Anyone that knows me, knows that books are a very important part of my life. More than simply being interesting, books allow the reader to live the lives of all the characters and to feel all that the characters feel. I especially love reading books that my friends or family members find interesting and recommend to me. Nothing beats the smell of a new book or your hand cramping from holding the book in the same position for too long. So instead of binge-watching a new show on Netflix this summer break, try picking up a book and binge reading that. Hopefully the next book you pick up will be one of the following,

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

If you love yourself a nice love story, be assured you will love Wuthering Heights. It is a gothic take on the traditional love story. This novel portrays love as out of this world, capable of consuming and destructing those who fall in love. After reading this gothic novel, you’ll most definitely deem the best love story you have ever read and realizing that for the main characters in this novel, falling madly in love means going mad.

2. 1984 by George Orwell

At some point in your life you've probably heard the phrase "Big brother is watching." Whether you knew the context of the phrase or not, it is fairly easy to infer its meaning. Yet, for those who do not know where this phrase comes from, it is straight out of the novel 1984. 1984 is a dystopian novel that depicts a future of brainwashing, rules, and monitoring.

3. The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest all make up the Millennium series. This series follows the lives of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist. On one hand we have a young woman who is legally incompetent and is forced to be under the wing of a legal guardian. On the other hand, we have Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist who is found guilty in a libel case. These three novels allow the reader to see the relationship of Lisbeth and Mikael evolve as they solve crimes and follow leads.

4. Beloved by Toni Morrison

Beloved takes place post civil war and focuses on a slave who escaped slavery. This novel follows Sethe and her actions as she escapes being recaptured. It also follows Sethe and her family as they are haunted in many ways by her dead daughter. Beloved with keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you turning the page.

5. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Another Toni Morrison must-read, The Bluest Eye focuses on a young girl who's self esteem is completely destroyed by society and race. This novel is very controversial in nature because of its explicitness of dealing with and depicting racism, molestation, incest, and inferiority.

6. Fire Lover by Joseph Wambaugh

Based on a true story, Fire Lover depicts how one man managed to live a double life and lie to many people around him. Fire Lover seems surreal in its depiction of a fireman turned arsonist. Fire Lover not only plays with your emotions, it keeps you sitting at the end of your seat waiting what will happen next.

7. The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in A Small Town by John Grisham

Innocent Man is based on the story of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz. These two men were convicted and set on death row for a crime they didn't commit. John Grisham depicts the errors and the injustice committed that led to the conviction of Williamson of Fritz. Innocent Man shows how the lives of two men were turned upside down as a result of lies and tainted evidence.

8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Another dystopian novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? follows the lives of those who managed to survive a world war. This novel shows what happens when artificial humans are invented and are unwilling to stay secluded. Artificial humans, artificial animals, and a race to survive will keep you glued to this novel.

9. Room by Emma Donoghue

Can you imagine being stuck in the same room for five years? You probably can't but for Jack, his room was his entire life. Room portrays a five year old boy as he and his mother are forced to live in a room and not leave for any reason. To Jack his room is everything, but to his mother the room is a prison. Room will have you tearing as it depicts innocence, change, and journey.

10. The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg

Written by Swedish author Camilla Läckberg as her debut novel, Ice Princess tackles crime, mystery, and dark secrets. Centered in Fjällbacka, this novel shows as a detective and friend of the victim look into a the suspicion suicide Alex. Not only will you be captivated by the context of the novel, you will be captivated by how carefully Läckbery depicts the town and the sceneries.

11. The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe

By far my favorite writer, Edgar Allan Poe is widely known for his darkness and horror. This edition contains all of Poe's short stories and poems. On your next free day, pick yourself up this collection of Poe's short stories and poems. Be prepared for darkness and horror.