Budgets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial plans - Essay Example Execution financial plan then again orders the use based on the organization units and by the elements of the units, and the things under such managerial unit capacities (Rubin, 185). This makes the presentation spending plan so point by point, since it involves a chain of command of parts, beginning with the regulatory unit, down to the capacities under each authoritative unit, and afterward to the things falling under each capacity of the organization unit. Execution planning involves the detailing of and projects to be actualized, their subsidizing from the accessible income sources, and their execution (Rubin, 180). Along these lines, exercises are given inclination over explicit things under every action, and the administration of the exhibition spending plan is brought together. There are different reasons why the Congress may decide to utilize the detail approach. To start with, it is a straightforward type of planning, since it requires simply following the consumption things and connecting them to the income sources, disposing of superfluous planning subtleties and multifaceted nature (Rubin, 187). Also, this kind of planning gives a more noteworthy connection between wellsprings of income and use things, through connecting

The Liberty Leading the People - Eugne Delacroix Essay

The Liberty Leading the People - Eugne Delacroix - Essay Example The work of art uncovers the image of a champion conveying a banner and a black powder rifle somewhat at the privilege of the composition. There is additionally a youngster who is holding two firearms on the privilege of the artwork. Moreover, another man is holding a blade and is furnished for the fight to come on the left corner. There is additionally another youngster holding a rifle at left of the canvas. Obviously, numerous individuals are defenselessly lying on the ground. Out of sight a blue sky and light is seen not too far off. The banner conveyed by one lady, the courageous woman, is shaded red, white and blue. The men, who are outfitted, are wearing uniform ( Coetzee 45). The uniform comprises of dark shirts, dark three-piece tops, and khaki pants. Moreover, all the equipped men are wearing caps. The men are additionally conveying dark sacks with a specific trademark and a white handle. The structures close to the location of the battlefront appear to be wrecked. A portion of the individuals resting are in a similar uniform as that of the men in real life. The pieces of the craftsmanship, which are in light are the standing individuals like Eugene Delacroix and the lady with a rifle. The stifled individuals are in conceal and the wellspring of light is the rising sun at the skyline. The composition has a decent blend of hues, which have been utilized to make dã ©cor and excellence of the pictures and the foundation. The entire scene uncovers a furious encounter between two adversary gatherings and the scene that gets my eyes is the lady conveying the banner infers that a fight was worn and the gathering possessing the banner worn the fight (Delacroix sand ONeill 67). The figures are captivating and appealing to the crowd particularly due to the hues used to introduce them. There is development depicted by the painter. The lady with a rifle is ventured to be moving given her position. The three dimensional impression of the composition is show in the innovative area of the foundation, the sky and the individuals at the bleeding edge. The painter was remaining at the front

SQL Server 2005 Data Manipulation Essay Example Essay Example

Job satisfaction and employer employee relations

Occupation fulfillment and boss worker relations Occupation fulfillment is a fundamental part of association condition and significant component in the board - representative relationship. It is the significant subject for the achievement of business as such, impact legitimately or in a roundabout way to the organization and clients. Occupation fulfillment is straightforwardly related with improving of organization and effectiveness of representative. Are the workers content with his/her current occupation? This is the primary inquiry whose answer has incredible essentialness in proficient life. On the off chance that they are content with their activity, at that point there is no issue in organization and their day by day life. On the off chance that they were not content with their activity, that is the principle issue. Also, how to take care of that issue? What are the reasons for work disappointment? Occupation fulfillment assumes fundamental job in characterizing the representative effectiveness and efficiency. As indicated by Moorhead and Griffin (2010 p.69) Job fulfillment is the degree to which an individual is satisfied or satisfied by their work. McDonalds is the universes greatest chain of the drive-through eatery, it serves food about 47 million clients every day through in excess of 31000 cafés in 119 nations. McDonalds sells various kinds of cheap food like burger, fries, serving of mixed greens and soda pops. Mc Donald is being well known in view of serving food to clients inside a moment, served over the counters, items are standard, clients are extremely appealing a direct result of low cost, cleaned place better quality, sterile and steady food quality, agreeable eatery condition, quality help and it concentrated on all degree of clients those individuals who have less buying power. The vast majority of the clients are truly happy with the administration of McDonald there was no negative reaction from the client. It is genuine clients are truly fulfilled yet the inquiry comes out to worker who serves to client. Are the workers of McDonald is happy with their activity? In which condition they are working? Are there least degree of offices are given by organization in the work place? This is significant on the working time. On account of terrible workplace once in a while worker says awful words. An informal exchange can do a great deal of mischief to an association; this is the reasons for representative activity disappointment. Worker learning and occupation fulfillment are two resources that could be followed with respect to the worth creation net.( B. Throsten ,2006). The entire drive-through joint business relies upon the worker to accomplish this objective: Hence a representative is one of the key component in drive-thru eatery ( wang, 2004). Issue of explanation In todays setting McDonald has been famous step by step in the drive-through eatery name. As per McDonald site the worker of McDonalds are completely happy with their activity and clients too. In any case, there is high representative turnover proportion. In the event that the old workers are truly fulfilled why they leaved their activity? What's more, why new workers are pull in McDonald? Are the earth of McDonald is great? What factors legitimately impact in the staff turnover and non-appearance on association? The authoritative condition is hugeness identified with the representative occupation fulfillment however same little effects on worker work execution. Association that have objectives to accomplish requires fulfilled and cheerful staff.(ashagbemi,2000). At the point when the representatives see that his desires are not met in the activity condition, the activity disappointment rises. It prompts decline in work productivity, association duty and pledge to the activity increm ent in the pace of discretionary disappointment of the job.(Santhapparaj, Srini and ling 2005; Payne and Morrision,2002;Redfern,2005;denizer,2008;Gellatly 2005and Sagie,2002) The connection between work fulfillment and hierarchical atmosphere and captured that individuals were the core of any ventures in light of the fact that their thoughts, perspectives and exertion key reasons for association achievement (Rice.C,1982). Individual in the association have certain desire and satisfaction of these relies on their recognition whether hierarchical atmosphere suits as indicated by their requirements or not.( Butt, Bhutto and Abbes,2011). In the drive-through joint, representatives work fulfillment straightforwardly influence on the nature of food administration, which implies the impact on consumer loyalty when the representatives are fulfilled they tries sincerely and attempt to give best assistance for customer.(ling Qin,2004) As per Dunn (2008) The chains yearly representative turnover at 700000-or about 44% of the companys 1.6 million workers around the world. A high representative turnover rate has been perpetual issue for the drive-thru eatery. Which develops to 130% (john.s, 2007) Associations supervisors must realize how to deal with the laborers in association yet the human instinct is distinction. Along these lines, their speculation relies upon their inclination and their interest will be distinction which can't allude by organization which impact on representative fulfillment. Occupation fulfillment straightforwardly related with the hierarchical conditions like occupation execution of representative, worker inspiration, and clients fulfillment. The components which impacts on work fulfillment is compensation, advancement, oversight, offices and so on. Point of Research To distinguish the elements, which improve the fulfillment level of worker? To anticipate the estimation of occupation fulfillment and destinations work environment factors, for example, non-attendance, worker turnover and profitability. To guarantee what happens when the worker disappointment? Destinations of Research To distinguish the components which are well on the way to impact work fulfillment on McDonalds To survey the activity fulfillment level on McDonald. To know representative fulfillment towards the offices. To offer significant recommendation to improve the fulfillment level of worker. To guarantee what happens when the worker disappointment? To assess basically applicable hypothetical examination into work fulfillment. To pick up the information on work attributes and difference model of occupation fulfillment. To investigate what is known about the connection between work fulfillment and different factors, for example, sex, age, character.. Why worker work fulfillment is mandatory? What's more, Gaining the information on connection among occupation and general life fulfillment. To investigate the reasons for fulfillment and disappointment among representatives in nature of their work and territory of disappointment. To distinguish the acts of inspiration among representatives and their activity fulfillment in industry and the  individual measures for better persuasive practices to empower workers. Close theâ suggestions based on the examination finding. Finish up theâ suggestions based on the exploration finding. Criticalness of study Improving the connection between the worker and the authoritative atmosphere at work time. Improving the worker effectiveness to subjective and amounts item. Attempt to comprehend workers felling and regard their activity which exertion to association. Key Issues to be thought of Structure of industry Workplace the board Worker Involvement Pay framework Jobâ secure Connection between manager worker and among accomplices Acknowledgment for good workâ and workplace Improvement and Career opportunity Writing audit Occupation fulfillment us the sentiment of cheerful by the laborer what he/she worked. A mentality which results from an adjusting and summation of numerous particular preferences experienced regarding the activity. It is the workers judgment of how well the activity all in all fantastic his different needs. Employment fulfillment center around all inclination that an individual has about his/her activity. Anyway what makes a vocation fulfillment or disappointment doesn't relies just upon the activity, yet in addition on the desires that that people have of what their employments ought to provide.