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Below is a table listing the books I read recently and the top 3 takeaways.

2023

BookTop 3 Lessons
To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Understanding and tolerance are key to human relationships
  • People are often not what they appear to be
  • Courage comes in different forms
1984
  • The dangers of totalitarian regimes
  • The power of language and manipulation
  • Individuality and human spirit are irrepressible
Pride and Prejudice
  • Importance of marrying for love, not money or social status
  • First impressions can be misleading
  • Personal growth through self-awareness
The Catcher in the Rye
  • Challenges and alienation of adolescence
  • The phoniness of the adult world
  • Dealing with grief and loss
The Great Gatsby
  • The corruption of the American Dream
  • The destructive power of obsession
  • The illusion versus reality of the upper class
Moby Dick
  • The destructiveness of obsession
  • The search for meaning in life
  • The unpredictable nature of the universe
War and Peace
  • The human condition under the stress of war
  • The interconnectedness of life
  • Historical events are determined by a multitude of factors
Crime and Punishment
  • The mental and physical effects of guilt
  • The struggle between good and evil in human nature
  • Redemption through suffering
The Lord of the Rings
  • Friendship and loyalty are powerful forces
  • The danger of absolute power
  • Even the smallest person can change the course of the world
Ulysses
  • The complexities of human consciousness
  • The beauty in everyday life
  • Identity is a multifaceted and fluid concept

2022

BookTop 3 Lessons
The Old Man and the Sea
  • Persistence in the face of adversity
  • Man's relationship with nature
  • The dignity in struggle, whether won or lost
Jane Eyre
  • Individuality and self-respect in a restrictive society
  • The power of love and forgiveness
  • Importance of moral integrity
Little Women
  • The value of family and sisterhood
  • Women's independence and ambition
  • Growth and development through life's trials
Oliver Twist
  • The harsh realities of poverty and social injustice
  • The corruption of innocence
  • Resilience and the power of kindness
The Scarlet Letter
  • The psychological effects of sin and guilt
  • The hypocrisy and conformity of society
  • The resilience and strength of women
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • The hypocrisy of "civilized" society
  • Racism and slavery
  • Moral growth and friendship
The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • The destructiveness of vanity and selfishness
  • The influence of friends and society
  • The dichotomy of outward appearance and inner character
Wuthering Heights
  • The destructiveness of a love that is too strong
  • Class structure and economic disarray
  • Revenge can be a destructive cycle
Madame Bovary
  • The dangers of uncontrolled desire and romantic illusion
  • The dissatisfaction with middle-class life
  • The harsh consequences of escaping reality
Anna Karenina
  • The complexities of love
  • The search for meaning in life
  • The dangers of societal judgment

2021

BookTop 3 Lessons
A Tale of Two Cities
  • The redemptive power of love and sacrifice
  • The inhumanity of revolution
  • The complexities of dual identities
Moby-Dick
  • The obsession can lead to self-destruction
  • The complexity and ambiguity of good and evil
  • The influence of fate and free will on our lives
Great Expectations
  • The illusion of wealth and social advancement
  • The importance of authenticity and personal growth
  • The influence of upbringing on character formation
Middlemarch
  • The value of sympathetic understanding
  • The struggle between societal expectation and personal ambition
  • Marriage as a form of self-definition
Frankenstein
  • The dangers of uncontrolled scientific exploration
  • Rejection and the need for social belonging
  • Responsibility for our own creations
The Brothers Karamazov
  • The clash of faith and reason
  • Each person bears responsibility for all men's sins
  • The complexities of familial relationships
Les Misérables
  • The transformational power of love and compassion
  • The societal impact of poverty and injustice
  • The possibility of redemption
David Copperfield
  • The journey from childhood to adulthood
  • The effects of societal class on personal worth
  • Perseverance in the face of adversity
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
  • The societal constraints and double standards faced by women
  • The destructiveness of idealism and obsession
  • The injustice of social class and moral standards
Bleak House
  • The criticism of legal bureaucracy
  • Chaos and disorder under the veneer of society
  • The importance of altruism and compassion
© Zamir Akimbekov.RSS