Christmas Countdown!!

As Advent is upon us, I thought I would post a new book each day from my top 24 that I have read over the past couple of years!

1st December (Number 24):

'The Toy Makers' - this is a beautiful novel aptly suited to the festive period! Set in a family-run toy shop, the story describes the trials and tribulations they undergo to get the beloved shop ready for the Christmas period. It is a beautiful book in which the magic of Christmas literally does bring the toys alive; a heart-warming and moving novel that will certainly get you in the festive spirit!

2nd December (Number 23):

'Tess of the D'Urbevilles' - Thomas Hardy's classic novel depicting the adventures of love and deception is a beautiful yet sorrowful piece of literature; a must-read for lovers of nineteenth-century works. It describes the devastating story of Tess, a poor, young girl who endures many hardships, torn between helping her family and pursuing true love, and, despite her best efforts, the past ultimately never ceases to haunt her. I really did enjoy this story, lengthy though it is, especially because the sensitivity of emotion with which Hardy writes is quite remarkable and very different from the styles of the other writers I love from that time period! Read this novel if you fancy being thrust into a wonderful world of juxtapositions: strength and weakness, and love and loss.

3rd December (Number 22):

'The Keeper of Lost Things' - I love this heart-warming novel; a tale of lost possessions, each with their own unique story and a deep meaning to someone in the world. It is a tenderly written, exquisite novel, both tear-jerking and heartening in its gentleness. While it has a sad storyline, there is always a sense of resolution which seems to balance out its emotive nature, making it a lovely read if you are in want of a sweetly quiet yet emotionally fulfilling story, and perhaps it might tempt you to come up with your own stories about the random items you come across!

4th December (Number 21):

'The Colour Purple' - Alice Walker's incredible novel depicts the hardships of life for African Americans at the bottom of the social hierarchy in rural Georgia in the 1930s. The novel, which explores so many themes including love, abuse, race, and sexuality through an epistolary form is a beautiful way to investigate and understand these complex topics and the high emotional turmoil they involve. The storyline is complicated yet simple to read, making it an amazing way to immerse yourself in a whole new world and culture, and really start to comprehend the different ways of life shown.

5th December (Number 20):

'Seed' - I wrote a review of this book in the summer and it truly is a remarkable novel, transporting you into a whole new world where everything you know to be part of normal life is gone. Set in a cult, Heathfield beautifully describes life for her protagonist Pearl, who grows up amongst secrecy until she meets someone from the 'outside' and begins to question everything she knows to be true. I highly recommend this novel if you want a unique, page-turning, tantalizing story of realization.

6th December (Number 19):

'Le silence de la mer' - This beautiful novel describing the Nazi Occupation of France during WWII was the first French book I read and it definitely did not disappoint! It is exquisitely written, exploring themes including love and silence in both a metaphorical and literal way, proving it to be an elegantly figurative novella, destined to enchant you. It has a quiet yet powerful tone, highlighting the difficulties of the Occupation for not only the French citizens but also for the soldiers, some of whom had to enforce it unwillingly. It is quite short, but in no way does this hinder the book's message nor its artistry.

7th December (Number 18):

'The Hate U Give' - I read this book a little while ago, but I still remember the incredibly powerful storyline which was quite possibly the first literary exposure I'd had about racism. It is a heartbreaking story of Star, a young girl who faces so much due to her race, divided between two worlds and two identities. The book explores the problems of poverty, gang violence, and institutionalized racism, but it is also a story of empowerment and inspiration; of a young girl who finds her voice and speaks out about the injustices she sees around her.

8th December (Number 17):

'Perfect' - This dystopian novel by Cecilia Ahern is an extremely moving story of a girl named Celestine North who fronts a revolution against the oppressive state government that has created a world in which being 'flawed' is simply not an option. When I read this a year ago, I felt it was particularly pertinent to our modern society in which many people, but especially young adults often feel pressured to attain perfection in everything, constantly presenting a perfect image of themselves. While I don't usually enjoy dystopian novels, this one really caught my imagination and so I highly recommend it as an easy yet significant read.