(Lu, while Bariball, 2004). As per Oxford Dictionary work fulfillment is an utilization of exertion to a reason, power in real life, doing of something an errand for materials to be worked on doing as encounters of indicated kind business particularly as a methods for winning cash, a thing done or made, an item or appearance. .Robbins, Odendaal and Roodt (2003) state there have been to ways to deal with the investigation of employment fulfillment the worldwide methodology and the reality approach. The worldwide methodology clarifies work fulfillment as a solitary, by and large emotions towards an occupation while the feature approach recommends that there are various features or various parts of employments, for example, rewards (pay or assets benefits) others at work (administrator) work conditions, correspondence, security, advancement openings, and the idea of the work itself. Lockes (1976) says work fulfillment relies on the idea of a people esteems and needs just as upon the idea of employment. Is this methodology truly coordinated for all business? It is accepted that the activity feature approach allows an increasingly complete image of employment fulfillment and an individual normally has various degrees of fulfillment with view to the different aspects. I think this methodology isn't equal for a wide range of representatives. FW Taylor. (1911) work fulfillment dependent on a most down to business basically cynical way of thinking that man is inspiration by cash alone. Taylor is the dad of the administration he center the activity fulfilled satisfied by cash which is the most fundamental for entire life. S.K Srivastav (2005) proposed work fulfillment is general mentality which is the consequence of numerous particular perspectives in three zones (a) particular occupation factor. (b) Individual attributes (c) bunch relationship outside the activity. Also, Pestoyee (1991) states work fulfillment can be taken as a summation of representatives sentiments in four significant territories. an occupation nature of work, (b) the board (c) social relations (d) individual change. OECD look into (2000) explored work fulfillment of representative relies upon the worker status, sex and hours, the independently employed will in general demonstrate grater fulfillment with their occupations then representatives. There a

The Best Books We Read in July 2016

The Best Books We Read in July 2016 mWe asked our contributors to share the best book they read this month. We’ve got fiction, nonfiction, YA, and much, much more- there are book recommendations for everyone here! Some are old, some are new, and some aren’t even out yet. Enjoy and tell us about the highlight of your reading month in the comments. A Kind of Intimacy  by Jenn Ashworth This was an enjoyably dark book that takes readers into the mind of a seriously warped woman. Narrator Annie moves into a new home and almost immediately becomes attached to her neighbor, Will. Her obsession leads to aggressive acts against his girlfriend, Lucy. It’s evident that Annie has some secrets in her past and that the story she presents to her neighbors (and her readers) isn’t entirely accurate. As the nature of her past is revealed, the big looming question is, What will Annie do next? I recommend this for fans of  Notes on a Scandal  or anyone who enjoys books with narrators who aren’t quite right. Teresa Preston A Woman’s Place by Katelyn Beaty (Howard Books) Katelyn Beaty, the youngest managing editor ever of Christianity Today, writes a strong call to Christian women to reevaluate their place in the workplace, the home, and the Church. Beaty examines how women are viewed in the Christian church and by the world at large, then examines work and how important it is in preserving dignity in all people, and then commissions women to embrace their ambition. This book has been so encouraging to me, and I have gobbled it up with a lot of underlining andYESes andFINALYs. This book is a must-read for for any Christian, man or woman. Jesse Doogan Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I put off reading this book because of how many rave reviews it got at release time I wanted to experience this with my whole self, away from the buzz. I was not disappointed. Adichie develops a wonderful story about the challenges of race and class, while also creating an intense love story full of pushes and pulls, hits and misses, and an ending that is wildly satisfying for the characters. I thought a nearly 600-page book would take me a long time to read, but Adichie’s writing is fluid and gorgeous, her characters whole and wonderfully flawed, and it’s a book that’s hard to put down. If you haven’t picked it up, you should. The buzz was merited and this will easily become a modern classic. I am so excited to read the rest of Adichie’s fiction. Kelly Jensen Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge (Nation Books, October 4) I was lucky enough to snag a galley of this Editor’s Buzz pick when I attended Book Expo America in May. Younge, an author and columnist for the Guardian and Nation, uses the lens of a single day to explore the uniquely American phenomenon of children killed by gun violence. The stories of the 10 children killed on Nov. 23, 2013 are each harrowing in their own ways, but Younge takes the book even further, looking at the wide range of social, economic, and political factors that contribute to America’s epidemic of gun violence. This is a book that I hope will reach many people, and prompt some thoughtful discussions on what we can do to try and make our communities safer and less violent. â€" Kim Ukura Asking For It by Louise O’Neill I read this book in one sitting. It’s a book that you endure rather than flip through casually. O’Neill’s writing is like a gut punch with a kick to throat for good measure. It follows Emma, a beautiful eighteen year old from a small Irish town. Emma and her circle of friends are a “Mean Girls” kind of clique. They are obsessed with their appearance, are cruel to other people and even to each other. This all changes after Emma is raped at a party by multiple boys. The incident is recorded and plastered all over social media and a firestorm ensues. Not only is Emma’s side of the story largely ignored, she finds herself the centre of a modern day public shaming ritual. She is blamed for ruining the lives of the “good natured” boys. She can’t even find solace within her own family. This novel exposes the sickening way rape victims are treated in the UK and the U.S. O’Neill expertly draws the reader into Emma’s psychological decline after it becomes clear to her tha t everyone around her thinks it’s her fault that she was raped. It’s an important book that covers a topic that needs to be discussed with and by teenagers of both sexes. Lucas Maxwell Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet, Clement Oubrerie, Alisia Grace Chase, Tom Devlin, and translated by Helge Dascher In the introduction to this graphic novel set on Africa’s Ivory Coast in the 1970s, the author notes that it’s not common to read a story about Africans that is lighthearted, and some readers might go so far as to question whether Africans could really live the way the characters are portrayed. The answer is yes. Aya focuses on three teen girls, two of which are bound up in frivolous romances, and as one might expect, there is humorous fallout. Aya herself is the exception to the teen angst and dreams of becoming a doctor, even though most of the people in her life try to dissuade her. It’s a fun, melodramatic story reminiscent of so many teen stories and lacking most of the African stereotypes experienced across the media. It was a breath of fresh air, a new reading experience, and there is more to discover in this series. Andi Miller Blood Defense  by Marcia Clark (Thomas Mercer, May 2) I’m a huge fan of Marcia Clark’s novels (seriously, if you haven’t read her previous series, don’t let the famous name fool you. Marcia Clark is an amazing writer), so when I heard she had a new series coming out, I was immediately intrigued. This new series features criminal defense attorney Samantha Brinkman who is hired to defend a detective accused of killing a TV star. It might seem like a common premise for a legal thriller, but Clark delivers incredible twists and turns. She writes her characters incredibly well; I already can’t wait to revisit Samantha in a future installment. Swapna Krishna Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John I think that in a couple of years this novel is going to be on a lot of African Lit 101 syllabuses. The novel takes place in Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria and is an exploration of the rise of fundamentalist groups (both violent and non-violent) in that region. Told as the coming of age story of Dantala (meaning “born on a tuesday”) or Ahmed, as he is later named, it reminded me a lot of Ahmadou Kourouma’s Allah is Not Obliged in its tone and themes. Troubling but beautiful. Bronwyn Averett Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (October 25th, Thomas Dunne/Macmillan) I’m a fan of (all different kinds) of vampires stories, but it was refreshing to read a suitably dark novel with excellent world-building. Moreno-Garcia weaves together Aztec mythology into her vampire lore, and situates the clans in the drug world of Mexico. There’s a cast of sympathetic and layered characters, and the writing is equally effortless even when describing gory action scenes and contemplative moments considering moral dilemmas. This is a new favorite. Molly Wetta Christodora by Tim Murphy (Grove Press, August 2016) This is in severe contention for my Favorite Book of 2016.  We live in a time where HIV/AIDS is no longer seen as a death sentence, but this story reminded me of just how recently being diagnosed attached to you a stigma that would remain with you for your few remaining days.  This sweeping tale of AIDS activists and the incredible changes they inspired is heart-wrenching, hopeful and beautiful.  Murphy writes in the voices of his characters so distinctly that I could almost hear an audio quality to his writing.  The minute this comes out in August… pick it up immediately! Elizabeth Allen The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi, Vol ‘01 I spent basically all of July reading this manga series, and it was glorious. Shizuku’s dad was a world-famous wine critic, so naturally Shizuku hates wine and works at a beer company. But then his dad dies, and in order to inherit his father’s estate, Shizuku has to battle against his father’s adopted son in a treasure hunt to find the “Twelve Apostles” of wine and the ultimate prize, the Drops of God. I loved the two main characters, Shizuku and Miyabi, a sommelier-in-training. I’m also a sucker for books where people learn stuff and make friends, which is essentially what this story is all about. But what really makes these books stand out is how perfectly they express the experience of drinking wine, and how it can be both a food and an art. If you only ever read one book about wine, please let it be this one! Tasha Brandstatter The End of Everything by Megan Abbott Like many Rioters, I have been eagerly anticipating Megan Abbott’s newest release,  You Will Know Me. When adding it to my TBR I realized that I had missed out on her 2011 novel,  The End of Everything.  