As the winter’s chill rolls in, many people cuddle up indoors with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa and take time to open a book by a warm fire. Maybe this is why the month of December is Read a New Book Month. As an avid reader myself, I’m listing my top five books as suggestions for anyone looking for a fresh read.
“The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz” by Jeremy Dronfield
Following the true story of Fritz Kleinmann, a Jewish boy from Nazi-controlled Vienna, Austria, as he fights for his and his father, Gustav’s, survival, this book is incredibly well-written and moving. It gives a detailed description of how the horrors of the Holocaust tore families apart, while also showing how impactful family bonds can be. Dronfield’s blunt recounting of these events leaves the reader feeling stunned and disgusted, with a completely new understanding of the abuse of the Nazis during the second World War. Despite how difficult it can be to read about these violations of human rights, being able to connect with Fritz throughout the story and feeling his hope despite all the horrors he’s faced leaves a lasting positive impact. This book isn’t for everyone, but I highly recommend it to history fans who can get through heavy descriptions of human torture.
“The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown
“The Boys in the Boat” is one of my favorite books and has been one of my favorite movies since its recent adaptation into a film. Brown tells the true story of the University of Washington’ s rowing team that, despite everything stacked against them, went to the 1936 Berlin Olympics and struck gold. Following Joe Rantz, the reader is able to connect with his doubts and struggles as he’s come from a broken household and been made poor by the Great Depression. Many of the other eight boys in his boat have faced similar trials, and this is a factor that helps them connect with each other. As a rower myself, I have a first-hand experience of the sense of unity the boys have when rowing together. It’s an amazing and unique feeling to know that you’re putting yourself through pain for other people, not yourself, and I believe that Brown captures this beautifully in his memoir. I would recommend this book to anybody, not just rowers or nonfiction readers. It’s an amazing story that’s incredibly well done.
“Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys
By literary difficulty, this historical fiction is the easiest to read on my list. However, as it follows the tragic sinking of refugee ship Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II, it’s not a light subject. Sepetys is my favorite author and this is my favorite book she’s written. It follows four points of view- Joana, Emilia, Florian and Alfred- who each have very different backgrounds and struggles brought on by WWII. Sepetys’ astounding ability to create characters that feel as if they were real people living through the moments in history she chooses for her stories helps readers connect with tragedies of the past. In this book, you love the characters Sepetys wants you love and hate the characters she wants you to hate. This causes the story to be much more vivid and impactful, making it one of my absolute favorites and a book I would recommend to any historical fiction fan.
“Babel” by R.F. Kuang
Stepping outside of the genre I normally read, “Babel” is a fantasy novel taking place in colonial Great Britain, colonized Canton in Asia, and Oxford, England. It follows the story of Robin Swift, a Cantonese boy who is taken in at a young age by English Professor Lovell after being made an orphan by Cholera. Robin is put through rigorous teachings at Lovell’s mansion so that he can understand the true power of language. Once he has enough knowledge, he is accepted into Oxford’s Tower of Babel, where he is able to make friends out of the three other students in his class along with beginning to piece through certain dark truths and mysteries hidden by the “Babblers.” This book is an enjoyable read, following a very intriguing concept and unique view of languages. Kuang gives a detailed description of the way magic works in her world so that the reader never feels lost, allowing for more focus to be on the characters themselves. The reader is able to connect with Robin and his friends, all of whom are given enough development to feel refreshingly human, and this leads the story to be one of my favorites.
“The Princess Bride” by S. Morganstein, abridged by William Goldman
“The Princess Bride” is one of the best movies ever made, and the book it’s based on is somehow even better. It’s full of adventure, danger, pain, love and humor. Every character is significant and described with vividness unseen in most modern literature. It’s an immediate hook and, once you start reading, it’s hard to put it back down. I’ve read it multiple times and it gets better with every new read. Anyone who’s watched and enjoyed the movie should give this book a shot. It’s fantastic and, in my opinion, perfect in every way.
