Took a week off but we are back with the second to last part of A Century of Books series!
Don’t forget to check out the beginning of the series below!
- A Century of Books: 1900-1919
- A Century of Books: 1920-1929
- A Century of Books: 1930-1939
- A Century of Books: 1940-1949
- A Century of Books: 1950-1959
- A Century of Books: 1960-1969
- A Century of Books: 1970-1979
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The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel that takes place in New England after the demise of The United States. This demise came from the fertility crisis.
This novel shows the relationship between Offred (the narrator) and Luke. They have a daughter but their lives begin to be turned upside down in this dystopian world.
Women are no longer allowed to have money, are removed from their jobs and are assigned to classes.
These classes are unfair to women because they are demeaning and harsh.
Offred becomes a handmaid and forms relationships with other women.
The rest of the book can be harsh for many readers. It discusses mature themes such as suicide, sex and discrimination.
Why is it important?
The Handmaid’s Tale is a huge novel in the feminist world. It portrays injustice that women face but it also shows them standing up for themselves and finding ways to save themselves.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985)
Ender Wiggin is sent to a training academy named Battle School which is located in a different orbit than Earth.
This school teaches children to be soldiers who will eventually fight the Buggers. Ender is trying to climb the ranks and succeed at the school in order to become the best of his class.
His siblings are still on earth trying to make it a better place.
Once Ender is granted a special teacher, who helps him to become a commander to save humanity from the Third Invasion.
Why is it important?
This is a really fun book to read. Ender is a complex character who is relatable to many kids who are in a new situation.
It is great to see the progression of Ender from the beginning to the end and to see the product of his hard work.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (1983)
The House on Mango Street is written in a series of vignettes. It covers a year of Esperanza Cordero’s life. She is a young Latina girl living in Chicago with her parents and three siblings.
They live in poverty and move from apartment to apartment until they end up in a house on Mango Street.
Her whole family, but especially Esperanza, dream of their perfect house. She is happy to have a house on Mango Street but it is not like the houses she has seen.
She writes poetry to cope with her situation.
Over the course of the year, we see Esperanza grow into a young woman. She gains maturity and develops a strong perspective of the world around her.
She experiences assault and sexuality which leads her down a negative path.
Only after meeting the Three Sisters who tell her her fortune does Esperanza know that she has to leave Mango Street.
Yet she vows to someday return to help the people she left.
Why is it important?
Although Esperanza lives in poverty, she has her sights set on a better life.
She works to get through her difficult situation. Many people can relate to her situation and her story has an element of hope in it.
Hatchet by Gary Paulson (1986)
Brian was on his way to Canada to visit his estranged father when the pilot has a heart attack and crashes the plane.
He is then stranded in the Canadian wilderness with only his clothes and a hatched.
Brian must learn how to survive in the wilderness. He must gather and obtain food, learn to make shelter and navigate the dangers of the woods.
Through this scary time, he is able to learn about survival and independence.
Why is it important?
This book is a wonderful book to show survival skills and how to remain calm in situations. Brian could have given up many times but instead he adapted and learned how to survive.
Matilda by Rohl Dahl (1988)
Matilda is a young girl who has grown up in an abusive home. Her parents refuse to let her go to school or do anything that doesn’t involve watching TV. Her parents are sleazy car salesman who sell beat up and car to unsuspecting people.
All Matilda wants to do is read. She walks to the library while her parents are at work and reads as many books as she can. Even at a young age she reads Herman Melville and Charles Dickens.
Eventually Matilda is sent to school where she is bullied and is terrified of Ms. Truncheon.
Matilda finds out she has telekinetic powers which means she can move objects with her mind.
Her teacher, Ms. Honey takes an interest in Matilda and eventually saves her from her abusive home.
Why is it important?
Matilda only gains a happy life because of school. Although school is not a good school, it is an escape from her abusive home. This is the case for many children.
This book shows the importance of teachers and how much that can impact a student’s life. Also without books, Matilda may never have had the desire to change her situation.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
This novel is narrated by a butler named Stevens. He had been serving Lord Darlington but he had recently passed away. Stevens recounts his time with Lord Darlington in flashbacks.
Stevens was loyal to Darlington in all of his endeavors. During the lead up to WWII, Darlington held meetings between German sympathizers and English aristocrats. These meetings were intended to influence international affairs.
This leads Stevens to contemplate his purpose in life as well as the character of the man he serves. Steven’s ponders his relationship with Miss Kenton and the impact of his lifestyle.
Although there is romance between them, Stevens never act on those feelings and pushes her away when she tries to initiate a relationship.
Years later when he runs into Miss Kenton again (who is married and Mrs. Benn) she admits she is happily married and is expecting her first grandchild.
This causes Stevens to think about how he will live out the rest of his days.
Why is it important?
This novel shows the importance of taking initiative of your life. Stevens was a hard worker and dedicated his life to serving others but he felt he missed a portion of his life.
It is important to explore all the things that this life gives us.
Beloved by Toni Morrison (1987)
Beloved follows the lives of Sethe and her eighteen-year-old daughter Denver. They are living in Cincinnati, Ohio and they have escaped from slavery.
Sethe’s two sons fled, her mother-in-law died and they believe their home in Cincinnati is haunted by her eldest daughter.
Paul D lived on the same plantation as Sethe and shows up at her home. He persuades Denver to leave the house for the first time in months and helps Sethe overcome the hauntings.
One day a young girl named Beloved is found sitting on their front step. Paul D is wary of Beloved with good cause.
She corner him one night and they have sex and causes Paul D’s mind to spiral.
Beloved eventually takes over the house. She throws tantrums and causes distress among the member of the household. She is pregnant and the family believes she may be possessed.
Denver reaches out to the black community for help and eventually gets a job.
Sethe is devastated when Beloved is gone and is bed ridden. Paul D returns to help her in her fragile state.
Why is it important?
This book is set just after the end of the Civil War and it shows the mental challenges that the slaves went through even after they were freed.
They needed help and stability in order to face the real world. Sethe clutched something that was destructive because she was afraid of being alone.
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