The Head of The House of Coombe by Frances Burnett:
Nobles and Commoners! The quality of a relationship can be stellar, if while having the advantage, one is able to act with compassion, with decency and with self discipline. I never knew a man can be so honourable in the actual sense of the word. I guess that's why the hero is a character in a work of fiction. But it makes a point.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy:
I'm sorry, but chivalry is dead. We live in shallow times, when global attention focuses on whistleblowers exposing emails about peeping Tom practices and we call these tech savvy noise makers heroes. We still have real challenges. Real pains. Migration is a standing issue yet to be faced in all honesty by those in power and those under such powers. The Scarlet Pimpernel was a pace setter, it's daring hero smuggled those in danger to a safe haven in another country. The courage is not the selling point. What stands out is the love for humanity. Where did it go? Where is the love (so sang The Black Eyed Peas,) again, in spite of his own personal challenges and I must say the Baroness rather outdid herself in perfectly portraying the utterly ugly selfishness of beautiful, pampered wives, the hero, while not seeking an Esther to replace his Vashti, wins her heart over to complete admiration and self remorse by his heroism, his humour, his ingenuity and his patience. I'm sorry. But men are not just made this way anymore. Perhaps I love the book so much because it puts the man back in manly. It's definitely a pillar in the hall of high standards. It's a sad relic as well. A tragic piece from days when people aspired to true greatness.
I should have said Vanity Fair by William Makepiece Thackery or at least, The Lord of The Flies by William Golding; or even Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, truly there is no end to good literature in eras long gone! But for the sake of creativity I can't help but say, my third best book in the whole world, is The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. I can't forget the rogue Soviet submarine captain Marko Rumius or the CIA analyst Jack Ryan, trying to prove a dangerous theory. It resonates with all the emerging threats today and is still relevant in the way it depicts man's struggle with absolute power, weapons of mass destruction that should never ever have been made and my personal favourite...can I say, trope? Man against the government! You against the world! The person with an active conscience is up against a tyrant force! Well. I like the suspense of it...
Why didn't Romance make my list? Maybe because I'd rather watch The Maze Runner than try to pay attention to Gone With The Wind, but please, by all means, don't give me The devil Wears Prada or some sugar sweet chick flick (gag,) please Please give me Gone With The Wind. Scarlett O'Hara is real. Rhett Butler has depth. Character is what gets me through a storm, not designer labels or high heels! Sex rules the world. Mmmmm... No.
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A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Non-FictionThis is a collection of short, inspirational messages based on questions we are asked almost everyday; the answers given are drawn from the authors true life experiences. It is a thought provoking text; a compelling compilation of diverse opinions w...
