic. While working for the Entertainment Weekly, she also allocates some of her time in writing her novels. Her debut novel was published in 2006, which received multiple recognitions a year after publication. Flynn’s following books were also bestsellers critically-acclaimed works that added to her popularity as an author.

Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel is the author of the books Dykes to Watch Out For, Fun Home, and Are You My Mother?. She wasn’t only a notable author but also an excellent cartoonist. She was born in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania on September 10, 1960. Bechdel attended Simon’s Rock College and Oberlin College. It was in the latter where she acquired his Bachelor of Arts degree. Furthermore, Alison garnered multiple awards throughout her journey as a novelist. Among these said awards are 2007 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work, 2007 Stonewall Book Awards — Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award, 2014 MacArthur Fellowship, 2015 The Erikson Institute Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media, 2019 Harvey Awards Hall 2019 Hall of Fame inductee, and more.

David Mitchell

The renowned novelist, TV writer, and screenwriter David Mitchell was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, in January 12, 1969. He attended the University of Kent where he garnered his degree in English and American Literature. Afterward, he obtained a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature in the same institution. Moreover, the Mitchell authored a total of 9 books where 2 got shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Best Perks of Reading Self-help Books

Books are more than just words and stories because they can take many forms. These amazing pieces of literature can become your most trusted counselor, which can effectively help you stir the wheel navigate your life. The best books that can encourage you to map out your decisions and follow a clearer path are those that belong in self-help. It is the genre that houses thousands of works aiming to make readers develop better ways in handling their emotions, finances, and everything that centers on life.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, and Let Me Tell You How I Got Saved by Charles Lewis Anthony are some of the best self-help books in the market. But, if you are wondering about the perks of reading these kinds of works, then here’s what you should know.

Discover more of yourself

Self-discovery is as important as growth. They are directly proportional with one another. Why? A person who hasn’t discovered some parts of himself yet wouldn’t achieve full development. Thus, by reading several books that about self-help, you become driven to take action that can result to skill improvement, lifestyle change, and other events that revolve around self-discovery. Those works can also push everyone to identify their abilities, find ways to maximize them, and select a path where we can make the most out of and grow best.

Get a better understanding of the world

The world is filled with different kinds of things that can either help you grow or bring you down. In the middle of your search for greatness, you’ll surely encounter various people and events that can help you journey your way through life. But because of the sudden progress of the world, you may become confuse and doubtful of your choices and decisions. When you read an inspiring or motivational book, you learn more about the several concepts and ideas that you can apply on your journey that can lead to crafting a better understanding of the world.

Develop better ways to handle ups and downs

Life is full of ups and downs. These events can either make or break you. When the time comes that you cannot clearly find a way to get up after stumbling down, self-help books can be the hand that can help lift you up. There are multiple books that can give you tips on what methods to follow or advise to use in dealing with different types of problems, such as health, finances, personal, career, and more. Also, there are several works that can support you in managing your emotions and achieving success. So, whether you are on your highest or lowest point, there is always a self-help book that knows the words to say and the stories to tell.

Mold a growth mindset

There are two types of mindset, the fixed and growth mindset. Although both can bring different benefits to a person’s development, the latter is definitely the better one. Having a growth mindset is the most realistic one that can bring you closer to success. It is the belief that you can still enhance and develop different aspects of yourself. By delving into self-help books, the guidance and words of wisdom that they provide can assist you in shaping a mindset that centers on personal development instead of solely living through your current way of living. The Growth Mindset by Joshua Moore, Gritby Angela Duckworth, Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins, and Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes can be the best books to read with regards to the subject.

Look forward for better things

Knowing that life is brings unpredictable things, it is important that you should know how to stay positive. There are many things that can make you less enthusiastic in facing life, such as broken dreams, unfulfilled promises, unmet expectations, and more. However, there are many books under self-help genre that can bring you back on track and realign your views on things that once were painful and unfortunate to deal with. As a result, you will soon become more excited to look forward to better things and better days.

Must-read Fiction Books of All-Time

Fiction is among the largest and most popular literary genres. There are millions of books that were written under this category. Most of the stories are products of the playful imaginations of the authors while others take inspirations from different aspects of the world. The most defining aspect of fiction is its remarkable ability to tell stories that aren’t real but create realistic outcome through its elements. Thus, it has the capability to educate readers and apply those bunches of learning to their lives.

