The book gets pretty heavy, not shying away from the pain these things cause loved ones. It also tackles some serious subjects, like Aleisha’s mother’s mental health problems, as well as a character who commits suicide (I won’t say who). Not only is this a story about finding connection and friendship in unlikely places, but it is also a story about grief and loss. However, not everything about this book is feel-good or wholesome-there are such sad parts, too. It really made me want to go visit London again. However, it’s a diverse and well-characterized cast of characters that makes Wembley feel alive. The other characters, like Aiden and Indira and Naina, are also wonderful, though Mukesh and Aleisha are undeniably the stars. You really feel for these characters, and cheer when they make positive connections. Mukesh’s loneliness and his attempts to get out of his comfort zone, and Aleisha’s struggles to cope with her mother’s mental illness and the growing distance between her and her brother are sympathetic.
They are so different, and yet find meaning in the same books-and isn’t that what reading is all about? Watching their friendship blossom was really sweet, especially as they are both struggling with difficult situations at home. This is such a touching book! I really like both the main characters. When Mukesh and Aleisha meet, she uses the list to recommend a book to him, and as the two of them work through the list, they not only grow closer as friends, but also find that literature can build bridges and heal wounds in ways they didn’t realize.
One shift, she finds an anonymous reading list and becomes intrigued. Meanwhile, teenage Aleisha works at the library in Wembley for the summer, partially to escape her deteriorating home life. So one day, he goes to the local library his wife used to love.
His life in Wembley is rather solitary, but he wants to bond with his ten-year-old granddaughter, who loves to read. In The Reading List, Mukesh has been mourning his wife for two years.
0 kommentar(er)
