The Reading Logs

Great Expectations

Dickens introduced me to political consiousness in a way that non fiction and philosophy would have never absorbed into my 16 year old brain.Yes reading Das Kapital helps you understand the theories and why capitalism is god awful for the progession of humanity but his fiction seamlessly bridges the gap between theory and reality allowing us to be exposed to an lens of the world we would have otherwise ignored.I know little about Darwin's personal thoughts on capitalism however what he showcases in each of his works is honestly magnifying.This is the first book I recommend to teens and young adults.

The Overcoat

During my pretentious, emo-era, pseudo-enigma teenagehood, I managed to pick up Russian classics both because of how they conveyed depression so vividly and also because I was trying to be as pretentious as possible.I and my high school bestie were always reading classics. ALWAYS. If I'm reading Madam Dovary she's reading Don Quixote. If I'm into Crime and Punishment she's picked up The Brothers Karamazov. It was a way of one upping one another but also it was something we both fully enjoyed.Especially giving each other spoilers. I don't remember much of the book,I'll refresh my memory again whenever I can but I remember it was the wittiest Russian literature that I picked up and thoroughly enjoyed and honestly I've always enjoyed political commentary even as a teen and the book was littered with the honestly unbearable lives of the serfs

Percy Jackson : The Series

During my pretentious, emo-era, pseudo-enigma teenagehood, I managed to pick up Russian classics both because of how they conveyed depression so vividly and also because I was trying to be as pretentious as possible.I and my high school bestie were always reading classics. ALWAYS. If I'm reading Madam Dovary she's reading Don Quixote. If I'm into Crime and Punishment she's picked up The Brothers Karamazov. It was a way of one upping one another but also it was something we both fully enjoyed.Especially giving each other spoilers. I don't remember much of the book,I'll refresh my memory again whenever I can but I remember it was the wittiest Russian literature that I picked up and thoroughly enjoyed and honestly I've always enjoyed political commentary even as a teen and the book was littered with the honestly unbearable lives of the serfs

Purple Hibiscus

She is exactly who 2Baba was thinking of when he wrote "African Queen". The woman who has molded 21st century African Writing with her own two hands. There is a reason why this book is considered one of the best books of the 21st century (Seriously I'm not joking,if there is a list she should be in it)I related deeply to the main protagonist and that is all I am going to say about it. The only odd thing about it was the protagoist's love for someone who was a bit too old for her and it being written like a loving tale but whats an African fiction without a weird age gap.

Babel

I am yet to pick up Katabasis but I've read every single one of R.F Kuang's books and they have transformed me but my favourite has to be Babel.The pain of losing your language and culture to BRITAIN of all other nations is unbearable and I am forever a Robin Smith apologist ! Fuck Leticia, Free Victorie and I love you Remy.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

If there is a genre of fiction I'd never get bored of and is one of the first I pick up whenever I find myself in a bookstore,trust me its going to be mystery.My second Roman Empire is Sherlock Holmes.I LOVE MR HOLMES.I've read every original copy.I have a soft copy for constant rereads and a hard copy that I got in the travelling library ship that I absolutely adore.Him and Watson are such delightful characters to peer into. And yes just like the rest I never fully enjoyed bbc Sherlock and found even the casting a bit off . I'm sure they only chose Mr. Ancestral Plantation for his height and the fact that he was peaking at the time as the it middle aged actor .My favorite adaptation was Moriarty the Patriot.(Please don't ask me to watch Enola Holmes or Elementary.I've yet to care about those adaptations yet).

In the Name of the rose

I honestly wish that this was a series but I loved the religous criitiques and connotations behind it.I feel like if my semi religious high school had actually read the book they might have banned it from the school library. The setting was within a monastary.The twists and turns and even the eventual villain who isin't as surprising if you've read as much murder mystery as I have,but still the premise of the book is enjoyable to read especially if you're from a religious background like I am and have never read a critique on religion as a concept outside academic lit and twitter rants.Otherwise,it may bore you. But if you found conclave gripping,you might enjoy this.

100 years of Solitude

Slight spoiler here but I can't stop thinking of the baby that was eaten by ants.What kind of ants just carry a baby to eat it?!Nature is scary. Anyways I enjoyed my first dip in Latin American writing and this was my first experience reading fantasy realism.To me,it was literal escapism mixed with the right dosage of realism that allowed me to remember that some of the cruelest acts of humanity have happened. Extremely moving.

Breast and Eggs

I believe I have read a good portion,if not all, of Mieko Kawakami's literature.She's a phenomenal writer and this book came to me at a time where my future was uncertain (My future remains uncertain but at the time I was at a dead end).The humiliating experience of poverty and the resentment of being born pours into each and every one of her sentences. The protagonist final resolution never seemed out of the realms of possibility.At a dark time in my life it gave me faith and as Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen."

Kafka on the Shore

Does he know how to write women...no but here me out.Okay,On my path of diversifying my reading experience I came upon Kafka on the Shore through a ted ed video.The premise of the book was intriguing and despite the abyssmal writing of the few female characters in his book I was gripped by the transgender hotel manager.As a budding queer I was unaware of even a group of people who'd want to be anything else but male or female. I myself am not Trans but I can imagine how dysphoric it must feel. And I don't know if the trans character in the book is considered 'good representation' but they definetely aided in helping me understand that gender is simply not as black as white as social constructs and biology textbooks have made us believe.

