It was raining uninterruptedly since morning. The weather was quite gloomy and cool. To penetrate the layer of the splenetic weather, three mugs of coffee acted as my mood-booster. On the coffee table laid the novel, ‘The Kite Runner’ by Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini which instantly reminded me of the last few pages to read. In continuation of the reading process, an idea sparked right away.
“Why don’t I make my reading list for 2021?”
I sat down doing some extensive research on my next reading list. Here it goes.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris-
A holocaust novel which tells the story of a Jew who was imprisoned at Auschwitz concentration camp, fell in love with a girl who he was tattooing. Based on a true story of love and survival. As the holocaust and other incidents at the Nazi concentration camps evokes immense interest and curiosity in me, this is one of my selected books for 2021.
To Hell and Back -The Last Train from Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino —
An excellent read on the voices of the survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and the science of forensic archaeology . Since childhood, the devastating incident in Japan has always provoked curiosity in me to know more and more about its after-effects but was not fortunate enough to get a good book which provides ample information. Another one by John Hersey named ‘Hiroshima’ is also a gem when it comes to narrate the attack.
If you are inquisitive about the facts of the massacre like me, then this book is a perfect fit in your information socket.
The Great Influenza by John M. Barry —
A documentary of the deadliest plague of 1918. As mentioned by Mr. Bill Gates in gates notes (https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/The-Great-Influenza), this book taught him a lot about the Spanish Flu. The book spoke of the realities and the lessons of the devastating pandemic.
If you are a person who is curious about diseases, drugs, medical research, historical happenings, then this is your perfect selection.
Wild Himalaya-A Natural History of the Greatest Mountain Range on Earth by Stephen Alter —
Quite obvious from the title, the book is about the Himalayas based on the treks and a thorough research on the mighty Himalayas. Based on the reviews of readers and critics who prized it as a delight to hold and behold and a true labor of love, the book has already secured a place in my reading list for 2021.
The Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges-
It’s original Spanish title is El Aleph. If you have read ‘The Book of Sand’ by the same author, then ‘The Aleph’, being one of the finest works of Borges, will surely draw your attention. Aleph is the first letter of Hebrew alphabet.
Also it calls for prior knowledge of literature and it’s worth to be in your collection. After receiving outstanding reviews from my friends and critics, this will be my first Borges book to be read in 2021.
Blue Highways — A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon
As evident from the title of the book, it is an autobiographical travel book and a masterpiece of American travel writing. An unforgettable journey along the backroads of America. The author’s encounter with extraordinary people during his course of travel is a revelation of true American experience.
A must-read when it comes to knowing America inside out and an opportunity to find out how the country has changed since its publication. What will you find out if you plan a trip to America today? An interesting read.
Sapiens — A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari —
Homo sapiens rules the world because it has the power to believe in things that exist only in its own imagination. Even though we are much more powerful than our ancestors, we are not much happier. It explains why we are the way we are now. This has definitely won my heart and I am going to gain the knowledge of entire human history beginning from our evolutionary roots to the age of capitalism and genetic engineering.
This is my reading list for 2021. You are free to share yours too and provide suggestions on some best reads in the comment section.
That’s all folks!
No comments:
Post a Comment