Spring, 2023 - Feature

NHS Book Club offers recommendations for students to enjoy

by Christine Ahmad

The book of the month for Newton’s Book Club is The Initial Insult written by Mindy McGinnis. This book was picked from feedback from last year's members on which genre they would like to read. The book this month is a murder mystery based on the well known author Edgar Allen Poe. The book club is eager to start this month's book.

When asked which books the book club advisor and librarian Ms. Marmara would recommend, she suggested a few of her favorites. One being a book the club had read last month called The Song of Achilles written by Madeline Miller. She recommended this book because it is a take on the Iliad which is a required read in English classes. It gives a better understanding of the text.

Another popular book recommended was One of Us is Lying written by Karen M. McManus. “A lot of students, both boys and girls, would enjoy it,” Mrs. Marmara stated in a recent interview. They have ordered the sequel which should be coming in shortly.

When written by Victoria Laurie is about a girl who can see everyone’s death date on their forehead. Which intrigued individuals to ask her when they would die. This leads to her getting mixed up in a murder mystery because the police think she committed the crime because she was able to predict the death of a boy who disappeared. Marmara commented that she could go on and on about book recommendations so if you are interested in finding a good book for you feel free to go down and talk to her.

Book club is a great club to be in to accommodate everyone’s busy schedules. Students can come when they are available and the meetings are once a month. It is very self involved where you read the book on your own time. Even if you are busy with sports, on your off season you can stop by when you have a chance. “It is a nice thing to fit in if you are looking to diversify a little bit and it’s fun. We have a good time,” Marmara concluded.

HBO’s The Last of Us offers entertainment while providing insight into humanity

by Shannon Rittie

What if instead of a flu-like virus, the threat to society was a parasitic fungus that spreads from animals to humans? The highly acclaimed video game serves as the basis for the new HBO series, The Last of Us, which started airing on January 15, 2023.

The show begins with a scenario about parasitic fungi that was discussed by commentators on a talk show in the 1960s. It then shifts to 2003, when that worst-case scenario is ripping civilization apart every second. The focus then shifts to 2023 and the years that follow. A violent military regime controls the remnants of society.

The series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which a fungus has turned the majority of humanity into monsters. Joel, a fighter, and Ellie, a kid with a mysterious immunity to the fungus, venture across the country in search of a rebel subculture fighting the infected.

The outstanding plot and characters of the game are captured in the show. One of the show's primary focuses is the emphasis on human development. Additionally, the series delves deeper into the remaining human communities' politics and conflicts.

In The Last of Us, people are doing everything they can to stay alive. Despite the destruction of society, it manages to reveal humanism. Concerns about humanity's nature and the lengths to which we will go to live are raised in the show. It's a show that will make you think for a long time after you watch it.

Review of one of the most heartfelt movies: Titanic

by Loretta Samples

Recently, the Titanic directed by James Cameron in 1997 had its 25th anniversary. To celebrate this big moment, the remastered version of the movie was released in theaters around February 10. Those who go to watch it again or perhaps for the first time get to watch it in a whole new experience, as it is in 3D.

This movie is based on the sinking of the RMS Titanic, a sad but true event where over a thousand lives were lost. The main characters in the Titanic are starred by Kate Winslet, who plays the character of Rose DeWitt Bukater, and Leonardo Dicaprio, who portrayed Jack Dawson. This movie is a timeless romance and drama full of many outstanding action scenes. The relationship between Jack and Rose throughout the movie shows how strong people can care and love for each other in such a short amount of time. What makes this movie even better is its surprising amount of humor despite it being based on a serious and tragic topic. Also, not only the actors of Jack and Rose, but all the actors did an amazing job in their roles and really showed that they put their whole heart and soul into their characters.

In the final part of the Titanic, the movie practically turns into a thriller. Throughout the whole ending it is very nerve-wracking, as the ship starts to sink and slowly break in half. The sound effects of the ship creaking during this scene really add to the tension. Although it doesn’t have the happy ending people like to see, it makes it even better and able to stand out against a lot of other movies. Overall, the Titanic is definitely worth watching for over three hours and will continue to be one of the best out there.