It can be very rare that a book actually sticks with you, but some become so ingrained they become the books you will always recommend.
Perhaps you’re a quick reader, and you flick through paperbacks on a daily, or, maybe you’re a slow reader who dedicates a big chunk of time to finishing something.
Whichever you are, there may be one or two books that have truly stuck with you over your reading time. I’m a keen reader, so here are two of the books that have stuck with me, and that I will always recommend.
I recommend Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
This was the first piece of classic literature that I read, and I loved it. It’s certainly quite daunting to take on the classics because they’re much older, the language is different, and the storylines can be outdated.
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But this was the perfect book to begin with. Little Women follows the story of four sisters, all young women, through the American Civil War.
The book deals with love, grief and growing up. It’s heartwarming and a great read for autumn too. I’ll always recommend Little Women because it taught me so much about sisterhood and dealing with family. It also holds a special place in my heart because it opened me up to a world of classic literature which I now love.
The Second Recommendation: Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee
This book is perhaps one of the longest books I’ve ever read, which was really daunting at first. Pachinko is a saga story that spans over 100 years, closely following one family. The family are Korean, and the story details their move to Japan. There are three books within this saga and each deals with Korean discrimination and stereotypes in Japan during World War II. The heavy themes of this book work well alongside an ensemble of characters, each with their own story to tell.
Pachinko will always be a recommendation from me because it was a really insightful history lesson. Before reading this, I knew very little of Koreans in Japan during World War II and the mistreatment they experienced.
Reading this book, I learnt so much more. Yes, there is a lot to learn in this large book, but that’s another reason why I will always recommend it. I used to be put off by large books because I thought they would consume too much time. But sometimes, they are worth all of your time. Especially in this case.
These are just two examples of some of the best books I have ever read. Everybody has different reading tastes, but these two books are universal treasures.