A reader who enjoys (science fiction, dystopias, adventure/action, romance, stories about identity, mystery, fantasy, realistic fiction, sports, historical fiction, comedy, or horror)  would love this book because: …..

 

A reader who enjoys getting to learn about different experiences and critical thinking would definitely love this book because of the debatable, yet extremely interesting, story, and also because of some of the hidden symbolism that you may not notice with a first read. Overall, I think any reader would enjoy this, because of a real story - these kids aren’t superhumans from another planet. They’re just like you and me, something that I kept in mind every time I closed the book!

 

 Hope you enjoy this read like I did!

Pages: 450

The Paper Menagerie is a collection of short stories written by Ken Liu; these stories are in no particular order, and may seem like radically different science and historical fiction tales at first, but have connecting morals and symbolism (if you hunt for hidden puzzle pieces in the book, it can provide for an excellent re-read). There are several stories to choose from - The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species takes you on a fictional joyride through parts of the Universe, excitingly examining how many species ‘make books’ and pass information on to further generations. Things take a darker, more shocking turn in The Literomancer, where a Chinese-American girl with parochial views meets a man near a Taiwanese camp in the 1960, not knowing his Communist background. An Advanced Reader's Picture Book of Comparative Cognition, no matter how strange it seems, is a father's way of teaching his son about love - all, of course, while the Earth is dying (Liu had to, right?). So, what exactly are the “morals and symbolism” behind this? That’s for you to find out.

A reader who enjoys plunging into short science-fiction, historical-fiction, and mythical stories would love this book because of how easily you are sucked into an extremely detailed spiel, and also because of the several aliens, solar sails, samurai, black holes and moving origami (in short - really cool beans)! If you’re a scavenger of hidden details, philosophies, and symbolism - you’re in luck, because as mentioned, there’s a lot of that in store as well. 

Enjoy reading these!

Pages: 152

Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, is a read about a young man and his spiritual journey, and how the people he met and the places he went to affected his heresies and behavior in so many ways. The novel takes place during the time of Gotama Buddha and his enlightenment; the plot revolving around that event. Enter Siddhartha - a boy who is thought of very highly by family, friends, and community alike, but is very cynical and curious about his surroundings and the meaning of life. His desires to become a Samana, or a wandering ascetic, worry his parents due to the amounts of patience and sacrifice required, but ultimately, Siddhartha’s quest for peace pushes him and his friend Govinda into following the Samana ways. They end up leaving home, but separate when Govinda discovers the Buddha and his practices; none end up becoming Samanas. Siddhartha follows his own path and meets new people - a merchant, a woman, a ferryman, even Govinda shows up - and his thoughts and change of perspective on love, foolishness, suicide, and religion provide for an incredible read. I won’t talk about the rest of the book, as Siddhartha's final decision - a culmination of his many thoughts - truly is amazing.

A reader who enjoys simple yet eye-opening books, historical fiction, or just a short, two-sitting read would like this book because of an interesting story (with interesting characters too) that is short and smart, that also teaches a lesson at the end - the whole story is about finding true peace in life, amidst mixed opinions about meditation, religion, and the modern concept of ‘the good life’ which many have come to terms with.

Pages: 384

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, is a science fiction brimming with so many pop culture references and Easter Eggs that even after the six years of its release, Cline says fans haven't found all of them! The story is set on our dying Earth in the year 2044, where 18-year-old Wade Watts spends almost all of his time in the OASIS, a virtual reality headset, that allows him to live in a universe full of planets based off of video games, music, and television of the 80s. One day, when the creator of the headset dies, he leaves his extravagant wealth - and control of his company - in one 'Easter Egg' hidden inside OASIS. Several 'gunters' (truncated 'egg hunters') begin deeply analyzing clues and hints given by the creator, for over five years. And when Wade, known as Parzival in-game, finally deciphers the first clue, the race begins; this lands Wade with other intelligent players, and also a lucrative, super evil company hellbent on obtaining that fortune. What happens next? Perfect Pac-Man scores, Stargates, DJ wizards with zero-grav dancefloors, antimatter bombs, and even Mechagodzilla. You heard that last one right.

