The Fourth of July is just a couple of days away—did you buy enough burgers for the grill? Fireworks to drive the neighbors crazy? Blueberries, in order to make that red, white and blue fruity cake Americans love so much? Awesome! You're well on your way to a great Independence Day. All you're missing now is a good book for when you've grown tired of the hoopla and want to escape, but you've already watched Hamilton a trillion times and could maybe use a break.
Here are some books set against uprisings around the world that will satisfy your fighting spirit:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
This oldie-but-goodie about livestock who decide to stand up for themselves is based on the communist revolution in Russia, and the government corruption that soon followed. Maybe you read this in school, but it's still worth a read today.
The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes
While dying, the titualar character—a one-percenter—relives his days as a young revolutionary in Mexico fighting for the rights of the people. It's an all too familir tale, perfect for anyone who feels they've lost their way in the fight for freedom.
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Another classic, Hugo's then-controversial ideals about human rights for "undesireables" is presented neatly in this dramatic story of former bread thief Jean Valjean, set against the massive inequalities in Paris in the early 1800s, and the fight to make it less so.
Magic Seeds by V. S. Naipaul
This sequel to Naipaul's Half a Life follows Willie Somerset Chandran on his journey from refugee in Berlin to reluctant revolutionary in India, and to, inevitably, part of the bourgeoisie in the UK.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Get a peek into the Vietnam War through the "confession" of a POW who was actually a double agent—spying for the North while fighting with the South—and who learns the hard way that the blame for war is too varied and nuanced to be the burden for only one side of the fight.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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