When was the last time you set aside time to read for pleasure? It seems like there’s no time in college to read for fun anymore, but if you are willing to give up just one episode of Netflix a day, you can get back into the swing of reading. Reading helps with your vocabulary, increases your knowledge, and makes you more curious.
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
You may have read "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Vonnegut in high school. Vonnegut is revered as one of the most talented satirists of his time. "Breakfast of Champions" was written in the ‘70s but may as well have been written today. The problems touched upon in the novel, including pollution and other environmental problems, are still heavily applicable today.
In "Breakfast of Champions," Vonnegut focuses on two main characters and how their unexpected meeting leads to a final explosively busy day. It’s a well-written novel layered with rich symbolism and satirical humor. This book explores the ideas of humans as machines and the spreading of misinformation.
Intriguing excerpt quote: “We are healthy only to the extent that our ideas remain humane.”
Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey
This book will have you feeling like a detective as the mystery surrounding Elizabeth unfolds. From the perspective of the elderly main character, Maud, this book provides insight into how it might feel to have Alzheimer's. It's heartbreaking, but ultimately leaves you feeling triumphant to have solved the case of Maud's missing friend Elizabeth. Healeyevokes empathy from the core of one's being, as well as an unquenchable curiosity that stems from Maud's muddled account. You won't be able to put it down until you finish it.
Intriguing excerpt quote: “I forget things—I know that—but I’m not mad. Not yet. And I’m sick of being treated as if I am. I’m tired of the sympathetic smiles and the little pats people give you when you get things confused.”
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult’s ability to write stories that alternate through each of the characters’ perspectives throughout chapters is her greatest strength. It is also probably why her other novels, "Nineteen Minutes" and "My Sister’s Keeper," have received a lot of publicity. Have you ever been reading a book and wondered what another character involved was thinking? Picoult answers questions readers have before they think to ask them.
This book involves a ghastly murder which conjures suspicion of everyone in the small community where it happens. The main character, a teenager with Asperger's syndrome winds up at the center of the case because of his knack for showing up at crime scenes around town. This book provides an enlightening glimpse into what it's like to have Asperger's, as well what it's like to have a family member on the spectrum.
Intriguing excerpt quote: “My dad used to say that living with regrets was like driving a car that only moved in reverse.”
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
You might have read this one in high school, but I highly recommend reading this in college. "The Alchemist" is a classic allegorical story of adventure and finding what's important in life. This is an easy-read with a life-lesson at the heart of it. Follow the main character, Santiago, on a journey across the world to find treasure. Fun fact: It's one of the best selling books in history.
Intriguing excerpt quote: “When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
Enjoy these books, and make time to read, learn and grow.
