Betsy Overstrum ‘20 reviews two novels that will change the
way you view the world.
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
The
Sun and Her Flowers, written by Rupi Kaur, will not cease to amaze any of
its readers. Written from the perspective of a 21st century female,
this collection of poetry and short literary works contains something that
everyone can relate to. Kaur touches upon subjects including love, femininity,
immigration, empowerment, self-abandonment, and grief.
Kaur opens
very abruptly in the first section called “Wilting.” She begins with grief and
its impact on our feelings and actions. From there she moves on to “Falling.”
This section is focused on what it’s like being a woman in today’s society. Two
poems that really stand out focus on consent and how some girls were raised
without being taught basic communication skills: “How can I verbalize consent
if I was never taught as a child?” Another big part of this section is
society’s expectations for women and their bodies.
“Rooting” and “Rising” are the next
two sections. They focus on honoring your roots and remembering the importance
of the past to continue into the future. Kaur emphasizes the importance of not
forgetting where you came from and how you got to where you are today. The last
section, “Blooming,” focuses on self-perception and stresses the importance of
not comparing oneself to others, whether that be one’s body or path in life.
The author also stresses in this section the impact of women’s bodies and
clothes on society. The Sun and Her
Flowers has really changed how I see myself and the world around me, and I
know that it can do the same for others.
Verdict: I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking
for a quick, enlightening read that will change their perspective on themselves
and others.
North of Happy by Adi Alsaid
The life of a high school alum
trying to determine what to do next can be summed up in one word: confusing. North of Happy by Adi Alsaid begins with
an argument between a father and son over the fact that the father doesn’t seem
to be bothered with the death of his oldest, Felix. Carlos runs away with
immense frustration from his family in Mexico to the United States.
Unsure of
what to do next, Carlos finds himself on Needle Eye Island, a magical place.
Carlos claims he came to this island to eat at a restaurant “for his brother”
because they both loved food and cooking with a passion, but, in reality, he
wanted to get away from Mexico and the pressures of life. While waiting to make
a reservation at the restaurant, he meets Emma, a beautiful girl about his age.
After multiple adventures and a kiss or two they’ve clearly hit it off.
Eventually, Emma gets Carlos a job at the
restaurant because her mother owns it and she wants to show her affection for
Carlos. Carlos is living his dream with an adventurous and perfect girlfriend and
a job working for his favorite celebrity chef. After weeks of pure happiness
and cooking tests, Chef presses Carlos with a difficult decision: Emma or the kitchen.
Carlos’ dead brother shows up to help him along his cooking journey and give
him a laugh or two when he needs it most.
Carlos sneaks around with Emma
(constantly interrupted psychologically by his brother), but when Carlos makes
a careless mistake and receives a frantic phone call from his mother, there’s
nothing left for him on the island. Carlos comes home to find a sick father and
lots of explaining to do after months
of being away.
Verdict: I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a
journey of both love and grief as well as a tale of maturity and excitement.
