In honor of Literary Week, I’ve compiled a short list of my favorite books. As college students, reading for fun isn’t always on the top of our to-do list (or even on the list at all). But I’ve found that taking a break from the dull content of class textbooks can be extremely relieving and increase your reading comprehension. Take a break, and check out these exciting and captivating novels:
- “Girl In Snow” by Danya Kukafka
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Although the online reviews aren’t promising, I personally enjoyed this book. The character development was fantastic. Each chapter is narrated through a different perspective, so the book never fails to entertain. Kukafka, a very talented writer, expertly uses descriptive imagery and detailed metaphor. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery novel!
- “All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven
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I had to add a young adult (YA) novel in here for the teen romance fans. The movie version of this novel was recently released on Netflix. In my humble opinion, I think the novel was much better than the film (but I suppose that is for you to decide). The book went into more detail about the characters and their inner thoughts than the film did, which I think allowed the reader to become more invested in Finch and Violet’s relationship. This book covers difficult subjects such as grief, depression, and loss, so I liked how honest and realistic this novel was. It is far from being the sugar-coated love story that YA novels typically depict.
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
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In this great mystery-thriller, Michaelides does an amazing job at building up suspense and leading into a jaw-dropping moment at the end of the novel. All the puzzle pieces connect in the last few chapters, and it is an immensely satisfying and insane experience as a reader. The middle of the book was a little dull, but it is worth finishing – I promise.
- “Bluets” by Maggie Nelson
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This book is a quirky mix of poetry and prose. It is structured in numbered lists instead of chapters, so it reads differently than most novels. I often had to stop reading just to exclaim out loud how beautifully written the novel was. Bonus points for the length as well – it’s pretty short but packed with metaphors and imagery. Nelson is a fantastic writer, and I definitely recommend her other books like Jane: A Murder.