September Reading List Day Thirty: “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller

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As we come to this final chapter of the September Reading List, I thought Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible would be the perfect book to end on. What better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with a tale of witches? Written as an allegory for the McCarthy era and the Red Scare, the play is a fictional account of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 in which group of girls falsely accused many townspeople of being witches. One accusation led to another creating a snowball effect that resulted hundreds being accused and twenty innocent people being sentenced to death. While the play follows the basic historical facts, Arthur’s creative liberties with the characters of John Proctor and Abigail Williams are what truly create an intriguing story. (Abigail holds a a special place in my heart as I got to read her part when we covered the book my junior year of high school.) After an illicit affair that ended badly, the two are pitted on opposite sides as Abigail perpetuates the hysteria and John tries bring her and her friends down, leading to her accuse his wife. A classic staple of high school English courses across the country, The Crucible is timeless tale of what happens when a lie takes on a life of its own and the destruction mass hysteria and paranoia can bring.

What are your thoughts on today’s selection? Share your thoughts below! Also tweet your favorite books to @WriteForBoots and I’ll retweet them!

September Reading List Day Twenty-Nine: “You First” by Lea Michele

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When I found out Lea Michele was releasing her second book this month, I knew I needed to feature it on this list. Part self-help, part writing experience, You First is designed to help readers harness the power of journaling to achieve their best selves. Filled with beautifully pink-lined pages, this book consists a series of guided writing exercises that tackle everything from from goals and ambitions to fitness and relationships. The poignant questions in each chapter are designed to get readers to tune out all the noise around them and really focus on what is important to them. Michele believes that, when you write down your goals on a piece of paper, you are taking the first step to going after what you want. After all, it’s harder to ignore something that’s physically in black and white. She encourages readers to think of these pages as their safe zone, a place where they can and should feel free to express themselves. Complete with Michele’s own journaling experiences, You First about opening yourself up to self-discovery and making time to put yourself first.

What are your thoughts on today’s selection? Share your thoughts below! Also tweet your favorite books to @WriteForBoots and I’ll retweet them!

September Reading List Day Twenty-Eight: “Struck By Lightning” by Chris Colfer

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Ok, there is no other way to put it. I love Struck By Lightning by Glee alum Chris Colfer! After watching the film it was adapted into, I knew I had to check this book out. As a high school senior in the tiny town of Clover, outcast Carson Phillips has two goals in life: get into Northwestern and become editor of The New Yorker. When he decides to start a literary magazine, he blackmails his fellow classmates into submitting their stuff. While Colfer’s plot is an intriguing premise, the real heart of the story is our leading man Carson. Witty, sarcastic, and honest to a fault, Carson knows who he is, where he’s going, and refuses to apologize for being himself. He dares to dream for something more out of life, and he will stop at nothing to achieve them. However, his extreme tunnel vision on his goal causes him to only see the negative around him. (Who hasn’t been there?) His journey is one every teen and twenty-something can relate to. So, if you’re looking for a humorous, relatable read, I highly recommend checking out Struck By Lightning.

What are your thoughts on today’s selection? Share your thoughts below! Also tweet your favorite books to @WriteForBoots and I’ll retweet them!