The more that you read, the more things you will know.
Books are a great source of entertainment. When you’re reading it is just as if you jumped into the page and are living life amongst the characters. As Jhumpa Lahiri said, “that’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
But books are also known for one thing: educating. And in dire times with such hateful things are happening, we all need a little education.
1.The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
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If you haven’t heard of this book, you must be living under a rock. Even though it was published in 1985, it is still making waves today with its themes of oppression.
The book follows Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. In an age of declining births, Handmaids are forced to provide children by proxy for infertile women of higher social statuses. The Handmaid’s tale is what Atwood calls “speculative fiction”, in which it theorizes about possible futures. The premise of this book flips the second wave feminist movement on its head, and picturize a future where women are subservient to men.
2.The Hurt U Give by Angie Thomas
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“They finally put a sheet over Khalil. He can’t breathe under it. I can’t breathe.”
The Hurt U Give depicts police brutality through the eyes of a teenage girl, who lost two childhood friends to gun violence. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter’s world is shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. This book covers a lot of today’s political climate. While it may be a hard pill to swallow, this book delves deep into the lives of those suffering from police violence every day.
3.1984 by George Orwell
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The New York Times called this book a “2017 Must-Read”, which is shocking as the book was published in 1949. It has been more than 70 years since the book was published, and yet its words still ring true today.
The book tells the story of Winston Smith, an everyman for his time, and his life living in a totalitarian regime. ‘Big Brother’ controls every aspect of people’s lives. It has invented the language ‘Newspeak’ in an attempt to completely eliminate political rebellion; created ‘Thoughtcrimes’ to stop people even thinking of things considered rebellious. The party controls what people read, speak, say and do with the threat that if they disobey, they will be sent to the dreaded Room 101 as a looming punishment.
If books aren’t your thing, all these books have already been adapted into films and/or TV shows. Although we would argue that the books have details that have details only experienceable by reading it.
These books have opened up the eyes of so many, we hope it will do the same for you.
What is your favourite read? Let us know in the comment section below!
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