As soon as July gives in to August, something changes around us. It isn’t the weather, of course- the sun still shines down like it did all summer long. But it is unquestionable, something changes with the promise of fall. The only acceptable behaviour appears to be cozying up in bed, under a soft blanket and slightly cold hands flitting through another book- with the A/C on, but no one really needs to know about that. We, at Daastan, understand the excitement of almost Fall and we have curated the perfect August Book Recommendations list.
August Book Recommendations:
1. Kartography by Kamila Shamsie
There is nothing quite as comforting as seeing yourself in a story. Kartography functions as a beautiful love story between people and cities- from the setting to the emotion, everything feels familiar. Following two upper-class children, Raheen and Karim, the novel charts their life as the grow older amongst the backdrop of Karachi- which appears to change with them. There is nothing but tenderness in this story, with love fulfilled and unfulfilled- and sometimes with love caught in the middle of political unrest.
“And that two of them, when they come back to the city, that’s when they find out that their love was imperfect because it couldn’t bear the knowledge of everything that lies outside…”
2. Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood
If it is a simple story that leaves a mark long after you put the book down, this one is for you. Following the fictional artist, Elaine Risley, the readers jump back and forth from the past to the present until the two seem to blur together to form the character we grow immensely fond of. Exploring the innocence of childhood, tainted with toxicity and insecurities, we are reminded of all that we ignore blatantly. Memories sometimes tell a story that differs from how we perceive it.
“Most mothers worry when their daughters reach adolescence but I was the opposite. I relaxed, I sighed with relief. Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life sized.”
3. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Fall seems to be the season for myth, fantasy and all the stories bigger than life itself. The Song of Achilles is just the right balance of myth and what it means to be human- becoming the perfect book for right before fall. An adaptation of Homer’s Iliad, it explores the Age of Heroes through the eyes of Patroclus- a character as far away from being a mythical hero as any of us. And yet we grow to admire him, for the strength of his love. Forming an unbreakable bond, Achilles and Patroclus challenge those who have remained unchallenged for time immemorial. This story will warm your heart and break it all in one go.
“We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.”
And that’s all from our side! Hopefully these books hold true to their promise- if they do, keep a look out for more Book recommendations from us!
