There is nothing better than finding a book that you really enjoy and spending hours on-end reading it. As students, we do not have a lot of free time to read anything that is not school-related. However, below is a list of books that I have read and can personally vouch for. This list is not one of those conventional “Books Every Twenty-Something Needs to Read” deals. It is a list of books that do not necessarily teach you some grandiose life lesson, but rather intrigue your senses. These books are good for a rainy day in or a long weekend when you need an escape from your homework and/or the mundane reality TV shows being replayed on cable television.
1. “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane
This popular book was made into a popular movie back in 2010. The book follows the events of Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck Aule who go to Shutter Island on a ferry boat to the home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. They are sent to investigate the disappearance of a patient, Rachel Solando, who has escaped the hospital and the Alcatraz-like island, despite her having been kept in a locked cell under constant supervision. The book contains multiple twists and turns and when everything comes together by the end, you will be thoroughly confused and intrigued. If you have already seen the movie, I still recommend reading the book. Like always, the book is better (and more detailed) than the movie.
2. “Triptych” (and every other book in the series) by Karin Slaughter
My current reading obsession is the 6-book series by murder-mystery author, Karin Slaughter. This series follows the life of Will Trent, an awkward and gawky police investigator with a big heart. In each book, Will is presented with a new case and it is up to him to bring all of the details together. Something that really sets this book apart is that Will has dyslexia and throughout the series he struggles to hide it from his colleagues. Slaughter also writes another series and in the third book of this series, the two story lines begin to overlap. Each case that Will and his partner, Faith, encounter are solved under extraordinary circumstances. This is a great series to indulge in if you enjoy murder-mystery novels.
3. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Steven Chbosky
This popular book, also made into a movie, explores the life of 15-year-old Charlie, whose best friend recently committed suicide. Charlie befriends an eccentric group of kids at school and struggles to even fit in among them. However, this group of friends help get him through his first year in high school and he learns what it feels like to truly love someone. Along his journey, Charlie writes in a journal and by the end of the book Charlie comes to understand why he is so different than everyone else. A shocking event from his past will leave you feeling just as surprised and betrayed as he does by a family member. This book has some great, lighthearted moments, but is also heavy at times. Once again, even if you have seen the movie, you have to read the book to get the full effect.
4. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
Set in the 1940′s during Nazi Germany, this book follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young orphan who is taken in by an older couple. Liesel loves to read and throughout her life as a child finds herself stealing books whether it be from a burning pile or the mayor’s personal study. Liesel’s parents take in an old friend’s son, Max, who is a young Jewish man in need of a place to hide from the Nazis. Max and Leisel become friends rather quickly and form a special bond over their love for reading and writing. Readers learn about the harsh times that people, especially the Jews, faced during Nazi Germany through reading this book. The story of Liesel and her love for reading is a moving one .
Side note: It personally took me awhile to really “get into” this book (100 pages to be exact), but once I was really intrigued by the storyline, I did not want to put it down. So, if this is the case for you, I encourage you to give it a chance!
5. “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls
I read this book back in high school for a book report and it is still one of the best books I have ever read. The author has written other books about her family members as well, which are also fantastic. This particular novel focuses on the author’s life growing up in poverty at the hands of her dysfunctional parents. Jeanette’s mother is a free-spirit who believes her true passion is art, but she is “stuck” in life as a school teacher in order to put food on the table for her family. Rex Walls, Jeanette’s father is an alcoholic who uproots the family at a moment’s notice to new towns and disappears for days at a time. As you read the book, you will be able to feel the struggle that every member of Jeanette’s family encounters as they try to embark on their own personal journey through life together. Luckily, Jeanette grew up to be a successful editor, journalist, and writer, but her path to success was not an easy one.
Side note: Another great book by Jeanette Walls that profiles the life of her no-nonsense grandmother is “Half Broke Horses.” I highly encourage you to take a look at Walls’ work.
Hopefully this list has given you some inspiration to go read one of the five amazing books I have listed. For those who no longer like to go to the library or to order books online, they are all available in Kindle and/or iBook version. Happy reading!