Mar

Books to read over Easter

I love university, but the one thing that really gets to me is the unnecessarily long holidays. At Easter, we get an entire month off! This leaves a lot of time that needs to be filled, so I think a trip to the library is looming! In the meantime, here are my top 5 favourite books that I’d recommend.

‘Becoming’ by Michelle Obama. This is, without doubt, my favourite autobiography of all time. It was excellently written, it was so engaging, and I just couldn’t put it down! She’s an absolute inspiration and great role model, so it was so interesting to hear her unfiltered version of events of her life and being in the White House. It might take a while for it to become available in the library, but it’s worth the wait.
‘The Bookseller of Kabul’ by Åsne Seierstad. This non-fiction book brings an absolutely fascinating insight into ordinary Afghan life in the early 2000s. I read this a few years back and even considered writing an EPQ on it – parts of the story are absolutely heartbreaking, and some describe wonderful bits of Afghan culture. As a History and Sociology student, I can’t resist reading about women’s rights, and this book really delivered. It discusses the conflict of Westernisation and traditional Islam, as well as the helplessness of those that reject the traditional values. Well worth the read!
The ‘Harry Potter’ series by J.K. Rowling. Does this one even need explanation? If you haven’t read them, you are missing out on an amazing magical experience that simply sucks you in. The films are excellent; however, they miss out so many little details that develop the characters the main storyline.

The basic premise is that Harry Potter’s parents were killed by an evil wizard named Voldemort when he was a baby. Subsequently, he was raised by his aunt and uncle who didn’t warn him of his own magical abilities. He realises his powers when he enrols at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, alongside Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley who become his best friends. Voldemort, left unsatisfied by Harry’s survival all those years ago, attempts to kill him each school year. If you haven’t seen the films, make sure you read the books first!
‘The Earth is Singing’ by Vanessa Curtis. This must be my favourite piece of Holocaust Literature, and I’ve read quite a bit. It’s a fictious story, though of course a lot of the content and themes are accurate. The story is told from the perspective of a Jewish Latvian teen who is forced into following the Nazi policies for Jewish people – wearing a yellow star, being isolated from society, working in a labour camp, and viewing death. It can be a tough read, but it isn’t too long and it’s beautifully written.
‘What if they find us?’ by Kathy Clarke. Here is my second favourite piece of Holocaust Literature (sorry in advance if you aren’t keen on WW2 content!), however this based on a true story. It revolves around two Jewish sisters in Budapest who are sent to a Covent on during the Nazi occupation in Hungary. The novel explores extreme kindness, bravery, and unity during an incredibly scary time. My mum bought this for me when I was about 12 and wanted to read Anne Frank’s Diary. I’m yet to read the diary, but this was a good book to introduce me to the themes.

If you read one of these, I really hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did! I wish you a happy Easter – remember, warm summer evenings are just around the corner!

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