1. The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo (French: Le Comte de Monte Cristo) is an adventurous novel by Alexandre Dumas, completed in 1844. Like many of his other novels, this one was expanded from a plot by the collaborator Auguste Maquet.
About to assume the responsibility of a ship captain, preparing to marry the enchanting Mercédès, with a deeply loving father and admired by friends, the future of the young Edmond Dantès shines with happiness. However, a twist of fate paints a bright picture only to darken it completely. On the happiest day of his life, he is imprisoned in the dungeon of the castle, not yet twenty, due to the schemes of those envious, resentful, and opportunistic.
After fourteen years of suffering, robbed of youth and love, Edmond Dantès, upon escaping prison, undergoes a complete transformation into the Count of Monte Cristo, joining the elite society of Paris. The Count systematically repays those who aided him and justly punishes the malicious individuals who once harmed him. The Count of Monte Cristo is a profound tale illustrating the deep-rooted law of cause and effect in life: Good begets good, and evil begets retribution.
The Count of Monte Cristo is a remarkable story of love, vengeance, and forgiveness. The four words - 'hope' and 'wait' - embody life lessons that the narrative imparts to its readers. Always remember: “In this life, there is neither happiness nor unhappiness, only a transition from one state to another. Only those who have experienced hardship can truly savor moments of joy. Only those on the brink of death understand that life is a paradise.”
Reference link: https://tiki.vn/ba-tuoc-monte-cristo-tron-bo-3-tap-p195919440.html
2. Master of Beings
Master of Beings is a captivating 2008 science fiction romance novel by Stephenie Meyer. Released on May 6, 2008, it debuted with an initial print run of 750,000 copies.
Earth is invaded by a hidden enemy. Humans become hosts to these invaders, their bodies remaining intact while their minds are completely controlled. Everyday life continues seemingly unchanged, but it's all just a facade.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining 'wild' humans, is captured, she believes it's the end of her life. Wanderer, the 'soul' parasitically living in Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living in a human host: overwhelming emotions, intense sensations, vivid memories. However, there's one difficulty Wanderer didn't anticipate: the former host refusing to relinquish her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the hiding place of the resistance group. But Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with memories of a lover still evading capture – Jared. Wanderer begins to develop affection for the man she's supposed to find. As Wanderer and Melanie become unwilling allies against external forces, they embark on a perilous and elusive journey to find the man they both love.
Reference Link: https://tiki.vn/vat-chu-tieu-thuyet-khoa-hoc-vien-tuong-tai-ban-p556179.html
3. The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner is a debut novel by the American-Afghan writer Khaled Hosseini. Published by Riverhead Books in 2003, The Kite Runner revolves around the story of Amir, a boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of the capital Kabul. Set against the backdrop of various chaotic events, the work narrates the collapse of the Afghan monarchy due to the Soviet military intervention, the influx of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, as well as the rise of the Taliban rebels.
Through Amir's recollections, readers are taken back over two decades, when Amir was a twelve-year-old living in the opulent embrace of his wealthy and dignified father, Baba. Intimately connected with Amir throughout his childhood is Hassan, the son of the servant Ali, a clever and strong boy who repeatedly sacrifices himself to protect Amir. However, Hassan's friendship and loyalty were left unrewarded; on a winter day in 1975, while defending Amir's prized kite, he was brutally assaulted and humiliated. Amir's cowardice prevented him from saving his friend, turning him into a deceitful person who fabricated stories to drive Ali and Hassan, father and son, out of the house. Amir paid the price for that mistake throughout his remaining life. Even as he lived prosperously in the United States, found a home of his own, and realized his dream of becoming a writer, the haunting guilt of being a deceitful person pursued Amir day and night. Ultimately, returning to Afghanistan to rescue Hassan's son from the hands of the Taliban becomes Amir's only path to redemption for his friend, his half-brother, who died under the Taliban's gun.
For Hosseini, The Kite Runner is a story of father-son relationships, emphasizing the family aspect, a theme he continues to explore in his later works. Guilt and redemption are prominent themes throughout the work. The Kite Runner became a bestseller after the release of its paperback edition and gained popularity in various book clubs. The work remained on The New York Times bestseller list for over two years, with over seven million copies sold in the United States.
Reference Link: https://tiki.vn/nguoi-dua-dieu-tai-ban-2018-p4780917.html?spid=20453502
4. The Girl on the Train
The Girl on the Train is a gripping psychological novel written in 2015 by British author Paula Hawkins. It tells the intertwined stories of three different women dealing with relationship troubles (caused by male coercion/control) and, for the main character, alcohol addiction. The novel debuted at number one on The New York Times Bestseller list (print and e-book) on February 1, 2015, and held the top position for 13 consecutive weeks, until April 2015.
The story is narrated in the first person from the perspectives of three women: Rachel Watson, Anna Boyd/Watson, and Megan Hipwell. Rachel takes the same train every day. Each day, the train stops at a small station, and from her window, she can see a couple having breakfast on their balcony. Gradually, she feels acquainted with them.
Then one day, she witnesses a horrifying incident. It all happens in a minute before the train moves on, but that's enough. Rachel can't stay silent; she has to report to the police about what she saw and gets entangled in the whirlwind of events. Did she do a good deed, or did she make everything more complicated?
Reference Link: shopee.vn/The-Girl-on-the-Train-i.16525564.15897456562
5. The Intricacies of Extramarital Affairs
'The Inner Dynamics of Infidelity' - a 'best-seller' by author Esther Perel provides a more objective and positive perspective on matters beyond the norm in romantic life.
Typically, we evaluate and dissect infidelity with emotionally charged feelings. This unintentionally generates a polarized viewpoint always supporting the notion that the 'cheater' and the 'third party' are always the 'villains.' Meanwhile, the 'betrayed' is always the pitiable victim. However, in Esther Perel's book 'The Inner Dynamics of Infidelity,' she points out that no one is 'completely guilty' and no one is 'completely innocent' in a love triangle. In other words, everything happening in a romantic relationship stems from all the interconnected individuals in that relationship.
Through scientifically-based psychological analysis from the perspectives of: The Cheater, The Third Party, and The Betrayed, Esther Perel persuades readers to abandon old-fashioned and polarized views on the issue of infidelity, encouraging them to have a more accurate and positive understanding. Consequently, turning 'infidelity' into a lever or catalyst to rekindle a cooling romantic life.
Reference link: https://tiki.vn/noi-tinh-cua-ngoai-tinh-p11508322.html?spid=11508323