Hard to be a God, by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

Many years ago, when I used to read a lot of science fiction, I read a book by Arkady and Boris Strugastky, Prisoners of Power. I don't remember any of it, except that I liked it. Recently, I came upon a reference to Hard to be a God in Masha Gessen's excellent The Future is History, and ordered it.
It's a very good book, a metaphor of the rise of totalitarian dictatorships and a reflection on the frustrating powerlessness of informed individuals to affect the course of the events unfolding before their eyes, which is always relevant, today as in times past.
Written as a swashbuckling tale, with more blood and gore than even Game of Thrones, it makes for an exciting read. And it manages to deliver what any good sci-fi book should - thought provoking about important issues relevant to our world, because any sci-fi book is really about our own world. The talks between the protagonist Rumata - a very engaging character - and the healer (proto-scientist) Budach and the rebel Arata are particularly moving. I highly recommend this book, and it made me want to read more by the Strugatsky brothers.

Uma Mulher Desnecessária, de Rabih Alameddine

I loved this book, because it's such a love letter to books and literature and the way they can redeem one's life, giving it meaning and purpose. The main character is extremely humane and believable, the evocation of Beirut, a city torn by war and modern development, is moving and real, as are the people described, particularly the three neighbours. The nostalgic tone reminded me of Mathias Enard's Boussole, another powerful and touching hymn to literature.

And I was glad for so many references to Fernando Pessoa and a few to Saramago.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari

I cannot recommend enough Harari's books, I definitely think they should be mandatory reading in high school in any civilised country. You cannot find more insightful, sensible and lucid information about the problems our species faces today. I would like to quote so many of the book's sentences that I end up not quoting - you just have to read it, it's SO worth it. The author is certainly one of the greatest minds writing at the moment. Please read it.