Today’s post is a round up of some of my favorite books. I’m not the best at book reviews, so these reviews will be short and to the point. I’ve always loved seeing what other people like to read as I feel you get a sense of who someone is by the books they read. Personally, I will read anything. However, I’m not a fan of romance novels. I don’t mind some romance as long as it’s not the main focus. I read mainly fiction but enjoy non-fiction as well.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
Jane Eyre is a classic most of us already know. Orphan Jane grows up at Lowood Institution, eventually becoming a teacher before taking a job as a governess at Thornfield Hall. There she meets the mysterious Edward Rochester, and a relationship slowly blossoms between them.
This was a slow but satisfying read. I loved the book for the atmosphere. Dark, cozy and haunting. It took me a while to get through but was well worth the read. Although there is some romance in this book, it is not the main focus and is incredibly subtle.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
“Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it.”
This story follows an unnamed father and son as they travel across an ash-covered America in a post-apocalyptic world where death seems to be around every corner. The road is hard and the world around them unrecognizable. Yet the bond between father and son remains, a fierce and selfless love.
I’ve read this book two times now and it gets me every time. This book is about hope, memories and sacrificial love. McCarthy’s writing is so prolific that there were many moments I was actually scared. It is a heavy read but so worth it!
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
“When a strong woman recklessly throws away her strength she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.”
Bathsheba Everdene, a fiercely independent woman inherits a farm from her recently deceased uncle. Throughout the story, Bathsheba finds herself pursued by three different men- each one representing a different kind of love and a different kind of life. There’s the steady and devoted Gabriel Oak, the wealthy and persistent William Boldwood and the charming but dangerously unpredictable Sergeant Troy.
What I loved most is the journey Bathsheba takes as a person. As the story progresses, we watch her grow from a young, impulsive girl into a woman who begins to truly understand the weight of her choices. The excitement and thrill she once chased starts to look very different when she’s faced with the real consequences of her decisions. It’s a coming of age story wrapped inside a romance.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”
This memoir tells the story of Jeanette Walls’ unconventional childhood- raised by highly intelligent yet dysfunctional and irresponsible parents who prioritized independence and idealism over safety and stability. Jeannette’s father, Rex Walls, is a charismatic and brilliant man, yet he can’t keep a job, stay sober or provide for his family. Next to him is Rose Mary, a free-spirited artist who cares more for her own pursuits than being a mother to her children. Together, they drag their family from house to house, always chasing a fresh start.
This book changed me. It helped me put words and emotion to some of the things I experienced in my own childhood. I also appreciate Jeannette’s voice in this story. She’s straight to the point while remaining remarkably free from self pity and bitterness. This adds such a depth to her work.
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
“Pet names are a persistent remnant of childhood, a reminder that life is not always so serious, so formal, so complicated. They are a reminder, too, that one is not all things to all people.”
The story follows Gogol Ganguli, an American-born son of Bengali immigrants, who spends most of his life embarrassed by his culture, family and especially his odd name. The heart of the book is Gogol trying to figure out who he is and slowly realizing everything he was trying to escape was actually the most meaningful part of him.
It’s been a few years since I’ve read this book but it’s stuck with me. I read Interpreter of Maladies, also by Jhumpa Lahiri, and loved it so decided to give some of her other books a read. This book is a bit of a slow read but Lahiri does a great job at making the reader feel like they are a part of it all.
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I hope you enjoyed this small book review. I will also be posting what I read every month or two so stayed tuned for that.
What are some of your favorite books?
With love,
Addison
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