You are a busy college student with no time for casual reading, and I get that. I am too. But then again there is that two-hour stretch on Thursdays, and what are you going to do during your next plane ride home? You certainly don’t want to waste the precious time you have! You could watch Netflix, see what that “House of Cards” business is all about, or you could reread the “Harry Potter” series again, for the fourth time this year. And if that’s what you want to do, that’s fine, but if you’re looking for something new and interesting but still not too heavy on the whole learning thing, well then, here are the authors for you!

David Sedaris

David Sedaris is by far the most entertaining way to spend a bus ride. If you spring for his audiobooks, you might even mistake him for a stand-up comedian. His stories of family, travel, and all the little things he notices about people are hysterical and highly relatable.

Best-Known Books: “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” "Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls," & “When You Are Engulfed in Flames”

Toni Morrison

If you haven’t read any Toni Morrison by now, someone along the way to college failed you. This is a woman who has already made a place for herself in history for her beautiful writing on themes of racial equality, as well as familial love and feminism. Honestly, the world would be a better place if everyone was forced to read her books ... not that force is really necessary.

Best-Known Books: “Beloved,” "The Bluest Eye," & “God Help the Child"

Haruki Murakami

Walk into any book store and ask for the newest Murakami, I dare you. Whoever you talk to, the person will know exactly what you are looking for. Haruki Murakami's writing is dark, not at all thriller, but truly relatable for those going through any type of depression or life crisis. It is realistic but also so creative that you will begin to believe in the dreamlike worlds Murakami creates.

Best-Known Books: “1Q84,” "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World," & “Norwegian Wood"

Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel series, "Persepolis," acts as a memoir of her life, from a little girl growing up in Iran, to a young adult finding her way in Europe, and finally, as a fully grown woman returning home to Iran. Her art is cute, but deceptively so. Every corner of every panel carries meaning. It is the type of series you have to read many time before you notice everything.

Best-Known Books: "Persepolis" & "Persepolis 2"

Junot Diaz

Junot Diaz's 2013 book, "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," is the story of an overweight nerd from the Dominican Republic, or maybe he is from New Jersey. It depends on where he is, of course. When Oscar goes to live in New Jersey with his family for the first time, he has to adapt to life in the United States, and when he returns to the Dominican Republic he is defined by the culture of video games and comic books he carries with him.

Best-Known Books: "Drown," “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," & "This Is How You Lose Her"

Stieg Larsson

Have you ever seen the 2009 film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”? Well, don’t worry, the movie has almost nothing to do with the book. The endings are completely different, characters are changed, sometimes combined, and you really shouldn’t be comparing books to their adaptations anyway. Larsson’s novel is the first in his “Millennium Trilogy,” a crime thriller series published after his unfortunate death in November 2007. It is the story of a partnership between a journalist whose found himself with a fight on his hands and a hard core young woman who turns out to be the heroine you never knew you needed.

Best-Known Books: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Girl Who Played with Fire," & "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest"

Mariko Hashioka

Mariko Hashioka, or as she is better known, Natsuo Kirino, is another author of crime fiction, and one of the most well known in Japan. Although she has not been as widely read in the United States as others on this list, she is certainly someone to keep an eye on.

Best-Known Books: "The Goddess Chronicle," "Real World," & "Out"

Thomas Hardy

Maybe you were forced to read “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” in high school and maybe you caught onto its feminist themes and absolutely loved it! Or maybe it was one of many dreadful experiences with romanticism, for you. Either way, it left an impression, didn't it? Thomas Hardy's books may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy a bit of nature and don't mind taking things slow, they could be the perfect read for the end of a stressful week.

Best-Known Books: “Jude the Obscure,” "Far From the Madding Crowd," & “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist novelist, whose name you may recognize from the buzz over her recent book, “Americanah.” It was listed among the 10 best books of 2013 by The New York Times and depicts the nonsense that is race in America from the perspective of a Nigerian American. Sure to be a hilarious, if not slightly depressing, read for an American college student, or anyone really.

Best-Known Books: “Americanah," "Purple Hibiscus," & "We Should All Be Feminists"

Stephen King

I don't think I have to explain who this is. Just know that he’s going to scare you and you’re going to love it!

Best-Known Books: "It," "Carrie," "The Shining," & many more!

Now, I understand that there are hundreds of authors equally deserving of a spot on this tiny list (though maybe not as deserving as Toni Morrison), but I can't recommend anything I haven't read myself. If you or someone eyeing this article over your shoulder has any more suggestions, feel free to share! None of us have time to read but that doesn't mean we can't dream about it!