Stress makes it difficult for university students to maintain a positive outlook. In fact, they prioritize their workload over other enjoyable activities. Literature is one area where students tend to disregard in favour of their textbooks. While that is reasonable, there are so many books that can actually enlighten or provoke mere laughter in between classes and free time. The following novels are meant to inspire readers and to garner a fascinating perspective to make the year go by faster.
1. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai.
Eventful is an understatement when it comes to Malala Yousafzai’s life. At the mere age of fifteen, she was shot by the Taliban for advocating for the right to an education. Since then, she has opened a school and become a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Education seems like a basic human right, but it is considered a privilege for many across the world and this novel reminds everyone of that.
2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
Words have always made a great impact on the world and Jeannette Walls showcases just that in her memoir. She may be a successful author and journalist now, but her future didn’t look quite so bright at the beginning. The Glass Castle depicts Walls’ dysfunctional childhood and impoverished upbringing, along with ways in which she created opportunities for herself in a seemingly hopeless situation.
3. The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay.
Most young adults can almost all agree that their twenties is the most tumultuous period of their lives. Not only are they uncertain of their careers, but they’re usually financially unstable. Our culture has defined these aspects as normal, but clinical psychologist, Dr. Meg Jay argues that twenties is the most important period in an individual’s life for personal development. As a result, she has gathered personal stories from her clients, along with her research to show how people can make the best of their twenties.
4. Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling.
She’s everyone’s favourite funny girl who won her people’s hearts through her work on The Office and her show, The Mindy Project. As a sequel to her first memoir, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Kaling continues to offer a hilarious and quirky perspective on showbiz, relationships, and her unconventional life.
5. It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizinni.
This fictional story follows 16-year-old Craig Gilner’s hospitalization for depression and is loosely based on the author’s own experiences. Mental health issues are on the rise among college students, with 53.8% of over 30,000 students reporting that they felt hopeless and 89.3% felt overwhelmed in a survey conducted by the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services. It’s Kind of a Funny Story manages to offer a humorous perspective on the issue and maintain a realistic perspective on the subject.
6. The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan.
This collection of essays and stories from Yale graduate Marina Keegan turned her into the voice of her generation. Not only did she graduate magna cum laude, but she also had a job at The New Yorker. Tragically, she died in a car accident five days after her graduation. Soon after, her inspiring last essay at The Yale Daily News called “The Opposite of Loneliness” went viral and received more than 1.4 million hits. Each piece offers a critical and hopeful look at issues for young college students everywhere.
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