I immediately rectified this situation.  The End of Everything  is, well, everything I’ve come to expect from Megan Abbott: an addictive, potboiler plot combined with gorgeous, fluid writing and a gimlet eye.  The End of Everything  takes an often-used and often-sexist trope â€" the missing teenage girl â€" and makes it feel vital, original, and even edgy. After her best friend Evie goes missing, thirteen-year-old Lizzie becomes a valuable source of information for the police’s investigation and begins to launch an investigation of her own, all while growing closer to her missing friend’s father. Abbott deftly represents the potency of teenage girls’ burgeoning sexuality without exploiting it, or letting those who would exploit it off the hook. While most missing-girl stori es end with “who did it?” and “what was done to her?”  Abbott shows how incredibly limited those questions are; instead, she paints a larger picture of the broader context of Evie’s disappearance.  The End of Everything  is deeply uncomfortable in the best way possible â€" a perfect hazy, squirmy summer read. Maddie Rodriguez   Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon I read this in a few hours after hearing Amandla Stenberg was cast as the female lead in the upcoming movie adaptation. It was incredible. About Maddy, a teenage girl with SCID (which requires her to be confined to her home and severely limits her ability to interact with others) and Olly, the new next door neighbor she falls for, theres a certain loveliness about the whole book from the prose to the characters to the romance to the illustrations. Im annoyed with myself for waiting so long to read it. Chelsea Hensley The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, August 2nd) This anthology has a stellar list of contributors, including Edwidge Danticat, Kiese Laymon, Claudia Rankine, Isabel Wilkerson, and many more. It’s fabulous. The pieces are varied, ranging from essay to memoir to poetry. They are consistently moving and powerful, each capturing a different perspective on what it means to be Black in America today. Readers will come to this book for different reasons, but it remains essential reading for everyone who cares about the American experience, past, present, and future. Rebecca Hussey The Girl Before by Rena Olson (G.P. Putnams Sons, August 9, 2016) Told through shifting episodes between present and past, The Girl Before recounts the arrest and investigation of Clara Lawsons role as a mother figure in a human trafficking operation. Scenes of interrogation, individual and group therapy sessions, and flashbacks reveal Claras training to be an ideal mistress for a wealthy client, a plan that is derailed by her growing relationship and eventual marriage to the heir to the trafficking business. Complicating the investigation is Claras dual role as both a perpetrator complicit in the racket and a victim who has been groomed since age six to understand her abusive, exploitative lifestyle as normal. Olsons fractured narrative illustrates Claras struggle to reconcile her two lives and understand how the innocent, spunky girl she was before her abduction became a naive, misguided woman indoctrinated to believe she is preparing her daughters, other kidnapped young girls and women, for better lives with loving husbands. Cheyenne Comer Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins I fell so hard in love with this book that I was almost afraid to finish it or approach it again after the first couple of chapters. It’s a gorgeously-woven story about awful things: a drought, an evacuation, a cult, a kidnapping, drug addiction, fame. Reading Watkins’s language was like slipping out of silk pajamas and into the most perfect bubble bath you’ve ever experienced. So luxurious. Susie Rodarme Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn Ive had this book on my to-read list since the moment I laid eyes on that amazing superhero cover. The actual stuff behind the cover did not disappoint. Its a high-energy superhero adventure from start to finish with compelling (read: funny and snarky) narration courtesy of Evie Tanaka, superhero assistant extraordinaire. If you want some sweet Asian representation mixed in with superpowers, get this book. But dont be misled by the cover art this is definitely not YA lit. Jessica Yang How to be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret, Sophie Mas I thought I’d take a break from all the fiction I was reading and delve into something a bit lighter. This book was perfect. I’ve always been a fan of French style. Parisian women are so effortlessly chic and give out this, “I’m an intellectual but also beautiful” vibe that is, simply put, timeless. This book contains practical information on closet essentials, but also hilariously deconstructs the mystique of the Parisian woman. The spreads are also amazing and filled with everything from end-to-end Pantone swatches to portraits of gorgeous French women throughout history. I was reading this on my lunch break one day at a sandwich shop and heard a guy say to his friend as he was leaving, “Did you see what she was reading? I really wanted to know!” â€" Shara Lee I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young, Jean-François Beaulieu It all starts out fine and dandy like any fairy tale: all Gertrude has to do is complete a little quest (should take a day) to return back home from Fairyland. Nope. Poor Gertrude ends up stuck in Fairyland for 27 years which makes her a grown ass woman stuck in a little girls body and still unable to go home because she hasn’t completed the mission. Let’s just say she’s now lost all patience, is no longer rational, is all kinds of angry, is creative with cursing, and she’s violent! All of which makes for loads of fun to read contrasted by all the bright colors and adorable characters. Like an acid trip gone wrong in Candy Land this is gory, violent, funny, silly, sadistic and adorable! Jamie Canaves It’s So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan I saw Guns N’ Roses for the first time in my life this month, so naturally I had to beef up on my GN’R factoids. This book isn’t really that, though. Duff McKagan writes about his alcohol addiction and his dances with death. He writes about how he overcame it all and has to tell himself every day that he’s an addict. Did you ever think a memoir could be a page-turner? This one is. One hundred percent. Its structure is perfect it starts with his daughter’s 13th birthday party, then goes to his childhood, then begins the tale of Guns N’ Roses and beyond. His stories are gnarly, but hes eloquent in telling them. Hes wise. Hes funny. He made me cry a little. Its all I talked about while I read it, and I’ll probably continue talking about it for a while. Ashley Holstrom Infomocracy  by Malka Older   I hate election years, and I know I’m not alone. I hate them because every day brings horrible new campaigning, the good guys are often indistinguishable from the bad guys, and social media is a 24/7 garbage fire. I also think they’re incredibly important you can’t make change by checking out, or fight injustice by walking away, so we have to stay tuned in enough to vote on the things we care about. Malka Older’s  Infomocracy  is the election-year sci-fi thriller I didn’t know I wanted and desperately needed. It takes place in a near-future where micro-democracy rules and voters are divided into “centenals” (100,000-person regions), the organization Information (think Google on an unlimited budget with a public mandate) provides constant real-time facts to the voting populace, and politics are still a quagmire. There are fight scenes and data-crunching scenes and characters with wildly different ideologies, and Older puts them all together beautifully. Above all, this book explores the idea of citizenship in a way that will make you think and maybe even help you get through to November.   Jenn Northington Kindred by Octavia E. Butler I admit that I am usually too hesitant to pick up books about slavery. This year I’m trying to get over my hesitation and this was one of my biggest overlooked books. Even though it’s a few decades old, Kindred really holds up. Every time I thought it might be getting a little problematic, it was just me not seeing that Butler was setting me up to address the very issue that was making me uncomfortable. She stares harsh truths and prejudices right in the face and she also creates a story you cannot stop reading. Jessica Woodbury The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers By leaps and boundsno, by lightyears and parsecsthis is the best space-based scifi I have read in years. It’s enormous fun even as it hits deep notes with clarity, charm, and empathy. In a lot of ways, it’s kind of like if Firefly had aliens and was written by an anthropologist. The novel follows a motley, multi-species team of wormhole-tunnelers as they travel the eponymous long way to a small, angry planet (which has recently signed a tenuous treaty with the galactic government, to uncertain effect). Along the way, with stops on various planets and long stretches in open space, Chambers is intensely interested in the ways different sapient species interact in both galactic politics and, especially, the close quarters of a single ship. Some of the differences are obvious (i.e, number of limbs or skin vs. scales) and some are more subtle (i.e., ideas about modesty or conceptions of justice), but all are explored with care and generosity. And all in the service of a rip-roaring pl ot, which is an especially tough balance to strike, and one Chambers hits perfectly in this fantastic novel. Derek Attig The Memory Wall by Lev AC Rosen (Knopf Books for Young Readers, September 13, 2016) The story begins on the day twelve-year-old Nick Reeves and his father take his mom to a new home. Doctors say his mother has early-onset Alzheimers, and apparently Sunrise House can help manage her symptoms. Nick struggles against his mother’s diagnosis, believing that his father and the doctors are going too far. He finds a chance to help her when he starts a new online multi-player game, Wellhall, where he plays a gray elf named Severkin who is a fierce fighter and savvy problem solver. In the course of the game he comes across another gray elf, Reunne, who just might be the key to bringing his mom home. Rosen pens a compelling book, alternating between reality and gaming with ease. His world building in Wellhall is stunning, sure to draw readers in with his vivid descriptions and imagery. In the end, this story speaks to the deepest longings of our hearts and the things we do to save the ones we love. Karina Glaser Men We Reaped: A Memoir  by Jesmyn Ward   This book came out a few years ago but it feels like a perfect commentary on recent events and #BlackLivesMatter. Everyone (including Amanda, who listed this as her  April 2016  pick) told me this book was beautiful and gutting but I still wasnt prepared for Wards incredible memoir. Id planned to read for just a half hour or so and found myself unable to break away from her story of grief and racism, the south and home, growing up and navigating the world as a black, poor or working class, southern woman. While this is, absolutely, a book about the black men in Wards life that died between 2000-2004, its also a memoir of black women’s survival. Its