Reading list 2019
Dear Readers,
It is finally December! Although a cliche, I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by. I do not believe in new year resolutions as to me, it is another manner in which we humans procrastinate and come up with unrealistic and unnecessary expectations for ourselves and those around us. That being said, I would really like to write in my blog more often as it is only when I my fingers move swiftly across the keypad, thoughts are flowing through me much too fast for me to jot down and I pour my heart onto an open platform, that I understand why I began writing a blog in the first place.
The prime reason I failed to write as much as I would like to is as this year is as I have had a plethora of tasks to attend to such my Trinity examinations of Speech and Drama, Vocals and Guitar, my DELE examinations for Spanish, the duty of being a good School Captain, an endless amount of school work and tests, and of course, the difficulties we face being human. It would be wrong of me to say that I haven't had time for leisurely activities, for I have indulged in the pleasures to be found while drinking a steaming mug of bitter coffee, watching a good TV show and of course my books that have allowed me to trade what is sometimes the banality, stress and knowledge of my world for adventure, glee and wisdom. Although I have been more loyal to my books that I have to my blog, I realise that perhaps I can form a confluence between the 2. Here are the Top 10 books I would recommend that I have read in the past 1 year. They are not listed in order of my favourite or least favourite as I was able to enjoy different aspects of each book and resonate with each book in a different manner. I hope to post a poem soon and I hope that whoever put there who reads this blog explores the world hidden within the pages of one of these books.
1. Little Women- Set in the 1860's during the period of the Civil War, Louisa May Alcott's The Little Women is a literary classic that elucidates the life of the March Sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, four very different little girls who embark of their journey from childhood to womanhood while learning life lessons both big and small through prominent figures and incidents of their lives.
2. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings- I Know Why The Caged Bird sings is author and poet Maya Angelou's first autobiography written in 1969 and precedes the remaining 6 of her autobiographies telling the coming of age story of a phenomenal woman who faced a childhood of abuse and hardships due to the colour of her skin. Through this tale, we see the foundation of a great civil rights activist and the events that made her who she was.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that talks about racial discrimination in Maycomb Alabama during the Great Depression. Narrated from the perspective of young Jean Louise Finch, the little girl talks about her father, a prominent lawyer, who defends a black man accused of the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes and the lifestyle of a young girl, the readers are accustomed to the prominent theme of racism against the African- Americans in America.
4. Esperanza Rising- Pam Munoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising sheds light upon Esperanza Ortega who possesses all the luxuries one could want from dresses and a home filled with servants in Mexico to loving parents and magnificent parties. But a tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and her mother to flee to Arvin, California and settle in a farm camp. There, they confront the challenges of work, acceptance, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression while learning universal qualities of love, courage and hope.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age young adult novel by American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received near-universal critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
6. Divergent Series(Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant)- The Divergent trilogy is a series of young adult science fiction adventure novels by American novelist Veronica Roth set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian Chicago. The trilogy consists of the books Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant wherein 16 year old protagonist Beatrice Prior must choose a faction- Abnegation, Candor, Amity, Dauntless, and Erudite which determines her identity, choices and lifestyle for eternity. On selection day however, Tris comes across a secret about herself that she must guard, not only for the sake of her life, but to prevent a war.
7. The Hunger Games series(The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay)- The Hunger Games is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins. The series is set in The Hunger Games universe, and follows Katniss Everdeen, the backbone of her family and sole provider of her poor household in post apocalytic USA(Panem) on her journey for survival, where it is indeed, the survival of the fittest. The novels in the trilogy are titled The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.
8. If I Stay- Mia an aspiring cellist meets with a life threatening accident on her way to her grandparents' house. Although Mia slips into a coma, she has an out-of-body experience and realises that she must make the choice that could separate her from the realm of life or death. Will she stay?
9. Sadie- Sadie by Courtney Summers is thriller that talks about Sadie, a 19-year-old girl who just lost her sister, the sole purpose of her life.As her sister is no more, Sadie spirals into a chasm of depression and vengeance as she runs away from her home to avenge the death of her sister. Sadie faces life changing experiences and all forms of trials and tribulations from coping with her sorrow to staying alive in a dangerous and selfish world. Sadie's guardian hires Mr West McCray who creates a podcast called the "The Girls" hoping to find Sadie and deliver her home safely. The narration alters from Sadie to West McCray's podcast as we find ourselves on a nail-biting adventure.
10. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a book by Yuval Noah Harari, first published in Hebrew 2011 and in English in 2014. The book surveys the history of humankind from the evolution of archaic human species in the Stone Age up to the twenty-first century, focusing on Homo sapiens, our habits and questioning the foundation of our species as we know it.
