I grew up reading. For whatever reason, I really loved diving deep into books, and brought them with me everywhere I went. I remember one of my biggest accomplishments being how fast I read Twilight in the fifth grade (it was in a few hours on a snow day). I can only imagine that my future children will be readers just like me, and I hope it sparks their curiosity.
1. The Martian by Andy Weir
What the recent movie starring Matt Damon was based off of. You likely saw it, but didn't know that it was a book. I'm currently reading this fantastic novel filled with science and with humor. 10/10.
2. Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
This book was one that I was forced to read for my AP Psychology class as summer homework, and I am actually really glad that I sat down and read this one. Gladwell also has other books out you might have heard of: Outliers is one of his bigger ones. Blink is all about provoking your unconscious and using it to its fullest potential. Weird, right? Give it a good read.
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
This book is one that I am also currently reading, and had to for one of my classes. If you've ever taken a science class, particularly biology, you've likely heard of HeLa cells, but the woman behind the cells never got a whole lot of recognition - until now. Published in 2010, this book is often spoken about in class, and challenges the ethics of the scientific community. If they took Henrietta's cells without her knowledge, and her cells led to phenomenal discoveries, why didn't her struggling descendants know, and why weren't they given some sort of benefits? This book discusses that further. If you are remotely interested in science, this book is one for you. I would want my children to see both sides of science: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Haddon's novel is one that I randomly stumbled upon while digging... okay, snooping, through my uncle's home in San Francisco. It looked like a WEIRD book, with a weird title, but this book turned out to become one of my all-time favorites. I even wrote an essay on this book for class and didn't hate it. This book has plot-twists and challenges your heart as well as your soul, so I would want my future children to read this to shape their lives, too.
5. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
A pure classic. That is all. A hilarious book
6. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
I'm just gonna leave this here.
Let's be real, I'm going to have such sciencey nerd children. Ugh. Yes.
7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
All-time favorite classic. I wish I got to experience this flapper life, and I want my future children to see that not all good came out of the flapper life. I also want them to achieve their dreams and to aim big. To get the girl/boy/whomever they want.
And, who doesn't love a little Leo?
8. 1984 by George Orwell
The original dystopian. If you liked The Hunger Games, you'll probably like this. Big Brother is always watching.
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
You really can't go wrong with this book. If you liked the movie, you'll love the book. I have the trilogy, and if you contact me I WILL let you borrow them.
10. Looking for Alaska by John Green
You read The Fault in Our Stars. You cried over it, too.
This book is better. Trust me. I desperately want this book to become a movie... but it never will. We think. Experience this book by reading it. You won't put it down.
11. Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Rand is a wild one. I adore her. If you read one book before you die, let it be this one. The Fountainhead has shaped my entire life, and I hope it shapes theirs, too.
12. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
I think I read this book 15 times when I was a kid, and then I watched the movie and sobbed. This book is a legitimate classic that we all deserve to read, and I hope that my future children read this book over and over and love it as much as I did.
13. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
YES. THIS BOOK. I adore this whole book and its existence. This book was my all-time favorite children's book and it was always the one that I wanted to read when my parents said "Now go pick out a book before you go to sleep." This book is that book.
14. Every Day by David Levithan
I read this book in a Starbucks and absolutely bawled my eyes out. I'm embarrassing. The love that this book floods itself with is completely unreal and so precious. I love it. This book makes you think about what your every day looks like, and how to make the most of every moment.