Convinience Store Woman

My first experience reading a neurodivergent character with my specific neurodivergent trait and feeling accurately represented . There is utterly no problem with doing the exact same thing for the rest of your life.Sayako accurately potrayed how different you will always feel from your peers and even new people you meet.How every interaction with someone is consistently nit picked and analysed.I loved this book.

The Three Body Problem

Damn,damn,damn.What a book! I've heard that the writer is a controversial figure but as I wrote in my disclaimer,out of sight,out of mind.I haven't watched any of the adaptations.Frankly I do not care for them either but this is the first of the three part series. You can tell its a fairly dated book as it makes no mention to AI but rather nanotechnology as the definingtechnology of the decade. Within my commute I found myself pondering on the tri solarian world and our earth and the people within the earth and our place within the galaxy.It was such an interesting read.A unique premise and a few unforgettable characters,its an easy read in comparison to most sci fi so you should check it out if you'd like.

No Longer Human

BOOOOOOO!!! Just because I said this is a list of my favourite books doesn't mean I have to like the book or the author. Male Japanese authors manage to be some of the biggest incels I have ever read and Osamu Dazai practically reeks of incel core.In the semi autobiographical read we only see him go through various "woe is me" events in his life.He switches from being relatable to absolutely deplorable and I hate him,and I hate how similar he felt to me but the difference is I for one wouldn't see women as just beings meant for man's satisfaction and I certanely wouldn't want to ruin women's lives within the process of been in their lives.This book unearthed strong feelings of rage that it encouraged me to try and be a better person so that I don't get bundled up with people like Osamu Dazai.

The Hobbit

My goat. The man,the myth,the legend and most popular Dune Hater of All Time was able to write one of my favourite books. Its so much my favourite book of all time that I have never read the Lord of the Rings or the Fellowship of the Rings cause I couldn't bear the though of my favourite character of all time Mr. Bilbo Baggins no longer being front of centre of the entire franchise.Don't get me wrong Frodo sounds lovely but Mr.Baggins is the quintessential introvert that despite the heavy fantastical elements in the book it surpisingly reminds you of how relatable his character is.Like yes don't come to my house uninvited.Don't drag me to do one of your silly quests and last but not least,LEAVE ME ALONE.

The City and The City

I do not accept any slander about this book.Were the characters stale?Yes...BUT you guys aren't looking at the whole picture!THE PLOT! .It was the most interesting factor of the book.I'm not an English Lit. Student neither am I the greatest editor or book reviewer of all time,however! if you are a plot centric person as I am in comparison to a character centric person then this book has one of the most unique plot points I have even read.If you are also a history nerd like me then you'd fully enjoy this book.The characters are genuinely only there to say what goes on.Thats how stale they are .They have no defining characteristics and I can't even remember anyone who wasn't the detective but the plot? 10/10 no notes.

A Master of Djinn

When I picked up this book in an indie bookstore and read the premise I just knew that I would enjoy his Dead Djinn Universe. The setting being in a steampunk,former-colonial country, Egypt.The character being a plethora of personalities that would not be deemed accepted in their religion and culture.The history of the world and introducing one of my favourite mythical creatures ,Djinnis, and others from multiple dimensions into the mainstream.I grew up with oral Djinni stories,some scary,some entertaining and to see them be potrayed to the most accurate description in the books cause many who are of the Islamic faith do believe in djinnis , was like a part of myself was been finally brought out.I'd never taken the 'genie' in Alladin as a true representation of an actual djinni. I didn't even know that it was a representation of djinnis till later in life. Thats how big of a difference it felt to me.Pick it up.Though I would suggest to read the Dead Djinn Series in chronological order as opposed to just reading A Master of Djinn first.

The Bluest Eye

I had never picked a Toni Morrison till late 2024.Thats how recent I am to the train and you know what? I get it. I GET IT! The heartache this book gave me.The pain that poor baby endured and all she wanted to do was be pretty in a world that had rejected her.Truly painful. Even those who aren't aware of Toni Morrison have read the same copy I have given them and they have all said out of all the books I've recomended this was the most impactful. I teared up reading it.Shes's just a baby. A BABY! Oh my dear Pecola.In another world you wouldn't think having blue eyes would make you beautiful.

Transcendent Kingdom

If you haven't read Yaa Gyasi then you dont deserve a seat at the table.She has really managed to make herself different than her peers with her books.Transcendent Kingdom is grieve inducing. I didn't know it at the time I was reading it but I was about to be hit with another great loss in my life and this book helped me cope with the loss better than I realised. Afterwords my life transformed and whilst I was walking down the street I found a bootleg copy of Homecoming and spontaneously bought it.You know I'm a history geek and this book is littered with the people impacted my the Trans Antlantic Slave Trade and the many ways West Africa was shaped by the slave trade,colonialism and post colonial Africa.A stunning book really.I'd encourage you to read at least one of her books.