Endure Series 5/5: Hobbies and Book Rec's!

5.) Keep your hobbies!

Despite missing campus immensely, being a UCLA honors student on campus is very exhausting. Between classes, friends, and clubs, it often seems like there are not enough hours in the day to complete everything you want to do. I always tell myself that I will read a book outside of class, but my books are always cast aside on my desk, forgotten until break. As an avid reader, one benefit of quarantine is that I finally have time to sit down and enjoy a good book. Since I have already read a ton of books during quarantine, I thought I would share my favorites.

1.) The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

Even though I have already read this book, I wanted to reread it as it will always be one of my favorites. I have to admit it is not really the plot that intrigues me, but the inner thoughts of Holden, the main character, and the 50s lingo that makes me chuckle. This book was revolutionary in its theme of extentionality, and this makes it a timeless classic. It is the story of Holden Caulfield who has just been expelled from his latest boarding school in the 50s. Instead of going straight home to his parents, he decides to take a trip alone into New York where he is from. With no plan and not much money, it is really his mental journey through this unknown time in his life. Many of the scenes have an almost dark humor effect, which I love, but the emotions are very real. For all these reasons, I recommend this book to everyone because I feel that everyone can find something to relate to.

2.) A Tree grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

This book took me by surprise as I did not expect to love it as much as I did. It is the story of a young girl and her family living in Brooklyn in the early 20th century. It follows her journey through her young adult life and her family's struggles. My favorite part of this book was definitely its portrayal of life during this time. You could tell that this book was an extension of the author’s own experience growing up in Brooklyn during this time because the writing was very authentic. The children playing in the street, going to the bakeries and the butchers, and the thoughts on schooling were all very really interesting to read. Smith’s writing is amazing as she describes all the scenes in perfect detail, making you feel as if you were there. The almost 100 year difference between when this book is set and now is not a problem due to this intensive description because as a reader, you feel as if you have been transported to the streets of Brooklyn. In addition, the hardships this family deals with in terms of money really make you grateful for what we as a society enjoy in 2020. This to me, especially in this time, is extremely valuable.

3.) The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

I have a love-hate relationship with this book due to the number of historical inaccuracies that were presented to the reader especially since this is a historical fiction novel. However, I did enjoy the story, and I think for the wider audience (anyone who is not a history nerd like I am), these points will go unnoticed. Set during the second world war, this book tells the story of two sisters and their fights against nazism in France. One of my favorite parts of the book was the character development in Vianne. She goes from a law abiding citizen to questioning her complicity. I think this is a really good representation of what many people living in Nazi territories felt. If you are looking for a story with lots of action or a romance, then this is a great book.

Image References:

Catcher in the Rye: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-catcher-in-the-rye-9780241984758

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_(novel)

The Nightingale: https://www.amazon.com/Nightingale-Novel-Kristin-Hannah/dp/1250080401