So, if you are looking for great titles under the fiction genre for your reading pile, then listed below are the stories that you might want to check out.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

It’s first book of the famous Harry Potter series that introduced many readers to the magical world of wizardry. It follows the story of a young boy named Harry Potter and his journey to the popular school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He starts to discover a couple of hints and information about his birthright. Harry becomes more drawn in the amazing world that he never thought existed and closer to his destiny.

The Secret of Jerry’s Pride by Jo A. Totty

The Secret of Jerry’s Pride by Jo A. Totty was recently published in May of this year by Readersmagnet. The story is set in small Southern town that is peaceful and orderly. There is really no suspicious or disturbing events that took place in that quiet town. But, one day, a stranger arrives and peculiar things start to happen to a prominent family. One event after another begins to occur that will change the lives of the residents forever.

Jasmine: A Woman of Color by Monique Boyd

This romantic suspense book by Monique Boyd was published in 2020. It focuses on the story of a widowed executive assistant named Jasmine Moore. After her husband’s death, she uncovers his secrets and starts to want revenge. But on the process of getting the revenge that she thinks she deserves, she finds love. That affection made her let go of her plan only to discover that somebody is attempting to kill her.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

American novelist Harper Lee penned a book that has won a Pulitzer Prize and has turned out to be a modern American literary classic. It was first published in 1960 by J.B. Lippincott & Co. The characters and the storyline in this book are generally based on the author’s assessment of her family, neighbors, and a particular incident in 1936 that took place close to Monroeville, Alabama, which is the town that she lives in. Another remarkable thing about this novel is that discusses multiple societal issues that can educate the readers, such as rape, racism, and more.

The Secret Empress by Frank P. Heller

The Secret Empress is an action-packed book by Frank R. Heller. It centers on the story of Joe Wilder, a former CIA field agent and now a CEO. But, his business is on the rocks due to a huge price increase. He taps the ministry of trade to dispute. Instead of being argued, he was suddenly offered a deal, which is to help the minister’s son get to America in return for his request. However, the deputy minister gets murdered right after the signing of the contract. Joe becomes the suspect and also the guardian of the minister’s son. He will have to rely on the skills of his former life to stay alive and keep the child safe.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This dystopian novel by Suzanne Collins has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been adapted into film. It is the first book of the series, which follows the story of a teenage girl named Katniss Everdeen. She resides in a post-apocalyptic country of Panem located in North America. The title of the book is based on the annual event that the characters are playing. It is a game where a pair of boy and girl aged 12-18 years old from every district around the Capitol is required to participate. As Katniss volunteered to be a tribute instead of her sister, would she survive?

Good Reads Under Thriller-Suspense

Are you into stories that make you feel different intense emotions all at once? What about books that put you at the end of your seat craving to turn each page until you find out the culprit? If you have checked all the boxes, then you are a thriller-suspense fan. It is a combination of two literary genres, which many draws out a couple of extreme emotions from the readers due to push and pull between the main character and the antagonist and the tension building up in the story.

So, if you are looking for some good reads under thriller-suspense, then listed below are the best books that you might want to add to your reading pile.

The Secret Empress by Frank R. Heller

This brilliant debut novel of Frank R. Heller was published in 2019 by iUniverse. It follows the story of a former CIA field agent Joe Wilder, who now owns a company. When his business is on the brink of bankruptcy due to massive price increase, he went to China to dispute the ministry of trade. He was given a deal with the minister to help his son fly to America. Joe agreed but after how many hours, the minister died. Now, he is considered as the person responsible to the death of the minister and the guardian of 12-year-old Charley Hence, readers can witness how Joe’s abilities were highlighted on The Secret Empress on skills of his former life or rather how Joe will rely on the skills of his former life to stay alive.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl is a best-selling and widely recognized novel penned by Gillian Flynn. It already got a film-adaptation starred by Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck. The story centers on a couple living in North Carthage, Missouri who are on their 5^th wedding anniversary. But, Amy Dune — wife of Nick Dunne, suddenly disappear. Nick becomes the instant suspect, which tainted the way people perceived him. On the investigation process, he came up with lies and deceits, as well as developed an undesirable behavior. In the middle of this mess, it all goes down to one question: who is the real culprit behind the disappearance of Amy Dunne?