as much about losing men as it is about becoming one of the women left in their wake (for good and ill). This is a fantastic book to read in conjunction with Coates’  Between the World and Me  because it tackles similar themes about black men and black bodies in the world. Just be prepared: its so beautiful and engrossing that even if it makes you cry, you wont want to put it down. Ashley Bowen-Murphy   Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda Even if this wasn’t an incredible piece of storytelling, the art alone in this graphic novel would have put it at the top of my list. Takeda’s steampunk art deco graphics are mind-meltingly beautiful and amazing. But Liu’s story of a girl in an alternate 1900s matriarchal Asia is worthy of such beauty. Maika is fighting the forces of darkness and evil (holy cats, such EVIL this book definitely earns its ‘M’ rating) while also struggling with an actual monster inside her, whose agenda she hasn’t quite figured out. It’s bananapants. This is like Saga meets Buffy meets The Girl with All the Gifts meets the aesthetics of 1980s sci-fi movies like Solar Babies and Time Bandits, and then they all have a key party at Pinhead from Hellraiser’s place. More like this, please. Liberty Hardy The Mortifications  by Derek Palacio This debut novel about a family divided during the Mariel boatlift is the most engaging novel I’ve read this year. The loyalties and dualities that push together and pull apart the Encarnacion family are complex and wondrous, yet acutely believable. While the family patriarch, Uxbal, is left in Cuba to lead a sparse revolutionary sect, his wife Soledad and children, Isabel and Ulises, head north to Connecticut. They are never able to abandon Uxbal’s gigantic presence, which leads his family to take disparate and profound actions. Throughout, Palacio’s prose is like well-brewed coffee: robust, strong, earthy, and awakening.  The Mortifications  is without doubt in contention for my favorite book to come out this year.   Aram Mrjoian   The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood This book tells the story of a group of girls whose only link is that they were all part of a sex-related scandal that made headlines. They had affairs. They were sexually harassed and/or assaulted by their employers or people in positions of authority. And, one morning, they wake up on a run-down sheep station.  Their heads are shaved, they are given old-fashioned, highly uncomfortable clothing, and they’re forced into a life of servitude. They don’t know why. They don’t know how. And they don’t know if there is an end in sight.  It’s “As if the girls somehow, through the natural way of things, did it to themselves.”  I picked this one up because someone said it had a Margaret Atwood vibe, and while there are definite hints of Atwood there, The Natural Way of Things is definitely its own animal.  And that’s true in more than one way. Cassandra Neace O Human Star by Blue Delliquanti (Self-published, 2015) This is the first of three print volumes of the comic originally published online and it’s the most recent book I ‘ve read that reminded me of how much I love reading. Reading it was one of those times where you really wanna find out what happens and are enjoying the book so much that you cant stop reading but you also want to slow down because you dont want the book to end. Well, I couldnt resist and read it all in one day. Not only was this super smart and a totally interesting science fiction take on AI, it had all this cute queer and trans stuff happening: men falling in love, male-assigned robots becoming girls, girls giving girls their phone numbers. I totally fell in love with the characters. I may or may not have squealed out loud when the guys got together. This is the best kind of sci-fi/fantasy in my opinion, because it does something otherwise great speculative fiction doesnt always do: emotional engagement and complex characters. Casey Stepaniuk The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Lisa Frazier Page (May 1, 2003 Perfection Learning) I read this book in one sitting. Three young men, from dysfunctional homes from the rough streets of Newark, NJ overcome the odds by making a pact to become dentists and then working hard and achieving their goal. With unflinching honesty and rawness the 3 doctors talk about the obstacles they faced, the people who gave them support and encouragement, and how they were able to persevere through legal troubles, poverty, and personal turmoil to achieve success. My only regret was that I was just now finding this book. This is a very moving and inspiring story about never giving up. Christina Vortia Parasite by Mira Grant (Orbit, 2013) Humans have discovered a way to eliminate all illness through the use of genetically modified tapeworms until *spoiler!* people realize that this is not a good idea.  This is exactly what I’ve been looking for in my dystopian fiction suspense, high-level secrets, great characters without the romantic drama YA fiction, compelling writing, and just a touch of horror.  It’s first in a trilogy, and I’m really excited to read the next two books! Katie McLain Saving Capitalism by Robert B. Reich Reich explains how political changes in the last three decades is accelerating wealth inequality. This is a book that any Bernie Sanders supporter would love. Reich is a great explainer, and entertaining writer. This is not dry economics. Anyone hoping to save the middle class will want to read Reich’s ideas about how to save capitalism. James Wallace Harris Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw A book about fandoms, fanfiction, hormones, and high school Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here is funny and wise; Breslaw has perfectly captured the way teens talk and the many ways they angst. Scarlett is precocious without being twee, and I love the Buffy-like fandom she’s so enamored with and involved in. This is perfect summer reading; a quick read that deals in real emotions without being too heavy. Emma Nichols The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd (10/11/2016 Delacorte Books for Young Readers) Trapped in a hospital, surrounded by children inflicted with stillwaters, Emmaline keeps a secret: she can see winged horses in the mirrors. When one of those winged horses arrives injured in her world, its up to Emmaline to protect it but how can you protect something so magical when youre barely able to stand? The Secret Horses of Briar Hill pushes the boundaries of magical realism, leaving readers entirely uncertain as to whether or not the magic is in Emmalines heart or in her hospital but the ultimately hopeful ending will satisfy even the most disbelieving reader. Filled with beautiful prose and moments of unbridled tenderness,  The Secret Horses of Briar Hill  is the perfect book for both middle grade reader and parent. Nicole Brinkley Sexual Fluidity by Lisa M. Diamond Although I had a few issues with this booknamely the cissexismI can’t ignore that this was a life-changing read for me. It completely changed how I think about sexual orientation and identity, and it was the most affirming book I could possibly read at this point in my life. It argues that women’s sexuality is characterized by change and fluidity (to different degrees for different people). Diamond demonstrates that our framework for viewing sexuality is fundamentally flawed. It blew my mind. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in traditional narratives about sexual orientation, pick this one up. It’ll make you realize that you’re far from being alone. Danika Ellis Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West All hail Lindy West! This collection of essays is one of the funniest and most infuriating books I have read. West is an expert in exposing the absurd messages women (and men) receive about our bodies, sexuality, and autonomy. From the first chapter where she lists the pathetically small (and ultimately flawed) list of fat female role models she had in her youth, I was hooked. The list includes Ursula the Sea Witch, The Neighbor with the Arm Flab from The Adventures of Pete Pete, and Baloo Dressed as a Sexy Fortune Teller. A disturbing chapter that begins with West calling the FBI to report vicious harassment by a Twitter follower is delightfully titled “Why Fat Lady So Mean To Baby Men?” It’s this dichotomy that makes Shrill an such an entertaining and important read. â€"-Katie MacBride The Time it Never Rained by Elmer Kelton I have this sweet situation going on where my partner has spent the last year reading only books I’ve recommended to him. As most book nerds can attest to, living with someone who takes every book suggestion you give them is a dream come true! So when he finally asked me to read something he loved I knew I owed it to him, but I’ll be damned if I wanted to do it. It took me a bit to get into it but once I did I was blown away by how touching and funny and lovely it was. Westerns aren’t typically on my genre radar but this one was paced perfectly, with really impressive character development, and lots of surprisingly funny bits. I was sorry to see it end. Tracy Shapley The Veins of the Ocean by Patricia Engel (Grove Atlantic) In this novel, a young woman named Reina lives with the guilt of a crime her brother committed, which affects many aspects of her life, including her bonds with family and a new relationship. As the book moves forward, Reina pushes her own limits and through a connection with the ocean, is able to see a reflection of herself that keeps her moving forward. This book is centered in the immigrant experience and tackles tough issues like grief, family, fate and love with such grace. I took my time with the beautiful language of this novel and highly recommend it! Jamie Moore Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle by Katie Coyle This book is the sequel to Vivian Apple at the End of the World. In general, I always get nervous about sequels to dystopian novels because things so often take a nosedive from bad  to worse to just plain unreadable.This sequel, however, did not disappoint. The amazing characters from the first book were back in full force, the plot made sense as a follow-up to the first book, and the two part series hangs together beautifully. These books both had me laughing out loud and groaning because Coyle’s depiction of a post-apocalyptic America is sometimes a bit too real to be swallowed easily. This was probably the best YA dystopia I’ve read, and definitely the best YA dystopia sequel. Amanda Kay Oaks The Wake  by Paul Kingsnorth Im reading this in bits in between others. Im fascinated by the pseudo Anglo-Saxon the author created to tell the tale. After a few sentences, you really forget its not in “modern” English and youre absorbed by the story.   -Kristen McQuinn   The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis Such grit. Very western. Wow murder.   -Peter Damien Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky I love books that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and Rachel Ignotofsky’s Women in Science fits the bill perfectly. It’s an illustrated collection of short biographies on fifty female pioneers in the STEM field. The stories of these inspiring innovators are accompanied by stunning illustrations. This book is an absolute joy to read. Buy one for every girl and woman in your life! Kate Scott Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson I received this chef memoir in a food-themed Book Riot box, along with an apron, a dishtowel, a charming bookmark, and other goodies. It hadn’t been on my radar previously, but I ended up really enjoying this account of a chef who worked his butt off through years of feeling like an outsider, and who established an identity for himself as someone who was skilled at creating and melding flavors that transcended cultural boundaries. Steph Auteri   You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour David Levithan (St. Martin’s Griffin, June 7th 2016) Mark and Katie sit next to each other at school, but have never actually spoken. When they meet during a Pride celebration at a San Francisco gay bar, both are struggling with romantic quandaries. Katie’s supposed to meet the girl of her dreams, but is worried about having the highest of high expectations. Mark’s in love with his best friend and trying to find out if Ryan feels the same way. The two quickly become indispensable to each other as they help each other survive the ups and downs of first love. This humorous, romantic, and emotional book was perfect to read last month during Pride celebrations and after the horrific Orlando Pulse shooting. I loved that while the story’s mostly about falling in love Mark and Katie’s friendship is the primary relationship celebrated in the book. Alison Doherty Zimbabwe  by Tapiwa Mugabe This is a short, beautiful read with some incredible moments. Nicole Froio

