The Holiday break is coming up and after stuffing yourself full of sweet treats and a delicious holiday dinner, you should also feed your mind with these great books!
1. "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith
This is Zadie Smith’s debut novel and it’s amazing. If you’re looking for a novel that is both funny while also tugging at your heartstrings, then this is the book for you. Smith’s novel centers around the hardships of mixed-race and immigrant citizens living amongst white society. The language is beautiful and once you start reading you will not be able to put this book down.
2. "The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie is a best-selling author and in this book, he uses his own experience to explore the Spokane Indian Reservation. The story follows a high schooler named Arnold, who leaves his school on the reservation to attend a problematic all-white school with a native American as their mascot. This novel is very funny and gorgeously written. This book also includes illustrations if you’re looking for something with some visuals. Overall this book is incredibly thought-provoking and provides a well-rounded view of a culture that is often forgotten in main-stream American novels.
3. "The Partly Cloudy Patriot" by Sarah Vowell
So, this is actually a collection of short stories by the fabulous and witty Sarah Vowell. Vowell takes you on a satirical journey of the American past ranging from the Salem Witch trials, the Civil rights movement, to Geroge W. Bush’s election. You will actually laugh out loud when you read Vowell’s insightful and funny essays on the complicated history and future of America.
4. "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros
This book is only 110 pages if you’re looking for something on the shorter side. However, this novel by Sandra Cisneros is just as powerful and poetic as the rest of the books on this list. The novel follows a young girl named Esperanza as she navigates life as a young Latina in a complicates household. Cisneros poetically describes the hopes and aspirations while also accurately portraying Esperanza’s quest for a better life.
5. "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Americanah is a novel by award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adichie novels focus on the dissection of race in the settings of the US and the UK. Adiche manages to cover three countries (Nigeria, UK and the US) and a whole range of topics such as identity, race, nationality, and love. Adiches beautifully weaves these stories together so that they come full circle in the end and forces readers to see the world in an entirely new light.
