I’ve always loved reading, but this year I have been reading more than ever. A big reason for this is having so much time at home due to the pandemic. However, a lot of the time I don’t know what to read. Through trying my best to explore different genres and different authors, I have found books that I absolutely loved and want to share with others. Some of these books are lesser-known and some of them are more widely read, but I believe they all deserve more attention. Here are my favourite books that I have read this year so far:
Fiction
The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman
When Maggie becomes pregnant as a teenager, she is forced to give up her baby girl, Elodie. Unfortunately, due to the corrupt laws of the time, Elodie winds up at psychiatric hospitals where she faces abuse from the nuns. It’s difficult to believe that the writer drew from real events in Canada’s history to conceive this story. I was in suspense the entire time I read this book. As many years pass in the story, Maggie and Elodie are desperately trying to find each other, but it seems that there are so many obstacles in their way. I found myself waiting anxiously to find out what would happen next and receive answers.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
I find stories about families to be extremely compelling. This topic gives these stories elements that most readers can relate to or understand. This book begins with the death of a teenage girl named Lydia. The mystery that readers are longing to solve is how she died and what happened leading up to her death. While reading about how her death affected her family, I empathized with the characters who are each so complex and well developed. What I love most about reading is being drawn to a character’s personal story.
The Wondrous Woo by Carrianne Leung
In university, I’ve learned to embrace my culture and reading is something I always turned to. Therefore, I wanted to find books written by Chinese Canadian authors. However, I feel anyone can relate to this story because it deals with the universal themes of family and identity. The main character, Miramar, loses her father and suddenly her siblings gain The Gifts (unexplained talents). Miramar does not become a prodigy like her siblings, so she has to discover who she is and what she wants to do. Despite some of the strange occurrences in her life, most students can relate to Miramar’s journey. We are all just trying to find our place in the world.
Non-Fiction
The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
I am a major fan of the Walt Disney Company and what they do from their parks to their films. You also have to admire the company for the success that they have received. Therefore, I could not turn down reading a book by the CEO of Disney. Robert Iger gives readers a captivating inside view of Disney’s largest acquisitions. As a student, I find it extremely interesting to learn about people’s career paths because they remind us that we do not always end up somewhere that we might have expected. I enjoyed reading about Iger’s different positions that led him to become CEO.