9th December (Number 16):

'Mansfield Park' - I obviously had to have a Jane Austen classic or two on the list, and I do love her novel that describes the story of Fanny Price, a young girl sent to live with her rich relatives. Through her book, Austen tackles themes such as isolation, slavery, and the importance of religion, however, it is arguably the role that theatre plays in our lives that is the most prominent. It is through amateur dramatics that the characters in the novel explore their love interests and their true identities, and this idea was particularly pertinent to Jane Austen's own life as she loved putting on plays with her family as a means of entertainment. The book is made even more realistic by the fact that Austen's own brother, Edward, was adopted by rich relatives and brought up in a grand house, so she most likely had a good idea of how children such as Fanny Price felt. Although in my opinion, it is not necessarily her best book ('Pride and Prejudice' holds that place!), it is still a fabulous read, and writing this little review has made me want to read it all over again!

10th December (Number 15):

'L’Étranger' - This wonderful Camus novel opened my eyes to the concepts of absurdism and existentialism and, although complex, I really did enjoy learning about them. Although its pace is slow, and the tone often melancholic, it explores such big questions surrounding the meaning of life, love, and friendship, so I highly recommend this novel; perhaps not if you're in want of an uplifting, easy read, but a philosophical one that makes you think.

11th December (Number 14):

'Réquiem por un campesino español' - Another European book, this time it comes from Ramón J. Sender in Spain. Set in a small country town in Aragon, this novel is an allegory of the Spanish Civil War, portraying the horrors from the perspective of the country peasants. It is packed with symbolism and imagery and is a tragic tale of a young revolutionary, revealing the betrayals and hurt they had to endure. The first draft was actually 1,000 pages long and Sender reduced this to merely 50 in the published book, so you can imagine just how jam-packed it is! I really recommend this novel as an incredible cultural experience and an immersion into one of the darkest periods in Spanish history.

12th December (Number 13):

'Jamaica Inn' - Seeing a friend reading this at school the other day reminded me of how much of an amazing author Daphne du Maurier is, and her haunting, violent novel is no exception! This is definitely a page-turning read and you will have your heart in your mouth, fearing for the safety of the protagonist, but also wondering just how bad the landlord's criminality is and what effect this will have on the rest of the characters in the novel. To me when I remember the novel, I always see darkness, and I think this sums it up because whether day or night, there are strongly sinister overtones as you fear but also crave the next event...

13th December (Number 12):

'Emma' - This Jane Austen classic tells the story of the stubborn eponymous heroine, Emma; a haughty and intelligent lady who enjoys directing and manipulating those around her. She is easy to dislike - Austen herself said before writing the novel: "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like" - however, Austen keeps us turning the pages through the incessant matchmaking that goes on and the humorous romantic misunderstandings that pervade the novel. If you want a funny novel with characters you can get annoyed with, then this is the perfect read for you!

14th December (Number 11):

'Americanah' - I recently wrote a review of this incredible book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; it is a current and pertinent novel that I encourage everyone to read. Adichie writes beautifully, describing the heart-breaking story of Ifemelu and her soulmate Obinze. It tackles the huge topics of race and colorism whilst being an exquisite love story at the same time. If you want a tear-jerking read that is also extremely prevalent in today's society, then this is the one for you!

15th December (Number 10):

'White Teeth' - this is another magnificent novel centred around three families from three different demographics all living the same story. Set in London, the novel follows the intertwined stories of three secondary-school children trapped in a cycle of familial expectations and a desire to break out of the mold. I loved reading this witty yet relevant novel by Zadie Smith that will definitely keep the pages turning!

16th December (Number 9):

'The Kite Runner' - I read this exquisite novel by Khaled Hosseini in the summer and I simply loved it! Although extremely sad and heartbreaking, it has a beautifully written storyline of betrayal and reconciliation which completely transports you into another world. I must admit that I initially disliked the protagonist, Amir, due to his selfish nature, however, I did warm to him as the story went on and he felt sorrow for his previous mistakes. This novel is so good that I finished it in a couple of days and so I strongly urge everyone to have a read of it!

