book club
I love reading. To be swept up by words on a page and whisked away to a completely fictitious world is magical. It’s not only an educational pastime but also an amusing and relaxing one. There is no genre I’m particularly infatuated with, I just really do enjoy a good book. This of course is entirely subjective, but what fun it is to sit and discuss books. Everyone interprets stories uniquely so it’s thrilling to talk about it and debate what makes something ‘good’. I would hope I find this topic interesting as it’s what I’ll be getting graded on for the next three years. Nevertheless, I wanted to start a series detailing the book I’m currently reading and share it with all of you. Which right now is Emma by Jane Austen, so I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. But for the first edition, I wanted to list some of my favourite books and hope you’ll share my love for them or maybe pick one up :)
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
A beautiful short story that follows a lonely man dealing with his own emotional struggles and the pain that comes with unrequited love after he meets a woman sad about her lover leaving, but ultimately, they are reunited and the man is left alone again. I’ve never ever felt so empty after finishing a book before. But that’s precisely how I felt. I’m normally quite a slow reader but I finished this book shockingly fast, frankly not being able to put it down. Dostoevsky is widely regarded for writing his stories in a way that make you feel like you are right there with the characters, feeling the same emotions and experiencing their raw reactions as the story unfolds.
Domincana by Angie Cruz
This novel follows Ana Canción, a fifteen year old girl married off to Juan Ruiz who promises to take her and eventually her family to New York City. Initially her arrival in the Big Apple is cold and gloomy, but a sudden change allows her to get a glimpse of a new life she could lead in America until it all changes again and she must choose between love and family. Ana’s story I found is a tragic one, it ultimately explores the trials and tribulations immigrants from Latin American faced when coming to the USA in the 1960s and how she is finding her own voice and feet in the world in the shadow of her abusive husband and overbearing family.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
A brilliant page-turning thriller. Not only does Jackson capture the essence of being a teenager in a small English town but has you constantly on the edge of your seat as you’re taken along with Pip and Sal who solve the twisting and grisly case of missing Andie Bell. This book flows incredibly well, weaving in the ‘normal’ life Pip leads alongside her investigation so cleverly that you feel as if you’re right there with Pip solving the mystery too.
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
One of my favourite books. And one I’ve gladly reread many, many times. Pauline, Petrova and Posy must help their family by taking to the stage after they run out of money when Uncle Matthew leaves. Despite the three of them starting out the same way, the story investigates how each of them become entirely different people and begin to lead different lives. I still remember reading this for the first time when I was about 11 or 12 years old and loving every aspect of it. Not only do you see the three sisters grow up but also explore the world of acting, ballet and stardom.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre, a passionate and strong-willed woman, who faced a childhood complete with grief and cruelty, and altogether loveless. But she becomes a governess working for Edward Rochester at Thornfield Hall, who she falls for, though it becomes complicated. The story is a beautiful one, delving into Jane’s world and the obstacles she faces. I love this book because of the portrayal of Jane and the quiet, yearning she has for Edward and the relationship between them, that while complicated, they make work.
I do hope you enjoyed my little summaries where I had to practically gnaw my hand off so I wouldn’t give away spoilers. I feel like I’ve written the loglines for potential movie adaptations or a new blurb for each of them. I promise that my next edition will be a much more detailed review of ‘Emma’, my Nanna’s favourite book, I just wanted to give an overview of my favourite books <3
