1. "Slaughterhouse-five" by Kurt Vonnegut

This novel follows an average man throughout his life as a soldier in World War II and as an optician. The only difference is, is that he was taken by aliens and was taught to see the world through their eyes, and shows it as he flip flops to different moments in his life the entire book. With flashbacks and “flash-forwards”, the reader watches a life unfold in very different ways. It has a lot of meaning and will make you think in the way the aliens, the “Tralfamadorians” do.

2. "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov

This novel from the 1950’s is written in the eyes of a literature professor who falls in love with a 12-year old. As gross as it sounds, it is considered a classic and contains lots of twists and eye-opening, surprising pages.

3. "Blackhole" by Charles Burns

This is a graphic novel-taking place in the 1970’s, following a group of teenagers over the summer. A mysterious disease spreads among them, causing strange mutations. The novel focuses on 4 major characters, and with visually intriguing images the reader watches a story unfold as they uncover what is happening.

4. "1984" by George Orwell

Okay you’ve probably already read this for high school English, but come on this book is insane and incredible. Following a man living in a dystopian society where the government is always watching, he lives his daily life until the norm is disrupted and things go haywire. It’s always been interesting to read this and relate it to society now.

5. "The Shining" by Stephen King

Much like the movie, this novel is about a man and his wife and young son who become caretakers of a hotel during the winter. They were told the previous man had gone insane and chopped his family to pieces, but Jack Torrence thinks he can handle it. With detail and horrific descriptions, this book is terrifying and difficult to put down.