It is time to buy presents. Sometimes, it is hard to choose the perfect gift. Even more so, if we do not have a big budget and we have too many people in our lives. I love to read; I like to share my favorite books with the people I love the most. Actually, my library is full of novels my friends gave me on an important date.
Books have the quality to say a lot about ourselves, and about our loved ones. Giving a book is to open a new world, to show a different point of view, to open our hearts to the person who is receiving our present.
I share with you six novels I love, and I have used as presents in the past (and in the future).
1. “A Hundred Years of Solitude.”
Facebook: A Hundred Years of Solitude.
"A Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of the most important novels of 20th century. Actually, it is Bill Clinton's favorite book which is not a surprise because this novel is an icon of world literature.
This book is the story of Buendia's family who recently moved and established in the fictional "Macondo." The rest is the story of a few generations of Buendias and their stories of love, ambition, politics and many mistakes. It could sound too simplistic, but "A Hundred Years of Solitude" is everything but simply (it is perfect). There is no way you go bad with this novel.
2. “East of Eden.”
Facebook: Eas of Eden.
"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck is another masterpiece of literature. The message of this novel is amazing; in my case, it is unforgivable. "East of Eden" is the story of Adam and his two sons, and it is the story of Hamilton's family.
Adam who lives in the US at the beginning of 20th century is a remembrance of the story of the first man in the world (according to the Bible). On the other hand, the Hamiltons are a funny and happy family where Steinbeck shows us part of his childhood and own family. This novel is the best way to give something meaningful.
3. “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.”
Facebook: Perfume.
"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" by Patrick Süskind is one of the best books I've ever read. It is the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, an orphan who lives in Paris in the 18th century. The best part is how all the culture and industry of perfumes are described in its pages.
As soon as you start reading "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" you cannot stop it. There is a movie adaptation by Dustin Hoffman which is pretty good, but like always the novel is better.
4. “Death on the Nile.”
Facebook: Death on the Nile.
"Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie is a classic of mystery, detective and suspense novel. I am a big fan of Christie; I've read many of her books, and this is one of my favorites. Her most famous detective character "Hercule Poirot" is on vacation in Egypt when a crime happens. Believe, "Death on the Nile" has the best end ever; it is an authentic surprise. This book is more for somebody does not like complicated and long novels.
5. “1984.”
Facebook: 1984.
"1984" by George Orwell is, according to The "New York Times," a must read today. The story is a futurist story placed in England in 1984 (it was published in 1984 that is the reason for the futurist adjective).
I do not want to spoil the story, but I promise you will weirdly identify with it.
6. “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
Facebook: A Song of Ice and Fire.
All of us know and watch the TV show "Game of Thrones." This show is based on the bestseller "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin. "A Song of Ice and Fire" is a series of seven novels. So far, Martin has published five of them.
If you think something like "I watched already the show, I don't need to read the book," you are wrong. The books are even better than the show. Actually, some plots and characters are not the same in the books as on TV.
Next year, we are going to know the destiny of Westeros in the season finale. Then, it is the perfect present for any fan who is feeling this sadness because the show is ending. The good news is Martin has not published the last two novels. We are expecting the sixth one will be on the market in 2019.
Books are the perfect present for many reasons: entertainment, culture, new worlds and they are perfect for small budgets.
