Making New Year’s Resolutions is certainly a common practice; maintaining them, however, is a different story. This year, rather than committing to diets and workouts that I detest (and ultimately give up on within the first month) I’ve decided to make goals that make me a happier, more positive version of myself instead. One of the goals I’ve set is to read more. Reading is something that I’ve always loved, but stopped making time for as life became more and more hectic. Setting some time away to flip through the pages has been extremely rewarding and I’ve found that getting lost in a good book is one of the best forms of stress relief out there.
Here’s a list of some of my favorite reads.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Written by the same author of the wildly popular novel Gone Girl, this book is not for the faint of heart. The story follows Camille Preaker, a reporter given the difficult assignment of covering the gruesome murders of two young girls from her hometown. Having a troubled past of her own, Preaker must battle her own internal struggles while on her unrelenting search for the truth.
Sharp Objects was recently adapted into a TV series on HBO as well, starring Amy Adams, Eliza Scanlen, and Patricia Clarkson.
Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks
Feminism is for Everybody is a simple and comprehensive explanation of the concept of feminism. bell hooks makes the argument that anyone and everyone should be feminists, stating that no one can possibly lose when everyone is truly equal. In a society where there are many stereotypes and hesitancies surrounding the term “feminism,” hooks has given us all a chance to truly understand the concept for what it is: the promotion of intersectional equality.
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
For those who enjoy a good plot twist, Sometimes I Lie is certainly a jaw dropper. Set in a hospital, Amber Reynolds finds herself trapped in a coma. With no recollection of what put her in this position and no way to communicate with those around her, she must travel through the crevices of her mind to find out the truth. The story jumps back and forth between the past and the present, uncovering piece by piece what truly happened to Amber.
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
Love is a Mix Tape is an autobiographical memoir about Rob Sheffield’s navigation of grief following the sudden passing of his wife of five years, Renee. Sheffield is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and music has always been an extremely significant part of who he is. Both him and his wife Renee were avid music fans, and they created many mix tapes for various purposes throughout their lives. Sheffield goes through some of these tapes, recalling beloved times with Renee and other loved ones. This book is as equally inspirational as it is heartbreaking, reminding us all of the power and significance of music.
The Woman in The Window by A.J. Finn
This book is one of my personal favorites, as I genuinely could not have seen the ending coming if I tried. The Woman in the Window is about Anna Fox, a woman who is unable to leave her home as she is suffering from a severe case of agoraphobia. After believing to have witnessed a murder in her neighbor’s home through her window, strange things start to happen to Fox. Between her mental struggles and alcohol abuse, many place doubt on her sightings. This mystery unravels the truth and begs the question: are these things really happening, or has Fox just been trapped inside for too long?