There’s nothing better than sitting on a beach in Malta or Gozo with a good book by your side.
The summer months in Malta are long - giving you ample time to bask on the beach, soaking up the sun and digging your toes into the sand. This year, instead of staring into the abyss, why not dig your teeth into a good read?
You may think that flicking through the pages of a novel may be a bit much for the beach, but not all books require the effort it may take to read The Canterbury Tales. Some novels or novellas allow you to blissfully sink into a world of wonder. The five listed below are among my own personal favourites for the summer.
The Life of Pi
If you’re looking to jump into a world of fantasy where the imagination completely takes over, convincing you that the sentences you are reading are in fact true - The Life of Pi is the novel for you. Written by Yann Martel and published in 2011; this odd piece of fiction will elevate your summer to a magical season where anything is possible. Picture this - you’re lost at sea, rocking on a tiny boat with a tiger, a zebra, a hyena and a few other zoo animals. If that doesn’t trigger your imaginative muse; I don’t know what will.
The Collector
John Fowles is one of my favourite authors. The rest of his collection is worth a read, but if for some odd reason you’ll be limiting yourself to one, then it has to be The Collector. It’s hard to give an overview of the synopsis without being biased, so I’ll share the emotions it evoked instead. Read this book if you want to experience shock, hatred, utter confusion, a touch of admiration, swarms of hope and a few instances of resistance - a myriad of emotions as seen from both the protagonists’ eyes. Part 1 is seen from Frederick Clegg’s point of view while the second part is told by Miranda Grey; his prisoner.
The Help
More than a good read, The Help is a great American novel that acquired publishing rights in 2009. Kathryn Stockett wanted her readers to understand the dynamics of a 1960s Mississippi household through the eyes of the African American house staff that tended a white home. Apart from the obvious racial implications to this book; there are many instances that show hope; especially by means of the younger characters. Power and courage soar through this book with the famous quote, “You is smart, you is kind, you is important”, most definitely encapsulating the spirit of the novel.
Roald Dahl’s Collection of Short Stories
If I were told to read the work of one one writer; Roald Dahl would make the final cut. His versatility, imagination and downright wackiness inspire me to read more, write more and dream more. If you’re looking to get a taste of this great author’s style of writing, your best bet is to get hold of his Collection of Short Stories. Compiling the oddest ideas imaginable - there’s one entitled The Sound Machine where a device tunes in on the miniscule sounds uttered by living plants, another called Lamb to the Slaughter - in my opinion, the best written short story; that I will leave unexplained. Grab a mojito, grab a deckchair and head to the nearest sandy beach with this collection in hand.
Lord of the Flies
What a read. The first time I read this book was actually on the hot sand of Golden Bay, I devoured it in about three hours and my sunburnt skin was proof of that. The Nobel Prize winning novel was written by William Golding - a British writer whose efforts made it to the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list. The story unfolds when a group of British boys are left stranded on a desert island; where they are forced to source their food, build their own shelter and create laws and systems for the stranded to live by. Although this is a book about children, it doesn't necessarily mean it was intended for children. The episodes that take place in their new home are tragic but nonetheless riveting.
A handful of books to keep your summer inspired. Enjoy the reads and don’t forget your sunscreen!