The Best Books We Read in July 2016

The Best Books We Read in July 2016 mWe asked our contributors to share the best book they read this month. We’ve got fiction, nonfiction, YA, and much, much more- there are book recommendations for everyone here! Some are old, some are new, and some aren’t even out yet. Enjoy and tell us about the highlight of your reading month in the comments. A Kind of Intimacy  by Jenn Ashworth This was an enjoyably dark book that takes readers into the mind of a seriously warped woman. Narrator Annie moves into a new home and almost immediately becomes attached to her neighbor, Will. Her obsession leads to aggressive acts against his girlfriend, Lucy. It’s evident that Annie has some secrets in her past and that the story she presents to her neighbors (and her readers) isn’t entirely accurate. As the nature of her past is revealed, the big looming question is, What will Annie do next? I recommend this for fans of  Notes on a Scandal  or anyone who enjoys books with narrators who aren’t quite right. Teresa Preston A Woman’s Place by Katelyn Beaty (Howard Books) Katelyn Beaty, the youngest managing editor ever of Christianity Today, writes a strong call to Christian women to reevaluate their place in the workplace, the home, and the Church. Beaty examines how women are viewed in the Christian church and by the world at large, then examines work and how important it is in preserving dignity in all people, and then commissions women to embrace their ambition. This book has been so encouraging to me, and I have gobbled it up with a lot of underlining andYESes andFINALYs. This book is a must-read for for any Christian, man or woman. Jesse Doogan Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie I put off reading this book because of how many rave reviews it got at release time I wanted to experience this with my whole self, away from the buzz. I was not disappointed. Adichie develops a wonderful story about the challenges of race and class, while also creating an intense love story full of pushes and pulls, hits and misses, and an ending that is wildly satisfying for the characters. I thought a nearly 600-page book would take me a long time to read, but Adichie’s writing is fluid and gorgeous, her characters whole and wonderfully flawed, and it’s a book that’s hard to put down. If you haven’t picked it up, you should. The buzz was merited and this will easily become a modern classic. I am so excited to read the rest of Adichie’s fiction. Kelly Jensen Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge (Nation Books, October 4) I was lucky enough to snag a galley of this Editor’s Buzz pick when I attended Book Expo America in May. Younge, an author and columnist for the Guardian and Nation, uses the lens of a single day to explore the uniquely American phenomenon of children killed by gun violence. The stories of the 10 children killed on Nov. 23, 2013 are each harrowing in their own ways, but Younge takes the book even further, looking at the wide range of social, economic, and political factors that contribute to America’s epidemic of gun violence. This is a book that I hope will reach many people, and prompt some thoughtful discussions on what we can do to try and make our communities safer and less violent. â€" Kim Ukura Asking For It by Louise O’Neill I read this book in one sitting. It’s a book that you endure rather than flip through casually. O’Neill’s writing is like a gut punch with a kick to throat for good measure. It follows Emma, a beautiful eighteen year old from a small Irish town. Emma and her circle of friends are a “Mean Girls” kind of clique. They are obsessed with their appearance, are cruel to other people and even to each other. This all changes after Emma is raped at a party by multiple boys. The incident is recorded and plastered all over social media and a firestorm ensues. Not only is Emma’s side of the story largely ignored, she finds herself the centre of a modern day public shaming ritual. She is blamed for ruining the lives of the “good natured” boys. She can’t even find solace within her own family. This novel exposes the sickening way rape victims are treated in the UK and the U.S. O’Neill expertly draws the reader into Emma’s psychological decline after it becomes clear to her tha t everyone around her thinks it’s her fault that she was raped. It’s an important book that covers a topic that needs to be discussed with and by teenagers of both sexes. Lucas Maxwell Aya (Aya #1) by Marguerite Abouet, Clement Oubrerie, Alisia Grace Chase, Tom Devlin, and translated by Helge Dascher In the introduction to this graphic novel set on Africa’s Ivory Coast in the 1970s, the author notes that it’s not common to read a story about Africans that is lighthearted, and some readers might go so far as to question whether Africans could really live the way the characters are portrayed. The answer is yes. Aya focuses on three teen girls, two of which are bound up in frivolous romances, and as one might expect, there is humorous fallout. Aya herself is the exception to the teen angst and dreams of becoming a doctor, even though most of the people in her life try to dissuade her. It’s a fun, melodramatic story reminiscent of so many teen stories and lacking most of the African stereotypes experienced across the media. It was a breath of fresh air, a new reading experience, and there is more to discover in this series. Andi Miller Blood Defense  by Marcia Clark (Thomas Mercer, May 2) I’m a huge fan of Marcia Clark’s novels (seriously, if you haven’t read her previous series, don’t let the famous name fool you. Marcia Clark is an amazing writer), so when I heard she had a new series coming out, I was immediately intrigued. This new series features criminal defense attorney Samantha Brinkman who is hired to defend a detective accused of killing a TV star. It might seem like a common premise for a legal thriller, but Clark delivers incredible twists and turns. She writes her characters incredibly well; I already can’t wait to revisit Samantha in a future installment. Swapna Krishna Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John I think that in a couple of years this novel is going to be on a lot of African Lit 101 syllabuses. The novel takes place in Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria and is an exploration of the rise of fundamentalist groups (both violent and non-violent) in that region. Told as the coming of age story of Dantala (meaning “born on a tuesday”) or Ahmed, as he is later named, it reminded me a lot of Ahmadou Kourouma’s Allah is Not Obliged in its tone and themes. Troubling but beautiful. Bronwyn Averett Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (October 25th, Thomas Dunne/Macmillan) I’m a fan of (all different kinds) of vampires stories, but it was refreshing to read a suitably dark novel with excellent world-building. Moreno-Garcia weaves together Aztec mythology into her vampire lore, and situates the clans in the drug world of Mexico. There’s a cast of sympathetic and layered characters, and the writing is equally effortless even when describing gory action scenes and contemplative moments considering moral dilemmas. This is a new favorite. Molly Wetta Christodora by Tim Murphy (Grove Press, August 2016) This is in severe contention for my Favorite Book of 2016.  We live in a time where HIV/AIDS is no longer seen as a death sentence, but this story reminded me of just how recently being diagnosed attached to you a stigma that would remain with you for your few remaining days.  This sweeping tale of AIDS activists and the incredible changes they inspired is heart-wrenching, hopeful and beautiful.  Murphy writes in the voices of his characters so distinctly that I could almost hear an audio quality to his writing.  The minute this comes out in August… pick it up immediately! Elizabeth Allen The Drops of God by Tadashi Agi, Vol ‘01 I spent basically all of July reading this manga series, and it was glorious. Shizuku’s dad was a world-famous wine critic, so naturally Shizuku hates wine and works at a beer company. But then his dad dies, and in order to inherit his father’s estate, Shizuku has to battle against his father’s adopted son in a treasure hunt to find the “Twelve Apostles” of wine and the ultimate prize, the Drops of God. I loved the two main characters, Shizuku and Miyabi, a sommelier-in-training. I’m also a sucker for books where people learn stuff and make friends, which is essentially what this story is all about. But what really makes these books stand out is how perfectly they express the experience of drinking wine, and how it can be both a food and an art. If you only ever read one book about wine, please let it be this one! Tasha Brandstatter The End of Everything by Megan Abbott Like many Rioters, I have been eagerly anticipating Megan Abbott’s newest release,  You Will Know Me. When adding it to my TBR I realized that I had missed out on her 2011 novel,  The End of Everything.  I immediately rectified this situation.  The End of Everything  is, well, everything I’ve come to expect from Megan Abbott: an addictive, potboiler plot combined with gorgeous, fluid writing and a gimlet eye.  The End of Everything  takes an often-used and often-sexist trope â€" the missing teenage girl â€" and makes it feel vital, original, and even edgy. After her best friend Evie goes missing, thirteen-year-old Lizzie becomes a valuable source of information for the police’s investigation and begins to launch an investigation of her own, all while growing closer to her missing friend’s father. Abbott deftly represents the potency of teenage girls’ burgeoning sexuality without exploiting it, or letting those who would exploit it off the hook. While most missing-girl stori es end with “who did it?” and “what was done to her?”  Abbott shows how incredibly limited those questions are; instead, she paints a larger picture of the broader context of Evie’s disappearance.  