I've been reading since I was about 3, and I've always loved it. So it goes without saying that I've probably read hundreds of books in my life so far. I've delved into countless worlds, met thousands of fictional - and sometimes even not so fictional - characters, and experienced more adventures than I can remember, all from the safety and comfort of my home. But out of a sea of great - and not so great - literary pieces that I have read, there are some stories that have proved the test of time, ones that contain themes or resolutions which have planted themselves in my subconscious and, above all, ones that I highly recommend you check out.
Okay, no more beating about the bush; here's a list of six books that I can safely say are some of my absolute favourites:
1. My Sister Jodie - Jacqueline Wilson
Let's start off with my all-time favourite children's/middle grade novel. Jacqueline Wilson is an author I tended to gravitate towards whenever I used to go to the library, but My Sister Jodie is a story that has stayed with my throughout all the ensuing years. It's the story of a girl who idolises her sister, aspiring to be just like her. But the two have to face a huge change when their parents take a new job at a boarding school, causing them to have to tag along. Highly, highly recommend it to any preteens - or anyone, honestly - who are in need of a heart-wrenchingly beautiful novel to pick up.
2. Il-Fiddien Series - Simon Bartolo & Loranne Vella
Admittedly, I don't read nearly as much in Maltese as I should, but I had to include this series because it is definitely a hidden gem. This is another one for younger readers, but it's been so long since I read it that I'd definitely still be up for a reread any day. The fantasy elements paired with the mystery and creepiness of it all is a vibe I still get just by thinking about this series. This award-winning series is definitely one to check out if you want to support a couple of local writers!
3. The Falconer's Knot - Mary Hoffman
As the subtitle perfectly describes, this story is one of "friars, flirtation and foul play". If you've seen the 2006 Spanish-American movie Goya's Ghosts, it's very much on the same wavelength in terms of plot and themes. The story is set in a monastery, one in which strange happenings have been taking place. When blood is shed, it's up to the inhabitants to find out who's responsible - with the help of two royals disguised as novices.
4. The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
Do I really need to explain myself when it comes to this one? I'm currently rereading this one, and yes, the story continues to take my breath away with every flip of a page. The writing is wonderful, too, which makes me appreciate it ever more!
5. The Divergent Series - Veronica Roth
As a contemporary sci-fi classic, I feel like Divergent tends to be a bit underrated. The premise is one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about, and the dystopian world is also beautifully crafted. Unpopular opinion: the final book is my favourite...
6. The Night Villa - Carol Goodman
It makes me sad that I never hear anyone talking about this book, but let me tell you, I absolutely fell in love with Carol Goodman because of it. Her writing is exceptional, and having been to Italy last year, I truly felt like the Italian setting of the novel was brought to life. I've been recommending this book to people whenever I get the chance, so it goes without saying that it's become one of my most recent favourites.
If you ever had to ask me for a book recommendation, I'd probably mention one of the above six. Each one of them is breathtaking in its own unique way, and if it were up to me I'd have you read them all... but for now, I hope this blog post has intrigued you enough to at least pick up one of these masterpieces.
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