MrBallen and the Art of Storytelling

The Call of the Wild follows the story of Buck, a Saint Bernard and Scotch Shepherd mix, who is abducted from his comfortable life as a pet in California and sold to work as a sled dog in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. Buck faces brutal treatment and harsh conditions but eventually finds kindness with John Thornton. As Buck navigates his new life, he is torn between his loyalty to Thornton and his growing desire to answer the 'call of the wild'. The novel explores themes of survival, individualism, and the conflict between nature and nurture, reflecting London's experiences and observations during his time in the Yukon.

The Leopard, originally titled 'Il Gattopardo', is a novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa that explores the transformation of Sicilian society during the Italian unification in the 19th century. The story centers around Don Fabrizio, the Prince of Salina, who represents the old feudal order and witnesses the transition of power from the aristocracy to the new bourgeois class. The novel is set against the backdrop of Giuseppe Garibaldi's invasion of Sicily and the subsequent unification of Italy. It is known for its vivid descriptions of Sicilian life, its complex characters, and its exploration of themes such as mortality, change, and the decline of the aristocracy.

In 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed', Jon Ronson delves into the phenomenon of online shaming and its historical antecedents. The book features interviews with individuals who have been subjected to intense public shaming, including Jonah Lehrer, a journalist who plagiarized quotes, and a woman who was shamed for a tweet at an airport. Ronson also speaks with practitioners of modern public humiliation and examines the immediate and long-term consequences of such shaming. The book raises questions about righteousness, reputation, and conformity in the context of social media and its impact on individuals and society.