I am a person who absolutely LOVES to read. I remember earlier this past semester, like around September-October, I finished reading The Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann, which is quite possibly my favorite book! I really hope the list of these books inspire you all :), although please keep in mind that I love YA fiction, lol.

1. Valley of the Dolls By Jacqueline Susann

I personally love books that are more brash and controversial in nature, and I think this book is just that. I think this book isn't totally known, but it revolves around the lives of three women, Anne Welles, Neely O'Hara, and Jennifer North, who are trying to live in a Hollywood-run world in the 1940s to the '60's. Here, they all find themselves entangled with "The Dolls," which are another word for pills such as Seconal and Nembutal. Although taking unprescribed pills is not a message I would particularly be advocating for, I really did enjoy all of the stories that came from each of the girls, and I remember there being so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky

This was my absolute favorite book from 8th grade to 12th grade I think, and yes, I did have some expectations that weren't met during the movie. Seriously though, I lent this book out to about 12 people, and the last person I lent it to gave it back to me with a torn spine and some pages sticking out of the book. I really hope that means that a ton of people loved it as much as I do! I love the insight protagonist Charlie gives to the readers, by addressing us as "Dear Friend" at times. The book is a lot more graphic than the movie is, as they usually are, but I think that's why I love it so much. The honesty and vulnerability that Charlie gives is something that I personally love in books. Maybe it's my maternal nature, but I like hearing about the struggles protagonists go through and how they get through it.

3. It's Kind of A Funny Story By Ned Vizzini

This book was opposite to the prior book in that I watched the movie before I read the book. Again, it's a really cute, quirky, funny book that allows readers to hear about Craig's own misadventures, before and after he is admitted to a hospital. I haven't read this book in years, and I honestly should pick it up again, because I remember relating to it so much, and totally loving Craig. It really focuses in on themes like suicide and depression in adolescents, but it's very raw and it relates to Vizzini's own hospitalization experience. While in the hospital, Craig meets a lot of other patients that really turn his world upside down, especially a patient named Noelle, who, you guessed it, is Craig's "favorite" person in the hospital. I love this book, because it ends on a great note, where Craig decides to take his life back (sorry if those are spoilers).

4. Girl, Interrupted By Susanna Kaysen

Okay, I guess I could possibly have a thing for young adult fiction that includes protagonists who are going through a depressive hardship that may or may not lead them to a hospital. Does this also tie into my passion for the medical field and my desire to read into the minds of these patients? Maybe so. I just really fell in love with the movie, and I was working on a project for a rhetoric class I was taking, where I wanted to talk about life in mental institutions in the 1960s. I guess I was mostly inspired from Season 2 of AHS (Asylum), which I believe was set in 1964. This novel is also true to Kaysen's life, as she was hospitalized in the 1960s. It's also interesting to see what things were considered mental illnesses at the time that are completely normal today. I guess I'm also interested in seeing how our society has progressed!

5. Yes, Please By Amy Poehler

On a lighter note, I've just started reading this book, because I bought it yesterday at Barnes & Noble! I remember seeing the book this past summer and being too bummed that I couldn't buy it right there and then. I've loved Poehler ever since I saw her on SNL in the 2000s. I also loved the movie Baby Mama, and if you tell me that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey aren't the dynamic duo of Hollywood, you...might be right but I think they're a great pairing ok. Also I did binge all of Parks and Recreation... But, this book so far is funny, brutally honest, and unapologetic. She begins the book by discussing all of the mishaps that happened while she was in the process of writing this book. I am super excited to finish this book, because it's everything I love: a funny, badass gal who is honest and imperfect and proud about it.

6. Becoming By Michelle Obama

My mom bought herself and me this book for Christmas, and I'm excited to keep reading this book! Obama was the beloved FLOTUS, and I'm so curious to read about her personal life :). I love that her personality is one that balances both work and play, where her appearances on talk shows with hosts such as James Corden and Jimmy Fallon were entertaining and HILARIOUS. I wish I payed more attention to the presidency, but I used to be a person who felt that politics weren't that important. I consider myself someone who doesn't really like conflict, but I guess it's really time to bite the bullet. From reviews, I saw that it had all the qualities I liked in books, YAY! I really do hope I can appreciate this book as much as everyone else!

7. The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Oh man, is there some controversy behind this book. I know some people absolutely adore this book (i.e. my high school english teacher), and some people totally despise this book (i.e. students of said english teacher's class). I personally do like this book, but there were some questionable parts in the book, no doubt. Characters Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchannan, Tom Buchannan, Nick Carraway, etc. all had their flaws, for sure. Although every time I read this book, I can never decide if I'm more on Gatsby or Daisy's side... I think I do really like this book because of the aesthetic nature of it, where it was based in the 1920's Jazz Age, and I appreciate that. I like the flapper attire of feathers and glittery dresses and shoes, and seeing men in suits and also those intricate dances that used to appear. However, I am fully aware of the social commentary that came along with this time which was awful :(.

8. 1984/Brave New World By George Orwell/Aldous Huxley

This is weird, but I felt that these two books could be grouped because they have pretty similar themes: those of a dystopian, totalitarian society in which many things are prohibited unless they fall into line with said societal government standards (these books are different in their own ways though). To be honest, I never finished 1984, but I remember being totally mesmerized by the world that was in Brave New World. I remember I had to read Huxley's book for a summer reading assignment going into my junior year of high school, and right away I was blown away with it. I didn't complain about the read, tbh. I guess it's always interesting to see books that question the capitalist ideals that America has always been deemed so highly. I really need to finish 1984 huh...

9. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd By Agatha Christie

I read this book my freshman year of college for a class I really really did not like because of a TA lol. BUT it was very good, to my surprise. This book came with a ton of surprises, and it's one of those books that you really have to ask yourself if you can trust the narrator, because their truth isn't always correct/they might not be as reliable as you'd expect them to be. I think as I began to write a paper about this book for said class, I was further able to appreciate the book. If I remember correctly, the book kind of goes back and forth with narratives and time frames. But really, now that I'm thinking about this article, I realize how much I really enjoyed this book. Great read, def recommend.

10. The Awakening By Kate Chopin

Ahh, the Awakening. Again so much controversy with this book among my peers in high school, haha. Is our protagonist Edna Pontellier a feminist icon or is she just some weird, whiney girl? I would say the first, but please don't ask me to argue my point, thanks. I also had to read this twice for two different english classes in high school and in college, and I think I was more able to appreciate it when I read it in college :). But I still am a little torn by this book. Maybe I should read it again if I ever get the chance? I dunno. I guess I really like Edna because of her rebellion that progresses in the novel; however, we could see it as her descending more and more into madness, which sucks. I really think this book is a great read though, that's probably why it's recommended so often.

Thank you all for considering at least some of these books, I know some of you might not be fans of some of the young adult fiction/nonfiction, but I would hope you at least tried them!