Harry Potter & other sorceries

The boy wizard’s back! Five books later and five years older, I still felt the same thrill as I did when I read the first installment of J.K. Rowling’s world-famous Harry Potter novels. I was, to my family’s amusement, one of those crazy fans who rushed to the bookstore early morning on the day Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released and spent a sleepless night reading the book from start to end. The book is darker, the characters wiser, the plot thicker – but the charm that originally attracted me to the series is still there. Now, sigh, it’s another two long years’ wait for the next book. The vestiges of the Harry Potter withdrawal syndrome are still with me. And after listening to my younger brother and sisters endlessly pestering me over giving them an alternative book list, I finally capitulated. This is in no way a book list for academic reference. But for those young and young-at-heart readers out there looking for some light reading and for the occasional inspirational lift, here are some books I recommend you get. Forget television and movies for a while – reading’s definitely more fun! Who knows? It may give you that extra boost needed to make you pass the English section of your college entrance exams with flying colors.

Harry Potter Books 1-5 by J. K. Rowling

Naturally, constantly being on the bestseller list speaks for itself. Never mind those taunts and whispers that the series promotes Satanism and all that sort of rubbish. Rowling’s novels about the adventures of a boy wizard named Harry Potter only grows more and more exciting with every new book’s arrival. From duels with the Dark Lord (You-know-who), meeting centaurs and other forms of magical creatures, finding more about his family, discovering his true friends, this series has it all.

The Lord of the Rings Books 1-3 by J. R. Tolkien

For those wanting to take the whole fantasy genre to a higher level, The Lord of the Rings is a good place to start. Not only will you come out of the Tolkien experience sharing a special bond with the hobbits and their quest to destroy the One Ring, you’ll also be able to gain from the Christian-related insights the author had magically woven into his stories.

Artemis Fowl Books 1-3 by Eoin Colfer

Though often accused of being Harry Potter copycats, the books in the Artemis Fowl series do have some potential. The fast-paced stories unravel around the actions of a young "criminal mastermind." The series kicks off as 12-year-old Artemis Fowl hatches a cunning plot to divest the fairyfolk of their pot of gold.

A Child Called "It": One Child’s Courage to Survive by David J. Pelzer

This is a brutally honest memoir of how young David managed to survive beatings, starvation and all sorts of abuse by his mentally disturbed and alcoholic mother. The dire topic is more than made up for by the compelling story of how the human spirit can provide strength even in the toughest of situations. Those who are inspired by the story of young Dave can follow his life in his two sequels: The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness.

One Child by Torey Hayden

Torey Hayden, an educator and psychologist, has chronicled her real-life experiences with special children in and out of the classroom. One Child echoes the book A Child Called It in many ways. The child Sheila is also a product of an abusive home and only with the love of her teacher, Torey, was she able to push past her wall of silence and learn to face the outside world. Sheila’s story is further developed in the sequel, A Tiger’s Child.

The Class by Erich Segal

Undoubtedly one of my favorite novels, The Class is an exceptional book about five members of the Harvard class of 1958, whose lives are intertwined by ambition and are ultimately bound by friendship. The story begins as the five individuals are first ushered into Harvard, continues with their passions, ambitions, and loves, and culminates in their dramatic 25-year reunion. Oh and by the way, Erich Segal is also the author of the tear-jerker Love Story and the book med students are familiar with, Doctors.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

One can never forget the simple-but-complicated story of the Little Prince who is wise beyond his years and travels from planet to planet. This story of love and loneliness has lost none of its power ever since it was released decades ago. The book reminds us of the presence of the childlike sense of wonder in each one of us and that "what is essential is still invisible to the eye."

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

Despite a certain aversion I have about reading a story about birds, I loved this book and all the challenges and questions it raises about oneself. Jonathan Livingston is a seagull that chooses a different path from the rest of the birds in his flock. The seagull teaches readers about life, ambition and pushing beyond one’s own limits.

The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho

The story begins with a young boy discussing his simple life as a shepherd and his dreams to see the world. As the novel progresses, and the boy meets many new people on the way, the boy becomes more spiritual and gains new understanding of life. The boy does eventually meet an alchemist, and the ensuing relationship redirects him to the right path, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "No heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity."

Ramar: The Rabbit With Rainbow Wings by Darrell T. Hare

Another one of those animals-that-talk-like-humans stories. Ramar is a winged rabbit born into the "World-In-Between," where souls mind their lessons between earthly, human incarnations. Over the course of Ramar’s chronicle, the rabbit grasps the meaning of his wings and of his destiny as a spiritual teacher from several animal and human guides. Though leaning a bit too much on New Age theories for my liking, this is another simple book which does not fail to present an interesting view of the spirit world and morality.

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For comments or suggestions, e-mail me at steniecoyiuto@yahoo.com.