This week's top ten Tuesday gives me a chance to highlight some of my favorite kinds of books; those that make you think. Allow me to elaborate - these are books that examine an issue that doesn't have a "right" or "wrong" answer ; these books present both sides of an issue, open your eyes to it, and make you really think about about where you stand, or make you question what you thought you believed in the first place. For me, these books tend to be the most powerful and the most memorable.
Native Son by Richard Wright / What you'll consider: Civil rights; discrimination in the American judicial system; racism; generational poverty
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers / What you'll consider: What in means to be an American Muslim post 9/11; racial profiling; hypocrisy of governments
People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Llyod Parry / What you'll consider: Eastern vs. Western culture in terms of media, law, sexual behavior and government; how culture determines gender roles
The Submission by Amy Waldman / What you'll consider: What it means to be an American Muslim post 9/11; government propaganda; the non-apologetic attitude of modern-day America; the irrationality of certain post 9/11 fears
them by Joyce Carol Oates / What you'll consider: Poverty in America; class struggle; the role of women
Animal Farm by George Orwell / What you'll consider: The problems that arise from absolute power/totalitarian regimes; political corruption; the human desire for power
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugindes / What you'll consider: Cultural history; divided identities; the impact one has on the lives around him or her; gender vs. sex
11/22/63 by Stephen King / What you'll consider: The power of "what if;" the idea that the past it obdurate;
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid / What you'll consider: What it means to be a Muslim in post 9/11 America; the ever-changing American landscape and its consequences
Life of Pi by Yann Martel / What you'll consider: Faith; religion; free will
As I said, these kind of books tend to be my favorite kind of read, so please feel free to leave any recommendations in the comments!
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Great list. I am really interested in People Who Eat Darkness and Zeitoyn is one of my favorite books.
ReplyDeleteZeitoun
DeleteI love Zeitoun - I have pushed that book on so many people. I even just borrowed it to a friend's mom last week.
DeleteLove the way you broke out this list, with the "what you'll consider" stuff. And I want to read all of them.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks! I'm glad that worked out. I actually thought it would be easier than you know, writing actual sentences :)
DeleteI agree; I love the way you constructed the list. I haven't read many of these so I'll to give them more thought (no pun intended SERIOUSLY).
DeleteWhat a great list, and I second Red in loving the way you broke it down by listing what it makes you think about. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHappy to share! Thanks, Bettina!
DeleteI especially love these kinds of books too. I've read and loved 7 from your list. 11/22/63 is on my TBR pile, along with loads of Oates books (an author I've yet to read, but really feel I should) and I haven't heard of The People who Eat Darkness, but it does sound fantastic - thanks for drawing it to my attention.
ReplyDeleteZeitoun terrified me. I thought Eggers did a masterful job of structuring that story. Haunting.
ReplyDeleteI love that you explained how the books on the list inspired thinking, and adding what kind of contemplation we could expect. thanks for sharing your list; I am very much intrigued by Eggers' and Hamid's novels and I keep meaning to read Life of Pi (and am thinking I am the only one who hasn't)...
ReplyDelete~L (omphaloskepsis)
I've just discovered your blog and your list makes it clear we like the same type of books! If you liked Zeitoun and you like books that make you think, try Whatis the What, also by Dave Eggers. Gripping and sobering, a really great book.
ReplyDeleteMiddlesex makes you think about genetics class, too!
ReplyDeleteI want to read Zeitoun.
An interesting list, quite a few of which I have read.
ReplyDelete