The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Over the years I have only read a handful of classic literary fiction. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelhowas gifted to me a few years ago by my sister and she claimed it was right up my alley. I was hesitant to read it because of its association with classical literature, which I think makes it the perfect book to read for this class. According to articles discussing the book, it is a beautiful work of literature that has remained a staple of the literary world for many years. Many of our group’s previous reading experiences were mimetic and I believe that The Alchemist will be an intriguing thematic read that will challenge us to think about the deeper meanings hidden within the text. The Alchemist encourages readers to consider how they can make a positive contribution to the world and follow their dreams. I believe The Alchemist promises to be a worthwhile reading experience that will broaden our horizons when it comes to reading meaningful work.
Scott MacLean
The Majesties: A Novel by Tiffany Tsao
The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao centers around two Chinese-Indonesian sisters attempting to reconcile and grapple with their past after one of them mysteriously poisons their entire family. As the main character awakes from a coma, the sole survivor of her sister’s murders, she struggles to regain her memories and piece together why her sister would go so far. I chose this book not only for its interesting premise, but also because it tackles two genres I don’t often read—mystery novels, and novels set in modern times. The Majesties is an interesting spin on the murder mystery genre: we already know the who, the what, and the where. The only thing the audience—and the main character—doesn’t know is the why. I believe our group should read this book because not only is a way to expose ourselves to different cultures and perspectives, but it’s also a way to learn from different forms of storytelling.
Daria Husni
Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada
I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen my senior year of high school in my AP Literature class. Being that the book was published in 1813, the the time period and refined style of writing is one that takes more time for a modern-day reader to follow (I remember having to watch the movie first!). The story follows Hara Isari who strives to be a sports writer. She finds herself butting heads with rookie basketball player Derek Darcy, and yet the pair keeps getting drawn together in different ways. I believe that my group should read The Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz because although it might follow the same type of story line, it’s set in the 21st century, which makes it easier to follow if we’re going off Jane Austen’s story. Like Elizabeth Bennet, Hara has ambitions and doesn’t wish to just settle down. And like Mr. Darcy, Derek is full of obnoxious pride and finds himself seeing Hara all the time, yet is drawn to her. As a writer, I strive to have diverse characters, so as a reader it’s nice to see more characters of color in literature, especially in stories that were written in a time where only white people could have happy endings. I also love seeing modern spins on old stories!
Paige McTernan
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
I believe that my group should read, The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune for its loveable characters, dialogue, and exploratory elements. I wanted to pick a book that didn’t seem like something I would normally pick up and read myself. While thinking of who I am as a reader, I realized that I lacked in the fantasy genre. I thought for this reason, it would be a great first step for me to take. I tried to pick a book (and feel as though I succeeded) for a few reasons. One, the characters had to be creative and loveable. From what I have heard about this book, most everyone that reads it has a place in their heart for the main character and the orphans he grows to know. Two, the book has to have a lot of dialogue. Personally, I tend to read books that go on for pages (maybe even chapters) without a single line of dialogue. While skimming through the pages of T. J. Klune’s book, I saw a lot of dialogue which was a definite check in the box for must haves. Lastly, I wanted a book that had elements of exploration in it. The main character, Linus, is doing just this; he explores not only a brand new landscape far from what he is used to, but also a new part of himself through a connection with the orphans and the headmaster of the orphanage (a little romance was a must have as well). Over all, this book seemed interesting and made me feel a little nervous about reading, and that is exactly why I picked it for my group to read.
Angela Faustino
All You Read is Love 