Books Heal - Look Beyond The Cover (Guest Post)

Submitted Anonymously 
Edited by Maureen Danielle G

---

From as far back as I can remember I have always had my nose buried in a book.
Reading for me has been a comfort, especially during stressful and sorrowful times and a shared hobby through which I’ve connected with some of my closest friends.
Amongst those who know me, my bedroom is the library, because I’m constantly loaning and recommending different books to my friends.
Any book lover can attest to this fact: There are some stories that you might read at just the right time, or that you might be able to relate to so closely, that they stay with you long after you have turned the final page.
The beauty of novels, to me, is that they can be about literally anything, and diving into the lives of characters who deal with trials and triumphs, just like all of us is a reminder that we are never alone in our pain, no matter what that pain looks like. Books have certainly served that purpose for me, and I thought I’d share a few of my favorite paper and ink friend,  in the hope that they might do the same for you.

1. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
   Despite being hundreds of years old, its universal theme of a young man agonising over his insecurities, retains the power to captivate readers. Hamlet is grieving over the recent death of his father, is resentful of his mother’s hasty remarriage and criticizes himself at every turn. At the play’s beginning he is the picture of someone going through depression, but by the end he emerges as a stronger and more self-assured character. I studied it when I was in high school, and I loved it straight away. Hamlet’s ultimate understanding that he had to accept himself and his circumstances and “let be,” is a lesson for us all.

1. Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year by Demi Lovato
   It is not a novel, but rather a collection of quotes compiled by Demi Lovato, and each one is followed by a goal or self-development task for the day. Demi Lovato has had her fair share of mental health issues, and she remains quite vocal about her struggles with bulimia, self-injury and bipolar disorder. She discusses these candidly in Staying Strong, but the overall message is a positive one; Recovery is possible not just for her, but for anyone with any form of mental health issue.

1. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Compiled as a series of letters, this is a coming of age story about a boy named Charlie, who has always been a “wallflower”, thinking with a depth and feeling with an intensity that is beyond most of his peers. Consequently, he felt isolated and as though he doesn’t quite belong, until he meets and befriends brother and sister duo of Patrick and Sam, and starts to confront his demons. It is a hand reaching through the darkness to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong. It is an affirmation of the healing power of love and friendship.

                                                              

1. I for Isobel by Amy Witting
   This book is about Isobel, a young woman who grew up with an emotionally abusive mother and a passive father. The effects of her upbringing continue way after her parents have died and she is making her own way in the world. She is plagued by anxiety, a constantly critical inner voice and the need to supress her feelings at all costs. Eventually she finds her passion and her purpose in writing and slowly starts to free herself from the chains of her youth. Amy Witting invites her readers to believe that even if we can’t always control our circumstances or escape the past, we can choose to move forward and fight for something better.

1. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
   A far more light-hearted and less serious read than the others on this list, the Shopaholic series is one I would pull out when I wanted to “turn my brain off,” and have a good laugh. Its presence on this list is a reminder that while literature – and life – can be heavy and hard, there is light to be found too, and the light is equally important to acknowledge and celebrate. 

​So these are five of my most beloved books, which really resonated with me and have helped me through a hard time. What are some of the books that you have read that may have stayed with you well after you put them down?