I’ve read quite a few books in my short 20 years, some better than others. Here is a list of some of my favorites!
1. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
This is a book I stumbled upon completely by accident and I never thought it would become a favorite. I was on a school trip to Washington DC and found myself in an old used bookstore. The store could be described as a two story box. It was tiny. The floors were sunken in and the wooden stairs were quite lopsided. Thankfully, I didn’t fall through the floor, and thankfully, I picked up this book. It is the only book I’ve ever read that is told from the point of view of a dog. Enzo is a philosopher of a dog; he believes that once a dog dies, he comes back as a human. As the book starts, Enzo is nearing the end of his life and reminisces on old times with his race-car-driving owner, Denny. Enzo learns that just like racing, life is not always about going fast.
2. The Awakening - Kate Chopin
I was required to read the short novella, “The Awakening” during my 12th grade AP English Literature class. I’ve never been a fan of the assigned reading we have to do in school. I grudgingly began reading but found myself unable to put the book down. According to CliffNotes, The Awakening, written in 1899, “was condemned…for its heroine's unrepentant drive for independence and emotional, sexual, and spiritual awakening.” It wasn’t until the mid-1900s that audiences, especially female ones, found a relationship with the protagonist and began revering the book. The story follows Edna Pontellier, a wealthy housewife with two children. While her role is clear--be a homemaker, take care of the children, cook, clean, and beck and call to her husband's every need--Edna often strays from her chores and instead learns to swim, takes up painting, and leaves her husband after having an affair with a young man. What a rebel! Eventually, all of her, uhm, extracurriculars, catch up to her, and Edna is forced to choose between complete captivity with her family or ultimate freedom away from everything.
3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
We’ve all seen the classic children’s movie “Alice in Wonderland,” but have we all read the book that started it all? In reality, they’re very similar, but there’s something about reading it that allows you to insert yourself into Wonderland. While it may not seem like it at first glance, I find that Alice is a very relatable character. After getting bored with her homework, she dives into a world of her own. To get away from our problems, we often do the same, whether that “world” be music, movies, art, or writing. I admire the imagination of Lewis Carroll and the way he added a surprise around every turn.
4. The Color of Water - James McBride
The Color of Water is another book that I stumbled upon. It was on a classroom bookshelf my junior year and I just decided to read it. It is an autobiography of James McBride as well as a lovely tribute to his mother, Ruth. Ruth, a white woman, was born into a Jewish family and spent much of her childhood living in the southern United States. In her teenage years, Ruth ran away to New York to be with her boyfriend and father of her unborn child. Her family disowned her because of her failure to embrace Judaism as well as her desire to be with a black man. The story follows Ruth on her journey, told from the perspective of her son, James. She goes through many trials, such as troubles with her sister, the death of a husband, and raising 12 children. All in all, The Color of Water is a wonderful book about religion, race, hard-work, and a mother’s love.
4.5. The Cellar - Natasha Preston
I listed this book as 4.5 instead of 5 because I haven’t finished it yet, but I think it will be in the running. The Cellar is about a British teenager named Summer, who is kidnapped one night while walking to a party. She finds herself in an extraordinarily clean, nicely furnished cellar with three other girls. The man, Clover, calls her Lily, and the other three girls Rose, Violet, and Poppy; his flowers. The other girls have been down there for years, but Lily knows she will get out. The story is told from several perspectives, including Summer’s, her boyfriend, Lewis’, and her kidnapper, Clover’s. This is one of those books that keeps me up at night because I can’t put it down. I am so excited to find out what happens to Summer and the other flowers.
What are some of your favorite books? Let me know in the comments so I can check them out!
