Here is a rundown of some of my all-time favourite books and some of the ones I have recently read. I would highly recommend them all if you've got a few spare hours, but they are all very different from each other.
- The Book Thief, Markus Zusak: The Book Thief has to be one of my favourite books as the first time I read it I fell in love with it. Following the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany, and told with Death as the narrator, this book is a dark tale of adventure and history that stays with you long after finishing the last page. Although not a book to read to cheer you up, it is beautifully written and leaves a lasting memory.
- Birdsong, Sebastien Faulks: What can I say about Birdsong, although I had to read and study this book for A-level English Literature, it made it even better. Sebastien Faulks adds a tragic beauty to the setting of WW1 (can you see a fictional history obsession going on here). I really need to read this book again but from what I remember the intertwining between love and war really sets this book apart from any others. I think it will be the next book I will tackle.
- Room, Emma Donoghue: While this book has been just turned into a film, and unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see it, it was an amazing read. Not an uplifting or cheerful book at all, surrounding the story of Ma and her son who have been trapped in 'Room' by a man who could only be described as a psychopath. The book follows Ma and Jack, told from Jack's perspective as they escape their captor and adjust to the outside world, and how the outside world adjusts to them. This book is not for the faint-hearted, and I know many people who have read it and not liked it. Personally, although I know it covers a really tough subject matter, I find it so interesting, and would highly recommend it.
- Elsewhere, Gabrielle Zevin: I found this book while staying at one of my oldest friend's houses and I began reading it and couldn't put it down. As a young girl who used to be terrified of death and people dying, this book brought me a lot of peace. The beautiful story of a girl who tragically dies in a car accident aged 16, Elsewhere presents the idea that when we die we to go a place like earth where all those had died are. From here you live, like you did in life but age backwards, getting to age zero, you are then born again back to earth as a newborn baby and start life again. This beautiful idea really reassured me, not that there is life after death, but that there is something and that we will see our loved ones again. Zevin writes with heartbreaking beauty making this book almost like poetry, it is one that I will always have on my bookshelf.
- The Radical Practice of Loving Everyone, Michael J. Chase: This book was given to me by one of my best friends and I have read it twice in about 6 months and each time I have read it in about 24 hours. Unlike most of the other books on my list this book is not a work of fiction, nor does it follow a story, but is filled with many stories from Chase on how we can learn to love everyone. Chase bases his philosophy and stories on the observed practices of his dog, Mollie, and how she treats everyone, especially strangers, with equal kindness. While reading this book, both times actually, it made me consider how I live my life, and what I can do to treat everyone like Mollie does.
- Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling: I couldn't write a list of my favourite books and not include the Harry Potter books. Everyone knows how amazing they are so I don't really need to explain, and if you haven't read at least one of the books in this series, what have you been doing with your life and have you been living under a rock?! I was so obsessed with these books that I even queued up at midnight to get the last book. I really hope the hype around Harry Potter never fades, it was a key part of my childhood and I really hope it will be something that I can pass on to my children and grandchildren someday.
- Michael McIntyre: Live and Laughing, Michael McIntyre: Although this book is an autobiography, it is the book I turn to when I am feeling down or in need of a laugh. Michael McIntyre is one of my favourite comedians and having seen him live twice, I had high expectations for this book and I wasn't disappointed. He takes you through the highs and lows of his life and how he made it as a comedian, pretty much what you would expect but with funny stories along the way. This is one of the first books that has genuinely made me laugh out loud so I have to read this book alone, else my housemates will think I am crazier than I am already am.
So there you have it, a few of my top book choices if you find yourself at a spare end I would suggest digging into one of these bad boys and they should provide a few hours of entertainment. Let me know what your favourite books are of if you have any recommendations, I'm always looking for new books to add to my list.
Have a great week my loves!
Lots of Love, Kate xxx