Some of us are finding that this is the best of times for finally tackling that great literary challenge—finishing War and Peace or just pressing on through all 63 novels of Stephen King. At OWC, the book table has been a veritable smorgasbord of high-brows and page-turners. Here are a few favorites of the staff:
Paulo:
The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho
I realize I share a name with one of the greatest authors of our time. It feels trance-like to follow the protagonist as he embarks on an adventure to find the treasure of his dreams. Along the way, the story makes me reflect on our journeys and how to look forward to forging our own paths. Right now, we see a generation that’s unapologetically themselves – willful, thoughtful and engaged – that are taking to the streets and using their voices. It’s in our interest to build our own destiny by going out into the world and not hold back, to seek peace and wellness for ourselves and others. Throughout the book, I was inspired to never stop, to dream big, to work tirelessly and to always look forward to the next big step.
Wes:
The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life | Hal Elrod
The Miracle Morning was great because it talked about how every small decision you make is an opportunity to become the person you want to be. Every single thought, choice and action we make is determining who we are becoming. The book pointed out that something as simple as hitting snooze on an alarm clock in the morning can have a significant impact on your subconscious mind instructing us not to follow through. The book was promoting us to be more disciplined because it will help us become better people in the long run. It was a powerful book written by a guy that put this methodology into practice to reach the pinnacle of success.
Phyllis:
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay | Elena Ferrante
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay is the third book out of Elena Ferrante’s four-book series. Lately, my favorite reads have been the stories of friendships between women. The Neapolitan Novels series tells the story of a 60-year friendship between two women in a world undergoing radical changes. I highly recommend these books as well as the HBO series, “My Brilliant Friend,” which is based on the series and is a remarkable adaptation.
Sam:
The Woman in the Window | A.J. Finn
One book that sparked my interest for a summer read was The Woman in the Window. After listening to my sister’s recommendation, I thought it was appropriate for my summer read, since we’ve been cooped up in our houses for the last three months. This book centers on someone who is seemingly agoraphobic watching the neighbors as entertainment. Readers learn that things may not always be what they seem. If you enjoy thrillers, this book will leave you feeling anxious from start to finish.
Tracy:
Sapiens | Yuval Harari
Yuval Harari’s book Sapiens was at the top of Bill Gates’ reading list, so I put it on mine. It’s an anthropological dive into how we human beings were shaped, and the historical missteps made in how we’ve treated our fellow Sapiens throughout time. It reads like a novel as it pulls together all the breakthroughs since the beginning of the earth, allowing us to understand the downside to progress. Harari also shines a harsh light on our mastery of the mass killing of animals, pointing to the disease and inhumanity it has brought with it. Harari stops short of proselytizing veganism but I have a renewed admiration for my vegan friends.
Trish:
Joseph Anton | Salman Rushdie
Part of what I love about Salman Rushdie’s writing is the way he interweaves history, other cultures and languages and even pop culture, although I admit, I often have to stop and look things up on Google. Joseph Anton is Rushdie’s biography and was no exception. The book offers a peek behind the curtain at Rushdie’s life in hiding (after a fatwa was put on him by Ayatollah Khomeini in response to his book The Satanic Verses) and eventual freedom. It was an excellent, informative read, especially now when freedom of speech, protest and oppression are such relevant topics.
