Books That Have Inspired Me
Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
I recommend this book because of its beautiful portrayal of a girl growing up and realizing her place in the world. This book perfectly describes feelings so complex you wouldn't think it would be possible in only 300 pages. As you read this book, you feel as though you are growing up with the protagonist, and like your understanding of the world is forming at the same time hers is. The diction, setting, and characters feel so real. The way you, too, experience their pain and happiness as the reader is what makes this book so amazing.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
I recommend this book because of its striking portrayal of war. The way Robbie's experiences in World War II are described makes you really understand the fear he felt. Another thing I love about this book is the way Briony's thoughts as a child are described. The way she thinks feels so real and relatable to me. I was surprised at how well an adult man could describe a young girl’s thoughts and feelings.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
This book is about a bounty hunter who kills androids. He does it initially for the money he receives, but over time he becomes disgusted with himself for “retiring” them. The book, despite being about non-living creatures, really explores how human empathy works. I love how the entire story occurs in the space of one day, because Dick examines huge social and psychological issues but in a time frame that is condensed, which heightens the reader's experience. I would recommend this title for anyone who likes sci fi.
This title is better know for its movie version, but the book is well worth the read. It is a memoir about Kaysen who spent two years in a psychiatric ward as a teen. I like this book because it is based on a real experience, and because it brings the reader inside an actual, real-world 'case study,' yet from a first-person perspective. It also appeals to my interest in psychology, and in helping others through difficult phases in their lives.
Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I recommend this book because it is a seminal American novel and brings you inside the “Roaring 20s.” At the same time, the issues still speak to today’s world. Part of what I love is that Fitzgerald leaves so much to the reader’s interpretation, with the book’s focus on greed, inequality, pursuit at all costs. I also really like how you meet and learn of other characters through the lens of Nick Carraway, who offers an “outsider’s” take on the scene in West and East Egg. The reader is both aligned with Nick’s perspective but also able to question his actions and thoughts.
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Martyr!, a novel by Kaveh Akbar, is a story about second chances. It moves from Iran to NYC, from youth to adulthood, from culture through politics. And it shows how no matter what happens or what mistakes you make, life still goes on. Individuals persevere. Even though it is, in ways, a very sad book (no spoilers here!), I found it highly inspirational, showing how resilient people can be even in the worst scenarios. I recommend Akbar’s book.