Today, April 23, is World Book Day commemorated and created by UNESCO. World Book Day was created in order to honor the very nature of storytelling, which transports us and creates a bridge between our world and a world never before seen, all from an author's creativity and imagination.
Gaby Agbulos - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
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| Photo from Goodreads |
"Do you know what a poem is, Esther?''No, what?' I would say.'A piece of dust.'Then, just as he was smiling and starting to look proud, I would say, 'So are the cadavers you cut up. So are the people you think you're curing. They're dust as dust as dust. I reckon a good poem lasts a whole lot longer than a hundred of those people put together."
Francesca Oledan - The Selection by Keira Cass
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| Photo from Goodreads |
“It's always the fear of looking stupid that stops you from being awesome.”
Sandra Fagerstrom - Saffy's Angel by Hilary McKay
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| Photo from Amazon |
"Something in Saffron changed at that moment. She knew all about feeling left out. Ever since the afternoon she was eight and had read the paint chart in the kitchen she had known that feeling. That was why she had wanted her angel so badly; proof that she mattered as much as anyone else."
Saffy’s Angel is the first book in a series called ‘The Casson Family’, and is the starting point into a glimpse of the tumultuous life that each member of the family leads. Saffron, the main character of the book, struggles with her sense of being and belonging, something I’m sure that each and everyone of us has experienced at least once in our lives, especially as we transition from the twilight of our teenage years to the beginning of adulthood.
Saffy’s Angel was written masterfully, as even though it’s written in the third person, the sharp and precise choices of language make it seem more like a personal journal, allowing you to naturally empathize with the characters on a more personal level. The support system that the family has with each other, despite being worlds apart when it comes to their personal lives, is commendable and heartwarming. This is especially shown when they interact with each other, both in the quiet moments as well as the big, shocking events that happen between each page.
Eunice De La Cruz - Circe by Madeline Miller
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| Photo from Goodreads |
“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”
Greek mythology has always been popularly reimagined into different versions by a shedload of authors. Circe, however, is sure to give you a fresh take on the story of the Greek pantheon and its mythological creatures, as narrated from the perspective of its titular character. It's a story about Circe and her encounters with rivals and allies in the quest to discover herself and realize her capabilities. It is an intimate story of an unsure woman learning to find her voice and the willpower to live her own life. You can never go wrong with Miller's works, and Circe is one of her finest works yet.
Lei Janine De Guzman - Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
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| Photo from Goodreads |
“The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this one. He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death.”
If you’re a sucker for Greek mythology and angsty romance (ah, just my cup of tea), then this is the perfect fit for you! Madeline Miller (yes, the same author who wrote Circe) immaculately spins the classic legend of the great hero, Achilles, into a tale of fate, love, and regret. Miller completely fleshes her characters out—their misery, their perseverance, their desperation—all of which will surely pull you in. Personally, the best part of the story is growing up together with the two protagonists, from their contrasting origins to their boyish adventures, up until their ill-fated destinies. The Song of Achilles reminds us that our lives are not simply woven by prophecies and fate but also by the choices we make.
Gabrielle Busto - Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
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| Photo from Goodreads |
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”
As much as I love fiction, there is one non-fiction book that I value dearly and will never get tired of recommending. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom shares the story of the author, Mitch, and his late college professor, Morrie Schwartz. As Morrie’s life is about to end after being diagnosed with a terminal disease, he is determined to make the most out of the time left with his loved ones. Enter Mitch, now in his adult years, and is lost in life. The old duo reunites again every Tuesday to talk about life and create their last thesis together. If you want a book that will leave your heart shattered yet whole at the same time and if you are ready to bawl your eyes out, Tuesdays With Morrie is waiting for you to pick it up, ready to leave its mark on you.
Samantha Sopeña - Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
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| Photo from Goodreads |
“But though we’ll know forward and we’ve known backward, we will never know the present. This moment and the next one and even the one that would’ve been right now are gone, already passed, and all we’re left with are these tired bodies, the only proof that we’ve lived through time and survived it. It’ll be worth it though, in the end. Fighting for a lifetime of this.”
Though it may be counterproductive to recommend a book series without starting from the first one in line, trust me when I say that this book is worthy of the spotlight. Ignite Me is the last installment in the first Shatter Me trilogy, and the third installment in the Shatter Me series (having a total of six books and six novellas). This particular book perfectly does its job of closing great character arcs for the protagonists as well as further developing the antagonists, just in time for the series' continuation.
Action-fueled and packed with both romance and angst, Ignite Me makes you fall in love with each character that you root for in their relationships. As the book focuses on the completion of Juliette’s journey to take down a tyrannical government, you are given the best seat in the house as you discover more of her powers and capabilities alongside her friends and allies.
Tahereh Mafi has a way of waxing poetic language on both the most heartbreaking and heartwarming of scenes. Her writing matches perfectly with Juliette’s growth as she learns not only how to love herself, but also to allow herself to receive the love and support that other people are so willing to give her. This story is not just a great teen fantasy, but also about self-acceptance and self-discovery.
Elyana Batungbacal - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
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| Photo from Penguin House Australia |
“Isn’t it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive–it’s such an interesting world. It wouldn’t be half so interesting if we know all about everything would it?”
The timeless classic Anne of Green Gables is a well-loved novel by people of all ages. Personally, I've loved this book since I was 11 and as I grew up, I found myself coming back to reading about Anne and her wonderful adventures in Avonlea as she grows up as a plucky orphan warming up to and touching the hearts of the people she meets, to a marvelous young woman ready to see more of the world. I believe that anyone who reads this book will be enamored by Anne along with the people she uplifts with her kindred spirit. I have no doubt that reading this book will provide you with a refreshing narrative that will rekindle your love and curiosity for life and all that it has to offer.
