Bookbibuli

Scythe, written by Neil Shusterman, is a book which makes you think, which is perhaps the highest praise that a person can levy upon a book. The English is clear, and lucid, and the concepts created by a mind which seems capable of thinking. The book is about a world where no one dies, except for those who are chosen by the Scythedom, whose entire job, is to ‘glean’ people. For such a morbid idea, it is magnificently well executed, and by the end, leaves you in love with the word.

George's Grandma is a grizzly, grumpy, selfish old woman with pale brown teeth and a small puckered up mouth like a dog's bottom. Four times a day she takes a large spoonful of medicine, but it doesn't seem to do her any good. She's always just as poisonous after she's taken it as she was before. When George is left to look after her one morning, it's just the chance he needs.

This is about real witches. Real witches don't ride around on broomsticks. They don't even wear black cloaks and hats. They are vile, cunning, detestable creatures who disguise themselves as nice, ordinary ladies. So how can you tell when you're face to face with one? Well, if you don't know yet you'd better find out quickly-because there's nothing a witch loathes quite as much as children and she'll wield all kinds of terrifying powers to get rid of them.

Matilda, is one of Roald Dahl’s best. Leaving the wonderfully clever and mischievous characters of Matilda aside. The book has all of Dahl’s trademark wit, and wordplay, alongside some of his best and most recognisable characters. Ranging from the Trunchbull, to Miss Honey, the book has some of Dahl’s worst and best characters, alongside as much humour as you would like. While some of its subject matter might be considered sombre, and their are parts of the book, where you feel awful for certain characters. Dahl’s and Matilda’s thirst for revenge ensures that you never feel wronged for long, and satisfaction is never long in coming.

The blunt pencil, a book of poems from a 17 year old. Srishti Ganguli is a reader, a writer, a podcast host, an astronomer and an aspiring astrophysicist. Published in 2023, it is a short book of poems. Poems touching some of the disturbing malaise of the society, really hard-hitting treatise on the problems of the society which we have become numb to. Get ready to be jolted out of that slumber, you will be forced to ponder, and you might even decide to act.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society is the smoothest of books. As easily read as any other, and with superb language, concepts and characters. It flow superbly, and its ability to astound is never in doubt. The epistolary form of writing compliments its story perfectly, and the vividness of it is glorious. It is a romantic, funny, sad, and sharply written book, which is immensely rereadable.

The Night Diary, is a blast from the past, a remembrance of the bloody history of India, casued due to religion. It shows the worst side of humanity, with all of its flaws; vicious, vengeful, and bloodthirsty, but to pare it off, it brings in themes of hope, home, and family to ensure that even as it imprints on your mind, it leaves you with something to root for. It tells the tale of the Partition, and does it so simply and so skilfully, that all loose ends are tied up. The characters are masterfully created, and Nisha’s mother’s influence on the story, coupled with the way the letters impact it, creates a lasting effect.

A long walk to water, is a book focused on the central theme of struggle. Struggle to find the most basic necessity itself; Water. Water, is the most basic necessity in the world, and perhaps its biggest conundrum and paradox, ‘Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink’ is not just a statement. There is just so much of it, a massive amount, and so much of it undrinkable. Water comprises 70% of our planet, but their are countries where people still have to walk 8 hours to find it. A long walk to water, is a book which covers the theme of scarcity of water, in a country like south sudan, alongside several other topics, such as tribal wars, family, and survival.

Kwame Alexander wrote a book, and he wrote it in a style, which was unique, clever and intelligent all at once. The book, Crossover, combines a witty story, with a rhyme scheme writing style, and a lot of heart. What is it about you ask, well it might be about basketball, about families, about teenage love, or jealousy, but at the end of the day its all in the eye of the beholder anyway.

This is a book, or rather two books. One telling us about the living conditions in South Africa particularly for non-whites, and the other of the Trevor living in those conditions. The book is a tribute to a very strong, headstrong lady - Patricia, who stood between the Apartheid and her son. Her life is marked by a series of illegal choices, to keep herself free from the menial life decided by the colonisers for her and Trevor.