Autumn book recommendations
IT’S the season to snuggle up under a blanket accompanied by a good book and a hot cup of tea. Juliana Mare gives you her recommendations for the books worthy of your time this autumn.
The buzz surrounding these books online has made them nearly impossible to ignore. Whether it’s a sequel to a previous bestseller or due for an upcoming motion picture, these books just keep popping up.
The Maze Runner
Dystopian novels seem to be all the craze right now and with a movie adaptation scheduled for release in September, James Dashner’s The Maze Runner has received widespread attention in the past few months.
The protagonist, Thomas, wakes up one day with no memory, in a place called The Glade – an area completely surrounded by a dangerous hedge maze. Strangeness ensues when a girl, the first girl ever, is sent to The Glade and brings a message with her that tips the Gladers world on its head.
If the promotional posters for the film are anything to go by, Dashner has taken a fresh, unique approach to the dystopian novel genre and we can’t wait to see Thomas and the maze come to life on screen. But make sure to read the book before rushing to the cinema in September.
An Abundance of Katherines
John Green skyrocketed to fame after his book The Fault in Our Stars reached #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list and later got the green light for a movie adaptation. Green, however, is not a one-book-wonder and has an impressive repertoire of five ingenious fiction novels.
An Abundance of Katherines follows the story of Colin, a kid-genius who has dated and been dumped by 19 girls who creepily, all share the same name. After the nineteenth dumping, Colin is convinced by his best mate Hassan to join him on an impulsive road-trip.
Green hits the nail on the head in his depiction of teenage interaction, language and demeanour. It’s a humorous, sometimes serious and sometimes heartbreaking novel that’s on par with the brilliance of Green’s other bestsellers.
I am Malala
Malala Yousafzai has become an inspiration to girls across the globe and a symbol for international peace after she was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan and miraculously survived.
Her autobiography explores life in Swat Valley where, after the Taliban invasion, girls were banned from attending school – a decision that Malala strongly opposed. The overthrows, assassinations and corruption riddling the political system in Pakistan are exposed through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl.
While some parts of the book are laden with the names, acronyms and agendas of various political parties or protest organisations, generally the historical timeline of the novel helps readers to understand Pakistan’s complicated history.
Malala’s bravery in protesting avidly and publically against a terrifying group of extremists is inspiring and offers an insight into just how different life is in the Middle East. It forces you to realise that despite being in the 21st century, not all children are equal and the message from her book is one that everyone, male or female needs to read and support.
Which novel is your bookmark currently sitting in? Let us know in the comments below.