Favorite Thrifted Books

Today's post combines two of my favourite things; literature and thrifting. Upon entering a charity shop I tend to gravitate towards the book shelf as taking a gap year has given me the rare opportunity to spend time reading for pleasure.

Books in charity shops are usually under £1, which makes finding a much wanted book all the more exciting considering it is such good value. The following were all purchased from a treasure of a charity shop, in which all the books are 20p.

Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go

I read this book when I was having a bit of a lull in my interest for reading. It certainly got me back into it. Ishiguro's fluent writing style made this book a rather easy quick read. However, this did not compromise the brilliant commentary on the sometimes worryingly fast paced developments in science. Ishiguro creates a very human and emotional side to the debates around genetic engineering. Side note - read the book before watching the film! The film in no way does it justice.

George Orwell - Nineteen Eighty Four

As I'm going to be studying Philosophy and English lit at university I felt Nineteen Eighty Four was a must read. The dystopian novel explores the dangers of totalitarianism and as such becomes a political warning for future generations. As The Party warps the minds of the population, very interesting questions regarding epistemology and social control arise. Some people I had spoken to who had read the book complained it was hard to get into, on the contrary, I found it to be extremely gripping and largely accessible.

Ian McEwan - Enduring Love

McEwan has always been a beast at opening chapters and Enduring Love is no exception to the rule. The book is centred on an obsessive unrequited love triggered by a sensationalist event. McEwan's methodical and detailed writing style really lends itself to the exploration of love, religion and science within the novel.

Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner

As much as a adore Hosseini's books I would almost recommend not reading them; they're heart-breaking. The Kite Runner follows the turbulent life of Amir and his search for redemption. Not only does this book paint a very relatable picture of the human condition, it achieves the important job of educating people about the travesties that occurred in Afghanistan.

Frances Hodgson Burnett - The Secret Garden

For me this book is laced with nostalgia as it was a firm favourite of mine as a child. It was a pleasure to revisit the evocative tale with an adult(ish) mind. Having grown up in the countryside the rich depiction of the moors and garden appealed to me no end. The portrayal of the landscape unified with simple themes of magic and companionship made for an endearing read.