Books of the Week

Today's books of the week are recommended by 5EN.A.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Recommended by Nico Mahoney Velez

I chose this book because it is a classic story about fairness, kindness, and growing up in injustice. It was recommended to me, and I wanted to read about how a small town deals with racism and justice during the 1930s. 

The central character is Atticus Finch who is calm, patient, and always tries to do what is right, even when other people disagree. For example, he defends Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of hurting a white woman, even though the whole town is against him. The book is written in a simple, honest way because it’s told in the first person, through the eyes of Scout, Atticus's daughter. Throughout the novel, the reader sees the world from her point of view, and the story really stays with you, because it is written from her perspective, and we see how her honesty can change people: for instance, for instance, when the crowd attack the jail where Tom Robinson is being held, and her innocent kindness reminds the adults to act like human beings. 

The author mixes serious issues with everyday life — like school, family arguments, and funny moments with Scout's brother, Jem, and their friend, Dill. It feels real and personal, not like a lecture. I would recommend this to anyone who likes stories about growing up, kindness, justice, and seeing the world from someone else’s point of view.

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Recommended by Kamran Salmanpour

Set in a dystopian future, Burgess's novel focusses on Alex, a teenage gang leader, who becomes a test subject for an experiment in thought control. I thought it was a really interesting concept and it really took me by surprise. It explores ideas about whether or not it's better to choose good, or to have good forced upon you. 

The style is radical and unconventional, as it's written in a different language (nadsat: a street slang the novel's teenage characters speak). Although the language is slightly confusing at first, the reader picks it up quickly. There was nothing to criticise about this book, and I would recommend it to people who like crazy and interesting concepts, and don't mind violence.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel 

Recommended by Siddharth Raj Krishnamurthy

I chose this book because I wanted to read a book about the animal world and its connection with humans. Through the story of Pi's life before and after the shipwreck, Life of Pi explores the definition of family and the nature of animals. 

Particularly important is the story of the tiger, 'Richard Parker': Pi's relationship with him is vital to his survival, to the extent that he almost considers him as 'family', but he must train the tiger to recognise him as the alpha male. This is a tense process that highlight's Pi's bravery, and the descriptions of hunting - both by Pi, and by the tiger - are very gruesome and quite disturbing. The style of the novel is casual and conversational, and it should appeal to readers who enjoy survival stories at sea, adventure stories and stories about animals.


Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

Recommended by Issam Abou Zaki

After reading novels such as Brave New World and Animal Farm, I felt that this book would interest me further as it focuses on a dystopian civilisation. I also was interested as it was written during the beginning of the Cold War, so I felt that it would be an insight into fears and propaganda at that time.

The concept of rebelling against the government through privileges that people can take for granted (such as freedom of speech or writing a book) was particularly interesting. I also found the parallels to modern day life fascinating, with cameras all around us (from our devices), emulating that sense of 'always watching' found in Nineteen Eighty-Four through the telescreens in every room. 

The novel is gripping, with some intriguing plot twists, and themes of rebellion and destruction of hope, along with an attack of regimes that attempt to be 'eternal'. I would recommend it to people interested in books about lives in alternative forms of civilisation, and anyone who is keen on dystopian fiction.

Many thanks to Nico, Kamran, Siddarth and Issam for their recommendations.