Reading is one of my favorite pastime, I started to become interested in books when I was in Highschool and a scholastic book fair was often in our school. It is offering lots of free books to read that can also be lend in the library. I'm not the bookworm type of person who knows a lot of books in every corner of the world but I just like to read. Since the pandemic, I am able to finished a lot of great books that somehow helped me to cope on this difficult season. I've read some of it through E-books and sometimes the actual book itself. I don't know, sometimes I just prefer reading it first online if it's available before purchasing a copy. Without further adieu, here are the list of some of the books and a few words.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐1984 by George Orwell — This is a classic read, one of the modern literature's most celebrated works, a dystopian and haunting glimpse of what is life under a totalitarian bureaucratic world where no one can be trusted and people no longer see the essence of truth because everything is controlled by the state. I've been curious about this book for a long time and I really like to read classics. Now I had the chance to read it on quarantine where we all felt hopeless at times. This book somehow inspires us that we should never take our freedom for granted. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Born a Crime by Trevor Noah - A timely, entertaining and mind opening memoir about the life of Trevor Noah during the years of Apartheid in South Africa. A must read book that truly inspired me & touched my heart. I think I considered it one of my favorite reads this year because it inspires a lot of people struggling with their own race. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Kite runner by Khaled Hosseini - This is heartwarming and one of the most inspiring fictional books I've read. First few pages and you're really gonna be hooked into it. It explores the life during war and conflict in Afghanistan. Some of its pages are sensitive and heavy but it is truly worth the read.⭐⭐⭐The Stranger by Albert Camus- I love classics and this book is quite a page turner in a sense that you'll get curious how things might turn up but it didn't last an impression on me. Still, I think it is worth to give a try. In our isolation in this times of home quarantine, this book tells the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Book Thief - Markus Zusak - A well- known classic about the life of a little girl in the year 1939 during the Nazi in Germany, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. The story is narrated by Death and it tells us how books can change our lives even in the darkest days. ⭐⭐⭐⭐Without you, there is no us by Suki Kim - I've read this book since I became interested about these topics. I searched and came across this book. Written by a former teacher in North Korea, Suki Kim detailed everything she experienced inside the campus. For me, reading books like this gives you an insight to a different world. It opened my mind to a different experience and perspective which is different from what I already knew.⭐⭐⭐Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - This is an internationally acclaimed novel set in a dystopian future. The story tells about the life of a fireman named Guy Montag whose job is to destroy out of fire all the printed books and the houses in which they are hidden. At first, I had a little bit of difficulty reading this novel because of the way it was intentionally written but the real message of this book is truly relevant up to this day. The ending had no impression for me, but I wonder how will it turn out for you. You might want to give it a try.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee- This is the first book I've read during the start of the quarantine. I didn't get the real message of this book back then when I was still in high school because we just read some of its excerpt. But when I started reading it now, I can say that it is truly a must read for everybody. A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable tale of coming-of-age in a place poisoned by prejudice. It shows a different perspective through the eyes of a young girl. When her father, a local lawyer risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.⭐⭐⭐⭐Moby Dick by Herman Melville- This book tells the story of a fictional character, Captain Ahab and his desire to avenge the whale that 'reaped' his leg. Among the crew is Ishmael, the novel's narrator, ordinary sailor, and extraordinary reader who narrates the quest of the crew to hunt Moby Dick. This book is a page turner and the details of their adventure is quite exciting to read. The ending for me is also satisfying.⭐⭐⭐⭐Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak- I haven't read a Russian literature back then, this is the first Russian literature I've read that tells the story of a physician and his love interest set during the turmoil of the Russian revolution. It shows the very embodiment of the pain and chaos of those difficult times. I think this is worth the read if you're also a fan of classical, fictional romance.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov- After reading the Russian novel Doctor Zhivago, I was intrigued about the banned books during the Stalin's regime. I came across this book and I learned that this could not be published until many years after its author’s death. It is also written satirically hilarious, compelling and with mystery that I find it interesting to read. This book is also worth the read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐The Subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson- I was searching for self-help books, those books that would literally tells you to be "positive" & see rainbows and butterflies in times of difficult days instead of being miserable. But voila! I saw this book and to tell you honestly, this is not a self help book, but something like a big-slap-in-the-face-book. It tells you to think twice and give a F'*ck on something only f*ck worthy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald- The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, the novel depicts narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's obsession to reunite with his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Honestly, I read the book rather than watching the movie. It is also one of my first book that I brought when I was in High school.