Long ago, before cell phones and iPads, there used to be these bound pieces of paper with words on them that created a new world that people read and shared with their friends. If I remember correctly, they were called books. Books seem like relics now that the only thing anyone reads are other people’s statuses on their newsfeeds. But once in a while, you find a person that shares the same love for the literary arts. If you are one of those people, I want to share with you some titles that have resonated with me for years. Some of them are titles you might have already read; you may have heard of others but never bothered to read them. Fair warning: I am a little biased towards the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres, and I had to include series because I can’t mention just one book out of a trilogy without telling you to read the other two. However, these are books that mean a lot to me, and I will feel satisfied if even just one person who reads this picks up one of these fantastic titles.

1. “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton

You may be thinking, “Why would I want to read a book about dinosaurs?” Well, think again because, although on the surface the dinosaurs are an important factor in the way the story progresses, but they are just a red herring to the genius theories and philosophies that Crichton introduces in this book. It is so much more than a group of people trying to avoid getting eaten by dinosaurs. There is so much depth in the story that kept me reading and hungry for more when I finished.

2. “The 5th Wave” Trilogy by Rick Yancy

As some of you may recall, “The 5th Wave” movie came out in theaters this past January. I have always been a big advocate for reading books before seeing their motion picture counterparts. For this one especially, I would say skip the movie and just read the book. The story is so interesting, and there is way too much detail for any movie to even cover half of it. I have read this trilogy twice already and it gets better every time. Yancy gives a great description of a world we could never imagine and makes it seem real. His characters, especially the main female protagonist, has their own clear voice that makes you care about them like a friend. I would definitely recommend this series if you have an affinity for end-of-the-world, dystopian novels.

3.“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Do not roll your eyes at me. Yes, this is a typical high school required reading book, but that does not mean that it is not one of the greatest books ever written. There is a reason why schools chose this book to make students read, and it is not because they wanted to torture us with a boring story. This book is anything but boring. There’s love, lust, death, truth, and parties all set in the roaring 20s and wrapped up into one incredible story. This book is a classic that I believe everyone should read at least once.

4. “The Weird Sisters” by Eleanor Brown

If you have sisters, this book will be a joy to read. Brown truthfully describes family and the way they support and keep secrets from one another. You get to get inside the minds of all three sisters and find out each one’s secret before the family even knows. They may have had their problems, but by the end, I felt like part of the weird sister’s family. This book has really stuck with me and I feel like I can appreciate the importance of family and how keeping secrets from them can potentially cause more harm to yourself. Especially if you have siblings, I guarantee this book will leave you satisfying reading experience.

5. "The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkein

Again, don’t roll your eyes at me! I know this type of fantasy is not for everyone. But if you decide to give it a chance, you will be taken with Frodo on his journey into Middle Earth and back again. It is incredible in the world that makes up The Lord of the Rings. There are characters that you come to love and admire and creatures that you could never imagine. If you are a big fan of the movies, take the time to read the books. I promise you will not be disappointed. Besides, who doesn’t love a good adventure?