John Sun’s MUST READs
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
White Teeth is a contemporary novel that tells the multigenerational story of several families. The book opens with Archie Jones trying to commit suicide and one would wonder just exactly where this story will go. Archie Jones is best friends with Samad Iqbal and throughout the book, we will see their past, present, and future (their children). The book actually focuses on their children: Irie (Archie’s daughter) and Magid and Millat (Samad’s twin boys). It all boils down to one big theme: how their parent’s past affect their lives. The book can really get you thinking about how your own parents’ past affected you.
In the opening pages, the reader can see Smith’s unique narrative. Smith deals with every subject in a sarcastic tone, whether it’s death, drugs, war, nothing escapes Smith’s cynicism. However, it is clear that the narrative is not meant to be degrading because one can find truth in her sarcasm and that’s what’s most hypnotizing about her narrative. Through this unique narrative, Smith explores a range of serious topics: sexism, religion, racism, self-identity, assimilation, science, and many more. What Smith does well is that she manages to keep her own opinions on said topics out of the story so the reader can form his/her own opinions. Because there are so many topic covered, anyone can find a piece himself/herself in this book. It’s almost like life, typed up and bounded.
Smith draws the reader in with her plot progression and character development. By the end of the book, you would feel like you’ve known all the characters all your life. The narration is raw and simple and it is an easy read (although the onslaught of small-font words packed on a page can be intimidating). The book can be read many ways, whether it’s for a deep analytical English class or a simple literary journey, White Teeth is a great read.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
The novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is about Oscar de Léon, an obese Dominican-American boy growing up in New Jersey, who does not fit in at all. This novel is also the story of an unlikely hero who is ready to throw everything aside just to find love- something that he thinks is pure and untainted. However, because he is an overweight nerd in love with science fiction, fantasy, and role playing games, he is very different from the rest of his own Hispanic community. In a sense, he is alienated and has fallen victim to the limited views of those around him. Ultimately, he comes to the conclusion that he just needs to find love in order to be successful and happy.
At the same time, much of the story also revolves around his family and how it is cursed by fukú, a curse that originated from the time of when Christopher Columbus bought over people to America in the 1400′s. Fukú has plagued his family and generations.
I definitely recommend this book. Not only is the plot line very exciting, but the author, Junot Diaz is also very funny. He keeps the reader entertained with his hilarious footnotes, occasional Spanish, and science fiction references.
Election by Tom Perrotta
The novel Election by Tom Perrotta is about a high school election. Tracy Flick is an ambitious overachiever who is running unopposed for her high school election. She is very unpopular and her fellow classmates view her as perfect. At the same time, however, she did something that clashed with her image—she had a sexual affair with a former teacher at her school. This affair ruined his career as well as his marriage. Because of this, a teacher at her school who was good friends with the other teacher with the affair manages to convince a popular football player named Paul Warren to run against Tracy Flick for the position of president of their school. He did this because of his strong dislike for Tracy Flick. After this happens, Paul’s sister, Tammy, who has always felt overshadowed by her brother, decides to run for president as well. She does this after her best friend, who she also has a crush on, starts dating Paul.
The novel chronicles the election– both the process and the outcome. The plot line is very gripping and the reader will never be able to guess who wins the election until the very end. In addition, it is full of surprises and leaves the reader with a surprising moral. The novel is full of typical high school stereotypes. However it is because of this that makes this book such a good and quick read. It helps people reminisce about their high school experience as it gives such realistic portrayals of people that can be found in a high school environment.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
This book is characterized by the unique writing style of Arundhati Roy, which adds a different flavor to the reading. While Roy’s background as a female writer influences the theme, the book’s unifying idea captures a broken India torn up by the incoming British colonies. The book reveals much of the internal chaos in an India family initiated by the arriving Sophie Mol; which is not much different from India’s internal conflict from the arrival of British mercenaries. The book is told from the view of two twins growing up, and progressed as the twins witnessed a series of unfortunate event happening to the family. As Estha and Rachel grown to adults, Roy constantly whiplashes between now and twin’s childhood. In this manner, Roy was able to show a sharp contrast between past and present.
