My favorite part of winter break has always been the time I have to read—and I don’t mean textbooks, I mean reading for FUN! I don’t know about you, but that’s not something I ever have time for during the semester. I’ve always been an avid reader, and since I got a Nook for my birthday last year, I always have a book lined up to read when I (by some miracle of the universe) have some extra free time.
So, for all you bibliophile collegiettes™ that look forward to having free time to read as much as I do—or for those of you who will undoubtedly be receiving a Barnes and Noble gift card from your Great Aunt Martha—here’s a list of books I’ve enjoyed in the past and books I’m looking forward to reading soon.
White Oleander by Janet Fitch I read this way back in high school and always loved it. The book tells the riveting story of Ingrid and her daughter Astrid. The story follows Astrid though a number of foster homes after Ingrid is imprisoned for murder. As most popular books, there’s also a movie version of the story, which I also highly recommend.
Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey James Frey is most infamous for his first “memoir,” A Million Little Pieces. After that, he wrote several more books. My favorite is Bright Shiny Morning. The book tracks a bunch of different characters, all in Los Angeles; young, ambitious Mexican-American girl, a 19-year-old couple fleeing their hometown and an aging Venice Beach alcoholic to name a few. This book is definitely one of the more unpredictable ones on the list, and that is definitely not a bad thing.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins Not to be cliché, but unless you live under a rock, I’m assuming you’ve heard of The Hunger Games: the movie version of the first book comes out in March 2012. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay are being hailed as the series that will satisfy fans mourning the end of the Harry Potter era. The Hunger Games takes place in Panem, the nation that rises up from the remains of what used to be the United States. After war was waged on the Capitol, the districts of Panem were defeated, and as a reminder of the Capitol’s power they hold the annual Hunger Games. Each district must send two tributes to participate in a ruthless game of survival that will leave only one contestant alive. All three books follow the life of Katniss before, during and after her experience in the Hunger Games, and all three are addictive… I read them all in eight days this summer and am anxiously awaiting the first movie.
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher This book is definitely darker and more serious than some of the others on this list. High school student Clay Jensen receives a mysterious box of cassettes that turn out to be recorded by his classmate and crush, Hannah Baker, who killed herself weeks earlier. On the tapes, Hannah gives the thirteen reasons why she decided to kill herself. This book is an amazing look at how the little things you do can affect other people in a big way.
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson I found this book when I was originally searching for 13 Reasons Why. It’s about a girl whose aunt leaves her a bundle of 13 envelopes. The first envelope contains $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London. The story unfolds from there. If you like love stories, travel, art or any combination of the three, you’ll enjoy this and The Last Little Blue Envelope, the sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelopes that ties up some loose ends.
Looking For Alaska by John Green. I should preface this by recommending ANY John Green book (the only one I haven’t read yet is Will Grayson, Will Grayson and that’s first on my list for winter break). Looking for Alaska follows a boy to boarding school, where he meets a girl that changes his life. This book needs little explanation; don’t waste time reading summaries, just go straight for the story! Other John Green titles I recommend are An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns. He also has short stories published as well as a novel being released next year.
Sorry I’m Not Sorry by @SororityProblem Although this book is authored by the same hilarious voice behind @SororityProblem on Twitter, this is a hysterical read for any college girl, not just sorority girls. Available only in e-book format, both Sorry I’m Not Sorry and Sucks to Suck follow 18-year-old bad girl Alexa Black after her mother forces her to go to college and join a sorority, which she hopes will change her daughters hard partying ways. Safe to say, it didn’t. These are the funniest books I think I’ve ever read.
Check back next week for another round of book recommendations for winter break!
Sources:
www.barnesandnoble.com