Even If You Hate Reading!!!!
Reading has always been one of my favorite hobbies. Getting lost in a good book has helped me through good and bad times, and I will be forever grateful for that. In the past year I’ve been very into books that explore young adulthood in all its complexities, especially as I’m growing up myself. So, I’d like to share some of my favorite reads that have changed my perspective, and have made me feel less lost and alone. I think that most young people can enjoy and relate to some, if not all of the following books.
- Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love
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Everything I Know About Love is my most recent obsession– I picked it up three days ago and just finished it. If I had an entire day I probably would’ve read it start to finish– it was such a page turner and is such an easy read. I didn’t exactly know what to expect with it, because memoirs can be very hit or miss, at least for me. But, I connected to this book more than I have to any piece of media for a long time. Alderton recounts her experiences in such a funny and relatable way, while also touching on deep topics. She tells tales of bad dates and weird guys, and shares her experience with disordered eating, grief and loss, and the sense of loneliness that often comes with young adulthood. The book explores the topic of love throughout, but not always in the way you might think. The friendships and relationships described are so real and raw, and reminded me how important my loved ones are to me. I highly recommend this to any young person feeling lost, stupid, and alone, especially young women.
- Otessa Moshfegh’s My Year of Rest and Relaxation
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I feel like so many people have read this book already, but it deserved a mention nonetheless. My Year of Rest and Relaxation follows a young woman living in New York City as she essentially tries to hibernate in her apartment for a year. She takes pills that put her to sleep for days, and wakes every once and a while to eat, bathe, etc. She hopes to come out of her year long sleep a new person, finally ready to experience the good in the world. This may seem boring in theory, but the book explores the narrator’s past life experiences, her troubled relationships, and ultimately what brought her to this extreme point of burnout. The main character, and pretty much all the other characters, are pretty unlikeable, but I think that’s probably the point of the book. While this novel has been critiqued for being unrealistic, having “no plot”, and morally questionable characters, I think that anyone who has ever wanted to escape the troubles of their life would enjoy this odd and entertaining story.
- Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library
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I read this book about a year and a half ago, and it was such a moving and inspiring story that I still think about it often. It tells the fictional tale of Nora, a depressed young woman who ends her own life only to wake up in a library. But this library is special– the books there offer her infinite chances to experience all the different lives she could’ve lived. The self-exploration Nora goes through is captivating as she tries to understand what’s important in life. I am constantly wondering about all the different paths I could go down, and how all my choices will bring me there, so this book was especially meaningful for me. The lesson at the end seems predictable, but isn’t at the same time. It reminded me of the importance of living in the present, a basic statement, but one we shouldn’t forget.
- Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven
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If you’ve ever heard of the famous Tuesdays With Morrie, this book is by the same author. The Five People You Meet in Heaven is short and sweet, while still being very deep and profound. Similar to The Midnight Library, this book follows a main character, Eddie, after he passes away. Eddie is an elderly man who dies attempting to save a young girl at the amusement park where he works. In the afterlife, Eddie’s life is explained to him by five people, some he knew well, others not so much. Eddie feels like his life was meaningless, but these five people shine light on his impacts. If you’re looking for something deep but inspiring, I highly recommend this book.
- Any and all Sally Rooney novels.
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My favorite author had to be mentioned. Sally Rooney novels are truly my favorite; I finish them so quickly and always find myself wanting more. Her writing style is captivating and easy to get into, and the stories she tells are so entertaining and relatable. All of her books encapsulate young adulthood so well, exploring the complexity of love, friendships, family, and more, all while being somewhat existential. The three novels she currently has published are: Beautiful World, Where Are You, Normal People, and Conversations with Friends. I loved them all and don’t think I could pick a favorite.
Reading is such an important escape for me from the stressors of everyday life. All the books I mentioned truly have helped me forget about my problems (at least for a little while) and made me see the bigger picture in life. I recommend them to anyone, but especially to young people, because I think these books helped me as a young adult feel a little less lost.