Empire of the Sun
Spielberg finds a nice middle ground between the spectacle, sentiment, and solemnity that tend to fall out of balance in the director’s “grown-up” efforts.
Bildungsroman
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
It’s undeniably the best Spider-Man film ever made, and might even be the best superhero film of all time, unapologetically in love with its source material and unwilling to corral it into anything resembling realism.
The Red Pony
Jody’s experiences are often unforgiving, and like many of John Steinbeck’s books, this one is full of sadness, pain, and regret.
Demian
It doesn’t answer all of life’s questions, but says it’s okay to not know the answers just yet.
Bridge of Clay
The ultimate thrust of the book is the act of leaving one’s own unique thumbprint on the history of mankind—through music, writing, building, raising children, teaching, loving, helping.
Siddhartha
Enlightenment can only be achieved through the life experience of the individual—intellectual pursuits and physical interaction are both inadequate in and of themselves.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist makes a mockery of an earnest search for truth, meaning, and spirituality.