Top 10 Favorite Books
Since elementary school, I’ve been an avid reader. I was the type of kid who took books with me to the bathroom (still do sometimes, to be honest) and hid them under the covers to read long past my bedtime. I believe that one of the many joys in life is curling up with a good book for hours and satisfyingly reflecting on it after you’ve turned the last page. I barely had time to read during high school, but I reignited my interest during college undergrad and I’m so glad I made time for it. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon some amazing recent reads, some of which were recommended to me from followers on Instagram. I’ve read quite a few in the last few years, so I’d like to share some of my favorites. As a disclaimer, I also feel compelled to add that most of these books are recommended for mature audiences only (ages 17 and up).
1. City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty
I found this book while perusing the shelves of a local bookstore. I saw the cover, which depicts the back view of a veiled woman standing amidst the silhouettes of buildings reminiscent of Islamic architecture. I picked it up and read the summary on the side pocket of the cover, and was immediately intrigued when I read mentions of Cairo, jinn, and politics. The story is about a con artist and thief named Nahri, who accidentally summons a jinn during one of her scams. She then gets whisked away into the hidden jinn city of Daevabad, and finds herself submerged into the kingdom’s politics and looming civil war. I fell in love with the characters and the complex fantasy world-building, and I loved the references to Islamic history and lore. It felt like I was reading a book meant for me. Needless to say, I devoured it very quickly and then did the same for the sequel. The third book of the trilogy comes out this year in June 2020 and I can’t wait! For more information on the book, click the following link to the author’s website: https://www.sachakraborty.com/
2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
This book was recommended by my Instagram followers, and I’m so glad I gave it a try. Throne of Glass is an epic fantasy series about a notorious underground assassin journeying to unknowingly become the savior of her kingdom. The plot twists were amazingly well-thought out, and I loved the character development, witty banter, reluctant heroism, enemies to lovers tropes, and epic battles. Even side characters were fleshed out pretty well in the story. I don’t understand how Sarah J Maas was able to think of such a far-reaching and extensive plot packed into one epic 8-book story like this. Best of all, the conclusion was so satisfying. This is one of those series that I often think about even when reading other books, and I can’t recommend this enough. For more information, visit the author’s website: https://sarahjmaas.com/
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses
This is another series written by the same author previously mentioned. It’s a YA fantasy series with a dark spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. There’s lots of great character development, enemies to lovers tropes (and vice versa), and jaw-dropping plot twists. The story is about a huntress named Feyre, who was hunting in the woods and shot a wolf, who just so happens to be a mystical Fae being. This triggers a whole series of events that entwines her within the dangerous world of the Fae.
4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This isn’t a recent read, but it’s definitely a classic that’s on my favorite-books-of-all-time list. I’m also well aware that most young adult Muslims have probably read this already. Nevertheless I believe this heartbreaking book is a must-read for everyone (of the appropriate age). If you haven’t read this yet, know that this book is set during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 20th century, and it contains themes of war, grief, romance, and survival. It’s told from the perspective of two Afghani women whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. I would definitely give this a trigger warning however, for its mature themes of sexual violence and assault against women. It’s a very tragic story overall and it’s sure to be a tearjerker for anyone. Despite the tragic story elements, I’ve read this book multiple times (rereading books is something I rarely do unless it’s that good), and I would recommend any of Khaled Hosseini’s books as well.
5. Habibi (Graphic Novel) by Craig Thompson
This isn’t a conventional novel, but still an amazing read. I stumbled upon this book while perusing graphic novels at the bookstore, and my eyes were drawn to the Arabic title. It’s rare to come across a book referencing the Middle East, especially in a graphic novels section filled with DC and Marvel comics. I was shocked when I pulled it out. It’s a thick book with beautifully illustrated panels and a tragic love story set in a fictional middle eastern world. There were several pages with meticulous Arabic calligraphy and references from the Quran. I was also shocked further when I discovered that the illustrator and writer was white. Craig Thompson masterfully delves into the world of the Middle East as though he was a native. I felt so seen and heard while reading this graphic novel, and I ended up buying it. It’s one of my most precious books in my personal library. If you’re looking to enter the graphic novel world (or if you’ve already dabbled and would like to extend your reading list), I would highly recommend reading Habibi for its beautiful illustrations and rich storytelling.
Honorable Mentions:
6. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson: a fictional book that combines discourse on modern technology with the mystical world if jinn. What’s not to love?
7. The Poppy War by R.F Kuang: a dark, gritty, and tragic trilogy combining Chinese mythology with true historical events.
8. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard: a modern fantasy series with elemental powers, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and plot twists.
9. Steal Like an Artist (Non-Fiction) by Austin Kleon: an amazing read that offers a quirky perspective on creativity and finding your niche.
10. Show Your Work (Non-Fiction) by Austin Kleon: the sequel to “Steal Like an Artist” that takes you a step further in the creative process.
Your turn- what do you recommend?
I’m always on the lookout for some great books to add to my reading list, so feel free to drop some recs in the comments below so we can all take notes :)