Hi all!
Long story short, I used to be a real book worm when I was a kid. I grew up in Romania and I used to read so much back then, classic literature and adventure-ish books, Russian literature etc. I have since moved to the UK (8 years ago) and with the unfortunate advancement in social media algorithms and me developing a borderline addiction to scrolling, it's fair to say reading has taken a seat in the back. I keep getting back into it, and falling out of it again, catching myself scrolling mindlessly.
I would really like to get back into reading and really develop my literacy more. Reading in English is obviously different to reading in Romanian, but I'd like to do both.
I'd basically like to start from the basics, with a few easy but essential reads. I love books that are poignant and emotional, where you really get attached to the characters and feel like you lived the life of the book once you finished it.
A few books I enjoyed in the past are:
– 5 people you meet in heaven: it was about a guy who died thinking his life was meaningless, but the people he met in heaven showed him the opposite
– The Book Thief : following a girl who steals books in a time the Nazis used to burn them
– Pride and Prejudice: I struggled a little bit with the old English and I feel like Austen does have a tendency to go on and on for a little bit too long but I did enjoy the story a lot
– The Idiot by Dostoyevski: I read that when I was quite a lot younger but I worry it may be a little too advanced for me at this moment, or maybe it's just intimidating because it's quite long
– Lolita: while a difficult read because of the topic I find it one of the most beautifully written books I've read (simply for the writer's skill, reading a 'romance' novel about paedophilia was quite gut wrenching but I think it's a great book despite that, or maybe because of that?).
– Sans Famille by Hector Malot was another one I really loved as a kid! Also the likes of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, but I would really like something with a female protagonist (but it's not a deal breaker at all if not)
– Fahrenheit 451 – I started reading it and loved it but never finished it!
I've heard a lot of good things about the Bronte sisters and I'd like to start reading their works. I do love a good romance story but not only. I'd love to read more feminist literature and 'character developing' books, if that makes sense?
It may be more niche but if anyone has any Romanian literature book recommendations I'd really love that! I feel like I am losing my mother tongue as I barely speak it in the UK.
Anyway, sorry for the long post. Any insight and recommendations are most welcome! Thank you all 🙂
by heat-of-the-moment-