Elizabeth Gilbert writes about her journey to rediscover herself after an exhausting divorce. Gilbert had what most would call the perfect life, however, something was telling her that was not the case. She broke free of her confusion and messy divorce by leaving for a year to rediscover herself. Elizabeth Gilbert finds herself enjoying the delicious food and friendship in Italy, the art of yoga and meditation at an ashram in India, and finally her search for love and enjoyment in Indonesia. This book leaves you pondering your own life, and definitely gives you the travel bug. If you are looking for a great, feel-good read, this is the book for you.
The Notebook is what I would consider the most romantic books you could find because it makes you want to laugh and cry all at the same time. In a classic love story between two teenagers from different worlds, Noah and Allie fall in love and have an unforgettable summer together. Only to be separated by Allie going off to college and her never receiving the letters that Noah wrote her everyday for a year, their past seems to fade away like most summers do. However, years down the road, one thing is for sure, Noah has not forgotten about Allie, and Allie has not forgotten about Noah, either. Will Noah and Allie end up together? Or will she end up marrying her wealthy lawyer fiancé after all? If you have yet to read The Notebook, you are really missing out. Nicholas Sparks draws you into Noah and Allie’s relationship and leaves you begging for more. This is a great love story novel.
Holden Caulfield leads readers along his adolescent adventure after being kicked out of yet another prep school. Like most teenage boys, Holden decides to lay low and avoid going home early to see his family, where he would face the impending disappointment from his parents. Holden offers something for everyone as he explores New York and pretends to be much older than he is in an effort to make a good time for himself in his last few days of freedom. This novel is a classic and I would definitely recommend to put it on your list of books to read sometime in your life. Not to mention the fact that it boasts one of my favorite quotes of all time:
“If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she’s late.”
Thank you Holden Caulfield for those words of wisdom, or rather, thank you Mr. Salinger.
Sloane Crosley uses a compilation of her essays which provide readers with a wide array of topics to choose from and find relatable. Crosley adds both comedic relief and seriousness to her essays which makes them that much more relevant in today’s anecdotal standards. This collection of autobiographical essays is simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny and where-are-the-tissues poignant. Sloane Crosley gives the perspective of a single woman living in New York City – a witty and thoughtful perspective that will keep readers entertained on gloomy winter evenings.
Kate Atkinson has her main character lead a surprisingly abnormal life, where she experiences being born and dying shortly there after, time and time again. Atkinson is wildly inventive, darkly comic, startling poignant – this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best. Read this book if you are looking for something you don’t want to put down. It boasts many questions for the reader and serves as a very vivid read in which readers follow along with the author’s questions about life and the purpose we are meant to fulfill as human beings.
Love Does is a remarkable tale about one man’s journey for seeking change in a world where he believes that love does make a difference. Reading this book may seem surreal at some points, from dining with world leaders to serving in Uganda and building schools. Bob Goff will take your breath away with his unmatched passion and determination to make a difference in the world. For those of you looking for more of a spiritual read, this is absolutely the book for you. Bob Goff is truly a one-of-a-kind man who seems to convince readers that love really does work in magical ways.
This novel serves as a similar plot to Divergent, except with a heavy focus on the role of the arts as an outlet for sanity in such a troubling setting. There are many twists and turns throughout this novel that will leave readers with a thirst for what’s next. A surprisingly optimistic take about a near apocalypse and how art and religion play a significant role in all of it.
The Help is a story about an unlikely friendship between a maid and a feisty white woman named Skeeter. Skeeter and Abileen work together to expose the sadness and atrocities faced by working African-American in the south during that time period. The Help is a must read. If you haven’t read it yet, I urge you to pick up a copy as soon as you can and get to reading. This novel definitely serves as a good book to curl up to, and whether you’re laughing or crying, you will love this book.
Nawal El Saadawi brings together a heart-wrenching tale about a woman who is fighting for her freedom and her life. Saadawi, despite social negativity, unveiled many practices of corruption, surrounding women in Middle-Eastern countries such as Egypt. Saadawi’s book focuses her story on one woman in particular, Firdaus. As Firdaus’s story is peeled back, piece by piece, readers are summoned to the forefront of Firdaus’s overwhelming, brutal experiences. This novel is not necessarily the best one to curl up to, but it provides a riveting exploration through the world of female prostitution in Egypt and the mistreatment of Firdaus, which led to her imprisonment. I wholly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a page-turner that they just can’t put down.
An award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery. Brain on Fire is the intriguing story about one woman’s quest for rediscovery as she is faced with the hard truth of mystery surrounding her actions, which led to a hospitalized stay and loss of memory. This novel is a very interesting read that will take you along a troubling path of events, but luckily has a happy ending. It’s always good to find a book that is seemingly “destined to become a classic.”
*A Special Thank You to Jennifer Hauck and Lori Mosier for serving as excellent resources in the writing of this article!
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