Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope your week is going great. Otherwise, I hope that it will start looking up in the coming days. It is my fervent hope that it will usher in positive energy, blessings, healing, and forgiveness for everyone. I hope and pray that 2022 will not only be a good year but a great one. As it is Tuesday, it is also time for a Top 5 Tuesday update. Top 5 Tuesday was originally created by Shanah @ the Bionic Bookworm but is now currently being hosted by Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads.
his week’s topic: Rainy Day Reads
Speaking of which, a couple of weeks ago, the Philippine weather bureau has declared the start of the rainy season; the Philippines, located in the tropics, have only two seasons: summer and rainy seasons. However, the days are still hot although, at times, thunderstorms intermittently break the warm spells. Without more ado, here are books I would want to read during the rainy season.
Personally, I think rainy day reads can come in at least two forms. The first set of these two sets is the books that reflect the current mood, i.e., gloomy. They evoke sadness and often elicit strong emotional responses. They provide good company when one is feeling sad. One of the books that first came to my mind was Hanya Yanagihara’s complex novel, A Little Life. With over 700 pages of trauma, pain, and emotional roller coaster, this keeps one invested in the story. Other fine examples are Nobel Laureate in Literature Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Khaled Hosseini’s debut novel, The Kite Runner.
The second group of books that are well-suited for the rainy season is the lighter reads. They are often cozy and provide a warm embrace during cold days. They provide a better experience when they are paired with a warm cup of coffee. Interestingly, I have picked three works of Swedish writers; I guess I love Swedish humor. Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove opened new avenues for me to enjoy a literary genre I don’t often foray into. I also loved the humor and wit in Anxious People and Jonas Jonasson’s The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. However, the humor these books possess belies their deeper messages.
I am adding a third group of books. It is always a good idea to read literary classics; one can never go wrong with them. Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca are among my all-time favorite reads and I know they will be great company during the rainy days.
The Pine-Scented Chronicles 