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George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) was a great believer in the power of empathy to move her readers. Back when she was writing in the 19th century, empathy was generally known as ‘sympathy’.
This is a classic short-story from Ursula Le Guin, one of the greatest sci-fi writers ever. You can find it in her collection The Wind’s Twelve Quarters. It’s not long but it has a powerful empathic message at the heart of it.
When I first read this children’s book, I was desperate to give it to everyone I knew- first my flatmate, then my parents. In fact, I wanted to have kids so I could share it with them about ten years later (it‘s still waiting patiently on my shelf for that moment).
It's not a book for the weak hearted.
Actually, it'd be better to say it's not a book for someone who is strong, mentally and emotionally.
This is a story of Hazel and Gus. Both teenage cancer victims (for lack of a better word) who find one another just a little too late. Although Gus' cancer has a high survival rate, he is not destined to be in that 80%.
A mysterious (ghostly?) inspector exposes the contribution of every member of the Birling family in the suicide of Eva Smith.Birling's view that we are not all "bees in a hive" and that it is every man for himself is subverted by the Inspector who demonstrates how our actions impact upon others.
Persepolis is the story, in graphic novel form, of Marjane Satrapi's coming of age in post-revolution Iran.
I was hugely impressed when I came across Malaria, Poems. This collection really is a moving and powerful feat of the empathic imagination. Poems such as 'Still Born' take us into minds and lives that most of us barely or rarely think about, and the result is both shocking and inspiring.
Story of two boys, one black and one white, growing up on a farm in South Africa during Apartheid.