I stumbled on this book while I was searching for one of Paulo Coelho’s books in the bookshop. It looked interesting and I decided to buy it. I couldn’t believe it took me that long to discover the book. The novel is set in 1930s Alabama, USA. Atticus Finch is an upright, almost Godlike, white lawyer defending a black man who has been accused of raping a white girl. Atticus's belief in his client’s innocence doesn’t impress the townspeople however. In the face of their hostility, he remains resolute and stands up to all to the threats and bullying. He knows his client will be convicted irrespective of the truth but he knows he won't be able to live with himself if he doesn't defend him to the best of his ability. The story is told through the eyes of Atticus’s daughter, Scout.
I’m not a big fan of chick lit stuff but there was something about this book that made me extraordinarily sad. It made me feel so helpless after reading it even though the characters had nothing to do with me. You meet the love of your life while alone at home over a couple of days and you know he is the love of your life but you have two kids and a husband who loves you dearly. What do you do? Abandon your family and follow the love of your life? Or watch the love of your life walk away while you sacrifice your happiness for your family? It is a torturous decision to make and I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be faced with this kind of decision. I wanted her to follow her love and I also didn’t want her to leave her husband and children. I wanted her to have it all which is impossible. When she chose to stay I started bawling knowing that if she had decided to leave I would still have started bawling anyway.
I am quite the conspiracy theorist and reading Dan Brown’s offering 3 times over 2 weeks pushed me into somewhat certifiable territory. The very idea that Jesus Christ got married to a saved prostitute and sired a bloodline that might still have descendants today was a truly fantastic concoction, and one of the many other fantastic concoctions in the book. The theory suggested JC was a man, which turned the Son of God belief upside down, and he had sex and children, which turned the celibacy theory in the catholic faith upside down as well. The book also painted the Catholic Church in a rather scary light. The million-dollar question is “Is it true?” The first time I read it, I was convinced of this and began a frenzy of research that eventually led to the author saying it wasn’t true. Is it possible to come up with all that from your imagination only? It’s hard to tell but there are quite a few people who believe there is some truth in it. Am I one of those people? I used to be but nowadays I just figure no one can cover up the truth forever. If it is true, it will be revealed eventually although if it is, I’d say they’ve done a pretty damn good job of covering it up for thousands of years.
This book is about Eddie, a maintenance man at an amusement park who people rarely pay attention to. On his eighty-third birthday, he dies in a freak accident while trying to save a little girl. Afterwards, he finds himself in heaven and goes on to meet 5 people. Through these 5 people, he learns the lessons of sacrifice, anger and eternal love among others. Eddie learns that we are all connected in some way whether we realise it or not and we all have a purpose on earth. Everyone’s life has a meaning and a reason. It was a very interesting read that got me thinking about how I am living my life on earth and if I am doing the right things. I doubt I will meet 5 people in heaven in the exact sequence the book describes but I do know I will meet my mother again.
This is a surprise inclusion as it isn't on any greatest list anywhere but to me it is a great book. I bought it during a period in my life when I was so discouraged about my writing. There is an amazing chapter in the book entitled “The Power of Perseverance”. The chapter comprises of bullet points of the struggles several renowned writers went through on their path to success. Among these were: - John Creasy received 774 rejections before selling his first story, 27 publishers rejected Dr Seuss’ fist book, 15 publishers and 30 agents turned down John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill”, Alex Haley received a rejection letter once a week for 4 years as a budding writer, Jack London received 600 rejection slips before he sold his first story.
Reading what these people went through on the way to success was like a new lease of life for me at the time. I still go back to the book from time to time for a boost to remind myself that I have to be determined and relentless if I am going to fulfil my writing dreams.
There you have it – the greatest books I’ve ever read. My dream library in future would contain all of these books. In my next posting I will be discussing my greatest classic books. Stay tuned.
I’m not a big fan of chick lit stuff but there was something about this book that made me extraordinarily sad. It made me feel so helpless after reading it even though the characters had nothing to do with me. You meet the love of your life while alone at home over a couple of days and you know he is the love of your life but you have two kids and a husband who loves you dearly. What do you do? Abandon your family and follow the love of your life? Or watch the love of your life walk away while you sacrifice your happiness for your family? It is a torturous decision to make and I can’t imagine what it must feel like to be faced with this kind of decision. I wanted her to follow her love and I also didn’t want her to leave her husband and children. I wanted her to have it all which is impossible. When she chose to stay I started bawling knowing that if she had decided to leave I would still have started bawling anyway.
I am quite the conspiracy theorist and reading Dan Brown’s offering 3 times over 2 weeks pushed me into somewhat certifiable territory. The very idea that Jesus Christ got married to a saved prostitute and sired a bloodline that might still have descendants today was a truly fantastic concoction, and one of the many other fantastic concoctions in the book. The theory suggested JC was a man, which turned the Son of God belief upside down, and he had sex and children, which turned the celibacy theory in the catholic faith upside down as well. The book also painted the Catholic Church in a rather scary light. The million-dollar question is “Is it true?” The first time I read it, I was convinced of this and began a frenzy of research that eventually led to the author saying it wasn’t true. Is it possible to come up with all that from your imagination only? It’s hard to tell but there are quite a few people who believe there is some truth in it. Am I one of those people? I used to be but nowadays I just figure no one can cover up the truth forever. If it is true, it will be revealed eventually although if it is, I’d say they’ve done a pretty damn good job of covering it up for thousands of years.
This book is about Eddie, a maintenance man at an amusement park who people rarely pay attention to. On his eighty-third birthday, he dies in a freak accident while trying to save a little girl. Afterwards, he finds himself in heaven and goes on to meet 5 people. Through these 5 people, he learns the lessons of sacrifice, anger and eternal love among others. Eddie learns that we are all connected in some way whether we realise it or not and we all have a purpose on earth. Everyone’s life has a meaning and a reason. It was a very interesting read that got me thinking about how I am living my life on earth and if I am doing the right things. I doubt I will meet 5 people in heaven in the exact sequence the book describes but I do know I will meet my mother again.
This is a surprise inclusion as it isn't on any greatest list anywhere but to me it is a great book. I bought it during a period in my life when I was so discouraged about my writing. There is an amazing chapter in the book entitled “The Power of Perseverance”. The chapter comprises of bullet points of the struggles several renowned writers went through on their path to success. Among these were: - John Creasy received 774 rejections before selling his first story, 27 publishers rejected Dr Seuss’ fist book, 15 publishers and 30 agents turned down John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill”, Alex Haley received a rejection letter once a week for 4 years as a budding writer, Jack London received 600 rejection slips before he sold his first story.
Reading what these people went through on the way to success was like a new lease of life for me at the time. I still go back to the book from time to time for a boost to remind myself that I have to be determined and relentless if I am going to fulfil my writing dreams.
There you have it – the greatest books I’ve ever read. My dream library in future would contain all of these books. In my next posting I will be discussing my greatest classic books. Stay tuned.
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