Before you die, there are many books you should read. Among them are The Grapes of Wrath, Lord of the Flies, Anna Karenina, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This list of great books for the last moments of life was compiled by Complex.
The Grapes of Wrath
While The Grapes of Wrath is an historical novel set in the Great Depression, it is also a deeply personal story. The story follows the Joad family as they flee their Oklahoma home and set out for California. The novel details the economic hardship, agricultural changes, and bank foreclosures that resulted from the Dust Bowl. While the novel depicts a difficult time, it also emphasizes human dignity.
The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most widely read books in the United States. It was first published in 1939, and it quickly became a national sensation. It was the best-selling novel of that year and won the Pulitzer Prize. It was also adapted into a film directed by John Ford. The novel has also received a great deal of controversy since its publication. The Associated Farmers of California challenged it, saying that it was “a pack of lies and Jewish propaganda”. Steinbeck was never Jewish.
The Lord of the Flies
William Golding’s 1954 novel The Lord of the Flies is considered one of the books to read before you die. It explores the themes of groupthink and individuality. The novel has influenced contemporary fiction and has a universal theme. It also explores the importance of morality.
The novel first came out in 1954, and has since become one of the best-selling novels of all time. Published by the Modern Library, it reached number 25 on the readers’ and editors’ lists. It also received widespread critical acclaim and gained respect from the academic community. Its sales peaked at over six thousand copies by the end of the twentieth century, and it is still a popular choice in English-speaking countries today.
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina is considered one of the world’s greatest novels. First published in 1875, it depicts life in Russia, from starving peasants to privileged aristocrats. The novel also highlights the plight of one woman, who grows tired of her mundane life as a wealthy man’s wife and mother.
Although Anna Karenina is the story of a married socialite, it is much more than that. Her affair with the affluent Count Vronsky is a significant plot element, but the novel also focuses on the struggles of a family dealing with the fallout of her brother’s womanizing. This prefigures the situations Anna finds herself in later in life.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henroetta Lacks is a non-fiction book written by American author Rebecca Skloot. It was awarded the National Academies Communication Award in 2011, an award that recognizes the best creative work in helping the general public understand science, engineering, and medicine. The book is a compelling account of the struggle that Henrietta Lacks and her colleagues had to go through in order to save her own life.
HeLa cells are a very prolific and durable line of cells, and these cells are used in research worldwide, including in this movie. The film is produced by HBO and Johns Hopkins University, two institutions that have been very involved in raising awareness of Henrietta Lacks and her case. The movie also contains scenes filmed on the Hopkins campus.
The Shining
If you’re a horror buff, The Shining is a must-read. It was adapted into a movie in 1980 by Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson. Despite King’s disdain for the film, The Shining remains one of the most famous horror movies ever made. In recent years, the film has been made into an opera.
One of the most compelling elements of The Shining is its use of subtext and human relationships. King has been open about his struggles with substance abuse and has said that he penned the novel while drinking heavily. Although it’s difficult to imagine King writing while sober, his ability to weave human relationships into his stories makes The Shining a must-read.
Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is a book about a young pig that is saved from early slaughter by a spider with a unique gift of spinning words. The story also features a mean rat, an ailing pig, a determined girl, and a Ferris wheel. It’s a wonderfully warm and touching story that is sure to leave you in awe, but be warned, someone has already spoiled it in one tweet!
Charlotte’s Web is a classic and is a must-read for young readers. It has been called one of the best children’s books of all time. The pig Wilbur was based on a real sickly pig and Charlotte was based on a real spider.
Dracula
Dracula is one of the most iconic pieces of English literature. Its characters have influenced popular culture and became archetypes. Count Dracula is considered the quintessential vampire, and Abraham Van Helsing is considered the iconic vampire hunter. Count Dracula’s novel has been adapted to film over 30 times, and the story has been portrayed in nearly every medium.
If you’re new to Dracula, you may want to start with Stoker’s original novel. This Gothic horror masterpiece pits good against evil and life against death. The title character, Count Dracula, lies asleep in a tomb beneath a castle, a lifeless body with stony eyes, deathly pale cheeks, and a mocking smile. The novel is filled with all of the elements of a classic horror story, while also being a fascinating and layered novel.
