[Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Leading up to World Book Day, which falls on April 23 each year, we invited our international friends in Wuxi to share the title of their all-time favorite book and give us a brief reason why they love it so much.
Here are some of their favorite reads:
Bradley Johnson
It feels impossible to pick a favorite but I'll go with The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. It's pure entertainment with many deep moments and thoughts along the way.
The Three Musketeers is famous because of the action and adventure (which is part of the reason it's been made into several movies), but I mostly love it for the ways it reveals different versions of very real aspects of human nature–many complex thoughts and feelings and relationships, but also simple in other ways.
Also, the fact is that I probably laugh more and harder reading it than any other book. And ALSO also, the main evil woman is such an unforgettable character. Just incredible.
Peter Stanleigh
By far the best novel produced in China, this book (Outlaws of the Marsh) covers religion, politics and family through China's history. Superb translation makes this 2,000 page book enjoyable reading. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know how history has affected present day China. ENJOY!!!
Aida Kalibek
My favorite book is Gone with the Wind. The author is American writer Margaret Mitchell. Unfortunately, this is her only novel. The female protagonist Scarlett O'Hara has a rare charm that can attract men. She believes that everyone is crazy about her. How many disappointments await her in life.
She said, "I'll consider it tomorrow. Then I can. Tomorrow I will find a way to solve this problem." This proverb has helped me more than once, in the days when the Black Belt seems to have arrived.
Rumbani Moyo
My favorite book is The Science of Self-Discipline by Peter Hollins. The book is about will power, mental toughness and self-control to resist temptation and achieve your goals. I got to know the "40 percent rule" from this book.
Harriet Sonia Nalumansi
Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by 50 cent Curtis Jackson. This book speaks to a growing adult, the mistakes made, the circles we choose to surround ourselves with and how they impact us on our life journey to success, will-power, discipline, positive change to acquire that life we desire and attain wealth in all life aspects.
Ishtiaq Ahmed
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck is a book that I will read more than once. It was first published in 1978 and has sold 7 million copies. This is a spiritual and intellectual masterpiece covering topics such as discipline, love, growth and religion, and grace.
