Reading is not for everyone — and that is okay! But sometimes, all it takes is the right book at the right moment to really change everything. These four books did that for me, and I suggest you give them a chance. Each in its own way, these books completely transformed my life, opening my eyes to the importance of literature and ultimately playing an important role in my decision to become an English major.
Between Shades of Gray – Ruta Sepetys
Between Shades of Gray was the first book I read in my high school freshman English class! It brought me into the realm of historical fiction (an underrated genre in my opinion) and influenced me more than a textbook ever could. Through Lina’s story, Sepetys reveals the lost history behind the extreme brutality of the Soviet labor camps. Honestly, it saddens me how important stories and parts of history become forgotten over time. I was so grateful to read this book and expand my knowledge of the horrors behind the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States. It has been over five years since I read this book, but what has stayed with me is each character’s ability to hold on to hope and their humanity despite their excruciating suffering. Literature is powerful in giving a voice to stories that are forgotten.
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men is an American classic, but don’t let that intimidate you. I read Of Mice and Men in my high school Junior English class. At first, this novella can seem simple and short, but the simplicity is what truthfully makes it devastating. Steinbeck perfectly grasps how the fragility of dreams can feel painful through loneliness as well as friendship. George and Lennie’s relationship showed me how a book can foster a sense of tenderness and tragedy simultaneously. Stories do not have to be complicated to be powerful, and I find my mind thinking about this book pretty regularly.
Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton
I read Ethan Frome in my AP Literature class, and it has left a lasting impression because of the emotional weight the text has. Wharton portrays isolation and desire as a beautiful haunting. She uses a stark winter environment to reflect Ethan’s internal struggles, creating a sense of intense worry throughout the novel. The story is restrained, so much left unsaid, but everything is quite deeply felt. In literature, often even subtle moments serve a purpose. This book deepened my appreciation for texts that leave much up to interpretation.
Death of a Salesman – Arthur Miller
I also read Death of a Salesman in my AP Literature class (moral of the story — take AP Lit), and it is my favorite piece of literature of all time. It is a play, so the text heavily relies on dialogue, but it delivers an emotional impact like no other. Through Willy Loman’s struggle with identity, success, and failure, Arthur Miller creates a character that is deeply human and almost uncomfortably relatable. He criticizes the American Dream in such a way that made me question ideas that I had taken for granted. Death of a Salesman asks difficult questions and forces the reader to reflect on their own beliefs and values.
While these four books definitely improved my Lexile score, they made me a more empathetic person. Each story showed me a different side of literature — specifically the ability it has to evoke emotion, preserve history, and challenge norms. I attribute these books as the reason I chose to pursue English in my post-secondary studies. Not everyone will connect with these books in the same way that I did, but I believe it is important to give them a chance. To anyone willing to read them, they will provide something valuable (whether that be a lesson, a question, etc). All it takes is one story (or maybe four) to change the way you view literature and life. For me, it was these stories.
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