Bibliophile

They say reading is dreaming with your eyes closed but I say it’s much more than that. Reading is facing alternate realities, it is living multiples lives at once, it’s an escape from mundane-ity.

I’ve read many books in all my years, from fantasy to dystopian to mythology to non-fiction, many of which have impacted my actions and perspective. I have cried for many characters and I have even laughed with some. Sometimes, I even relate to their struggles.

As a reader, choosing a favorite book from such a wide array is a blasphemy but some books completely change a part of you and there is no going back after that. These are some books that have impacted me.

• All The Bright Places-Jennifer Niven.

This book taught me the toll mental health takes on an individual. It’s not quirky or something to fantasize on, regardless of how much Finch tried diverting his thoughts it always led back somewhere else and it got to him at the end.

Not a day goes by without thinking of Theodore Finch. Despite the struggles he was going through, he unconditionally loved Violet with patience, it was a John Green type of love that everyone dreams of.

“Stars in the sky, stars on the ground. It’s hard to tell where the sky ends and the earth begins. I feel the need to say something grand and poetic, but the only thing I come up with is “It’s lovely.” 

Not forgetting the well put phrases and quotes. It really is lovely.

Nb: It irks me when people say it’s a The fault in our stars copycat, it really isn’t. TFIOS dealt with cancer while ATBP dealt with mental health, which are clearly not related.

• Turtles All The Way Down-John Green

As if ATBP wasn’t enough, TATWD was a deeper insight into mental health issues how they impact one. But that would be a lie if I say it’s the main reason why I bought a limited copy stashed with sticky notes, highlighters, and pencil notes on every poem page.

That’s right I am a Pickett’s poem blog fan and I can’t help re-reading every scribble and well put words. The simplicity of the poems and the emotions it carries leaves me teary-eyed. I could go on forever.

• The Gallery Of Vanished Husbands-Natasha Solomon.

A woman faces so much judgment from society as it is but for a single divorced mother, it’s a whole different set of restrictions. Juliet had to live a confined life because of her conservative parents, trying to find a balance between the life she craved for and her role as the perfect single mother, the society seems to want.

But everything changed when she walked out of her comfort zone and pursued her love for paintings and art. I found comfort in her inability to create her own pieces because it shows one can be passionate about art without being a direct part of it, which is a description that fits me perfectly.

Her world consisted of broken and sad artists who use painting as an outlet to express their woes and feelings. Clearly showing us the importance of art.

• A Map Of Salt And Stars-Zeyn Joukhadar

This was nothing but magical. It reminded me of Khalid Hosseini’s books but the similarity ends there. The author related 2 different eras and characters, it was like learning the backstory of the present by experiencing the past.
The experience of being an immigrant is hard and cruel, this book is a twist though, the author described the problems but at the same time, the tragedy wasn’t overwhelming because of the relation with the folklore. If anything, by the end of the book, you’ll feel at peace.

• The Night Tiger- Yangsze Choo

I am still reeling from the whiplash I experienced with this book. This book is rich in metaphors, magic, Chinese culture and tragedies. The book explains the struggle of a woman in a conservative society and how the past always resurfaces in the life of the other characters.

The 5 Chinese virtues (people) are all connected to each other with a twist in their fates, how they find it out and come together was a thrill in all sense. At first I thought the book was strictly all about superstitions but nearing the end the thought was challenged by revelations and logic.

I found the love twist quite awkward at the beginning but towards the end I understood why it was necessary, every plot was necessary to complete the story. The book is so beautiful, I wish I had the joy of experiencing it all over again.

• Sapiens-Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens is a different genre from what I am used to, lots of science details and my very first non fiction. I was very skeptical at first because living in the fantasy genre made me bias in trying something new but I am glad I did.

It has shown me the world in a different POV, a historians. Every single thing about us is so methodical and systematical, I am honestly shocked at how much knowledge and facts I have accumulated just by reading this book. It’s like a Man History nirvana.

This might not be my go-to book because of the plots but it’s definetely a book I will always recommend.

• The Night Circus-Erin Morgenstern.

This is hands down the most magical and beautiful book I have read. I everything about this book, from the unrequited-to-requited love tragedy, the nocturnal setting, the circus and food descriptions, the innocence, and the magic.

If I could relive a book once again, it would be this. I love the chemistry between the characters and the suspense at the end. The love balance was not as overwhelming as I had expected, I can not stress enough how much I enjoyed this book.

PS: throughout the book, you might have a craving for caramelized apples and popcorn.

xxx

These have been some books that have been lingering on the back of my mind from time to time. I am very proud of myself for trying to explore different genres this year.