Great orators have long used the powers of language to sway the hearts and minds of listeners, giving voice to broader political, social, and cultural movements. Indeed, many great pivotal moments in American history have been greatly influenced by well-known speeches. For instance, Patrick Henry’s Speech to the Virginia Convention—perhaps best known for the quote,…
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Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, has been a staple of high school English classrooms for generations. Its story and characters have been broadly adapted for film, television, radio, and the stage. Indeed, the name “Dracula” has become functionally synonymous with the modern vampire mythos. Yet, despite Dracula’s enduring cultural relevance, it is unlikely that…
August is romance awareness month, and what better way is there to celebrate romance than by reading about it? We’ve always held a special fascination with the idea of falling in love, and countless authors have tried their hand at crafting a love story for the ages. From fun and playful flirtations to complex webs…
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Being a bookworm has its perks: Studies show that reading regularly can improve your verbal and written comprehension, boost your vocabulary, reduce your stress levels, and even increase your brain activity. However, it can also become an expensive habit to maintain—especially for those who prefer to have a physical copy of their latest literary venture…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so we are spotlighting books that offer insight into the lives and minds of authors and characters who experience mental illness or neurodivergence. Neurodiversity refers to the idea that the human brain contains natural variations, which result in different social, emotional, and educational needs and aptitudes. Neurodiversity is a…
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Speculative fiction, an umbrella genre encompassing works with supernatural or futuristic elements, is all about exploration and experimentation. It allows writers—and readers—to imagine new worlds and explore concepts beyond the limitations of our current reality. Black authors, artists, and performers have historically used the genre to create unique, subversive explorations of how personal identity interacts…
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