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐When Breathe Becomes Air by Paul Kalinithi- An inspiring memoir of a Neurosurgeon during his days of battling Lung Cancer. I'm interested to read this book to have a glimpse of the life inside the medical profession as an aspiring one. But the message of this book is clear, What makes life worth living in the face of death? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐And then there were none by Agatha Christie - It's been a long time since I've read mystery books and this classic is an absolutely page turner. Ten strangers and one island, a mystery murder that will get you hooked between chapters. I finished this book in one day. I just can't get enough of the twists and turns of events in the story.⭐⭐⭐⭐The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- The Picture of Dorian Gray is the only novel by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1890. Reading the book is like exploring the real meaning of "beauty." The Outer beauty contrast to the inner beauty of one's soul. I saw the reviews about this book in Goodreads and I gave it a try.⭐⭐⭐⭐My Heart and other Blackholes by Jasmine Warga - This story is quite difficult to read because some of the pages were heavy and talks about mental health. A story about two messed up teenagers and their suicide pact, Aysel and Roman have nothing in common but they slowly start to fill each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live.Mitch Albom's Books
For One More day- This is a story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one? still one of my favorite books since High school and an inspiring story that will teach us to appreciate the people we love.
Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson - For Mitch Albom, the person he look up to for advice and helped him see the world as a profound place was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago. Tuesdays with Morrie tells a story about a dying man and his life's greatest lessons.
The Five people you meet in heaven- The story tells the afterlife, in which the protagonist whose name is Eddie, meet five people (it could be strangers) in heaven and he revisits the connections he made during his life on earth and it shows us how people's lives and souls are interconnected between life and death.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto- A story about a young man's talents, his love, friendship and fame. I became compelled to read this book because I love music and everyone of us rely on music even on bad days. Frankie Presto, rely on the power of music all throughout his life.
The stranger in the lifeboat- Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, nine people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in. This book is the latest of Albom's works and I'm truly happy that I discovered it. Yet, the book was somehow not that gripping but still entertaining.
Finding Chika: A little girl, an earthquake and the making of a family- I'd say that Mitch Albom put his heart and soul for this book. It is full of love and cherish that tells an inspiring story of an adoptive girl and her guardians and the bond they've formed. This book gave me an insight on how precious and what it means to have a family regardless of how it is made.
Other books
Behind the Secret window by Nelly S. Toll- I haven't found the hardcover of this book since I've read this during my High school days but I'll never forget the compelling story of survival and courage that the message of this book is trying to convey. It is a memoir detailing the lives of a Jewish family during the Nazi occupation in Poland. Nelly was eight years old, she hides in the bedroom of a Gentile couple in Lwow, Poland. For over a year, she lives in fear of discovery, writing in her diary and painting pictures of a fantasy world filled with open skies and happy families.
Anne Frank: A Diary of a Young Girl- After reading Behind the secret window, I read this book. It also details the experiences of a Jewish family in war. Written in the perspective of a young girl named Anne Frank who keeps a diary during the war. She inspired me to keep my own diary during my Highschool days too. Because as in her own words, "A paper has more patience than people." above all else, words and ideas can change the world.
A Series of Unfortunate Events, (Books 1-13) by Lemony Snicket- The first book series I loved to read as a kid and would totally recommend until now. It is a fun read and tells the story of Three Baudelaire Orphans and their escape on the evil, Count Olaf. I still find this book interesting to read even now that I am on my 20s. Reading the whole series just gives me comfort. I also love the dark humor, escape and solving mysteries in fictional stories. recently, they've released a Netflix series of this book but I haven't watched it yet.
Author's note: Hi Reader! I hope you can look after some of those and share your thoughts about it. You can also recommend books so we can find common ground about genres or types of books you'd like to read. You can also check out my Goodreads account, a collection of my reading lists. You can follow me in this link: GOODREADS ACCOUNT
