Throughout this semester, I have struggled to find time in my days to read for pleasure. As an avid reader, this has been disappointing for me and I am sure that others feel the same way. During the month-long winter break, I am looking forward to reading as much as I possibly can. Below is a list of books for those who are also hoping to keep their nose in a book for the entirety of break.
1. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
After watching Pitch Perfect about 100 times to the point that I have the entire movie memorized, I was so excited to hear that Anna Kendrick was releasing a memoir of her own. The day after the book was released, I had the opportunity to see the actress speak about the experience of writing it and I laughed out loud for an hour and a half. The book is witty yet heartfelt, and you will find yourself dying laughing about her experiences in the industry - especially the chapter on the Twilight saga.
2. Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded by Hannah Hart
I've been watching Hannah Hart's YouTube channel for years, especially her My Drunk Kitchen episodes, so I picked up a copy of this book as soon as it was released. It was shocking to learn about her experiences with depression and a mother with schizophrenia and made me cry on multiple occasions. For those who are Hannah Hart fans, and even those who are not, this book is a must.
3. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan
Marina Keegan graduated at the top of her class at Yale University in 2012, and was looking forward to a successful future. However, her life was cut short just five days after her graduation in a tragic car accident. This book consists of a series of essays and stories written by Keegan throughout her years at Yale and her words are far beyond her years. One of Keegan's professor's at Yale wrote that "Marina wouldn't want you to read her book because she is dead, but because it is good." The Opposite of Loneliness is some of the most powerful writing I've ever seen, and is very relatable to anyone.
4. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God was a book recommended to me by a high school English teacher, and upon first read, I was hesitant that I would enjoy it; however, with themes of gender roles and the historical context of the post-Civil War struggle for African American equality, I was intrigued. In this day and age, where women in America are still fighting to be seen as equals to men in many aspects of life, it is important for students, who will soon grow to become the voices of their nations, to become aware that gender inequality is not a new concept and this book does a great job of displaying this.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Out of all of the books I read in a high school English class, The Kite Runner is the one that had the greatest impact on me. The novel is based in a world that we are not exposed to often enough and really helps better one's understanding of Afghan society and culture. The story is absolutely unbelievable, devastating, inspiring and one that I recommend to every single person that needs something new to read.
6. The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
While it is likely that you have already read these books, it has probably been years since you first experienced the wizarding world of Harry Potter. For me, it has been over ten years since I first opened Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. However, I know that reading them again will be a completely new experience. Despite the fact that the series is fictional, the novels do reflect real-life situations that we have all been in and the series is one that I hold near and dear to my heart. I am still waiting for my Hogwarts letter.
