76 books like Messages

This novel is an immersive read with heaps of empathy for all its characters but especially for the two sisters whose perspectives are at the center of the story: the twin who disappears to live a secret life, passing as white, and the twin left behind.

We don’t get the perspective of Stella, the vanished twin, until 14 years after her disappearance, 150 pages into the book. By then, I was fully absorbed in the grief and unanswered questions of the people she’d abandoned, eager to finally know where she’d been all this time and to understand her complex motivations and the emotional and mental toll of relinquishing—and hiding—her racial identity, her community, her sister, and her past. I picked this book up and didn’t put it down until it was done.

I read this book when I felt like I was lost on my manifestation journey. Some things would come to fruition, but others wouldn’t, and I wanted to know where I was stuck and how I could fix it.

This book gives practical advice on manifestation methods on a holistic level. It allows the everyday person to take the bite-sized chapters, digest them, and apply them to their lives.

I learned so much from the funny stories Jen talks about in her book and the timeless techniques that have helped me shape my manifestation practice.

I love this novel for its hilarious, unique take on the rage-against-the-patriarchy trope. Elizabeth Zott, the novel’s lead, is a refreshing portrayal of a woman battling the world of mansplaining while doing it in the most stereotypically “female” way—cooking up a storm! As a chemist, her scientific breakdowns of how ingredients chemically react with one another make for many humourous moments on the page. 

This is a book that will have you hooting with laughter and rooting alongside the protagonist till the very end. It mirrored the frustrations I have often felt as a working woman and left me vindicated for the times I, too, have “behaved badly” in male company.

I love this book because it is about water crystals and the effects of positivity and negativity on their formation. I also love that it contains a theme I consistently seek: pursuing your dreams despite what others say to discourage you or belittle your idea.

Japanese scientist Masaru Emoto shows us through text and photos what form a water crystal takes when it “hears” beautiful music and benedictions versus heavy metal sounds and demeaning, scary words. Though not technically for children, I think its message is one they should know and even be raised on. The fascinating photos show the beauty of crystals and, sadly, their deformity depending on what they are exposed to. The simple acts of singing and praying not only lift us up, but they also have a mysterious power to honor water and acknowledge its sacredness. 

Of all studies trying to uncover the true background and perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington, this book goes furthest by claiming they were a plot jointly hatched by neo-conservative Zionists in the US government and Likud hardliners in Israel.

It makes a convincing case that the attacks used 19 Arab patsies and various decoy operations to convince the world that the culprits were fanatical Muslims and a War on Terror (in practice, against Israel's enemies) was justified.

Maybe I should give a warning with this recommendation—don’t start this book with plans to give it just 15 minutes and then get your beauty sleep.

I stayed up well into the wee hours of the morning reading this powerful true story of survival, loyalty, and courage. It made me feel like I was with Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as she led him down the stairwell of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11 after the first plane struck.

This gripping story highlights the bond between a guide dog and his human—and also gives us a glimpse into a day that forever changed America.

This is the sole non-fiction recommendation on the list. However, with its message of hope and optimism, it seems like a fairy tale in these days of partisanship and hatred.

The book details how the small city of Gander in Canada rallied around to provide safe haven to the passengers of 38 airplanes which had been bound for the US on 9/11. The stranded travelers are greeted by a welcoming community, build lifelong friendships, and find solace and peace in a time of grave uncertainty.

The description of the small acts of kindness which positively impacted the lives of strangers and fostered a feeling of worldly brotherhood is heartwarming and uplifting. It also showcases how the world came together for America in its hour of need.

A book rarely brings me to tears. I didn’t know what to expect when I first picked up this one. The main thing I love about this book is that it takes you right into the head of the main character, who happens to be a very precocious nine-year-old boy. Outwardly, the main character is on an adventure to solve a mystery, but inwardly, he’s on a journey to come to terms with his father’s death.

The protagonist–who, on the surface, is nothing like me–made me feel and address things I had not come to terms with in my life. I felt myself struggling along with the character, and then I ultimately began to heal with him, too. It’s a powerful, tragic, yet absolutely hilarious story that allowed me to forget myself for a while before realizing that I was learning about myself the entire time I read it.

This book is well-written with language that’s easy off the tongue and sweet on the ears. I appreciate the main character, Dèja’s, spunk, and confidence despite her family being unhoused. I also enjoyed how the story’s characters, though from different cultural backgrounds, get along organically while working together on a difficult school assignment.

The ending is satisfying and hopeful. And I truly appreciate the story’s takeaway theme—confronting the past is more empowering than ignoring it.

An American Muslim is chosen blindly by a jury to design a memorial to the 9/11 victims, opening it up to vociferous debates and dissensions, much like the Ground Zero Mosque controversy.

The author uses her vast experience as a New York Times journalist to eloquently describe the warps and wefts of the fabric of New York society, and starts tugging at several threads as it all unravels. The players’ tug-of-war is well portrayed in rich texture, while the politicians’ intent on not letting a good crisis go to waste adds satirical color to the expansive tapestry.

As a creator, one feels that art has no religion and has no boundaries. The axiom is severely tested in the face of rabid nationalism, parochial intolerance, and a media free-for-all.