It was once said by Neil Gaiman that “A book is a dream that you hold in your hands,” and what a truth that is. However, books are more than just an escape from reality, they’re an education, a hobby, and in my case (along with every other book worm to exists case) an addiction. It is easy for me as an English major to say there are no bad books, but there is a great deal of difficulty in narrowing down the books that changed my life to a short list of five novels. The following books in some shape or form hold immense values and life morals. Being an English major, I certainly could not convey to you the solution to a large algebraic equation, but I can unequivocally guarantee you that each and every one of these books will touch your heart, and sculpt your point of view on the world around us.
1. "A Prayer for Owen Meany," written by John Irving
This novel follows the childhood along with the adult life of John Wheelwright and his unique friend Owen Meany who has prophesied himself as one of God’s many instruments. The story is narrated in two different time frames by John Wheelwright, one in present day, and the other growing up alongside of his best friend, Owen. The adventures they share are humorous, emotionally fulfilling and life altering. Little Owen Meany was in fact right upon aspiring to be all that he was destined for. Owen Meany’s beautiful and eccentric character will touch your heart in places you were unsure existed.
2. "She’s Come Undone," written by Wally Lamb
“She’s Come Undone” is a novel that conveys the emotionally unstable life of Dolores Price. It follows Dolores’s many struggles from her father leaving her as a young child, to her dangerous obesity and bullying in her adolescent years. Throughout the book, Dolores is faced with one obstacle after another, and as we read on we find Dolores conquering each hardship with more confidence than ever before. This is a book that awakens everyone’s darkest insecurities and inspires all not to just overcome them, but to love them for everything they are.
3. "Lark and Termite," written by Jayne Anne Phillips
This outlandish novel conveys the life of Lark and her half-brother, Termite. The book is told by four different characters, each chapter introducing a new narration; Lark, Termite, Termite’s father and Nonnie (Lark and Termite’s caregiver). The story is set in a one horse town during the Korean War and follows Lark and Termite on their many adventures, including their escape from a place neither one of them calls home.
4. "All the Bright Places," written by Jennifer Niven
The novel “All the Bright Places” follows two teenagers, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch, who desire nothing more than to escape their small town home in Indiana. Violet having recently encountered a loss in her family yearns for nothing other than to run away from the memories embedded in her tiny hometown. Theodore continuously fantasizes of dying, but is always faced with something that prevents his plan of suicide from occurring. They are two very different people who share the very similar desire to escape. After being paired together for a project, the two unlikely pair find that the only way to escape is to escape into each other.
5. "Me Before You," written by JoJo Moyes
This book having recently been transformed into a box office hit, and the best romance movie of the year had touched my heart the moment this novel was published. For those of you reading, who have not yet read the novel or seen the motion picture, “Me Before You” follows the quirky Louisa Clarke who becomes a caregiver for the cynical, and unfortunate Will Traynor who recently became a quadriplegic. Louisa loves with the purest of its form, and only hopes that she can prevent Will from making the biggest mistake of his life. Will Traynor is undoubtedly the best male character written since the creation of Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcey. This novel will open, touch and even break your heart. "Me Before You” simply makes you fall in love with love.
I promise that all of these books are worth the amount of time it takes to read them. Book are essential to the world. They provide new insight, spontaneous adventures, and limitless opportunity. I encourage all those reading this to pick up a book and find the five books that will change your life like these have changed mine. After all, those who read never really live just once.
