Enjoying reading in high school is extremely hard, most of the books you’re told to read… usually suck. However, if you did have to read any of these for class and hated them, I’m slightly begging you to give them another try (without the 20 guided reading questions per chapter). If you still don’t like them, totally cool. If you do, follow my Goodreads.
“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Houssini
TW: Sexual assault, suicide, domestic violence
You may have heard of their other book, “The Kite Runner”, but this story had me hitting my desk. This will break you but really open your eyes to the struggles women endure outside of the U.S. This story follows two women as they endure being married to the same abusive husband. The author’s personal recount of Kabul when the Taliban rose to power will make you angry and devastated. However, the novel does a brilliant job of accounting for the resilience of women, rather than portraying them as weak victims. If you hate classic-novel language, you will love Houssini’s straight-forward, punch you right in the heart, writing style.
“Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
If you despised the cliches in “Romeo and Juliet”, love a cynically witty main character, or simply can’t catch a break in life, this will be the Shakespeare play for you. Hamlet gets screwed over by almost everyone in this work. When he decides to be emo about it, he is absolutely hilarious. Jokes aside, this book displays the realities of death in a digestible manner. We all will sadly be maggot food at some point. Shakespeare also makes brilliant commentary on the treatment of women when they do not act as they are told. Ophelia, you deserved better.
“1984” by George Orwell
No, I am not your middle-aged neighbor that thought the covid vaccine contained government tracking devices trying to plead my case about mind control. I vividly remember talking about this book with a Barnes’ employee and her telling me, “Reread this in twenty years. It’ll have a completely different meaning”. Orwell’s nightmare can be applied to other relationships in life besides the people and the government, and Winston’s falls truly teach you to watch your back. With that being said, if you’re going to watch those “Is 1984 becoming reality?” conspiracies, you should at least know what they’re talking about.
“The Odyssey” by Homer
I got this suggestion from my best friend who loves Greek mythology. No, I am not asking you to read all 24 books, but the journey of Odysseus truly captures ordinary life trials in a thrilling story. Specifically, the story of the Sirens gives Homer a feminist moment in which he portrays men as mindless pigs who will easily stir away from their wives when they are offered something “better”. Odysseus learning true “strength” beyond his physical capabilities as a warrior plays at human fallibility. This book is Homer’s way of humbling men because let’s face it, they need it.
Honorable Mentions: “The Great Gatsby”, “Death of a Salesman”, “Pride and Prejudice”, “Animal Farm”, “The Color Purple”, and “The Little Prince”.