I will never win this game I will never be the same, without you.
Someone requested me to suggest on books to read, quite long time ago. I have to apologize because I totally forgot about it - that is - until this morning, as I was about to reread a fan-fiction.
These are list of books that I recommend. I've read it quite recently. They aren't very thick - it is totally possible to finish it within two days or less. AND, they do not come in series.
"We read to know that we are not alone." - C.S. Lewis
1. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky (American)
I've read this book quite recently. Especially when my Literature group agreed upon choosing this book pour notre presentation. The issues included in this novel are mainly about mid-teen life crisis - study, love, friendship, poetry, sex, abortion, homosexuality and such. To some, in our country, the themes might be inappropriate to be discussed. They are going to produce a movie based on the book in 2012, starring Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.
2. A CASE OF EXPLODING MANGOES by Mohammed Hanif (Pakistan)
I read this book earlier last year, I think. The book is now not in my possession though. I remember this book very well because the chapter keeps shifting characters and storyline but in the end, it all makes perfect sense. I've to warn you, however, I find first few chapters not interesting because I do not understand the storyline. Maybe if you've watched movies like Valentine's Day or (next month) New Year's Eve, the book is quite a lot like that. Many stories related at once and the characters are mainly dynamic.
3. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon (British)
If you have watched the movie My Name is Khan (starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol), you might be able to relate to this book. It is about a boy who suffered from autism. He's a good boy and I find the character interesting because he's very bright with certain disabilities. Despite his disability, he really likes the dog. The dog's death made him really disturbed so he decided to do an investigation on his own. I like the boy's character because he is so special. The book makes me feel like I am in his shoes which is an amazing experience.
4. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini (Afghan-American)
By far, this could one of the saddest novel I've ever read. Okay, The Kite Runner was really heart-throbbing too, but A Thousand Splendid Suns have elements that I can mostly relate to myself. I could really say that the author's main focus is the significance of women in war, the religion, family etc. I have to admit that I cried reading the book. It makes me feel very grateful for having the chance to live in a place where women's right are fought for and, of course, by far peaceful enough. If you read this book, you might as well adapt to certain knowledge on Mid-Eastern culture. I wouldn't say it's pleasant for it has certain explicit contents but it worth the read.
5. FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON by Daniel Keyes (American)
This was the book assigned to us (me and my fellow coursemates) for our Literature Appreciation (?) class. I enjoy the plot of the story because it uses simple plot. You wouldn't want to say it is cliche because I find the end of the story quite surprising. When I read this book, I had the song The Scientist played on repeat - it really didn't help. Or it did help. I felt really emotionally-connected to the story because it was questioning on one's intelligence. For those who think that they've been used before by anybody, they might find the book, err, rather indifferent (?) I don't know. Just read it.
6. THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD by J.K. Rowling (British)
Honestly, this book reminds me a lot of my copy of The Grimm's Fairy Tales. This is the book that makes me want to keep all my books and never sell it to anybody (like my Dad often suggested). I think it is particularly crucial for me to keep books, in written forms, so my children and grandchildren and my great-grandchildren (and so on) would have the chance to read it and acquire knowledge from it. The stories, of course, have their own values which worth more than a million dollar to be passed down from our generation to next.
7. AS I WAS PASSING by Adibah Amin (Malaysian)
I think apart from Lat cartoon series, this book resembles a lot about our local culture. It has no cartoon, as far as I can remember, but the words lie in between those pages are so - I shall say - reminiscing. You could say that you are practically brought to your childhood by reading this book. I read this first back in high school. It didn't really mean a lot to me. Maybe because I was still young. Now, during busy hours, I miss having those free, playful times I had.
I don't read a lot of proper books recently due to my assignments and projects but these are what I could share based on my memories of few novels I've read. Of course, there are more but I find reviewing for these is quite challenging enough. Some people might have different views and opinions on these books but, oh well, happy reading!
"Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them." -Cornelia Funke
To tell the truth, I have so much in my mind now.
True story.
footnote: Happy December!
