#2 Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

(1966, Penguin)

“They say when trouble comes close ranks, and so the white people did.”

In Wide Sargasso Sea, a postcolonial parallel to Jane Eyre, Jean Rhys depicts the first Mrs. Rochester’s journey from the Caribbean to an English attic, giving her a voice and past.

I’ve wanted to read this book for ages. When I initially came across a reference to it, it was the first time I’d encountered the concept of giving a character in another author’s work a backstory (well, besides internet fanfiction), and the fact it had a postcolonial approach made it even more appealing.

Journey to the End of the World

If you knew the world was ending, what would you do? Climb a mountain? Fall in love? Run around  naked? Eat cupcakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

I’d like to read the best books ever written.

Sad, I know, but I’m an unrepentant bookworm, and there’s few things I like better than travelling the earth and beyond without having to pack a bag or break in sensible shoes. According to the Mayans/Roland Emmerich, I have until Dec. 21 2012 to do so.

But what are the best books ever written?