Between school, work, and life, it is hard to find the time to sit down and get sucked into the world of a good book. I used to be a major book worm in my youth; however, as I got older I found it harder and harder to enjoy reading as much as I once did. I would pick up a book, read a page or two, then get caught up in something else and then never touch the book again. Or I would start the book, but it wouldn’t be as interesting as I thought it would be, so I would put it down just as quickly as I picked it up, not giving it enough time to prove itself to me. All this discouraged me from reading recreationally. I thought I would never be able to enjoy reading the way I once did.
Last summer I made a pact with myself: I would pick one book and I would complete it by the end of summer, no matter what. I thought if I could complete just one book, it would encourage me to read more. To be completely honest, I did not have much faith in myself to finish the book. Up until this point I had had a terrible track record. But I had more free time during the summer, so I thought why not? And I’m so glad I took that leap.
1. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood–I found this book at the CofC bookstore and quickly determined that it would be the book for my summer reading pact. I had heard of Margaret Atwood, but had never actually read one of her books before. I knew she was famous for writing The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments (the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale), so I figured she had to be a good author. What better way to get back into reading than by reading the work of an already exceptionally well known author?
This book was exactly what I had needed to get out of my slump. It has three different and very engaging story lines that all join together in the end to reveal a major plot twist. It follows the life of a now elderly Iris Chase Griffen as she reminisces upon her youth, family history, and her relationship with her sister before her tragic death via car accident. The narrative of Iris’ life is intertwined with the scandalous story her sister wrote in the late 1940s. The novel her sister wrote is about two unnamed lovers having an affair; the woman is very wealthy and influential, while the man is a fugitive. The man is also a writer, and her tells the woman a Sci-Fi story about the fictional planet Zycron. The story of Iris’ life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and lots of scandal. The book always kept me guessing. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone who loves stories of old money, mystery, and affairs, and to anyone who wants to be kept engaged by what they read.
2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller–This book has to be my favorite book by far and I recommend it to everyone I know. When I tell you this book had me crying when I finished it, I would not be lying. I am a sucker for a good tragic romance, and also a bit of a nerd when it comes to Greek mythology and literature. The Song of Achilles had all that and more. It follows the life of the hero Achilles from Homer’s Iliad, but is told from the perspective of disgraced former prince Patroclus. If you have ever read the Iliad before, then you probably know where this is going. It tells the story of how the two of them met as young boys, and follows them as their relationship blossoms into something more as they grow up together and are eventually sent to fight in the Trojan War. As someone who has read the Iliad more times than I can count, I was wary to begin this book, afraid that it would just be another retelling of the same ancient story. But it was anything but that. This book is so beautifully written, and includes so much more than simply Homer’s epic has to offer, while managing to stay true to the original story line. And even though I knew how the book would end, it still managed to take me by surprise and tear at my heart strings. Madeline Miller makes an incredibly complex story digestible, while still using beautiful and flowery language. I cannot recommend this book enough to someone who needs a good book to pull them out of their reading slump.
3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid–I actually found out about this book through Tik-Tok, and I’m so glad that I did. It follows the life and loves of famous retired Hollywood actress Evelyn Hugo as she retells her story to an unknown news journalist Monique Grant. This book has all the glitz and glamor of Old Hollywood, as well as love, scandal, and a major plot twist at the end that leaves your mind reeling. In the book, Evelyn Hugo calls upon journalist Monique Grant for what Monique thinks will be a routine piece about an auction; however, Evelyn reveals much more than what Monique originally signed up for. Evelyn’s character is extremely complex, and you never know whether you are supposed to like her, hate her, feel sorry for her, or admire her, but either way you come out loving her in one way or another. This book is an easy read with a complex story line, and the perfect book to get you into reading if you haven’t picked up a book in a long time but want a story that will leave you thinking about it for a while after you finish it.
I cannot recommend these books enough if you’re anything like me and want to get back into reading, but aren’t quite sure where to start. Each of these books has its own special way of drawing your in and keeping you hooked. You will be surprised by how much time you actually have to read if you find the right novel. So go for it! Take the leap and start that book that you keep hearing your friends talk about, or that you keep seeing all over social media. You won’t regret it.