Any society’s foundation is progressivism, and a progressive world aims for advancement rather than going backward. Peace, working-class prosperity, environmental sustainability, and human rights and equality are the four pillars on which progressivism is built. The editor of WhatOn brings this week’s books which contain all four progressive tenets.
A Room of One’s Own, By Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” is a classic progressive book that deals with feminist criticisms and steam-of-consciousness style. In this book, Woolf develops a relationship between gender and writing. She asserts that a woman must have money and a room of her own if she wants to write fiction or something. She believes that social prejudices and financial & educational backward are the reason for women’s lack of knowledge and creativity. I recommend all women to read this Victorian classic novel because this is a temperamental feminist text where they can find their struggle for privacy, leisure time, and financial independence.
The Forty Rules of Love, by Elif Shafak
“The Forty Rules of Love” is a masterpiece by Elif Shafak who writes about the different aspects of life, religious divinity, Islamic esteems, and understanding of love and friendship. Through this book, Elif tries to evoke that love has no barriers, and no definition, it is pure & simple. In this book, there are two parallel stories going on, like two mirrors reflecting their opposite and juxtaposing a contemporary man-woman love story. The storytelling and choice of words by Elif are so prudent which make you believe that this romantic book is not just about romance but this novel has a different dimension of love that helps to change the soul utterly. I must say, this book is holy & it gives you inner peace.
One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez
“One Hundred Years of Solitude” is a novel by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez that was first published in 1967, following the tale of seven generations of the Buendia family for 100 years. This book was considered the author’s masterpiece because of his supreme writing style “magic realism”. In his imaginary place metaphors and beliefs have become conventional facts and life has become most uncertain. Throughout the novel, we can see ourselves in the Buendia family members as their world expands but then inevitably contracts into a smaller and smaller circle, filled with routine and obsession. However, I assure the readers it will be an enriching reading experience.
The Time Machine, H.G. Wells
“The Time Machine” is a science fiction book about an interesting extrapolation of societal degeneration by H.G. Wells. This book has a warning against the nature of the capitalist society that had taken hold in the late nineteenth century. The main message of this book is that the division between the classes. And which should be crossed off before humanity ruins itself. I strongly say that this is not just a book but it’s full of imagination. If someone loves to read science fiction stories, he/she shouldn’t miss this book.
