Whether you prefer the physical feeling of a carbon copy, the convenience of a tablet, or the soothing narration of an audio book, we all love a good story. These days, the literature market is so over-saturated it can be difficult to choose what to read next, and not everything is going to be good. True, it’s hard to publish a novel, and the classics are called just that for a reason, but not everyone reads the same. Some people don’t like the flowery text of old English, while others prefer indie novels to mass-produced ones.
To save the stress of setting aside a bad read, here’s a list of more books to add to your ever-growing list.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Having won a Pulitzer Prize and translated into dozens of languages, To Kill a Mockingbird is often a staple in high school curriculums. Taking place in Alabama during the 1930s, it tells the tale of Scout and Jem Finch while exploring human behaviour. Through these children, Lee takes readers on a tale of morals, emotions, and again, what it means to be human.
2. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
It’s hard to believe that anyone wouldn’t know about Anne Frank, especially with her book being available in 67 languages. Diary of a Young Girl takes readers back to German-occupied Holland, captivating the audience with an eye-witness account of what happened during WW2 and the struggle to survive.
3. Anything Shakespeare
Everyone argues that reading Shakespeare is good for increasing your vocabulary, and it increases your knowledge of understanding history – after all, his plays are considered to be eyewitness accounts of the times. However, if you really get down to it, Shakespeare wrote grand tales full of debauchery, shady insults, and captured what it means to be human. Yes, Old English is so hard to understand that it’s considered a totally different language, but there’s always a modern adaptation to be found.
4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Taking place in a dystopian future, this novel is a must-read for anyone who loves the written word. Guy Montag is a fireman, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, firemen of this future set fire to books and any homes hiding them. Wall-sized televisions and radios implanted in people’s ears take over people and their bland lives. It’s not until he meets his new neighbour Clairesse, who introduces him to books, that things start to take a turn for the worse.
5. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Nitta Sayuri recounts her life as one of the most iconic eras of Japanese culture through the words of Golden’s storytelling. Starting in a poor fishing village during the 1920s when Sayuri was sold as a nine-year-old to her final years living in New York and running her own tea house. This story talks of the trials of beauty, love, and working for survival. Intimate and moving, this story is a must-read for history buffs.
6. Mindy Kaling’s Essays
Comedian, actress, writer – whatever you want to call her, Kaling has essays that are witty, entertaining, and insightful. Covering topics like unconventional relationships, best friends, and self-image problems, Kaling proves there’s always something to learn from these experiences. For anyone who wants advice, or just wants to read something written by a outstanding woman, Kaling’s essays have a lot of life lessons to offer.
7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
You know what they say: If you liked the movie, you’ll love the book. In case you haven’t watched it, the book tells the tale of black maids working in Mississippi during the 1960s. There’s Skeeter, a young woman who returned home after getting a degree, but all her mother cares about is Skeeter getting married. Aibileen, who’s caring for a young child after her son’s recent death and is struggling through the grief. Minny is an excellent cook, but has a sharp tongue that costs her a lot of jobs. The three of them come together to fight for their rights as human beings in this gripping novel.
8. Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Rachel’s life is in a rut: she takes the same train to work day in and day out. On her commute, she notices a couple living in a house and makes up a perfect life for them. They seem so happy from the outside, until one day she notices something out of place. It becomes her mission to find out what really happened that day as she slowly becomes part of their lives and learns that things aren’t as perfect as she imagined. A modern-day mystery for all those who enjoy a good thriller.
9. Secrets From the Vynal Cafe by Stuart McLean
Everyone knows that all families have their secrets. No matter how big or small, no body wants to share them. Committing arson on Christmas? Secret summer plans? Aliases? Through McLean’s book, his popular characters Dave and Morely from the radio show of the same name continue their misadventures in the city of Toronto.
10. Margret Atwood’s Novels
Atwood is part of Canadian culture to the point where everyone knows her name, even if it’s in the vaguest sense. She’s written over 40 tales covering all kinds of topics. She’s got such a large collection that there’s something for everyone. Some include best-sellers like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Blind Assassin.
11. Stephen King Novels
Whether it’s under the Bachman series, a collection of small stories, or classic-turned blockbuster, Stephen King has a wide selection to choose from. The majority of these stories are supernatural horror, yes, but that’s not everything. True crime fans will enjoy Joyland, while those who prefer something 100% realistic will enjoy Shawshank Redemption. With King publishing one to three novels a year, the selection is huge.
12. Crazy Rich Asians
Yes, it’s a movie, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it. After all, the book is always better than the movie! It’s not your typical girl-and-boy-fall-in-love novel. The story is meant to shine a light on the modern state of China to North America. The novel has been reciving positive, raving reviews from readers, so make sure to read it before seeing the movie.
Did your favourites make the cut? Are there any you would suggest? Comment and let us know.
