It’s summer! And the holidays, if you haven’t already, are just around the corner. As good readers that you and I are, today I want to share some novels that I liked and that may brighten up your summer since the Lectura Ágil team is also going to be on vacation. You’ll find everything from classics to some that have recently been seen in the cinema, but that have great educational potential. Historical, short stories, educational, personal, and inspiring, so you can choose what you like best.
1. The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman
On many occasions we focus so much on developing extraordinary skills with which to be able to stand out, thinking that this will solve our problems, that we forget the big ‘why’. Having everything does not even remotely mean being happy. This extraordinary book guides you through what it means to be human and how to achieve that happiness that we so long for and that, on many occasions, we ourselves deny ourselves without realizing it. How personal goals can both help us and distract us from the primary lesson of enjoying the only life we are going to live.
2. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
This much-talked-about, written, and filmed classic remains an entertaining novel that explores the confines of our imagination and the rules of logic, with a fun and highly entertaining twist. Alice will take you to the world of Wonderland where everything seems to be upside down and nothing makes sense – even though it does. It is an ideal option for both adults and children, since each reading can be done with a different objective: either for fun or searching for the hidden meanings of each character and scene.
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This romantic novel presents us with an ironic version of Victorian hypocrisy through the eyes of Elisabeth, a young woman who adores her sister and is madly in love with one of her neighbors. Besides being a classic, it is a profound reflection on the human condition, hypocrisy,y and prejudices that often prevent us from seeing things as they are. It also offers the perspective of a young woman from an average family, whose expectations, especially as they were from a large family, were always complicated. Lewis Carrol will surprise you with his peculiar narrative.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
An inspirational book about personal search and effort to achieve what our soul most desires and makes us human. It follows the adventures of a young Andalusian shepherd who, after a strange dream that he cannot explain, has a conversation with someone who claims to be the king of Salem. He is so intrigued by this that he decides to embark on a journey that will change his life as he tries to find his Legend.
5. Stardust Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is known for his bizarre stories and tales for children and adults, usually with a realistic but implausible touch. However, this short novel is an excellent example of how to encourage and spark creativity in children and adults through a classic adventure story, but with a very different touch. Experience a world where everything seems possible and where the plot does nothing but take unexpected turns in search of that happy ending that is always promised.
6. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
Set in late 20th century Germany, this novel boldly addresses the national conflicts in German society following the crimes of the war and the Nazi Holocaust. This is explored through the strange relationship between a 15-year-old boy, Michael, and an illiterate girl, Hannah, who was a prison guard at Auschwitz.
As Michael teaches Hannah to read books, she teaches him to read human characters, teaching him about the fine line between right and wrong, and living with the consequences of our consequences. The Reader is a story of personal and national guilt, of power and redemption.
7. Harry Potter by JK Rowling
This series of books, as well as being famous for its success on the big screen, teaches values of friendship, cooperative work, and family that have influenced a whole generation of young people. Not only will it immerse you in a fantasy world where everything seems possible, from magic schools to terrifying dragons, but it will also reinforce the values of acceptance and tolerance that we strive so hard to instill. A thrilling story made up of no more than 7 volumes that both adults and children can enjoy, since as the books progress, the plot and its characters evolve until they acquire a certain degree of darkness suitable for all audiences.
8. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
This great abolitionist novel was a key point in the political campaign against slavery in America. Stowe navigates through the story of several slaves, from the tenacious Eliza who will stop at nothing to rescue her son, to the modest Uncle Tom who calmly and quietly bears his burden, serving his Lord diligently. It is a powerful story about the survival of the human spirit and the moral obligation to fight for what is right, not only for one’s good but for the good of all.
9. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
This is a semi-autobiographical novel, in which the names of people and places are changed. The Bell Jar is a realistic novel that tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a talented young woman who, after receiving an internship in glamorous New York, discovers that instead of discovering the pleasures of the city, she finds it to be a terrifying and disorienting place.
In this way, the author reflects hon er own experience with depression and other mental conflicts: an inspired book that allows a detailed look at human psychology and the reality of mental illness.
10. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The most seminal French novel to date, The Little Prince is the story of a little boy who falls to earth from an asteroid after visiting several other planets in an attempt to understand humanity. It is a charming short novel, suitable for both children and adults, and it contains much more than it initially seems. It is an allegory of human stupidity and our tendency to destroy through violence. But it is also a beautiful tale about the power of transformation through friendship and trust. A charming and educational tale, very popular in Western culture.