Inside The God of Small Things, Roy also depicted an intricate social hierarchy for women. In the normal India rankings, a man outranks women of same age. But even between women, those who are married have a higher status than divorced. And Ammu, the twin’s mother, had the lowest status in her society. I think Roy as a female writer in India also felt somewhat influenced by the social injustice.
I recommend this particular book as an excellent selection from Ms. Chan’s Late British class. Out of the three books Ms.Chan went over during the term (Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart, and The God of Small Things), this one was my personal favorite. Due to my own Chinese heritage and family conflicts, I was able to relate and learn deep insight from the book.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe + Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
These two books go hand in hand with each other. For this purpose, I will do an analysis on both at the same time. Though the two books are essentially the opposite of each other, they each show a different side of the same situation. As a native to Africa, Chinua Achebe emphasized the humane and culture rich side of Africa in Things Fall Apart, while Joseph Conrad wrote in the view of the incoming British colonist, who viewed the natives as savages and cannibalistic characters.
In Heart of Darkness, Marlow as a sailor coming to Africa explored and met a variety of different people. Among those he met, he thought of them of untrustworthy; except one person, named Kurtz, who was rumor to be great and famous. The colonist had called Kurtz a “genius” and “skilled”. Eventually Marlow was able to meet Kurtz in person when he brought the sick Kurtz on board, and Marlow begin to see all the great qualities that natives and colonist had described. Finally the story comes to an end when Kurtz blurt out “The horror! The horror!” before he died. And the book ends with the ship going back home and into the heart of darkness.
However, Achebe wrote a direct response to Conrad description of Africa. While Conrad’s book involved the attack and raid of the native settlers, Achebe’s book describe the special culture and bond of the native people. Inside the novel, there was constant theme of the struggle between change and tradition, the masculinity of Okonkwo in question, and the will to strive inside one’s social circumstance.
After learning about the other side of the “savage natives”, I felt that there can always be another side of a story. And since Achebe’s book was written after Conrad’s, Achebe probably wanted to prove this side of African’s life and give the general public a different view. I would recommend reading both books together, not only to get a sense of the British colonial era but be able to open your mind to different views.
Lord of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
This is a book that has made some serious impact on the modern mythology and game theories. It means that many of the modern concepts of mythical creatures such as trolls, elf, wizard and even golem are based upon the imagination of J. R. R. Tolkien. I came upon this world of magic from leisure reading. I recommend anyone who is even remotely interested in such field to read this book, the one that started it all.
What Tolkien made with his ink and imagination wasn’t just simply another story. His strenuous effort over the course of a few years became a construction of a whole new world filled with magic. The shroud of mystery casted over “Middle Earth” has kept me entertained from beginning to end. Readers will find Tolkien’s version to be different and even better than the famous movie made by Peter Jackson. I was kept on my toe from the first word of the book all the way to the end, never bored once.
This book tells a journey of an unfortunate hobbit who needs to destroy the ring of evil. The ring possesses great power to inflict greed and evil onto its wearer, but also empowering them with unbelievable strength along with invisibility. The ring was owned by the dark lord originally but upon the downfall of the Dark Lord, the ring slowly found its way to an most surprising host, the hobbit Frodo. Now the Dark Lord rose to power once again, Frodo must destroy the ring to prevent another reign of evil. Faced with many peril and a race against time, Frodo will have to find courage within himself.
This book as a whole is fascinating and will bring the reader onto an unforgettable journey. It has provided a escape for me from all the daily things in life.
Book recommendations by Stuyvesant students for Stuyvesant students and readers around the world. Also known as Stuy Bookshelf/Book Box. Submissions are open—click on register below!