Calling out to all the newbies coming to LUMS, welcome to your freshmen year! I know the zeal and excitement at this time of the vacations is soaring – while some are awaiting their acceptance letters, there are others who are casually beaching away and chilling with a good book or a movie. So for those who want to know more about life at LUMS but are too lazy to go check out the internet, worry not, I’ve got you covered.
Following are some of the books, which are a must-read for honestly every person, no matter what major you’re thinking of pursuing. Some of these have phenomenal plot-lines and have served as guidance for many contemporary best-sellers too. So without further ado,
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad:
This has to be the most widely taught book in classes at LUMS. Be it a class of African Literature, British Fiction, an anthropology class or a history class on colonialism and imperialism – this book will be studied! Personally speaking, even though the book is really good and impactful, it is not for everyone since it contains a lot of nautical jargons and elaborate, dense language. It definitely isn’t my cup of tea, but I wish someone had told me earlier to read it. It would have saved me all the trouble in classes.
So, I highly recommend reading this book beforehand since it will make you familiar with the text and language, making it easier for you to understand it on a second read.
Courses this would be useful for:
- African Literature
- Post-colonial history course
- British/Irish Fiction
1984 by George Orwell:
Seriously who hasn’t heard of this really creepy, too-good-to-be-true dystopian novel? Required reading for students since it was published, it ranks among the most terrifying novels ever written. Published in 1949, the book offers political satirist George Orwell’s nightmarish vision of a totalitarian, bureaucratic world and one poor stiff’s attempt to find individuality. The brilliance of the novel is Orwell’s prescience of modern life—the ubiquity of television, the distortion of the language—and his ability to construct such a thorough version of hell.
Courses this would be useful in:
- British/Irish Fiction
- Socio/History course on totalitarian regimes and politics (mention this book to gain that extra CP point!)
The Great Gatsby
Yes, you must have seen the famous movie on Netflix with the same name, starring Leonardo Dicaprio as Jay Gatsby; and if you liked the lush setting of the movie (which was truth be told not even close as to what’s described in the text), chances are you’ll love this book! Thanks to its evocative setting, rich themes and masterly prose, The Great Gatsby has secured its standing as a reading-list staple as well as one of the greatest American novels ever written. Here, the moneyed East meets the modest Midwest, and Fitzgerald’s memorable characters — Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Jordan Baker — perpetuate a lavish lifestyle that, alas, doesn’t offer much of a life. The enigmatic Gatsby has the best parties, but it’s Daisy he really wants. He may have no shortage of party guests, but he’s sorely lacking in funeral attendees. A book about loss, longing, identity and the false ideals of American Dream, this book is a must for all introductory level classes.
I know it is really overrated, but it’s better to read and appreciate it at your own pace rather than rush through it in one class. Plus, I can’t say it enough but every-time you read classics, there is always a new perspective that that book has to offer.
Courses this would be useful in:
- Intro to Literature
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Here’s the thing about this book: Even if you didn’t like classics you’d probably love this book. It is unique as far as 19th century women fiction goes, but still as relatable today. The language is fairly easy to understand, there is no subtle meaning behind texts (although low-key and very subtly it is screaming feminism feminism!!). It’s a romance, yes, which: extremely normal. But it’s a romance between two characters who are not conventionally beautiful, which is unbelievably rare.
It’s also not a romance or marriage that acts as basically the sole option for its female character. I love Pride & Prejudice, and I think Lizzie Bennet is a feminist (and awesome) character, but there’s no way for that book to end, really, that doesn’t include marriage for her. Three of the five Bennet sisters get married over the course of that book. It either that or the maid status. But not Jane Eyre, here. She does not allow marriage to be the only prospect for her. She goes away and makes a life for herself and then decides whether she wants to follow that path. We don’t even see that in every 21st century romance!
There are other topics also explored like religion, ‘unconventional’ jobs for women (is there really such a thing, even?) and female independence.
Good for you, you’ll be reading this in a few classes this semester (hopefully!) and even if you’re not taking any English courses, I think every woman should read this book atleast.
Classes this will be useful for:
- Intro to Literature
- The Victorian Novel: Charles Dickens to Thomas Hardy
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The brilliant, bestselling, landmark novel that tells the story of the Buendia family, and chronicles the irreconcilable conflict between the desire for solitude and the need for love—in rich, imaginative prose that has come to define an entire genre known as “magical realism.”
Lucky for you, there is ACTUALLY a “Magical Realism” course being offered this semester and guess what – this text is required reading!! But even if you’re not one to believe in anything remotely close to ‘real and magic’ (haha, it is quite ironic), this book is one of those which has an unquestionably beautiful prose, painted with exquisite imagery and a timeless plot and characters. The most wonderful thing about this book is, that even though it is about human interactions, lost love and heartbreak (which is very much real), the text is so blissful, it feels heavenly!
I highly recommend reading this book since it will give you a grasp on what Marquez books are all about. It’s possible you may not read this in every class, but you shall always read a Marquez short story in a class or two.
Courses this would be useful for:
- Magical Realism
- Word and the World (although you won’t read this book exactly but you will definitely read Marquez)
Beloved and The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
It is no exaggeration to say that Toni Morrison is one of the greatest living literary voices of our time. In every single work published, Morrison has made a point to reveal the complexities of Black lives, whether captured through poetic period pieces, passionate love stories, or shocking dramas. Even if you don’t exactly read this book, I think Toni Morrison is one of those authors whose books you will most definitely read before graduating.
“Beloved” is one of Morrison’s most well-known novel. It tells the story of Sethe, a former slave who escaped to Ohio in the 1870s. But despite her freedom, he finds herself haunted by the trauma of her past. In 1998, there was a film adaptation of the book starring Oprah (I have yet to see the movie though)
Another of Morrison’s book which lands a place on my top 10 favourite books is “The Bluest Eye”. It tells the story of a young black girl named Pecola and her life following the years after The Great Depression. As a black girl, she grew up thinking that there are only one set standards of beauty: fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. The story marks her struggles to keep up with her “ugly self” and not only finding her personality and identity through her skin – but also being confident and proud of it. The text is so raw and emotional that once you start reading it, you will be utterly engrossed in the book. The best part is that it is a relatively short book so you can easily finish it within a day or two.
Courses this would be useful for:
- Magical Realism (again!)
- African Literature/ Post-colonial Literature
- Contemporary Short Stories
- Early 20th Century American Fiction
For courses this would be useful for, I have listed the ones that have been offered before and the ones in which I have already studied the said book. Maybe the instructors would choose to tweak the course outline a bit, but one thing’s for sure: these texts will provide you with a sound understanding on good prose, plot and characterization and they are just really good books to read even if you just want to curl up in your bed with a book and tea.