As is the norm for us here at Yellow to suggest some must-read books from time to time, in this article we've compiled another short list of books that will interest you. It doesn't matter the type of reader you classify under – the collection of books we've compiled is perfect for both bookworms and those who have just started their journey as habitual readers. All of the suggested books can be found in a large number of bookshops around Malta and Gozo.

You have no excuse! The next time you have some free time, ditch that mobile phone and curl up with one of these suggested books.

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Laura

This allegorical novel revolves around a combination of magic and wonder to tell the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who travels in search of treasure. After having a recurring dream about a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids, Santiago starts a quest that eventually leads him to the discovery of riches he never imagined. Along his journey, the boy encounters a wise alchemist through whom he realises his own self and teaches the reader about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts and following our dreams.

2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

Nic

This French-Gothic novel will take you to 15th-century Medieval Paris and tells the story of Quasimodo, the disabled bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, as he tries to stand up to his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo, who wants to commit genocide against Paris' Romani population. Adapted for film, theatre and TV multiple times, this piece of classic French literature has all the right elements that have made it an essential model of other literary themes of Romanticism — the Renaissance setting, impossible love affairs and marginalised characters. 

3. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Karl

Both a captivating mystery and a beautiful love story, this science fiction novel is a definite read if you want to immerse yourself in a deep moral self-examination of humans' arrogant behaviour towards the vulnerable and the different in society. When now young woman Kathy and her friends leave Hailsham boarding school, where for many years unknowingly they were being indoctrinated about one perfect world of art and literature, they finally get to experience the real world. Unravel the full truth about Hailsham. What is this school about in truth? Were they simply puppets on a string?

4. Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan

Chantelle

Set in the early 20th century, this book depicts the immigrant experience during this period in America through a fictional novel in which Ellie Hogan is the protagonist. Ellie is a young Irish girl who marries her teenage love, John. Unfortunately, their love has to take an unexpected path when John gets injured badly while fighting for Irish independence. Not having enough money for surgery, Ellie travels to America for a well-paying job with the aim of solving their financial problem and returning home. But, once she's all caught up in everything New York has to offer between wealth and new love, Ellie is faced with an important decision — choosing between her traditional Irish life and the captivating ventures in New York.

5. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Sarah

Based on the testament of a true love story lived during the harrowing Holocaust, this international bestseller shows the power of love in the darkest of situations. Slovakian Jew, Lale Sokolov was prisoner 32407 tasked by the Germans to tattoo other prisoners' arms in the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Through this book, the author takes the reader on a journey of a rollercoaster of emotions. From horrific atrocities to acts of bravery, the author recreates a hopeful plot with Sokolov's experiences who makes it his mission to survive and marry Gita, prisoner 34902.

6. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Francesca

In this fantasy novel (part of a Trilogy) Adelina is a survivor of a deadly illness that hit her nation ten years ago, and like most other children, has to live with strange markings and is labelled as a malfetto. It is believed that those around malfettos experience strange accidents and deaths, and some of them carry a secret identity — the Young Elites. These are malfettos in possession of mysterious gifts destructive to the world. When Young Elite Adelina is just about to be executed by the Inquisition Axis she is saved by Enzo, a member of a group of Young Elites. From here onwards all three lives start to collide in different ways and each of them has to face a personal battle against their own enemy until…

7. The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by David Wallace-Wells

Rebecca

This book will make you realise that what you know about global warming is far from the disasters you've been watching on the news. The world is already on the edge of catastrophe as a result of irresponsible actions we humans brought on ourselves and if no serious action is taken, our planet is set for climate troubles that will distort human life in practically all aspects. In an astonishing reality check of what the near future holds, from food shortages to refugee emergencies and other crises, this book is a must-read for quick action to be taken by every single citizen of planet Earth before it is really too late.   

8. A Prison Diary by Jeffrey Archer

Nicky

This is a series of three books penned by the convict-turned-author while he was in prison himself. Following a seven-week perjury trial, Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in prison, guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice. During the four years of imprisonment, Archer got to experience different prisons in the UK, as he was transferred from one to the other more than once. Having been written while under the lock, Archer's prison diaries combine humour and trauma while revealing the truth behind the UK's prison system through his eyes. Each diary is named after a part of The Divine Comedy by Dante, symbolising Archer's mental and physical state in prison.

9. L-Ghalqa tal-Iskarjota by Alfred Sant

Chiara

Thanks to L-Ghalqa tal-Iskarjota, Alfred Sant introduces a new side to Maltese literature. In this book, he focuses on the comedy horror genre by revolving the plot around a team of TV journalists who are doing an investigation on Iscariot's field in the village of Haz-Znuber. A field that has for many years been linked to multiple occult and ghost manifestations. In between dramatic developments and revelations throughout the different themes touched upon in this story, such as obesity, drug trafficking, corruption and others, the reader gets to unravel a cruel science-fiction climax that makes you think about Malta's contemporary society. This book was translated into English by Alfred Sant himself, titled The Iscariot Field.

The selection of books suggested by us here at Yellow provides you with a good combination of genres to add to your personal library. If you're interested in more you can take a look at our 2022 book suggestions list too! 

Check out more articles like this one in the Lifestyle Tips section.