Books are subjective and can leave a lasting impression. Having read these at different stages in life, Molly Toolan shares four books she believes everyone can gain something from.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This book, recommended by her mother, follows two Afghan women whose lives become connected in modern Afghanistan. Mariam, an illegitimate child married off young, finds an unexpected friendship with Laila, whom Mariam's husband also takes in. As war descends, their bond is tested by hardship and tragedy. Toolan says it opened her eyes to different cultures and appreciates Hosseini's eloquent writing.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
World-class chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain delves into his life and career, including advice on when not to order fish. The book's synopsis reads: "Over two decades ago, the New Yorker published a now-infamous article, 'Don’t Eat Before Reading This,' by then little-known chef Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain spared no one’s appetite as he revealed what happens behind the kitchen door. The article was a sensation, and the book it spawned, the now iconic Kitchen Confidential, became an even bigger sensation and megabestseller. Frankly confessional, addictively acerbic, and utterly unsparing, Bourdain pulls no punches in this memoir of his years in the restaurant business." This edition includes a handwritten introduction, annotations, and previously unpublished photos.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
For fantasy fans, the latest Hunger Games book offers escapism with grit. The synopsis: "When you've been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for? As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honour of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena."
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Recommended by a friend during a crossroads in Toolan's life, this novel follows a woman struggling with unhappiness who finds a magical library between life and death. There she explores 'what could have beens' and learns what she truly wants from life. Toolan says it offers relatable home truths in a light and humorous way.
