One of my favorite things to do on a lazy Sunday morning when it's cold outside is stay in bed, drink hot chocolate and read a book. It is the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a good story, so I decided to share some of my personal favorites to serve as recommendations for a day of relaxation before the inevitable stress of finals.
1. "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" by Raymond Carver.
Raymond Carver was considered the greatest short story writer of the 20th century, and his most well-known collection is also his best. There are 17 short stories within the book, and all center on the theme of love in the context of ordinary life. No one story is profoundly crazy, as Carver relies on realism to explore human relationships with each other, their children, their friends or themselves. Carver's simplistic writing style was influential because his use of minimalism had not been seen before; it gives the reader the feeling of having just enough, but wondering about something more - and the best stories are the ones that keep you thinking long after you've read them.
2. "Helter Skelter" by Vincent Bugliosi.
If you're looking for some shocking and gritty true crime, check out "Helter Skelter." This book documents the Mason family and their crimes in the late '60s, as well as their trial and sentencing process; it is written by the lead prosecutor in the case. Charles Manson was the charismatic leader of a group of hippies who supplied them with copious amounts of LSD, lead them in sex orgies and, eventually, asked several of them to murder for him. His followers, all young women and men, stabbed and killed actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, as well as six others in a two-day murder spree. They claimed it was for Manson's vision of "helter skelter": the supposed revolutionary battle for the world between whites and African- Americans. Manson told reporters that the murders were committed in order for an African-American to be blamed for them to set this war in motion. When it comes to true crime, reality really is stranger than fiction.
3. "The Dead Zone" by Stephen King.
One of Stephen King's lesser known books, the "Dead Zone" is a story about a man who lives an ordinary life as a teacher, who falls into a coma after a freak accident for many years. When he finally wakes up, his fiancée is married to another man and has a son, and more shockingly, he is struck by premonitions of the future that he cannot control. That is, until he has no other choice but to act on his visions. Creepy, moving, and with a powerful ending, this book has everything. Don't be daunted by the fact that Stephen King is the master of horror, because this story is more of a thriller than horror.
4. "Looking For Alaska" by John Green.
Now, you may have seen this book on many other best book lists and thought that it is probably overrated. Let me tell you, that is not the case. I first read this book four years ago when I was in high school, and the story was just as poignant than as it was when I re-read it a few months ago. Miles is the protagonist who decides to go to a boarding school in Alabama and meets a mysterious girl named Alaska. This isn't a love story, however. The book is so powerful because it deals with guilt, depression and redemption. The most important aspect of the story is how it deals with forgiveness: the most healing thing that we can do for ourselves and others is to forgive yourself, especially for what you cannot control. The importance of friendship is another theme that makes the story complete.
5. "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur.
This book of poetry is deeply resounding with the human spirit. The theme of survival is woven throughout the poems, with pain being brought to the brutal focus, allowing a healing process to begin with gentle, metaphorical and lyrical verses championing self-love, self-acceptance and self-healing. The main message of the poems in the book is that there is a little bit of goodness, a little bit of beauty ti be found even in the darkest of times, and that is something everyone can relate to at some point in her lives. The relatable words will make you feel like someone understands even your deepest feelings.
