When you have tons of dense textbook reading in college, reading for pleasure takes a back seat. Winter break is a great time to get back to reading and break-in that old Kindle you got for your birthday last year and never used.
Here are some books that I love and recommend. I’m not an avid reader, but these books managed to hold my interest and inspire me.
For some deep thinking:Even if you saw the recent performance at Brandeis of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, reading the play is still a great experience. The play is about two friends waiting—but they’re not sure for what. The play is short, simple, and quick to read, yet filled with tons of ponder-worthy questions about life, existence, and God. For anyone looking for some inspiration for your thoughts, this is a worthwhile read.
For some educational laughs:Don’t know ins and outs of philosophy? The rights and lefts of politics? The ups and downs of religion? Well look no further: Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein have written a trilogy of books that demystify these heavy topics with jokes. The author pair is best known for Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar, which provides a basic and hilarious understanding of a range of popular philosophers and their ideas. Existentialist crises have never been so fun! I’m currently working my way through the remaining two books since I loved the first so much. Anyone looking to become a bit wiser (or just find a good joke to tell at a party) then these books are for you.
For people with feelings:Although I liked the Winona Ryder movie version of Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen, I actually enjoyed the book more. This memoir describes the author’s personal experience with mental illness and hospitalization. Although I expected the book to be dark and depressing, I found her writing to be quirky, genuine, and beautiful. The story is concise and short (less than 200 pages of pretty big font), so it doesn’t drag on. If reading books from alternative perspectives is your thing, check this one out.
Because my reading repertoire is small, I asked my friends to share their favorite reads. Here are a few that sounded the most interesting.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan chronicles the lives of a few perhaps self-destructive characters and weaves their stories together in unexpected ways. It’s odd at times—the stories aren’t told chronologically and one chapter is written entirely in PowerPoint slides—but very powerful and filled with spot-on social commentary. (You had me at PowerPoint: I’ll be stalking my local Barnes&Noble’s shortly.)
The World According to Garp by John Irving is a funny book about the life of T. S. Garth, who was raised by a single mother… who impregnates herself with the sperm of her brain-damaged patient. Garp grows up and eventually has a family of his own, but his experience is no less crazy or less awkward than his mom’s. My friend says that this book is so hilarious and well written that she returns to it again and again. For some laughs (and mild discomfort) this book might be just the thing.
One of my guy friends recommends The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The book is about a society where coming of age means getting plastic surgery to be beautiful. Although this sounds like a girl book, my straightguy friend says that it nevertheless manages to be one of his favorite books and an inspiration for his own writing. He was captured by the plot, the strong female characters, and the author’s imaginary world. He also says the book is very unlike Twilight. (And for those who like this book, it’s actually part of a four-book series, which my friend says are just as good!)
Happy reading, collegiettes!