My favorite books of 08 and 09 (so far)
Discover my favorite books of 2008 and 2009, from inspiring true stories like Three Cups of Tea and Eat Pray Love to captivating fiction by Paulo Coelho and bestsellers like Water for Elephants. Explore top reads in history, biography, and fiction from this curated list.
Book
Eat Pray Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert
One of the most iconic, beloved, and bestselling books of our time from the bestselling author of City of Girls and Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert. Elizabeth Gilbertâs Eat Pray Love touched the world and changed countless lives, inspiring and empowering millions of readers to search for their own best selves. Now, this beloved and iconic book returns in a beautiful 10th anniversary edition, complete with an updated introduction from the author, to launch a whole new generation of fans. In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to wantâhusband, country home, successful careerâbut instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and set out to explore three different aspects of her nature, against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.
Book
Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Talibanâs backyard Anyone who despairs of the individualâs power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistanâs treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schoolsâespecially for girlsâthat offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortensonâs quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.
Book
Once Minutos
by Paulo Coelho
Una novela cautivadora y audaz del autor de El Alquimista, bestseller con m&aaucute;s de un millĂn de ejemplares vendidos. En este nuevo relato, el novelista explora con gran sensibilidad la naturaleza sagrada del sexo y del amor y nos invita a enfrentar nuestros propios prejuicios y demonios. Once Minutos relata la historia de MarĂa, una joven proveniente de una villa brasileĂa, cuyos primeros roces inocentes con el amor le dejan con el corazĂn destrozado. A su tierna edad, se convence de que jamĂs hallarĂ el amor verdadero; al contrario, considera que "El amor es algo horrible que produce sufrimiento." Un encuentro casual en RĂo la lleva a Ginebra, donde sueĂa con conseguir fama y fortuna. Sin embargo, termina trabajando de prostituta. En Ginebra, la opiniĂn desesperanzada que MarĂa tiene del amor, se pone a prueba al conocer a un apuesto joven pintor. En esta odisea de descubrimiento personal, MarĂa debe elegir entre recorrer el camino de la oscuridad, el del sexo por el sexo mismo, o arriesgarlo todo para descubrir su propia "luz interior" y las posibilidad del sexo sagrado, es decir, del sexo dentro del contexto del amor.
Book
Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen
Ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski remembers his time in the circus as a young man during the Great Depression, and his friendship with Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, and Rosie, the elephant, who gave them hope. Reader's Guide included. Reprint.