Anna Tragotsi recommends
Please see below my recommended books. Clearly I’m a fan of historical fiction and not very light-hearted novels!
The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I first read The Little Prince as a child and since then have revisited it many times. I love the simplicity of the writing, the beautiful watercolour illustrations and the reminder to appreciate the little things in life. The timeless story touches upon childhood, imagination and the inevitability of growing up.
Birds Without Wings
Louis de Bernières
A true epic that takes you through the life of a Turkish/Greek village in the early 1900s as the Ottoman Empire is in the final stages of its demise. While there is plenty of humour, the novel sheds light on the dangers of extreme nationalism, religious dogma and of war and its atrocities. Quite a long read but definitely worth it!
Burmese Days
George Orwell
A novel eclipsed by Orwell’s more familiar classics. A raw account of British rule in Burma and what is most striking is perhaps how the uncomfortable echoes of that time are still lingering today.
The Mask of Dimitrios
Eric Ambler
A mystery thriller that captures the mood and atmosphere of the late 1930s. The novel is in many ways old fashioned but despite that, continues to be totally engaging.
Becoming
Michelle Obama
Funny, witty and honest. A memoir focused on who Michelle Obama is as a woman and not just as a former First Lady.
Half of a Yellow Sun
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A powerful account of the Nigerian Civil War told in an eloquent and powerful way through different perspectives. An excellent read for those interested in being educated about the Nigerian Civil War without being lectured.