Looking for something good to read but all you can think of is 50 Shades of Grey? Have no fear; HC F&M is here!
1. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. If you loved The Hunger Games, this is a good pick for you. Set in the Victorian Era, the book follows the lives of many of the people and acts involved Le Cirque des Reves, a circus that only appears at night. It comes and goes without any warning and travels around the world. This circus is also famous for being done solely in black and white. And what would a book be without some romance? In this case, there are two magicians who are forced to be enemies from the time they are young without ever meeting each other just because of a long-standing feud between their teachers in an event that will result in the death of one of them. However, soon these two magicians fall in love and don’t want to live without the other. What happens next? Pick up the book to find out!
2. The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. If you enjoyed The Kite Runner, this will be a good choice! After a mortar attack kills twenty-two people in war-torn Sarajevo, the man who saw it all happen from his window takes out his cello and vows to play for twenty-two days or one day for each victim right at the spot of the attack. Then there is the woman sniper who is sent to watch and protect the cellist, and she holds the key to his survival. Another story is of young man forced to get water for his family and thus undergo a long and arduous journey. The final interlocking story is of an older man who has sent his wife and son away long ago but remains in Sarajevo looking for bread and runs into an old friend who reminds him of what his life used to be.
3. The Witches of East End by Melissa De La Cruz. This is one of those novels you just want to read when you’re lounging around looking for a quicker, quirkier read. The novel follows the Beauchamp women- witches who haven’t been allowed to practice their magic since the Salem Witch Trials. However, things seem to be going strange in their small town out in the Hamptons. This book includes Norse mythology and also has a lot of romance. It’s a lighter read and one that will make you laugh at many points.
4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. This story blends many genres into one hilarious and heart-wrenching story with an Autistic narrator. A must read for any future psych or education (especially special education) majors out there, and for anyone who loves a good detective story with some humor and a lot of heart. It also gives great insight into the mind of an Autistic boy and all of the struggles he faces on a daily basis.
5. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This one is a bit of an older book but still a fantastic read. This takes place in the future where children are trained at a young age to fight wars in space and become soldiers. In a world where only two children are allowed, Ender is a special exception as the third child, and incredibly bright. He is shipped off to military school and forced to learn how to fight the aliens. However, he begins to learn the price of destruction.