I am an avid reader; I'm constantly in the midst of reading something new or rereading a favorite of mine. Reading is so beneficial for anyone in the fact that it takes you to new worlds, teaches you lessons, and can even teach you about yourself. One simple book can hold all of the answers or it can give you the ability to ask new questions. Either way, here are 15 books that I have come across in my 20 years of living. In each of these books, I have taken some kind of lesson out of it, and I hope that if and when you decide to read them, you can do the same.
1. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
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This book skyrocketed to my top favorite books of all time the moment I finished it. I have reread it so many times because every single time it's read, there's a new lesson to be learned. This story follows a boy named Charlie dealing with some pretty horrific stuff, including high school; however, the more you read, the more you uncover about his past and the more you realize what finding yourself really means.
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Monster and scientists and way more about the human psyche than you could ever imagine, Shelley captures it all within this novel. I've read this multiple times due to its intricate language and the personal ties to what's going on in the book and Mary Shelley's life. Frankenstein and his monster are much more than what you think, and it goes to show that there's more to someone than the outward appearance.
3. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
A classic and very well-known "love story," but when examined deeper, Wuthering Heights is so much more than romance. It has drama, and real problems, including what seems to be prejudice and overcoming one's negative self-image. This book is dark and makes you think, but those are exactly the reasons I loved it.
4. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
A book filled with adventure, heartbreak, and the importance of friendship and family, The Outsiders kept me on my toes throughout the entire novel. I never knew what was coming, and the lengths these boys would go to protect their loved ones showed me just how friendship should be and how family is something to never take for granted.
5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
I was introduced to this book when I was young, but I loved it even then. Once again, a book regarding the importance of morality and friendship even in the darkest of times. This book is set in Nazi-Germany and it deals with how devastating that time period was for those involved; however, there is also light in the book when shone upon the morals of a young girl and her family.
6. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath has always been one of my favorite authors, so it is no surprise she would end up on my list. Plath takes part of her life story and turns it into this beautifully tragic explanation of mental illness and it's effects. The craftsmanship behind this novel is so wonderful, yet so heartbreaking — which is what Plath is ultimately known for.
7. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
This diary and journal composed of all of Anne Frank's thoughts during the most troubling time of her life shows that even in the midst of darkness, light can be found if we search for it. Anne Frank tells her story so beautifully in the way that while there was a war going on outside, she was learning to love and trust inside.
8. If I Stay/Where She Went by Gayle Forman
On the outside, these novels seem nothing more than romantic and girly, but I'll be the first to say that there while there is romance, there are other life lessons to be taken from these books as well. Mia, a girl who has seemingly lost everything, has to learn how to cope, and her journey of finding herself is one I highly suggest to read. Where She Went, however, is in Adam's (Mia's boyfriend) perspective, and he has to endure the same journey of finding himself years later.
9. 1984 by George Orwell
The judgment in this book, and how eerily correct it was about society as a whole still surprises me, even today. The frightening truth behind societies with too much government involvement, the truth of individualism, and the meaning of self that is embedded into Orwell's novel, 1984 uncovers it all in an artistic and highly crafted way.
10. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
This psychological thriller is probably the darkest novel I've ever read. It deals with hard and difficult feats, and it follows a young woman who is troubled in more ways than one; however, if you are someone who loves psychology and someone who wishes to know more about how people think when they are troubled, this book goes beyond expectations. A young woman in search of herself and becoming who she needs to be is a read that you will never want to put down.
