There are some books that are just pure art. Books that transform you into somebody better from the moment you read it to the rest of your life. Those are the books that show a part of the human spirit and what it means to be human. After reading, you are left wondering how a mere human could have wrote it down and have it touch so many people. These books aren’t necessarily hard to read, but make you feel much wiser than you were before. The books in this list are all amazing, but also short, so it is easy to finish each of these books in a short amount of time.
The Penelopiad by Margret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a well-known and respected author with lots of noteworthy books, but this book mixes the Greek myth of Odysseus and his wife, Penelope. Although throughout history scholars and authors wrote about Odysseus and how brave he was, he did leave his wife all alone. Atwood uses this lesser known woman in Greek mythology and transforms her into a dynamic and deep character who has a lot to say. This is a novel but throughout the book there’s acts much like a play or musical that give us more insight on how it would have been like to live in this time period. Especially on how it would be like to be a female slave in this time period.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is another respected author, The Alchemist is probably his most notable novel. The fame comes with good reason, this book is deep, without being dense, and is easy to digest. The book deals with themes of destiny, dreams, and knowing what you want and getting it yourself no matter what anybody else says. Although this book is relatable and easy to understand, the book also mixes in magic-realism and spirituality. Throughout the novel the plots opens up to being more and more surreal and fantastical, especially since the beginning is very grounded and realistic beginning with the humble life of a Shepard. The book is fiction but it’s also very inspirational by stating that everyone has a “true path” and how everyone should find it.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
By far the best book I’ve ever read, The Great Gatsby deals with the life of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious Millionaire living in New York during the 1920’s. New York in the 1920’s is a fun and exciting time-period, but mixing in Fitzgerald’s beautiful writing style, the novel is transcended into a gorgeous piece of art. The novel centres around Gatsby and him getting Daisy, a wife of another millionaire to love him again. With the help of Nick, who is Daisy’s cousin, Gatsby’s goal is made even more possible. Although Nick is in the territory of America’s richest, he gets to see how that lifestyle isn’t all lavish as everyone thinks it is. He gets to see how selfish and horrible some people are when they have money. The novel isn’t just a lovey-dovey novel, there’s themes of despair and greed and it also has memorable characters who embody those themes.
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