Books That Changed My Life

       Summer is practically here and that means many of us will (hopefully) be taking some time to read more books! Quick side note, reading is extremely important for enhancing cognitive function and strengthening empathy. These are important strengths to have if you really want to be a contributing member of earthling society. Please. For the love of all that's good. Read a book! Or five.

       Anyways, I'm known as something of a book whisperer and literary enthusiast. Therefore, I feel it's only right I share a list of books I feel everyone needs to get their hands on! Really, it's the debt I owe to society. Without further ado, here's my list of books you absolutely must get your nose stuck in!

Classics

Arabian Nights- An anthology really of old Arabic folk tales. It can be a little much for those sensitive to topics such as domestic violence and social injustice in general, but I find the narrative rich nonetheless. The Arabian Nights really is a great example of incredible story craftsmanship as it takes readers from adventure to adventure.  

Notre-Dame de Paris or The Hunchback of Notre-Dame- The actual french gothic by Victor Hugo is a far more heartbreaking but beautiful tale than what the Disney machine popularly portrayed. It takes place in the late 1400's and let me warn you now, Victor Hugo gets real. If you're familiar with Les Miserables, you know just how dark this book can get. All the same, I regard it as an incredible work of art and something everyone needs to read at least once. 

The Count of Monte Cristo-This is a heartwrenching story by Alexandre Dumas (The same lad who wrote The Three Musketeers). You absolutely must read the unabridged version of this or I will simply throw a fit. The betrayal...the revenge...it's absolutely delightful. Something I feel I must point out about this book-this is an expansion on ideas first suggested by Dumas' partnering ghostwriter, Auguste Maquet. Le Comte de Monte-Cristo is filled with so many layers of rich narrative, one of the many themes being the naivete of blind trust. One can't help but wonder what inspired the story in Maquet's mind, or the fine connecting pieces which Dumas produced.

Contemporary Fiction

Animal Farm-I first read this book in seventh grade and it was the beginning of my political identity. While I'm never as outspoken about politics as my brother closest to me in age, this planted a seed of social awareness within me. If you're just beginning to explore your political side, this is a great book to start with! After you read this, check out some of Orwell's other works! Everyone else will point you directly to 1984, but personally, I think Homage to Catalonia needs more love.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane-I am a gigantic Neil Gaiman fan. I frequently watch Coraline when I'm having a tough day, and I watch Stardust when I haven't been inspired in a while. However, when it comes to the reading experience, The Ocean at the End of the Lane just does it for me! Gaiman is the best at writing interesting characters, and Lettie Hempstock is one of the most intriguing characters I've ever come across. Read all of Gaiman's stuff, but start here!

Harry Potter-I was born two months after Sorcerer's Stone was published, so I regard J.K. Rowling as my actual zodiac. I grew up going to the movie premieres and book releases with my mom. I remember this one sweater I had was pink and magenta and made me feel so much like Hermione Granger when I wore it! The Harry Potter books have really impacted my generation. While it was published as a children's book, it's no secret that many read it for the first time or revisit the series as an adult. There's so much more we can take away from the novels in terms of coping with grief, friendship, and what bravery really looks like. Everyone needs to read the books at least once.

Children's Books

Matilda-My love for this book began when I first saw the movie starring Danny DeVito and Mara Wilson. Something about Matilda was so relatable and incredibly inspiring. I wished I could be her. Being her would solve so many of my problems! Her story was a window into freedom in a time when I felt incredibly trapped. She was my hero. The author, Roald Dahl, is an amazing author. He's written so many children's staples from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to The B.F.G. Roald Dahl is one of my many idols.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer-I loved this book so much. I was young when I first read it in school and I felt like such an intellectual (oh boy do I laugh at myself, now!) for having read it. This is a wonderful book that explores childhood and life by the Mississippi. While I am a true and dedicated north-westerner, and would never purposely establish my roots anywhere beyond Yellowstone, this book made me want to explore the south. Just a little bit. 

Lord of the Flies-This was the first book to ever make me emotional. Maybe it's because I have a strong maternal streak, but I hurt for those children. I was afraid for them. Piggy absolutely broke my heart into a billion pieces. It was the hardest book I've ever fought to get through, but it is absolutely worth the read if you've somehow managed to escape high school without being subjected to it. 

Mystery and Thrillers

Murder on the Orient Express-This is a classic Agatha Christie novel. As the title infers, a murder happens on a train and the passengers all get interrogated. Something that makes the Agatha Christie novels magical for me is the fact that she, herself, was part of her own mystery. To put it briefly, she went missing for a while and came back claiming to have amnesia. Her story is worth looking into. 

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle-First of all, Stuart Turton is an underrated genius and everyone needs this book. He's announced a new book coming out in 2020 and I. Am. Ready. In this book, the victim dies over and over and over again as Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at the party which the death occurred. It's just so good. You have to read it!

One for the Money-Okay, yes. Janet Evanovich does, in fact, write what my mother lovingly refers to as "smutty novels". But truly? These are some damn good books! I started reading them when I was about eleven or twelve years old, and I've got to be honest...the actual storylines within the books are addictive. Stephanie Plum is a hilarious character. She loses her job as a lingerie buyer for a company and goes to her cousin for a job, and the story just takes off from there. If you can't get through some romance here and there, this is an awesome (and somehow really relatable? What's wrong with me?) series to dive into. 

Books that Everyone Should Read for the Sake of My Sanity

The Phantom of the Opera- I grew up watching teenage girls and their boyfriends dress up as Christine and the Phantom for Halloween and I cringed every time. Andrew Lloyd Webber did a beautiful job with the musical, that's true. However, the original story, Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, written by Gaston Leroux is much darker than the musical adaptation. The Phantom was still an abusive psycho (honestly people, stop romanticizing him! He's not a good dude!) in the musical, but in the book he sexually assaults Christine a lot more than just making her kiss him in exchange for her lover's life. The whole thing is very problematic in any format, but I really hope more people read the book and see the story for what it really is. 

H.P. Lovecraft's Great Tales of Horror- Everyone has heard of Cthulu, and that's a good start. I really need people to start talking about the other stories like The Rats in the Walls or The Cats of Ulthar. He's written amazing stories and they're all so underrated. Please, let's begin a Lovecraftian revolution. 

The Complete Works of Shakespeare-You have to be well-versed in Shakespeare to participate in society nowadays. I swear, Shakespeare made this world what it is. Read Romeo and Juliet and see why it's really stupid and not romantic at bloody all. Read A Midsummer Night's Dream and figure out if you're team Lysander or team Demetrius. Read Macbeth to figure out how to take over Scotland. It's all important. 

       I just hope you all get in some reading time over the summer. Whatever it is, time spent reading is never wasted.