Summer Readings and Reviews
There’s nothing quite like summer reading, is there?
One of the most enriching activities one can do during the vacations is reading. This summer, I had the pleasure of reading several works of literature that have left a lasting impression on me. From timeless romances of Shakespeare to the chilling dystopia of Orwell. These books have broadened my horizons inordinately and provided invaluable insight into the human conditions. Hence, I’ll be discussing the only four most impactful books I read this summer.
First off is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. I confess to having read the play several times, but it really feels like one discovers something new each time. It is a tale of star-crossed lovers whose devotion to one another is tragically cut short by their feuding families. As I read the play, I was struck by its themes of youthful impulsiveness and emotional depth. It’s a wonderful satire that left me thinking about not just infatuation, but ego and the naivety of humankind.
Next up the list is Emma by Jane Austen. It’s a delightful exploration of the complexities of human feelings and the dangers of presuming to know what’s best for others. Our protagonist is the fascinating but rather pompous Emma Woodhouse who tries to orchestrate the relationships of those around her. The book, along with being a romance, is a journey to humility and self-discovery that I would recommend any day.
The third book is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (also my favourite author). The book uses my favourite trope of the unreliable narrator who meticulously leave clues that had me second guessing everything until the very end. It’s so much more than a whodunit, it’s a profound exploration of human perception and deception. One of Christie’s best works, I should say.
Lastly is the much darker 1984 by George Orwell. It’s a chilling and prophetic vision of totalitarian future. The novel’s depiction of the society under constant surveillance under the omnipresent Big Brother was bone chilling. It discussed the most unnatural erosion of individual freedom and made me realise the delicacy of the human psyche. It gave me a new outlook on the way our minds work and how we as humans, naturally ache for freedom.
These four books, vastly different in genre and style have broadened my understanding of the power of literature to captivate, challenge and transform. I would wholeheartedly encourage others to give these literary masterpieces a try themselves. And who knows? Maybe your outlook on the world may never be the same again.
By: Layaan Sheema Shamaun | IGCSE- II from Sandilands campus Sialkot.