The End of Everything  is deeply uncomfortable in the best way possible â€" a perfect hazy, squirmy summer read. Maddie Rodriguez   Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon I read this in a few hours after hearing Amandla Stenberg was cast as the female lead in the upcoming movie adaptation. It was incredible. About Maddy, a teenage girl with SCID (which requires her to be confined to her home and severely limits her ability to interact with others) and Olly, the new next door neighbor she falls for, theres a certain loveliness about the whole book from the prose to the characters to the romance to the illustrations. Im annoyed with myself for waiting so long to read it. Chelsea Hensley The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, edited by Jesmyn Ward (Scribner, August 2nd) This anthology has a stellar list of contributors, including Edwidge Danticat, Kiese Laymon, Claudia Rankine, Isabel Wilkerson, and many more. It’s fabulous. The pieces are varied, ranging from essay to memoir to poetry. They are consistently moving and powerful, each capturing a different perspective on what it means to be Black in America today. Readers will come to this book for different reasons, but it remains essential reading for everyone who cares about the American experience, past, present, and future. Rebecca Hussey The Girl Before by Rena Olson (G.P. Putnams Sons, August 9, 2016) Told through shifting episodes between present and past, The Girl Before recounts the arrest and investigation of Clara Lawsons role as a mother figure in a human trafficking operation. Scenes of interrogation, individual and group therapy sessions, and flashbacks reveal Claras training to be an ideal mistress for a wealthy client, a plan that is derailed by her growing relationship and eventual marriage to the heir to the trafficking business. Complicating the investigation is Claras dual role as both a perpetrator complicit in the racket and a victim who has been groomed since age six to understand her abusive, exploitative lifestyle as normal. Olsons fractured narrative illustrates Claras struggle to reconcile her two lives and understand how the innocent, spunky girl she was before her abduction became a naive, misguided woman indoctrinated to believe she is preparing her daughters, other kidnapped young girls and women, for better lives with loving husbands. Cheyenne Comer Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins I fell so hard in love with this book that I was almost afraid to finish it or approach it again after the first couple of chapters. It’s a gorgeously-woven story about awful things: a drought, an evacuation, a cult, a kidnapping, drug addiction, fame. Reading Watkins’s language was like slipping out of silk pajamas and into the most perfect bubble bath you’ve ever experienced. So luxurious. Susie Rodarme Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn Ive had this book on my to-read list since the moment I laid eyes on that amazing superhero cover. The actual stuff behind the cover did not disappoint. Its a high-energy superhero adventure from start to finish with compelling (read: funny and snarky) narration courtesy of Evie Tanaka, superhero assistant extraordinaire. If you want some sweet Asian representation mixed in with superpowers, get this book. But dont be misled by the cover art this is definitely not YA lit. Jessica Yang How to be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret, Sophie Mas I thought I’d take a break from all the fiction I was reading and delve into something a bit lighter. This book was perfect. I’ve always been a fan of French style. Parisian women are so effortlessly chic and give out this, “I’m an intellectual but also beautiful” vibe that is, simply put, timeless. This book contains practical information on closet essentials, but also hilariously deconstructs the mystique of the Parisian woman. The spreads are also amazing and filled with everything from end-to-end Pantone swatches to portraits of gorgeous French women throughout history. I was reading this on my lunch break one day at a sandwich shop and heard a guy say to his friend as he was leaving, “Did you see what she was reading? I really wanted to know!” â€" Shara Lee I Hate Fairyland, Vol. 1: Madly Ever After by Skottie Young, Jean-François Beaulieu It all starts out fine and dandy like any fairy tale: all Gertrude has to do is complete a little quest (should take a day) to return back home from Fairyland. Nope. Poor Gertrude ends up stuck in Fairyland for 27 years which makes her a grown ass woman stuck in a little girls body and still unable to go home because she hasn’t completed the mission. Let’s just say she’s now lost all patience, is no longer rational, is all kinds of angry, is creative with cursing, and she’s violent! All of which makes for loads of fun to read contrasted by all the bright colors and adorable characters. Like an acid trip gone wrong in Candy Land this is gory, violent, funny, silly, sadistic and adorable! Jamie Canaves It’s So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan I saw Guns N’ Roses for the first time in my life this month, so naturally I had to beef up on my GN’R factoids. This book isn’t really that, though. Duff McKagan writes about his alcohol addiction and his dances with death. He writes about how he overcame it all and has to tell himself every day that he’s an addict. Did you ever think a memoir could be a page-turner? This one is. One hundred percent. Its structure is perfect it starts with his daughter’s 13th birthday party, then goes to his childhood, then begins the tale of Guns N’ Roses and beyond. His stories are gnarly, but hes eloquent in telling them. Hes wise. Hes funny. He made me cry a little. Its all I talked about while I read it, and I’ll probably continue talking about it for a while. Ashley Holstrom Infomocracy  by Malka Older   I hate election years, and I know I’m not alone. I hate them because every day brings horrible new campaigning, the good guys are often indistinguishable from the bad guys, and social media is a 24/7 garbage fire. I also think they’re incredibly important you can’t make change by checking out, or fight injustice by walking away, so we have to stay tuned in enough to vote on the things we care about. Malka Older’s  Infomocracy  is the election-year sci-fi thriller I didn’t know I wanted and desperately needed. It takes place in a near-future where micro-democracy rules and voters are divided into “centenals” (100,000-person regions), the organization Information (think Google on an unlimited budget with a public mandate) provides constant real-time facts to the voting populace, and politics are still a quagmire. There are fight scenes and data-crunching scenes and characters with wildly different ideologies, and Older puts them all together beautifully. Above all, this book explores the idea of citizenship in a way that will make you think and maybe even help you get through to November.   Jenn Northington Kindred by Octavia E. Butler I admit that I am usually too hesitant to pick up books about slavery. This year I’m trying to get over my hesitation and this was one of my biggest overlooked books. Even though it’s a few decades old, Kindred really holds up. Every time I thought it might be getting a little problematic, it was just me not seeing that Butler was setting me up to address the very issue that was making me uncomfortable. She stares harsh truths and prejudices right in the face and she also creates a story you cannot stop reading. Jessica Woodbury The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers By leaps and boundsno, by lightyears and parsecsthis is the best space-based scifi I have read in years. It’s enormous fun even as it hits deep notes with clarity, charm, and empathy. In a lot of ways, it’s kind of like if Firefly had aliens and was written by an anthropologist. The novel follows a motley, multi-species team of wormhole-tunnelers as they travel the eponymous long way to a small, angry planet (which has recently signed a tenuous treaty with the galactic government, to uncertain effect). Along the way, with stops on various planets and long stretches in open space, Chambers is intensely interested in the ways different sapient species interact in both galactic politics and, especially, the close quarters of a single ship. Some of the differences are obvious (i.e, number of limbs or skin vs. scales) and some are more subtle (i.e., ideas about modesty or conceptions of justice), but all are explored with care and generosity. And all in the service of a rip-roaring pl ot, which is an especially tough balance to strike, and one Chambers hits perfectly in this fantastic novel. Derek Attig The Memory Wall by Lev AC Rosen (Knopf Books for Young Readers, September 13, 2016) The story begins on the day twelve-year-old Nick Reeves and his father take his mom to a new home. Doctors say his mother has early-onset Alzheimers, and apparently Sunrise House can help manage her symptoms. Nick struggles against his mother’s diagnosis, believing that his father and the doctors are going too far. He finds a chance to help her when he starts a new online multi-player game, Wellhall, where he plays a gray elf named Severkin who is a fierce fighter and savvy problem solver. In the course of the game he comes across another gray elf, Reunne, who just might be the key to bringing his mom home. Rosen pens a compelling book, alternating between reality and gaming with ease. His world building in Wellhall is stunning, sure to draw readers in with his vivid descriptions and imagery. In the end, this story speaks to the deepest longings of our hearts and the things we do to save the ones we love. Karina Glaser Men We Reaped: A Memoir  by Jesmyn Ward   This book came out a few years ago but it feels like a perfect commentary on recent events and #BlackLivesMatter. Everyone (including Amanda, who listed this as her  April 2016  pick) told me this book was beautiful and gutting but I still wasnt prepared for Wards incredible memoir. Id planned to read for just a half hour or so and found myself unable to break away from her story of grief and racism, the south and home, growing up and navigating the world as a black, poor or working class, southern woman. While this is, absolutely, a book about the black men in Wards life that died between 2000-2004, its also a memoir of black women’s survival. Its as much about losing men as it is about becoming one of the women left in their wake (for good and ill). This is a fantastic book to read in conjunction with Coates’  Between the World and Me  because it tackles similar themes about black men and black bodies in the world. Just be prepared: its so beautiful and engrossing that even if it makes you cry, you wont want to put it down. Ashley Bowen-Murphy   Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda Even if this wasn’t an incredible piece of storytelling, the art alone in this graphic novel would have put it at the top of my list. Takeda’s steampunk art deco graphics are mind-meltingly beautiful and amazing. But Liu’s story of a girl in an alternate 1900s matriarchal Asia is worthy of such beauty. Maika is fighting the forces of darkness and evil (holy cats, such EVIL this book definitely earns its ‘M’ rating) while also struggling with an actual monster inside her, whose agenda she hasn’t quite figured out. It’s bananapants. This is like Saga meets Buffy meets The Girl with All the Gifts meets the aesthetics of 1980s sci-fi movies like Solar Babies and Time Bandits, and then they all have a key party at Pinhead from Hellraiser’s place. More like this, please. Liberty Hardy The Mortifications  by Derek Palacio This debut novel about a family divided during the Mariel boatlift is the most engaging novel I’ve read this year. The loyalties and dualities that push together and pull apart the Encarnacion family are complex and wondrous, yet acutely believable. While the family patriarch, Uxbal, is left in Cuba to lead a sparse revolutionary sect, his wife Soledad and children, Isabel and Ulises, head north to Connecticut. They are never able to abandon Uxbal’s gigantic presence, which leads his family to take disparate and profound actions. Throughout, Palacio’s prose is like well-brewed coffee: robust, strong, earthy, and awakening.  