My 2019 Reading Journey

Cheng Yong Sim
Nov 6 · 5 min read

“All of our stories, as much as they are about anything, are about loss . . . But the beauty of life is that inside these disappointments are hidden the most miraculous of blessings. What we lose and what might have been pales against what we have.” — Laura Schroff, An Invisible Thread

I have always found it difficult to begin reading books, let alone enjoy them. Not because I was incapable of doing so, but merely because ‘I did not like it’. My parents soon realised this was going to be an issue and had to find a way to fix it. They would read to me every night and sometimes have me read to them instead. The problem with this is that it was forced and ungenuine only a natural, sincere passion for reading would be meaningful. Luckily for me, this soon became a reality and one of my favourite pastimes. Books are proliferating with knowledge, and those who choose to immerse themselves in one are forever changed.

Ever since the beginning of time, humans have always conversed with another, but the way they wrote was and still is, infinitely unique to the individual. For example, two people may share the same experience, but the way they convey it will be completely different. The point is, no one writes nor talks the same. Every book I read shares the life of someone I would have never met and put me into their shoes. It led me to question the existence of things and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of things I thought I knew so well.

I began my reading journey this year with Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Golding made me rethink society as a whole and what would happen to me if I were in the same situation. It focuses on a group of schoolboys stranded on an uninhabited island after getting shot down trying to escape a war-torn Britain and their catastrophic attempt of governing themselves.

In the novel, Golding likens the idea of civilisation with good and the notion of savagery with corruptness. A simple analysis of the front cover of my specific copy of the book showed near-naked boys with flames surrounding them, and fire there is. Amongst all the chaos, is what I think to be, a pig, a symbolic figure for Piggy. Conflict is the driving force for this novel as the boys adapt to a crude life in the jungle, completely disregarding their disciplined pasts. In doing so, Golding shows us the importance of guidance and discipline, especially at an early age. The primary example of violence and the leader of anarchy of this novel is Jack, supposedly a choir boy before getting stranded. He is tall and bony but more importantly, a power-hungry individual. By the end of the novel, Jack learns to use the boys’ fear of the beast to control their behaviour.


Taking on a similar tone is George Orwell’s Animal Farm, an allegorical novel about a society ruled by animals. In both stories, the former ruling power is to be overthrown, no matter the cost. Mr Jones, the owner of the farm, assigns difficult jobs to the animals on the farm such as pulling carts, laying eggs, etc. Typically, the animals do not like being ordered to complete such tasks and see Mr Jones as a detriment to their welfare. The animals work as one to overthrow their current leader, without any thought of responsibility on their minds. Given this, I found myself with a greater understanding of teamwork and its power. However, I will not use it for rebellious acts as I understand my place in society. In Lord of the Flies, Ralph is the leader of the boys and assigns them various jobs to ensure their safety. He gives the job of looking after the fire to some of Jack’s hunters, only to become furious when they let it out. Just like the animals of Animal Farm, the children do not like being bossed around by Ralph. As a result, they blindly migrate to Jack’s group.

Despite the two leaders being much worse than their predecessors, the ones under control still comply with the new rules. In Animal Farm, Napoleon establishes new standards and states that if the animals do not follow them, the previous owner will come back. Knowing this, they listen to Napoleon’s orders without a doubt. The animals have no recollection of what their past owner was like and believe the life they are currently living is much better than their previous one.


In contrast, An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff is about an eleven-year-old beggar and a successful sales executive: Maurice and Schroff. Maurice is a young boy living in a dangerous, poverty-stricken household and Schroff is a thriving advertisement executive. The story is, like the title suggests, about the two being connected by an invisible thread. For Maurice, adults are frequently dangerous and unreliable. His mother leaves him at times to buy drugs or spend time in jail. His father left Maurice at a young age and left behind memories of violence against his mother. Schroff is the only exception to this; she is the only that truly cares for Maurice. Schroff teaches Maurice how to bake, attends his school interviews and even includes him as a part of her family. These acts of kindness are significant to Maurice as he had never felt loved before.

As the years go by, the two grow older but remain bound by an invisible thread. Maurice and Schroff find romantic partners and begin their new lives. However, Schroff’s first marriage ends with a melancholic divorce. She finds another man named Michael who she believes will both share and make her dream come true. However, her belief in this happening is also short-lived. Maurice ends up having children with two women, whom Schroff believes is far too soon for him to get married. But when Maurice marries Michelle, Schroff is proven to be incorrect. Now Schroff is the one left without a stable partner and any children, but Maurice remembers how kind and accommodating Schroff was towards him and includes her in his own family.

I took much from these three novels, the sheer power of leadership, how manipulative propaganda can be and the importance of family. They have changed my interpretation of life and led me to rethink the motives behind my actions. Regardless of the time, it just goes to show how well some of these books can mirror reality.

“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but it will never break. May you be open to each thread that comes into your life — the golden ones and the coarse ones — and may you weave them into a brilliant and beautiful life.” — Laura Schroff, An Invisible Thread

    Cheng Yong Sim

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