17th December (Number 8):

'Wild Swans' - another cultural education, this long but fascinating book is a fabulous way to learn more about China's past. It is autobiographical, recounting the lives of three generations of strong women, however, it reads like a fictional story which I think highlights just how horrific some of the things they had to endure were; they seemed too horrible to be real. After reading it, I felt that I knew so much more about China's culture and the way their past has influenced both society and the way we perceive the country so I highly recommend it!

18th December (Number 7):

'Rebecca' - Daphne du Maurier became one of my favourite authors after I read this haunting yet enchanting book of hers. I love the Gothic nature of the novel and the mysterious storyline which both fascinates and intrigues you, causing you to finish it in just a matter of days! A story of love, betrayal, and death, this is perhaps not one that gets you into the festive spirit but it certainly is an incredible, enigmatic book that will chill you to your core and get you hooked on du Maurier forever!

19th December (Number 6):

'The Last Tudor' - This was my first Philippa Gregory novel and it definitely did not disappoint! It follows the stories of the Grey sisters' lives under the various Tudor monarchs, exposing me to a whole new family within the infamous rulers of whom I had only really heard of Lady Jane Grey. It is an enthralling, page-turning novel that immerses you into our past and will definitely get you hooked on historical fiction! In fact, I loved this book so much that it formed the basis of a history project I did for school this summer, showing how not only does this novel provide you with enjoyment, but also with some form of education - although you would have to check all the facts!

20th December (Number 5):

'Jane Eyre' - When I was deciding where to place this novel and the next one, there really wasn't much in it so you could consider this one equal to tomorrow's! This was my first Brontë novel and I loved its Gothic, fiercely passionate storyline that certainly captures the reader's imagination. Ultimately a love story, it is one of the most memorable of all time due to the violence and secrecy it involves. The eponymous protagonist, though not the most beautiful, is spirited with strong principles, determined to succeed after enduring her troubled background, making her quite an inspiring, modern heroine.

21st December (Number 4):

'Wuthering Heights' - After having studied this at school, I discovered just how much I love this incredible novel by Emily Brontë! It is so complex and mysterious which makes it an enticing read so that every time you read it, you discover something different or change your opinions of the characters! I think her true genius in writing this book, however, is the way that she can craft such a well-loved novel despite most of the characters being very difficult to like (in my opinion!). I love the way that Brontë challenges societal boundaries through her story of defiance, offering a new view of the world! It is Gothic and dark, but also passionate and romantic and a great read or re-read!

22nd December (Number 3):

'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' - I absolutely love Gail Honeyman's debut novel as it provides an exceptional insight into the life of a social misfit struggling with a traumatic past. Honeyman explores themes such as loneliness and isolation in an intriguing yet beautiful way, thrusting the reader into Eleanor's world and taking them with her on a journey of discovery and healing. I highly recommend this book as it is like no other that I have read before and it offers a unique perspective of the world through the eyes of an outsider.

23rd December (Number 2):

'All the light we cannot see' - As I have written in previous blog posts, this novel by Anthony Doerr is just sublime! Poetic and lyrical in its language, it is a poignant and touching wartime novel that explores so many different forms of love and loss. There is something about fiction set in WWI and WWII that captures my imagination and this novel certainly allows you to feel the fear that tinged the air of Occupied France during WWII. It is a story of bravery and tragedy; of familial love and sacrifice that transports you into the worlds of the two young children, Marie-Laure and Werner, as they each overcome their individual barriers to grow into strong and daring people. The novel was ten years in the making, so it is evident how much thought went into crafting each sentence, and so it is definitely worth a read!

24th December (Number 1):

'Pride and Prejudice' - of course this one had to be at number one! This Austen classic is my favourite novel due to its witty nature that pulls you into the storyline and doesn't let you leave! It is a wonderful love story, but it has more depth than that; it questions virtues such as how we view and judge others, and the personal barriers that we have to overcome to find true love. I love being thrust into nineteenth-century society and seeing the trials and tribulations that young women had to endure; be it familial relationships or societal restrictions, there was always something in the way. It is an incredible novel that I read in whatever mood; a literary classic that definitely deserves the number one spot!

So now all that's left to say is Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for all of your support over the last six months and I hope you continue to enjoy my posts! I have a few more reviews about some books that I have recently read which will be published very soon so keep your ears open and have a relaxing Christmas!