FIRST BATCH OF BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Literature is something that let us escape reality. But, finding a good book to read is kind of difficult. Need some friendly advice on what books to read so that you end up reading until the last page? Well here are some books that may help you out. Who knows? You might just find the perfect genre for you!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This classic book by Harper Lee does not need any introduction. It has made it and survived all these years. It tells a story about a young child growing up in a chaotic world, a child wanting to accept and understand the reality. To Kill a Mockingbird is primarily a book about growing up under extraordinary circumstances in the 1930s in the Southern United States. The narrative covers a span of 3 years during which the characters undergo a lot of changes. It is a book for all Classic book fanatics out there and also for those who want to know how the old times were. This book’s meaning and the narration of the author might just as well make you change your view on things – life, lawyers, law; pride. As Harper Lee has pointed out, “People in their right minds do not take pride in their talents.”

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

This book is for all those young and young at heart. It tells a story about how a grown-up man meets a peculiar prince. “Draw me a sheep!” is what the prince had said in their first meeting. And that was how their odd friendship started. Throughout the story, the prince narrated about his travels and how he met different kinds of grown-ups and how he finds grown-ups to be weird because they focus on details one wouldn’t normally think of. This story tells a lot about friendship, finding one’s self, peace and the facts of life. Right after reading this awesome book, I know you’ll surely be a changed person. This was the first novel I read, and it has been my standard on how good a book must be and I tell you, this one’s definitely a book you must not miss reading. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Let’s face it. We’re all going to die in the future. But, sulking over it is not going to do you any good. This book tells a story about a dying patient, giving words of wisdom to those who surround him and being the sole reason why they live their lives to the fullest. This story will make you realize that life is not mainly about all your wants and needs but it’s about what legacy you will leave behind once you die.

The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan

Waiting for the next Harry Potter? Do you love adventure? Believe it or not, John Flanagan wrote these books to entice his son to love reading. And who’d have thought that his books would be a great hit? There are 10 books of this series and John is currently writing another series. These stories tell about Will, a strange boy with no surname and his journeys and his apprenticeship with a great ranger named Halt. As they go along and as the story’s plot thicken, they encounter a lot of enemies and a lot of friends too. This might just be what you’ve been waiting for after all your hype in reading the Harry Potter series. The sarcasm in the book is quite hilarious too.

If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon

A great book from the one and only Master of Suspense, this shows how one who gets abused, changes over time. The story tells about a woman, who has it all, a great job, a good boss, a great mother, and the best fiancé. But then, everything changed as her mother died and her life takes a down turn. She transforms from a law-abiding citizen to someone the authorities can’t handle. This shows how one can solve even the hardest of all puzzles just by one thing – logic. Tracy Whitney is the lady thief you will learn to love and empathize with.

ABNKKBSNPLAko?! By Bob Ong

Heard of his name? He’s not Chinese by the way, and no, I haven’t seen his face like all the other authors abovementioned. This is his first book released to the public. “Mga kwentong chalk ni Bob Ong” is what he calls it. Here, he talks about something all of us have in common – learning. We learn new things every minute every second of the day. It is something we need to be proud of, we are thinking beings after all. Here, he not only tells us that wisdom is not taught but learned through experiences. Here, he talks about how he often goes back to his past to understand the present. C.S. Lewis had put it simply, “It’s funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different.” This book is perfect for those who have a hard time enduring English books since this book’s language is in Filipino. Bob Ong, by the way, is Pinoy guys! Just in case.

Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino?! By Bob Ong

Another famous book by the author I am trying real hard to endorse (di ba obvious?). “Mga kwentong barbero ni Bob Ong” is about how twisted the Filipinos are. Yes, that’s right, not the system, but the Filipinos who created the system. We blame the system but who else created the system? Isn’t it us in the first place? We complain all we like but fail to realize that whilst we complain about all those who complain, we ourselves complain. An issue I will never forget cited by Bob Ong in this book is that how one American citizen went somewhere and took a cab and said, “Go faster!” and the cabbie replied, “No, I won’t because we’ll be breaking the law!” The American angrily told the cabbie “Do you speak English?” The cabbie, irritated, replied, “Yes. You? Do you speak our language?” and the American was taken aback and made no further comment then on. Then, the same American went to the Philippines and did the same thing. What was shocking was not that he did not learn his lesson, what was shocking was the Filipino cabbie’s reply. “Sure! Welcome to the Philippines! We break the rules just for you!” Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro ang mga Pilipino? Why indeed?

Parang kayo pero hindi by Norinjai

Noreen Capili writes not to impress but to express. She writes about things one would love reading. She writes about things a lot of people can relate to. This book of hers for example, talks about pseudo-relationships. Fake relationships based on real stories by real people. Her stories, strange as they may be, I know, all of us can relate to – young and old alike. This is because her stories are stories we experience in our daily lives.
Only two books left in my TBR list.

And I have to yet find some more books.

Anyway, if any of you ever try to read these, share with me your thoughts! As for me, I’m four pages in … in “When We Were Orphans”.