A reader who enjoys science-fiction, adventure and pop-culture will love this book because of the diverse, rich, and ultimately relatable references that each page of the book is full of. Regardless of your age or knowledge on the topics and several cool games, music, and shows, there will be something to explore, learn and laugh at for everybody. It also teaches valuable lessons about friendship, love, and how to beat a game of Joust more easily. 

I hid a reference in this post, actually. Can you find it?

The Stranger is a fiction story that narrates the live of a young, french man who is accused of murder. It starts with him receiving a telegram informing the news of his mother's death. After attending the funeral, he realizes that his life is meaningless and decides to make a change. He hops on the next bus to the beach and stays there with a friend, who later reveals that he's in trouble. In order to help his friends, he takes his gun and shots the man responsible of his friend's agony. At his trial, the court seems to be more interested in Meursault's lack of grief over his mother's death than the actually crime. Awaiting for whatever would happen to him, he struggles to understand what went wrong in his life and what would he had done differently if he had a second chance.  

A reader who enjoys mystery and dark humor will love this book. The main character has a way of making everything, no matter how good or bad, seem dark and atrocious even when he tries to look at the bright side of life. It's also a short read with relatively easy vocabulary that has you entertained from the first sentence.  

Black ice narrates the story of Britt Pfeiffer and her backpack trip to the mountains. Everything seemed perfect until her ex-boyfriend is forced to go in order to protect his sister, who is accompanying Britt on her adventure. Before Korbie and Britt are able to arrive to the cabin, they are surprised by an unexpected blizzard that forces them to seek for shelter in the woods. After hours of walking, they discover a small house with two handsome occupants who gladly invite them in; these two gentlemen are fugitives and take them as hostages. In exchange for her life, Britt decides to guide them out of the mountains but with the promise that they will let her friend go. They start walking but as they go, Britt finds alarming clues to a series of murders that hadn't been solved in months; all the evidence pointing to the kidnappers. As she unravels the mysteries, Britt realizes that she may be the next target.  Will she be able to escape? Will the kidnappers kill her once they don't need her?

 

Anyone who enjoys mystery, survival/adventure and a bit of romance will love this book. It's filled with detail that allows the reader to feel inside the story.

Sexta Galeria relata la historia basada en eventos reales de cinco mineros que quedan atrapados en un derrumbe. Sin comida, con muy poca agua y con luz limitada se disponen a hacer todo lo posible por sobrevivir hasta que la ayuda llegue. Sin embargo, sus planes se ven arruinados cuando uno de los mineros está en su lecho de muerte y no hay mucho que los demás puedan hacer por él. Para agregar más al desastre, sus recursos de agua se agotan rápidamente y la desperación invade la mente de cada uno de los personajes. Álvaro, el personajes principal, tiene que guardar la calma y esconder sus miedos para mantener al equipo unido aunque sus oportunidades de salir con vida de la mina disminuyen con el paso de los días. 

A las personas que les gusten los libros basados en eventos reales, el misterio y la supervivencia les va a encantar esta historia. Mientras el relato transcurre, la desesperación aumenta y no sólo para los personajes, sino también para los lectores. 

A las personas que disfruten leer al escrito Ruiz Zafón y el misterio les va a encantar este libro. Tiene giros inesperados en el transcurso de la historia que te mantienen entretenido todo el tiempo. 

El superviviente narra la historia de un cirujano, que después de un accidente en su crucero es capaz de llegar a una isla desierta. Empieza a escribir un diario para pasar el rato mientras espera a ser rescatado. Conforme pasan los días, el hombre se empieza a volver loco y a tomar decisiones perturbadoras con tal de sobrevivir. En un punto, se corta su pie y decide utilizarlo como alimento con el simple hecho de no tener que cazar pájaros. 

Este es el libro adecuado para las personas que les guste la supervivencia y desesperación. Además, es un cuento corto pero muy interesante.