The Mortifications  is without doubt in contention for my favorite book to come out this year.   Aram Mrjoian   The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood This book tells the story of a group of girls whose only link is that they were all part of a sex-related scandal that made headlines. They had affairs. They were sexually harassed and/or assaulted by their employers or people in positions of authority. And, one morning, they wake up on a run-down sheep station.  Their heads are shaved, they are given old-fashioned, highly uncomfortable clothing, and they’re forced into a life of servitude. They don’t know why. They don’t know how. And they don’t know if there is an end in sight.  It’s “As if the girls somehow, through the natural way of things, did it to themselves.”  I picked this one up because someone said it had a Margaret Atwood vibe, and while there are definite hints of Atwood there, The Natural Way of Things is definitely its own animal.  And that’s true in more than one way. Cassandra Neace O Human Star by Blue Delliquanti (Self-published, 2015) This is the first of three print volumes of the comic originally published online and it’s the most recent book I ‘ve read that reminded me of how much I love reading. Reading it was one of those times where you really wanna find out what happens and are enjoying the book so much that you cant stop reading but you also want to slow down because you dont want the book to end. Well, I couldnt resist and read it all in one day. Not only was this super smart and a totally interesting science fiction take on AI, it had all this cute queer and trans stuff happening: men falling in love, male-assigned robots becoming girls, girls giving girls their phone numbers. I totally fell in love with the characters. I may or may not have squealed out loud when the guys got together. This is the best kind of sci-fi/fantasy in my opinion, because it does something otherwise great speculative fiction doesnt always do: emotional engagement and complex characters. Casey Stepaniuk The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Lisa Frazier Page (May 1, 2003 Perfection Learning) I read this book in one sitting. Three young men, from dysfunctional homes from the rough streets of Newark, NJ overcome the odds by making a pact to become dentists and then working hard and achieving their goal. With unflinching honesty and rawness the 3 doctors talk about the obstacles they faced, the people who gave them support and encouragement, and how they were able to persevere through legal troubles, poverty, and personal turmoil to achieve success. My only regret was that I was just now finding this book. This is a very moving and inspiring story about never giving up. Christina Vortia Parasite by Mira Grant (Orbit, 2013) Humans have discovered a way to eliminate all illness through the use of genetically modified tapeworms until *spoiler!* people realize that this is not a good idea.  This is exactly what I’ve been looking for in my dystopian fiction suspense, high-level secrets, great characters without the romantic drama YA fiction, compelling writing, and just a touch of horror.  It’s first in a trilogy, and I’m really excited to read the next two books! Katie McLain Saving Capitalism by Robert B. Reich Reich explains how political changes in the last three decades is accelerating wealth inequality. This is a book that any Bernie Sanders supporter would love. Reich is a great explainer, and entertaining writer. This is not dry economics. Anyone hoping to save the middle class will want to read Reich’s ideas about how to save capitalism. James Wallace Harris Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here by Anna Breslaw A book about fandoms, fanfiction, hormones, and high school Scarlett Epstein Hates It Here is funny and wise; Breslaw has perfectly captured the way teens talk and the many ways they angst. Scarlett is precocious without being twee, and I love the Buffy-like fandom she’s so enamored with and involved in. This is perfect summer reading; a quick read that deals in real emotions without being too heavy. Emma Nichols The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd (10/11/2016 Delacorte Books for Young Readers) Trapped in a hospital, surrounded by children inflicted with stillwaters, Emmaline keeps a secret: she can see winged horses in the mirrors. When one of those winged horses arrives injured in her world, its up to Emmaline to protect it but how can you protect something so magical when youre barely able to stand? The Secret Horses of Briar Hill pushes the boundaries of magical realism, leaving readers entirely uncertain as to whether or not the magic is in Emmalines heart or in her hospital but the ultimately hopeful ending will satisfy even the most disbelieving reader. Filled with beautiful prose and moments of unbridled tenderness,  The Secret Horses of Briar Hill  is the perfect book for both middle grade reader and parent. Nicole Brinkley Sexual Fluidity by Lisa M. Diamond Although I had a few issues with this booknamely the cissexismI can’t ignore that this was a life-changing read for me. It completely changed how I think about sexual orientation and identity, and it was the most affirming book I could possibly read at this point in my life. It argues that women’s sexuality is characterized by change and fluidity (to different degrees for different people). Diamond demonstrates that our framework for viewing sexuality is fundamentally flawed. It blew my mind. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in traditional narratives about sexual orientation, pick this one up. It’ll make you realize that you’re far from being alone. Danika Ellis Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West All hail Lindy West! This collection of essays is one of the funniest and most infuriating books I have read. West is an expert in exposing the absurd messages women (and men) receive about our bodies, sexuality, and autonomy. From the first chapter where she lists the pathetically small (and ultimately flawed) list of fat female role models she had in her youth, I was hooked. The list includes Ursula the Sea Witch, The Neighbor with the Arm Flab from The Adventures of Pete Pete, and Baloo Dressed as a Sexy Fortune Teller. A disturbing chapter that begins with West calling the FBI to report vicious harassment by a Twitter follower is delightfully titled “Why Fat Lady So Mean To Baby Men?” It’s this dichotomy that makes Shrill an such an entertaining and important read. â€"-Katie MacBride The Time it Never Rained by Elmer Kelton I have this sweet situation going on where my partner has spent the last year reading only books I’ve recommended to him. As most book nerds can attest to, living with someone who takes every book suggestion you give them is a dream come true! So when he finally asked me to read something he loved I knew I owed it to him, but I’ll be damned if I wanted to do it. It took me a bit to get into it but once I did I was blown away by how touching and funny and lovely it was. Westerns aren’t typically on my genre radar but this one was paced perfectly, with really impressive character development, and lots of surprisingly funny bits. I was sorry to see it end. Tracy Shapley The Veins of the Ocean by Patricia Engel (Grove Atlantic) In this novel, a young woman named Reina lives with the guilt of a crime her brother committed, which affects many aspects of her life, including her bonds with family and a new relationship. As the book moves forward, Reina pushes her own limits and through a connection with the ocean, is able to see a reflection of herself that keeps her moving forward. This book is centered in the immigrant experience and tackles tough issues like grief, family, fate and love with such grace. I took my time with the beautiful language of this novel and highly recommend it! Jamie Moore Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle by Katie Coyle This book is the sequel to Vivian Apple at the End of the World. In general, I always get nervous about sequels to dystopian novels because things so often take a nosedive from bad  to worse to just plain unreadable.This sequel, however, did not disappoint. The amazing characters from the first book were back in full force, the plot made sense as a follow-up to the first book, and the two part series hangs together beautifully. These books both had me laughing out loud and groaning because Coyle’s depiction of a post-apocalyptic America is sometimes a bit too real to be swallowed easily. This was probably the best YA dystopia I’ve read, and definitely the best YA dystopia sequel. Amanda Kay Oaks The Wake  by Paul Kingsnorth Im reading this in bits in between others. Im fascinated by the pseudo Anglo-Saxon the author created to tell the tale. After a few sentences, you really forget its not in “modern” English and youre absorbed by the story.   -Kristen McQuinn   The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis Such grit. Very western. Wow murder.   -Peter Damien Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky I love books that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and Rachel Ignotofsky’s Women in Science fits the bill perfectly. It’s an illustrated collection of short biographies on fifty female pioneers in the STEM field. The stories of these inspiring innovators are accompanied by stunning illustrations. This book is an absolute joy to read. Buy one for every girl and woman in your life! Kate Scott Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson I received this chef memoir in a food-themed Book Riot box, along with an apron, a dishtowel, a charming bookmark, and other goodies. It hadn’t been on my radar previously, but I ended up really enjoying this account of a chef who worked his butt off through years of feeling like an outsider, and who established an identity for himself as someone who was skilled at creating and melding flavors that transcended cultural boundaries. Steph Auteri   You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour David Levithan (St. Martin’s Griffin, June 7th 2016) Mark and Katie sit next to each other at school, but have never actually spoken. When they meet during a Pride celebration at a San Francisco gay bar, both are struggling with romantic quandaries. Katie’s supposed to meet the girl of her dreams, but is worried about having the highest of high expectations. Mark’s in love with his best friend and trying to find out if Ryan feels the same way. The two quickly become indispensable to each other as they help each other survive the ups and downs of first love. This humorous, romantic, and emotional book was perfect to read last month during Pride celebrations and after the horrific Orlando Pulse shooting. I loved that while the story’s mostly about falling in love Mark and Katie’s friendship is the primary relationship celebrated in the book. Alison Doherty Zimbabwe  by Tapiwa Mugabe This is a short, beautiful read with some incredible moments. Nicole Froio

