With spring term starting up it’s once again time to hit the books. When you’re not busy sifting through the pages of your textbooks, try reading some of these fabulous novels. We promise that these captivating stories will have you ravenously turning the pages and won’t make you want to doze off. From the fantastical to the tear-jerkers, HC Drexel has some awesome recommendations for our fellow bookworms.
For the hopeless romantics
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
This book is a love story like no other. The story follows the life of Jacob, in a time warp between past and present. Presently Jacob is an old man living in a nursing home wishing he could run away to the circus…Oh wait, he did once. Throughout the novel we are brought back to Jacob’s heyday as a veterinarian traveling with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth after leaving Cornell University’s veterinary school right before graduation. Along the way he meets Marlena, a beautiful circus performer married to abusive August. Delve into this book to peek behind the curtain and find out if Marlena and Jacob’s forbidden romance survives the circus.
2. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
You may have seen the commercials for last summer’s film adaptation of this best-selling book, however don’t be dissuaded by the critics. Although the movie may not have garnered much positive attention, Gayle Forman’s original book is a must read. Our teenage protagonist, Mia, has so much going for her—a close-knit family, a pending music career, a loyal best friend, and a loving boyfriend. But all it takes is one car accident for her life to be turned upside-down. Mia is rushed to the hospital and is stuck in limbo hanging on to her life by a thread. Pick up this novel to discover if Mia is strong enough to choose life or if she slips away into the grip of death.
For the sappy soul
3. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Call it mainstream, call it overrated, call it whatever you want. If you haven’t read it yet, you aren’t living. If you’ve only seen the movie, we promise that the novel is a strong contender and you won’t be disappointed. John Green writes poetically and profoundly and places you into the world of Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters. These two cancer-stricken teens possess wits far beyond their years. With sarcasm on their side, the pair makes you question some of life’s biggest blunders. And their tragic romance is guaranteed to provoke tears.
4. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
If you’ve never really been affected by a book in your life, then reading this will be a life-changing experience. Anna is a perfectly healthy and inquisitive young girl, but the number of surgeries, transfusions, and shots she’s had at the age of thirteen would make you question her health. Anna was born so that her older sister, Kate, could fight childhood leukemia with the help of Anna’s bone marrow. As a selfless and loving sister, Anna never thought twice about helping Kate stay alive…until she received a request that would cause her to challenge her entire existence. Warning: you will need tissues.
For the risk-taker
5. #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
Sophia Amoruso spent her teens with empty pockets, partaking in petty crime. By age twenty-two, working a low-paying job she realized she was broke, directionless, and in need of a change of pace. In that moment, Sophia decided to start selling vintage clothes on eBay. Eight years and $100 million dollars later, she is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Nasty Gal. Sophia is not your average businesswoman and she’s written #GIRLBOSS for the outcasts who are craving success and willing to cope with the nonbelievers. If you fit the description, then follow along for the ride.
6. The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Outliers is an examination of what makes some people outstandingly more prosperous than others, these are the “outliers.” Those that see outstanding success are thought to have talent and intelligence that exceeds that of the average person, but Malcolm Gladwell challenges this popular belief by looking at the lives and circumstances of notable outliers. Through the use of real life case studies and fascinating statistics, Gladwell breaks down the ways to become successful. According to his research, factors as menial as when you were born can put you at a serious advantage over your competitors.
For those looking to be awakened
7. Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks
There is a common misconception that feminists hate men, which gives feminism as a whole a terrible reputation. Bell Hooks has written this book as an explanation of what it really means to be a feminist and who should care about feminism. She makes a strong argument for the inclusion of men in the feminist movement and states that it is impossible for gender equality to truly exist without help from both parties. Read this book then pass it along to your brothers, fathers, uncles, and boyfriends to open the eyes of those who are still living in the dark. Bell Hooks presents a provocative case for why feminism really is for everybody.
8. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
If you’re not an avid reader, then this book is for you. You probably haven’t touched a book that you’ve enjoyed since they stopped having pictures in them. Well, The Little Prince is an illustrated picture book for adults. Presumably labeled a children’s book, this short story is much more. The plot possesses philosophical trappings and in-depth social criticism about the adult world that people of all ages need to read. The little prince dwells on his own planet with a little talking flower that he adores, but in an attempt to find himself he travels through space visiting the planets of grown-ups. These planets are scary and monotonous and the little prince can’t wait to return to his own little world with his beautiful flower, where he truly belongs.
9. The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
This is a fictional account based off of historical context. The novel is formatted as a collection of short stories about the war in Vietnam. Some are hopeful stories about finding a beacon of light in hell, while others are romantic discussing the relationships of soldiers with the wives and girlfriends that they left behind. But most importantly of all, are the seemingly uncensored accounts that detail the sights, smells, and causalities in a full-fledged war zone. Tim O’Brien sets out to show the reader that while a war kills many, it also makes a few lucky souls remember what it feels like to truly be alive. In the pages of this book, the reader’s eyes are opened to the prospects of loyalty, brotherhood, and perseverance.
Books are really for everyone and with this list you can spend your spring term diving in to some new reads that will enlighten, inspire, and entertain. Happy Reading!