In the wild whirlwind that we call life today, it can be really hard to remove yourself from the real world and relax for a little bit. We are always plugged in on our phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches and TV's and it can all become very overwhelming.
I think for college students especially, we forget that books can be the best way to escape reality and live in someone else's world for a little bit. You get to leave your problems behind and jump into a story that may teach you something about love, loss, things you typically don't think about, and even life in general.
When you're tired, rundown, and just need a break from your life for a little bit, here are eight amazing books that will take you to a world so enrapturing that you will forget about your own world for a little bit.
1. Looking for Alaska by John Green
Looking for Alaska was the first book I ever read that I completely fell in love with. This story takes you through the life of a shy young man and a wild young girl named Alaska. This book is the perfect read for when you're looking to escape, because you will not be able to put it down.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
This book is a classic that most of us probably had to read at some point in high school or college. Even though I had to read it, I enjoyed every minute of it!
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This chilling novel told from the point view of death itself will take you through a roller coater of emotions. Although this book is slightly longer than the other books on this list, you will be so encompassed you will not even notice how many pages at a time you are reading.
4. The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
I hate to admit it, but I was originally drawn to this book strictly because of the colorful cover. As soon as I started reading it, I was hooked. This is the story of a young female writer trying to make it in the real world, a story that is almost too relatable to myself. Reading about the trials she went through made me feel like I wasn't alone in what I am going through, and that is what a good book is all about.
5. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
This is another book that I had to read in high school and did not mind reading at all. The writing style in this book is simply beautiful, and the story is one that I still have not forgotten even now, four years after reading it.
6. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
This trilogy of books is my guilty pleasure. They were the first dystopian novels I ever read that did not completely disturb me, but rather made me think and appreciate life the way we live it. I finished this entire trilogy, all three books, in one week. If that doesn't take you away from reality, I'm not sure what does.
7. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
This book is so rich in detail that you can literally picture yourself in every setting the characters encounter. The different twists and turns the novel takes keep you on your toes and make it so that you do not want to put the book down.
8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Finally, the book you've all been waiting to see, The Great Gatsby! The parties, the drama, and the romance in this novel leave you begging for more, and make you wish you could live just like them - but only for a little while. In my opinion, Fitzgerald created one of the best literary works of all time when writing this novel. If you haven't read it yet, you need to ASAP!
Whether you are looking to unwind from a hard day or week, or whether you're just looking for a good story to read, these books are perfect for doing just that.
Obviously, this is not a list of all the best books to read when you need an escape, but these are my personal favorites. I hope you go to the nearest library or bookstore and pick one of these up the next time you need an escape and get swept off your feet into a whole new world, just like I did.