Pygmalion and the Dissolution of Class Barriers - Literature Essay Samples

George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ is a play that is scathing in its attack on the pruderies, hypocrisies and inconsistencies of higher society in early 20th century London. Through the transformation of Eliza Doolittle, Shaw reveals to the audience that amongst the ‘draggletailed guttersnipe[s]’ of the lower class, there lies hidden an intelligence, honesty and tenacity that exceeds the virtues of the upper class, and that the way in which they are treated by their apparent social betters is unjustified. However, Shaw’s castigation of the upper class is not simply restricted to the character of Eliza through various characters in the play, Shaw creates a moral landscape that juxtaposes people at the top end of the social hierarchy, with those at the very lowest end. He challenges the bases of judgements made by the upper class (judgements based on trivial surface appearances, such as one’s accent, one’s social niceties and oneâ⠂¬â„¢s occupation), and questions the supposed inadequacies of Eliza’s class. Ultimately, Shaw encourages the audience to look beyond the stifling class barriers of the period and embrace the basic human characteristics of goodness. The character of Eliza embodies this goodness, and the audience is therefore provoked to have disdain for the upper class who, in contrast, treat her so poorly. According to Shaw in his preface, great art can never be anything but didactic, and in ‘Pygmalion’ didacticism is truly forefront, as Shaw confronts his audience to consider whether this high society to which Eliza aspires, is actually worth aspiring to at all. In the very first scene of the play, Eliza’s protestations against the cursory judgements of her by the upper class reveal much about her character; ‘I’m a good girl I am’ – Eliza’s catchphrase that is so central to her character, as well as to Shaw’s intentions, is introduced here. Shaw reveals to the audience, through this simple line, the level of self-respect Eliza has for herself. Furthermore, the tone of this line – that is, exclamatory, and filled with despair evokes the intense feistiness and energy of Eliza that is perpetuated throughout the play. Shaw encourages the audience to see that Eliza cannot simply be pigeon-holed, like so many other beggars were, as an immoral, insignificant flake of a person. In the Edwardian era in which the play is set, members of the ‘upper class’ (that is, those born into wealth and social status due to a noble lineage) generally held a view that people like Eliza lacked any sense of morality, however with this simple line, Shaw creates in Eliza a character which destroys this mould. This is pivotal to Shaw’s intentions in ‘Pygmalion’, demonstrating the inconsistencies that permeate the upper class even though the members of high society considered themselves the paradigm of morality and virtue, they are ignorant to the immorality of their unjustifiable behavior towards people like Eliza, who evidently don’t deserve to be treated with such disdain and contempt. Shaw is demonstrating to the audience that, contrary to common opinion, morality transcends class barriers, and is one of the earliest examples of Shaw condemning the inconsistent and questionably judgmental behavior of the upper class, as well as a society that seeks to lock people into certain personas based on class alone, without thorough consideration of their individual merits. Despite the fact that many, if not all, of Eliza’s admirable qualities are present in her initial character, these qualities are further showcased by Shaw in a confrontational scene between Higgins and Eliza after her transformation is complete – a transformation which essentially uncovers more of Eliza’s hidden virtues and brings them to fruition. Here, Eliza demonstrates a skillful grasp on wit, comparing Higgins’ statement that he ‘treat[s] a duchess as if she was a flower girl’ to the behavior of her father, a comparison which would have been taken very unfavorably by Higgins, due to his and others’ tendency to look down upon Doolittle’s behavior for its lack of morality and decency. Not only is Shaw reinforcing here that laudable qualities, such as wittiness, can be present in anyone, regardless of social distinction, Eliza’s comparison of Higgins to Doolittle demonstrates that the reverse is also true; despicable and condemnable qualities exist irrespective of class or social status, discrediting even further the idea that the class structure impacts in any way on the individual human condition. When Eliza allows Pickering to call her by her first name, but politely requests that Higgins call her ‘Miss Doolittle’, Eliza maintains common courtesy and decorum, yet the grit and cheek which is so distinctive about her character, is still present. Shaw uses this comment by Eliza to satirize the prudent and restrained nature of high society – Eliza puts Higgins in his place through this slight impudence, however maintains the manners which were so treasured during the period. She demonstrates intelligence and control here; she knows that in order to gain power over Higgins and make him responsible for his actions, she must present it to him in the way to which he is accustomed (with grace and polish), and to resort to the wailing and desperation of her past language would be to succumb to Higgins’ claims that she is not a lady at all. What she does however, is maintain the niceties to which Higgins is accustomed, but uses her own characteristic boldness to gain Higgins’ attention. Essentially, this is Shaw’s attempt to discredit the woodenness of the upper class, using Eliza’s language here as an example of how comments that verge on impertinence, can be used to one’s own benefit, without compromising one’s integrity or polish, as Eliza does in this scene. Fundamentally, Shaw uses the transformation of Eliza to showcase all of her estimable and admirable qualities, such as her biting wit, and the way in which she cleverly harnesses her spunky energy for her own advantage, creating a character to whom the reader aspires. Whilst Shaw utilizes the transformation of Eliza to focus on the hidden merits of the lower class, this is not the only presence that the playwright uses to condemn the qualities of the upper class in ‘Pygmalion’. Perhaps the most powerful device that Shaw uses for this end is the juxtaposition between the estimable character of Eliza, and certain members of high society, whose values portrayed as anything but estimable. The varying characters in the play create a moral landscape which positions Eliza, complete with all her virtue, vibrancy and goodness, at one end of the spectrum, and clearly places characters such as Higgins, from high society, at the very opposite pole. The contrast between these groups of characters could not be starker; Eliza is honest, straightforward, and moral, whereas Higgins, who in the words of his own mother, ‘has no manners’, and is a character who treats Eliza with such inferiority that it seems as if he views as her as non-hum an, or like ‘a pebble on the beach’ (as Mrs Pearce puts it). Shaw uses the frequency with which Higgins talk about Eliza as if she is not present, such as when he says she’s ‘so deliciously low – so horribly dirty’, to convey to the audience the immorality of Higgins’ behaviour. Higgins later claims to treat everyone equally, (‘and I treat a duchess as if she was a flower girl’) however the audience already knows this to be untrue from the manners which he employs with people such as Mrs Eynsford Hill throughout the play. This hypocrisy of Higgins serves to do more damage to the audience’s perception of his character, and hence the high society to which he belongs. Given that the audience is privy to the unexpected nuances of Eliza’s character, such as her self-respect and morality, Higgins’ defamatory comments towards Eliza, such as his calling her a ‘piece of baggage’ are intended by Shaw to be uncomfortable for the audience, who are intentionally provoked to reflect upon their own behaviour with a new consideration for members of the poor such as Eliza. This juxtaposition is perhaps the salient vessel through which Shaw aims to condemn the values of high society, and discredit the idea that morality and class are somehow related. It is evident in Shaw’s eyes that the two are mutually exclusive. One character however Freddy stands out from amongst his social counterparts; instead of judging Eliza based on her speech and other external features, Freddy is thrilled and excited by the refreshing honesty and straightforwardness of Eliza. He finds her ‘awfully funny’, and contrasts with the other upper class characters in the play who shun Eliza based upon her outward appearances and background. Shaw uses the character of Freddy to endorse a societal freedom and the breaking down of class barriers; Freddy is depicted as a courageous visionary who can see beyond the lack of social niceties and conventions in Eliza’s character, and respect her integral morality and energy which is so lacking in many of the people with whom he spends his time. Shaw offers the character of Freddy, who breaks away from the social expectations of him, to pursue a life with a common flower girl, as an alternative to the superficial and immorally hypocritical life as a member of the upper class. In the sequel of the play, it is made distinctly clear that Freddy’s intelligence pales in comparison to Eliza’s brilliance, when Higgins declares that ‘if [Freddy] tried to do any useful work some competent person would have the trouble of undoing it’, and that Eliza would have ‘an ideal errand boy’ in Freddy. Shaw made this decision regarding Freddy’s character for a number of reasons, however he intends Freddy’s lack of smarts to make his courageous decision more accessible, creating an â€Å"if he can do it, then so can I† mentality among members of the audience. Shaw uses Freddy’s lack of intelligence in an effort to engender angst, or perhaps even paranoia in the audience, that maybe they too, should be undergoing a similar conversion to Freddy, which is further evidence of Shaw’s attempt to create a didactic work of theatre that aims to break down and dismantle class barriers. Shaw’s active presence as a socialist is strongly felt in ‘Pygmalion’ – the pruderies, hypocrisies and inconsistencies of high society are condemned in such an emphatic way that his evident egalitarian views are conveyed in a subtle, yet forceful manner, the concerns of Shaw being disguised beneath the satire and light-heartedness of the play’s action. However, upon closer inspection, the models of Eliza and Freddy, revolutionary in their respective abilities to refute and reject preconceived notions around class, provide the soother to the undercurrent of societal anger that permeates throughout the play. Through the transformation of Eliza, as well as the juxtaposition between Eliza and people generally seen as her societal betters in terms of morality and decency, Shaw imparts to the audience a secret and almost taboo knowledge; that class barriers are far weaker than they seem. He challenges members of the audience to consider, if they are part o f the upper class, whether they are truly as virtuous as they think, and, if they are aspiring to be in the upper class, why exactly this is so. In this way, ‘Pygmalion’ is an utterly didactic work that seeks to challenge, and ultimately obliterate all class-related preconceptions and barriers.