Happy Tuesday, everyone! How has the year been so far? I hope that the year is going in everyone’s favor. As it is a Tuesday, it is time for a Top 5 Tuesday update. Top 5 Tuesday was originally created by Shanah @ the Bionic Bookworm, but is now being hosted by Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads.

This week’s topic: Top 5 books with magical creatures

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Snippet from my review: The monster has only one perplexing purpose. To attain it, he related to Conor three different stories with three varying morals. These three stories within the story are fascinating and enchanting, and are the monster’s creative way of teaching Conor – he is, after all, a hardy child, stubborn and hardheaded. Conor is at the stage of his life where his emotions are starting to form. The monster, in his own way, is willing Conor to accept the realities, to grow up. Whilst the monster is guiding Conor through the maze of his emotions, he is not rushing Conor; rather, he is like a patient teacher who is dealing sensitively with his student.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Snippet from my review: For a book that is tagged as children’s fiction, The Golden Compass is a lot of things that are not, in a strict sense, childlike. First off, it is a very complex read. However, it wasn’t the complexity that was overwhelming but rather the dark themes and subjects, which are the centrifugal points of the narrative. Some of the subjects the book, and the trilogy for that matter, has highlighted are surrounded by so much taboo that the books earned the ire of the Catholic church. The trilogy was banned in numerous libraries and was even called by the Catholic Herald as “stuff of nightmares” that is “worthy of a bonfire”.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Snippet from my review: Fleeing from what would be one of independent India’s most controversial phases, the Patel patriarch decided to sell the zoo and immigrate to Canada. The Patels, along with animals they deemed could be sold in Canada, boarded the Japanese freighter Tsimtsum. Unfortunately, a couple of days after embarking from the port of Manila, the ship encountered an unexpected storm, which caused it to sink. Whilst the rest of the crew perished, Pi managed to escape in a small lifeboat. But it wasn’t only Pi who managed to survive. Pi found himself in the company of a motley crew – a spotted hyena, a wounded Grant’s zebra, and a female orangutan named Orange Juice. Under the boat’s tarpaulin lurked another unexpected survivor: Richard Parker. The already narrow chances of surviving further became slimmer.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Snippet from my review: However, unlike her previous works, Fantastic Beasts dwelt more on animals, and especially the way we treat them. There are undertones of animal abuse as well, but the book’s, and the movie’s as well, advocacy is clear – animals, in spite of their appearances, are our friends and they shouldn’t be abused or taken advantage of. Mixed in with this theme is friendship, loyalty, and romance. In all the J.K. Rowling I have read, friendship and loyalty are two themes that she can never do without.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

Snippet from my review: Folklore, history, and tradition converged for a rich tapestry. The finer details capture familiar and equally interesting subjects. The fox’s mortality, for instance, was contrasted by Bao’s looming confrontation with his mortality. The novel also subtly explores the role of women in a patriarchal society and the difficulties they have to face. One female character voiced her opposition to marriage because she grasps how it can end in misery and even dehumanization. She finds a different motivation in money which she sees as a safety net against men’s objectification of women. She tells Bao: “If you don’t have money, you get sold.” Elsewhere, Choo provides a vivid portrait of rural northern China in the early 20th century while providing a window into their traditions and different beliefs. But with the looming presence of Western influences, these traditions are on the cusp of being dismantled.

My Neighbor Totoro by Tsugiko Kubo/Hayao Miyazaki

Snippet from my review: The first word that comes to mind when describing the books is magical; yes, as magical as the film. It effortlessly filled the imagination with wonderful imagery without it being overbearing. However, it felt like the magic was toned down a bit but it suited the story because it made the relationship of sisters Satsuki and Mei the true highlight of the narrative. The young sisters reminded readers of the wonderful relationship and special bond of siblings, especially in the face of uncertainties. This special bond is what fillial love is all about – the book reeked a lot of it.