It is finally December! Although a cliche, I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by. I do not believe in new year resolutions as to me, it is another manner in which we humans procrastinate and come up with unrealistic and unnecessary expectations for ourselves and those around us. That being said, I would really like to write in my blog more often as it is only when I my fingers move swiftly across the keypad, thoughts are flowing through me much too fast for me to jot down and I pour my heart onto an open platform, that I understand why I began writing a blog in the first place.
The prime reason I failed to write as much as I would like to is as this year is as I have had a plethora of tasks to attend to such my Trinity examinations of Speech and Drama, Vocals and Guitar, my DELE examinations for Spanish, the duty of being a good School Captain, an endless amount of school work and tests, and of course, the difficulties we face being human. It would be wrong of me to say that I haven't had time for leisurely activities, for I have indulged in the pleasures to be found while drinking a steaming mug of bitter coffee, watching a good TV show and of course my books that have allowed me to trade what is sometimes the banality, stress and knowledge of my world for adventure, glee and wisdom. Although I have been more loyal to my books that I have to my blog, I realise that perhaps I can form a confluence between the 2. Here are the Top 10 books I would recommend that I have read in the past 1 year. They are not listed in order of my favourite or least favourite as I was able to enjoy different aspects of each book and resonate with each book in a different manner. I hope to post a poem soon and I hope that whoever put there who reads this blog explores the world hidden within the pages of one of these books.
1. Little Women- Set in the 1860's during the period of the Civil War, Louisa May Alcott's The Little Women is a literary classic that elucidates the life of the March Sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, four very different little girls who embark of their journey from childhood to womanhood while learning life lessons both big and small through prominent figures and incidents of their lives.
2. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings- I Know Why The Caged Bird sings is author and poet Maya Angelou's first autobiography written in 1969 and precedes the remaining 6 of her autobiographies telling the coming of age story of a phenomenal woman who faced a childhood of abuse and hardships due to the colour of her skin. Through this tale, we see the foundation of a great civil rights activist and the events that made her who she was.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that talks about racial discrimination in Maycomb Alabama during the Great Depression. Narrated from the perspective of young Jean Louise Finch, the little girl talks about her father, a prominent lawyer, who defends a black man accused of the rape of a white woman. Through the eyes and the lifestyle of a young girl, the readers are accustomed to the prominent theme of racism against the African- Americans in America.
4. Esperanza Rising- Pam Munoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising sheds light upon Esperanza Ortega who possesses all the luxuries one could want from dresses and a home filled with servants in Mexico to loving parents and magnificent parties. But a tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and her mother to flee to Arvin, California and settle in a farm camp. There, they confront the challenges of work, acceptance, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression while learning universal qualities of love, courage and hope.
5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of The Universe- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age young adult novel by American author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Set in El Paso, Texas in 1987, the novel follows two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle "Ari" Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles with racial and ethnic identity, sexuality, and family relationships. Since its publication, the novel has received near-universal critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
6. Divergent Series(Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant)- The Divergent trilogy is a series of young adult science fiction adventure novels by American novelist Veronica Roth set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian Chicago. The trilogy consists of the books Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant wherein 16 year old protagonist Beatrice Prior must choose a faction- Abnegation, Candor, Amity, Dauntless, and Erudite which determines her identity, choices and lifestyle for eternity. On selection day however, Tris comes across a secret about herself that she must guard, not only for the sake of her life, but to prevent a war.
7. The Hunger Games series(The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay)- The Hunger Games is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American novelist Suzanne Collins. The series is set in The Hunger Games universe, and follows Katniss Everdeen, the backbone of her family and sole provider of her poor household in post apocalytic USA(Panem) on her journey for survival, where it is indeed, the survival of the fittest. The novels in the trilogy are titled The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.
8. If I Stay- Mia an aspiring cellist meets with a life threatening accident on her way to her grandparents' house. Although Mia slips into a coma, she has an out-of-body experience and realises that she must make the choice that could separate her from the realm of life or death. Will she stay?
9. Sadie- Sadie by Courtney Summers is thriller that talks about Sadie, a 19-year-old girl who just lost her sister, the sole purpose of her life.As her sister is no more, Sadie spirals into a chasm of depression and vengeance as she runs away from her home to avenge the death of her sister. Sadie faces life changing experiences and all forms of trials and tribulations from coping with her sorrow to staying alive in a dangerous and selfish world. Sadie's guardian hires Mr West McCray who creates a podcast called the "The Girls" hoping to find Sadie and deliver her home safely. The narration alters from Sadie to West McCray's podcast as we find ourselves on a nail-biting adventure.
10. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind- Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind is a book by Yuval Noah Harari, first published in Hebrew 2011 and in English in 2014. The book surveys the history of humankind from the evolution of archaic human species in the Stone Age up to the twenty-first century, focusing on Homo sapiens, our habits and questioning the foundation of our species as we know it.
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