If you’re like me, you can’t simply finish a book, put it back on its shelf, and move on to the next one. Instead, I think it over once, I think it over twice, and then I try to find out if this book has changed me. Some books teach me who I am, and others educate me about important matters such as politics, history, and identity. Whichever book I read, there’s always a lesson to be learned. Here you can read about what I’ve learned from the books I’ve read so far.
A Book Club of One – Onder de Paramariboom by Johan Fretz
I recently read Johan Fretz’ Onder de Paramariboom, which was made available for free for everyone. I also discussed it in my book club – consisting of just me.
Two Americans in Paris – A Homage to Gertrude Stein and Sylvia Beach
Did you think that being an artist in 1920s Paris was an all-male affair? Think again.
Yes It’s Bloody Political – Insomnia by Stephen King
Books are the perfect vehicle to discuss political issues. Stephen King’s Insomnia is a perfect example of this.
My Stephen King Summer (Part I)
Whenever I’m in a reading slump, I turn to Stephen King. Works every time.
A Lasting Impact – The First by Sophie Visser
A first love is wonderful, scary, and, when it ends, very painful. Sophie Visser’s novel De eerste (The First) shows how long it can still hurt.
For the Love of Tennis – The Only Story by Julian Barnes
It’s Wimbledon time! Here’s a tennis-related book for you.
Too much to do too little time
I’m tired and overwhelmed and I don’t write much. Here’s what I’m working on.
“I love walking in London”: Celebrating 100 Years of Mrs Dalloway During our Annual School Trip
One hundred years ago, Virginia Woolf published her masterpiece Mrs Dalloway. I made sure to celebrate this when I was in London.
Travel/Books: My literary holiday in Sicily
To me, going on holiday means seeing a lot, and reading a lot. I’m doing both here in Sicily.
Don’t Look Away – We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
There are so many things we’d rather not talk about. Thankfully there’s novels like Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, that shows us the painful truth.
“I seem to have fallen out of time” – The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Here at the hospital, time is quite fluid, similar to Michael Cunningham’s novel The Hours
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World – Vlees en Bloed by Vincent Kortmann
Novels like Dutch author Vincent Kortmann’s casually sexist Vlees en bloed remind me why I am a feminist.
The Sweetest Love Story in the World – Esio Trot by Roald Dahl
Esio Trot is a short, simple, sweet, and perfect love story.
A Different Point of View – Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital shows us just how beautiful our planet is.
Across the Divide – Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín’s novel Brooklyn is about a young Irish girl who tries to find her luck in America. But what if she could never go back?
Truly Fake – England, England by Julian Barnes
The lines between truth and fiction are blurred in England, England by Julian Barnes. All for the sake of entertainment.
“But hey, that’s just me” – Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney
What do you do when you feel like you’re stuck in your own miserable life? Breakdown by Cathy Sweeney has all the answers.
This Is Not a Horror Story – Gender Theory by Madeline Docherty
It’s Halloween, the day we love being frightened. Madeline Docherty’s novel Gender Theory shows us that ordinary life can be pretty scary, too.
Say Their Names – The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Everyone should read Angie Thomas’s novel The Hate U Give.
The Open Book 