When I was 13, I told my mom that I didn’t like books. She was (rightfully) horrified. The truth is, I just didn’t like the kinds of books that everyone else seemed to get lost in (i.e. Harry Potter, Twilight, etc.). So, here’s a list of easy-to-pick-up-on reads that I personally love.
- Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
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This is the best book I have ever read (no offense to the other ones). I was told to read this for an English class in high school, so of course, I didn’t touch it all semester. Then, over the summer, I picked it up again and spent every lifeguard shift huddled in the office with my nose in this book, which is very, very off-character. The book is about a bunch of different people’s lives, and how they are all connected through similar experiences. All of their lives intertwine when Phillepe Petit walked across the Twin Towers on a tightrope (true story). The whole thing will make so much more sense when you read it, I promise.
- The Best American Food Writing 2019 by Samin Nosrat and Silvia Killingsworth
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This is what I’m reading right now! It’s a collection of short stories/long for journalism, curated by Samin Nosrat of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat fame and the love of my life. This one is really good for those that don’t have a ton of time but still need a little escape every day (and for those with limited attention spans). If you love food, like really really love food, this one is for you.
- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
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This book is not suitable for anyone under the age of, like, 16. Regardless, I carried this puppy around my middle school, prompting a great deal of eyebrow raises from my teachers. Anyways, this book is funny. David Sedaris is the king of comedic long-form novels. This book is a biography about his experience growing up, which sounds boring, but it’s not. BTW, the title refers to the fact that Sedaris had a lisp when he was growing up. He talks about it in the book. It’s funny (PS: check out all of his other books. They’re all BIG funny).
- My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
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A REAL tear-jerker. They made a big Hollywood movie based on this book, and I haven’t seen it, but trust me, the book is probably better. This book really hits home for anyone and everyone. It’s about a young girl, named Anna, who tries to sue her parents for medical emancipation because she was essentially conceived in order to be an in-home donor to her sister, who has cancer. Yeah, it’s sad.
- The Cellar by Natasha Preston
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Hear me out on this one. I do not, do NOT like scary things. I hate them, actually. But this book is different. It’s more like interesting. Basically, it’s about this girl that gets kidnapped and spends months in a fully-furnished (?) basement with three other women and the man that kidnapped them. It deals a lot with Stockholm Syndrome, which is uber-interesting and terrifying. Trust me, it’s not as scary as the title makes it seem. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be on this list.
- Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
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The queen. All hail. Of course, this book is good, bow down to Amy. It’s funny, it’s witty, it’s serious (sometimes). I’d include Tina Fey’s book on this list but I didn’t read it. Whoops!
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
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Buckle up, it’s story time (again lol sorry). When I was 14 and very insecure, my mom bought my entire family copies of this book, and because I was a young teen, I all but threw the book in a dumpster fire. I shoved it to the back of my closet and forgot about it until the summer before my senior year of high school when I finally realized that my mom is right about everything. Here’s the deal. This book was published in 1936. It’s old-timey yet remarkably topical. It has helped my awkward ass in countless situations. It’s pretty much my bible. Oh, and did I mention that I carry it with me everywhere I go? Yeah. Read the book.
Don’t be worried if you’re a picky reader like me. It just means that you know your taste! Keep searching for the genre that works right for you, and maybe even go to a bookstore/library and ask the staff for suggestions. Once you know what you like to read, you’re golden.
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