Read Your Feelings!
Sometimes reality sucks. That’s why reading is so awesome! You get to escape the perils of real time and dive into a world of adventure and fun. Here are some books that are attractive to those of us who find the fictional world better than the real one.
1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/ Stieg Larsson
This is a book about what happens when a journalist gets involved in the disappearance of a young girl. The mystery is mind bending and the ending will have you on the edge of your seat. Stieg Larsson also create possibly one of the most interesting characters in modern times: Lisbeth Salander.
Should read if: You like strong females characters, mysteries, and plot twists.
Rated: 4 out of 5
2. A Man Called Ove/ Fredrik Backman
This is a phenomenal book that deals with ageism and relationships between neighbors. Ove is a grump old man who is faced with a changing world. Each chapter will have you wanting more. Backman’s writing simple yet the topics are complex. Reading this book changes your perception of the elderly and gives you something to look forward to.
Should read if: You like to cry, laugh, then cry again. . . over and over again. If you enjoy books where the author doesn’t immediately tell you everything, and allows you to make your own conclusions.
Rated: 5 out of 5
3. Damned/ Chuck Palahniuk
This is a very funny book about what happens when a little girl dies and wakes up in hell. It is authored by the same person who wrote Fight Club. This is what happens when the breakfast club is filled with kids who have been denied access to heaven.
Should read if: You don’t take things too seriously and can find humor in the dark.
Rated: 3 out of 5
4. Outlander*/ Diana Gabaldon
Outlander is set in 1945 and 1743. Claire Randall is former combat nurse who reunites with her husband in the British Isles. When she walks through an ancient circle, she is suddenly brought to the year 1743. Her adventure with a Scottish clan brings romance and self-discovery.
Should read if: You don’t have romance in the real world so you want to read about it in the fictional world. History nerds will also love this book.
Rated: 4 out of 5
*adult content
5. The Borrowers/ Mary Norton
Norton invites the reader to explore the world of tiny people and how they borrow from a “normal” family. This award-winning novel is adorable and imaginative.
Should read if: You are in need of reading a book where there is limited stress and drama. Very good for relaxation.
Rated: 5 out of 5