So, it’s the summer, you finally have no school work, and you spend your days tanning beside the pool or by the ocean. Personally, I’m not too big of a fan of the beach, but I know that as a proud bookworm I always looked forward to these lazy days under the sun so that I could catch up on my reading. This being said, one of the great pleasures of reading a lot is sharing your book recommendations with friends, family, or anyone willing to hear them, so here are mine:
1. “Room” - Emma Donoghue
If you watched Room at the start of the year, you’ll know how enchanting and gripping to story of Jack and his Ma is. Forget the fact that the movie catapulted Jacob Tremblay into the spotlight and granted Brie Larson an Oscar, the book deserves the attention here. Told from Jack’s point of view, you are exposed to the many dimensions of his life by a terribly entertaining and wonderfully cute narrator which allows for grammatical errors and such a naive sense of understanding of the world you’ll want to be a child again.
2. “The Vacationers” - Emma Straub
Nothing more cliché than going on vacation and reading about a family which does the same, right? Well, kind of. This book is shorter and more fast-paced, though very entertaining. You are introduced to a myriad of different characters, and I guarantee you you’ll relate to at least one of them. I picked this book up on a whim one day, and didn’t regret it at all.
3. “The Goldfinch” - Donna Tartt
This is one of my favorite books ever, and it won the Pullitzer Prize a few years ago. The story of Theo, who finds himself alone in the world after his mother dies because of a bomb placed in a musem in New York is enthralling, haunting, and multi-faceted. This is a long book, and not for the brave-hearted since Tartt’s narrative style tends to get verbose and lyrical at some points, but it’s definitely worth the read and the time.
4. “Not that Kind of Girl” - Lena Dunham
Another book I kind of picked up on a whim but loved reading. Dunham’s collection of essays are funny, thought-provoking, light and easy to read, and her narrative voice is so present that you really feel like you know her by the end of the book. This book will make you feel all kind of different things, but it’s worth it.
5. “The Bell Jar” - Sylvia Plath
Again, another book that is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s not deemed classic in vain. The book is short but will take you on a deep journey into Esther’s, and one might argue even Plath’s, own psyche. Very complex and extremely relevant, especially in today’s society.
6. “The Opposite of Loneliness” - Marina Keegan
Let me start this off saying it is a pity that Marina Keegan will never be able to gift us with the beauty of her writing ever again. As sad and tragic as her own story may be, Keegan left a legacy behind in the form of fiction and non-fiction essays and poetry. If you read her piece about graduation called “The Opposite of Loneliness”, which went viral after she died in a car crash, you’ll know what I mean when I say that her writing has quite a mystical quality about it. Her other essays carry her voice forward, exploring various different aspects of a young person’s life and making sure people remember her.
7. “Harry Potter Series” - J.K. Rowling
This one is old, but I will never not recommend it. If you’ve only watched the movies, pick up the books - you’ll be amazed to see how much of the Potter world there still is to discover. If you’ve read the series already, trust me and read them again, you’ll always find something new. I’ve read the whole series three times and have never not been impressed by it.
