Happy Tuesday everyone! As it is Tuesday, it is time for a Top Ten Tuesday update. Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s given topic: Water

toptentuesday

Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

The Sweetness of Water is a searing debut from an excitable new voice. Powerfully written, evocative, and thought-provoking, the story soared. While it was set in the post-Civil War era, its messages reverberate in the contemporary. It provided a different lens upon which to examine important elements of history, from the ill effects of warfare to the irreversible impact of the slavery trade. It also captured a riveting portrait of humanity. Equally heartbreaking and brimming with hope, Nathan Harris’ debut novel is a moving and absorbing novel deserving of the encomium it has received.

The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

In one of his most popular titles, Japanese writer Mishima dealt with the intrusion of Western traditions into Japanese customs by conjuring the narrative with acuity and profound observation of details. His vivid descriptions make the narrative come alive. The subject and theme are ominous yet he was able to sprinkle it with some rays of sunshine. Deceptively thin, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea is a hefty narrative that is parts psychological, parts adventure, and parts historical. It might not have been flawless but Mishima’s take on the difficult subject is fascinating and his writing is just impeccable.

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

The Island of Sea Women is a rich intersection of history, friendship, and traditions capably brewed into one whirlpool of a story; it is a whirlpool that sucks you in with its magic. In the process of writing the novel, Lisa See traveled to Jeju to understand the haenyeo, uncovering stories unheard of. From it, she was able to conjure a captivating story, a story of people, of traditions, and of a place. The Island of Sea Women is a moving tale about a place that lay witness to the tides, the surges, and the tumults of time.

The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch

With the moral complexity and the depth of The Sea, The Sea, what shines the most is Iris Murdoch’s magnificent storytelling. She was able to take on a different persona and in the end, was able to deliver a narrative that is more than deserving of the 1978 Man Booker Prize Award. Its exploration of human nature makes one ask what lies beyond the calm surface of the sea.  Because of this depth, you want to slowly go through the motions to enjoy the waves of emotions and experiences that the novel conveys.

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Akwaeke Emezi’s Freshwater is an ambitious literary piece that challenges several conventions on identity. It is an upbeat tale, an unconventional story that flourishes because of its balance of the supernatural and the conventional. It explored identity and mental health not through the lenses of Western assumptions but through the perspectives of a culture rarely read of in mainstream literature. Yes, it was lacking, but it was a promising debut from a voice that possesses stories the world must hear or at least read. Her voice echoed from all corners of the world.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Like Water for Chocolate is a colorful and wonderful amalgamation of culture, character development, and obviously, food, with some dashes of magical realism and history. It is akin to one of Tita’s recipes – an explosion of distinct flavors and different textures. Food is nearly synonymous with the novel. What also triumphed was the strength and fervor of Laura Esquivel’s imaginative writing. In writing Like Water for Chocolate, Esquivel came up with a memorable classic that will transcend time. It was a complete recipe that both filled and seduced the taste buds, the olfactory senses, and the imagination.

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Parts-historical fiction, parts-family saga, A Long Petal of the Sea is a resounding victory of Isabel Allende’s powerful prose. It is a novel that covers a vast ground, accented with rich and evocative images of war and the ensuing consequences. It is about fascist regimes and dictators but it is also, above all, about love in all its forms. Its exploration of the refugee crisis is a mirror of the same crisis that is prevalent in all corners of today’s world. In A Long Petal of the Sea, Allende was also paying a fitting homage to Chile. These rich elements were cleverly and carefully woven by Allende into a compelling and magnificent tapestry that transcends time.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Parts children’s fiction, parts magical realism, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, is a testament to one’s will not being hampered by the prejudices of society. In this satire, Rushdie underlined the necessity of freedom of expression; silence is the world’s common enemy. But whilst this freedom is necessary, Rushdie didn’t fail to reiterate that discernment must still be exercised. Speech is, after all, a very powerful tool. The imaginative and heartwarming tale showcased Rushdie at his most versatile and most vulnerable.

The Sea by John Banville

Despite The Sea dealing with loss and grief, I found the book not overly taxing because of its wonderfully handcrafted prose that seamlessly flowed with sentimentality and emotions. Banville constructed dialogues and sentences artfully, optimizing language to deliver a great book, which is a profound exploration of grief and loss. The way Banville navigated through this difficult subject is realistic and tenable. It may lack what one would consider as “explosive” retorts but what purpose do books serve if not to deliver a message. In this aspect, The Sea delivered more than that.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

In On Chesil Beach, what riveted the readers in the story lies in how McEwan kept many things unsaid. As the story progresses, the biggest truths are obscured in simple passages. These truths creep into the reader’s subconscious only as he navigates the literary labyrinth that McEwan conjured. It is only through a slow and steady reading journey until the end will you realize these truths. And it is meant to be that way. The way the story was written is also reflective of the main flaw of the characters. They dwell on not letting the entire truth out.