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The British-Cypriot author Alex Michaelides penned the thriller book The Silent Patient. It was published in 2019 by Celadon Books. The story follows Alicia Berenson, the mute patient, was a painter who was proven guilty of the death of photographer Gabriel Berenson. However, it is told through the eyes of a psychotherapist. She was sent to a protected forensic unit and has become the patient of Theo Faber due to plea of diminished responsibility. The primary reason why Theo applied on the job in the Grove was because of his deep interest in the said case. Moreover, there sessions begin and Theo starts to get to know Alicia through her diary. Theo helped Alicia to cope with the trauma and made her speak, and then the twists and turns happened.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen was published in 2020 by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard. The book is filled with thrill, humor, suspense, and mystery. It revolves around the story of Kiki Pew Fitzsimmons, who is a significant member of a particular high society. In the middle of a swank gala, Kiki mysteriously disappeared. But, that isn’t only the peculiar thing that happened because a wildlife wrangler named Angie Armstrong was brought to the Palm Beach to handle a gigantic Burmese python. With these two events, the President is more drawn to the case of Kiki Pew. He instantly proclaimed her as a victim of immigrant hordes, which turned out to be a lie. What happened to Kiki?

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

This instant bestselling book is the debut novel of B.A. Paris. It centers on the story of the perfect newlywed couple named Jack and Grace. People around them think that they are inseparable and they are made for one another. But, everyone starts wondering why Grace doesn’t answer the phone or go out to get coffee. Others also begin to ponder how she keeps a sexy body but cooks delicious meals or why there are extremely protected metal shutters on every window downstairs. What does really happen behind closed doors?

Amazing Reads Under Historical Fiction

If you are a bookworm, then historical fiction might not be new to you. But if you are new to reading, then the phrase might not ring a bell. Historical fiction is a popular literary genre that features a tale set in the past, usually on an important period of time. In this genre, the indication of time is integral for the creation of its setting and even on the whole story. Other elements might also carry a great importance on the entire tale, such as fictional characters deemed to be a popular historical figures or a blend of the two.

Since it is still under fiction, authors are free to use their artistic license so that they can write and present the story with substantial theme perfectly. However, the said license should not tamper, in any way, the established events in the history. So, if you are looking for great reads under historical fiction, then here are the titles that you should check out.

Bannack: A Growing Up Story In The Vigilante West by Jerry Delaney

Bannack: A Growing Up Story In The Vigilante West by Jerry Delaney is a story filled with adventure set in the period of the Civil War and vigilante violence. It follows the story of Billy Mayfair, a teenager who got casted away from his house in Illinois. After being kicked out by his father, he starts to seek for gold in a distant mining camp in what would turn out to be the Montana Territory. When he got to St. Louis, Billy’s financial resources drain out and he loses his virginity. But his misfortunes didn’t stop there, because he got in a fight that leads him to jail. With all these events, he manages to get back on his feet and land on a job in a Union hospital. He continues to pan for gold, so he lives in the wild town of Bannack, where he sees the severe vigilante violence in the history of America.

Scourged Souls by Keith Niles Corman

Although Corman’s Scourged Souls is also categorized as sci-fi, it is still considered as historical fiction for it has elements representing some events in the history — such as its setting. Scourged Souls, moreover, is a story that takes place during the American Civil War and focuses on the lives of different individuals. The characters were living different lives but got entangled with one another after a horrific battle broke. One defining thing about this book is that it captured and featured the innocence of each character and their way of living. They also have personal reflections, as well as the principles and schemes, which are all highlighted in the book.

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

This New York Times bestseller and Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick was penned by Maggie Shipstead and published by Knopf last May of this year, 2021. It follows the story of two rescued babies, Marian and Jamie Graves, after an ocean liner sank in 1914. They were raised by their decadent uncle in Missoula, Montana. Marian fell in love with flying, so she dropped out of school to pursue her dreams of becoming a pilot no matter what it takes. After how many years, an actress named Hadley Baxter was picked to star in a movie that revolves around the disappearance of Marian Graves in Antarctica. Hadley was determined to perfect the role. Would there be any connection that will happen between Marian and Hadley? Read more to find out.

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

Chanel Cleeton’s historical and family saga fiction book titled The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba was published in May 2021 by Berkley. It instantly became a bestseller and recognized as among 2021’s Most Anticipated Historical Novels and Best Beach Reads by many platforms. The story centers on two families whose lives were intertwine. In Gilded Age New York City, a feud between William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer emerged. In the middle of that competition and feud, a girl named Grace Harrington got a job at Hearst’s newspaper business in 1896. She must to her job well because one story can either make or break her career. However, the story of an eighteen-year-old girl who’s prisoned in Cuba emerged; it made big changes in her life.