No. 17 – A recommendation
The reading list / Sara Nisha Adams
Things just got meta: I read a book titled The Reading List for my reading list.
This book was recommended to me by my colleague and fellow librarian, E. As you might imagine, E and I talk books A Lot and recommend titles to each other all the time, and while she has the courage to join a book club, I stick to my trusted reading challenge.
This book was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to tell you about it, so here goes.
The Reading List takes place in Wembley, London, where different members of the community find themselves thrown into reading, after finding a list of book titles.
Main characters are Mukesh and Aleisha. Mukesh is a grieving widower, trying to find his readjusted place within his family, and society in general. Aleisha is a teenage girl, who landed herself a summer job at the local library branch despite not liking reading. She lives at home with an older brother and a mother who has mental health issues. Her mother’s illness is a huge stress factor for Aleisha and her brother, although they both refuse to acknowledge that. It’s Aleisha’s brother who suggested she work at the library, because he did one summer and loved it and is convinced she will too.
One day at work, Aleisha finds a list of book titles that was stuck between the pages of a returned book and with lack of anything better to do, she starts reading the first book on the list: To Kill a Mockingbird.
Simultaneously, Mukesh finds a library book his late wife forgot to return, and starts reading it to feel closer to her. The Time Traveller’s Wife resonates with him and he decides to read more. So, he goes to the library where Aleisha suggests he reads To Kill a Mockingbird.
Because she never read much, she has no other books to recommend to patrons and after the success of the first book on the list, she continues with the next.
Rebecca first freaks out Aleisha, then Mukesh. And one after the other they get to experience the emotional rollercoaster that is The Kite Runner.
It’s wonderful to read about people discovering the joys of reading. It’s even better when they are reading and talking about books you have read yourself.
Aleisha and Mukesh don’t just start reading, they start stepping out of their comfort zones: Mukesh hesitantly goes out again, meets up with old friends and makes new ones. Aleisha takes off her headphones and connects with the people she sees around.
When Mukesh’ daughters start mingling in his private live, he imagines them as the Bennet sisters. He channels his inner Atticus Finch when a friend is going through a tough time, trying his best to find the right words for the situation. He reminds himself that if Pi could survive on a boat with a tiger, he will survive organizing a gathering for friends. Aleisha wants to become a lawyer and is in awe of Atticus Finch. She also discovers that reading out loud to her mother not only has a calming effect on her mother, but it also helps create a connection they haven’t felt in years.
Aleisha and Mukesh’ chapters are mixed with chapters about other people, all finding the same reading list throughout the years.
The further along the story gets, the less attention there is for the books on the list, especially near the end, and I had a hard time remembering which the last two books on the list were (Beloved and A Suitable Boy).
Despite the somewhat rushed feeling of the ending, this book is a joy. It’s about reading, libraries, friendships and love. Do not expect a fluffy book though, as it packs some punches and although those punches can be seen coming, they still hit hard.
All in all, The Reading List is a warm and wonderful read and I heartily pass on the recommendation.
Bookworm in the City 