I once read in an article that in today’s day and age where everyone is running around scatterbrained, reading a book is equivalent to forced meditation. As someone whose mind constantly wanders in various tangents - a good story to cozy up to is often exactly what I need and look forward to at the end of the day. I’m all for self-help and self-improvement books (though I can never seem to complete one), but there’s nothing like a good story to act as a time portal to an immersive world.
Below is a compiled list of my personal favorites that are worth a read, regardless of time and age.
Happy reading!
1.) Night, Elie Wiesel
A school-assigned classic that ignites a fire for decades to come. One scene in particular is forever ingrained in my memory - starving prisoners fighting over the scarcity of food, especially when a son beats his own father to death over a piece of bread. The holocaust pinned mankind against each other in an unimaginable, heart-wrenching way, which Elie Wiesel details in his haunting encounters at Auschwitz.
2.) Goodbye Vitamin, Rachel Khong
It’s rare for a book to have an immense and lasting impact; ironically, this easy read is all about memory. Khong tackles heavy subjects - heartbreak, Alzheimer’s in the family, and affairs - with such lighthearted humor that it’s impossible not to smile at the great banter equipped with each quirky, narrated diary entry. Her father’s notebook entries also document the eccentricities of typical everyday moments, as laughable and candid father/daughter memories to last a lifetime.
3.) Brain on Fire, Susannah Cahalan
Do you recall the first time learning about mass hysteria - fabricated prosecutions using mental health or the supernatural as a scapegoat? The human brain can be at fault for anything, often making it difficult to distinguish between real vs. imaginary. Brain on Fire delves into the firsthand experience of former New York Post journalist, Susannah Cahalan, as her left brain becomes literally inflamed and therefore “on fire.” Her seizure symptoms and overall autoimmune diagnoses were deemed a possible explanation for demonic possessions in the past. One of the most fascinating and well-written memoirs I’ve read to date.
4.) Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn
If you’re looking for an absolute page turner, Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, is without a doubt, skillful at her craft of writing disturbing psychological thrillers. Filled with unexpected twists and turns at every page, this book explores self-destruction and spine-chilling evil in it of itself - all while painting women as the anti-hero, the exact opposite of weak and submissive.
5.) The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Gabrielle Zevin
*Cue backdrop of a crisp-smelling bookstore*
AJ Fikry is attempting to pick up the pieces of his own life after his wife’s death, while struggling to keep his independent bookstore afloat. When a prized book of value goes missing, what begins as a downward spiral is then framed with warm surprises and characters with good intentions. Consistently alluding to famous literature heroes, this book acts as a timeless love letter for avid readers and book lovers alike.
6.) Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
A single good friend’s worth is truly immeasurable, and this story serves as a weighty representation that genuine friendship is all anyone needs at the end of the day. Equal parts heartfelt and devastating, Eleanor will tug at your heartstrings, over and over again. Initially, she seems damaged and strange. You can’t help but grow a strange fondness, which eventually turns to pure love for her character, as the story unveils how past trauma affects the way people are in the present.
7.) Educated, Tara Westover
Some people are born into well-educated families and others, as depicted in this autobiography, must fight relentlessly at length to even step foot in a classroom. The author grew up watching her herbalist mother cater to others as a midwife, and helping out her father, who viewed mainstream society and school as a threat, in the family junkyard - both forms of extremism to digress (and completely isolate) from the mainstream world. This book does its job at allowing us to view education as the one true equalizer in society, yet as a privilege we take for granted.
8.) Men Without Women, Haruki Murakami
Murakami writes with fearless tenacity; his dialogue knows no boundaries and his unflinching characters dare to break social norms. This book is a collection of short stories that explore the crippling loneliness epidemic and love affairs; shining a light on our raw and innate human need for companionship, as well as the dismal outlook of a world without.
