I would recommend starting with 'A Little Life'. It's a powerful and moving story that will really draw you in and make you think about friendship, trauma, and the human experience.
If you're more into classic - style writing and want something that has a connection to a well - loved classic, 'Go Set a Watchman' could be your first choice. It's an interesting exploration of the South and its values, though it did have its share of criticism.
One way is to be very conscious of the company you are in. If you are with people you don't know well or in a professional setting, keep the conversation to neutral topics like the weather, current events, or hobbies.
Collins' quotes can also be used to foreshadow events. Consider the quote 'The rules of the Hunger Games are simple. In punishment for the uprising, each of the twelve districts must provide one girl and one boy, called tributes, to participate.' If you were writing a dystopian story, a similar quote early on could foreshadow a cruel and life - or - death competition later in the plot. This builds suspense and makes the reader anticipate what's to come. Additionally, her quotes can be used to create a sense of authenticity. If your story has a similar tone or setting to Collins' works, using her quotes can make it seem more believable to fans of her writing.
I think the main theme is growth. Through the act of reading during the summer, the character in the story likely experiences mental and emotional growth. They may face challenges within the stories they read that make them think more deeply about their own lives, and this leads to their own development as a person. Reading can expose one to different ideas and situations, and in this story, it probably causes the main character to grow in some way.
Their relationship would likely become more intense. The pregnancy would bring them closer in a way as they are now sharing a very big and important thing. They would have to rely on each other more for emotional support.
The main elements are motivation, the gift, and the impact. The motivation behind the giving is crucial. It could be empathy, like Jack felt for Tom. The gift doesn't have to be expensive. It could be a simple object or even time and attention. The impact on the receiver's life, whether it makes them happy or eases their hardship, is what gives the giver the joy. In a 'joy of giving' short story, these elements work together to show the beauty of giving.
The real - story influence can be seen in the basic structure. Since it started as fan fiction, some of the initial concepts like the relationship between the main characters might have been inspired by the original source. But then it was shaped into a story about a BDSM relationship, which was a major deviation from the original inspiration.
Another theme might be isolation. She could feel very alone in this new state, especially if no one else around her is shrunk. It would be like she's in a world of her own, different from everyone else. Also, there could be a theme of discovery. As she explores this new tiny world, she discovers new things about herself and the environment that she was never aware of before.
The feeling of being trapped is also terrifying. When the employee was locked in the backroom in one story, not knowing what was going on and feeling that sense of isolation. Also, the strange happenings with inanimate objects like the glowing products or the super - cold soda can in other stories. It makes you question what's real and what's not, and that's very frightening.
Bruitage can add a sense of realism and immerse the audience. For example, the sound of a spaceship engine roaring can make the viewer feel like they are really in the middle of a science - fiction adventure. It gives life to the fictional world.
One well - known Puerto Rican ghost story is about the 'La Llorona'. She is a weeping woman who is said to roam near rivers and bodies of water. Legend has it that she lost her children and now she cries while looking for them. Another is the story of the 'El Chupacabra'. Although it's more of a monster story, it has elements of the supernatural. It is believed to attack and suck the blood of livestock.