In the past decade or so, we appear to have made an unfortunate trade-off. Access to technology has made a dent in book-reading. You would think that ease of access, if anything, would enable more people to start reading. On the contrary, our biology is hardwired to seek instant gratification. The thought of spending hours reading doesn’t have the same appeal as watching multiple short YouTube videos or browsing Facebook.
This excess of readily available information has conditioned us into having short attention spans. I am somewhat guilty but today I want to change that.
Book reading does not have to be tedious. Most people I know make the mistake of picking out books deemed “must-reads” by the literary community. This approach is what puts many people off from reading books.
Instead, I would say that you should read whatever subject matter or genre you enjoy. If you are interested in deep fantasy, then, of course, something like The Odyssey by Homer will seem tedious and hard to comprehend.
Especially if you are a college student and are looking to improve your diction or general writing skills, a good book can do both. Moreover, reading something other than your course books is an excellent way to relax. At the same time, it is something productive that will aid you in your life in various ways, be it life lessons, vocabulary, writing skills, historical facts, etc., you name it.
I have compiled a list of 10 books that I think are great picks for college students or anyone else. You may not like all of them but do give their descriptions a read to get an idea of what they are about.
The books on this list are a nice little mix of classic and contemporary works, including fantasy novels.
In this Article
10. I’ll Give You the Sun
Author: Jandy Nelson
Published: 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
“I’ll give you the sun” is a story of twin siblings, Jude and Noah. The story is written in first-person, and both Jude and Noah narrate their parts at different intervals in the book. At its core, “I’ll give you the sun” is a young adult novel with an air of intensity about it in which the characters at play deliberate about their existence and place in the world.
Jude and Noah are twin brother and sister who find themselves growing distant as their lives progress and discover interests out of their limited house life. The story revolves around their struggle to find meaning and make peace with their individualities.
Get it here.
9. The Kiss of Deception
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Published: 2014
Genre: Fantasy: Romance, Young Adult
“The Kiss of Deception” is the first book in a three-part series. This fantasy novel tells Princess Lia’s story, who is betrothed by her father against her will to a prince of a neighboring kingdom. This arranged communal is supposed to bring allegiance between the two kingdoms; however, Lia, determined not to fall prey to her father’s wishes, escapes on the morning of her wedding and finds herself amidst a world both hostile and deceptive.
Get it here.
8. Amy and Roger’s Epic detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Published: 2010
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Amy, our protagonist, finds herself lost and confused when she has to bring her mother’s car from California to Connecticut. Still recovering from her father’s loss the year before, Amy is heartbroken and lost when a 19-year-old son of an old family friend comes into the picture.
The story explores their journey together across the country. Amy discovers that the people you least expected are the ones you may need the most.
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7. Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Published: 1847
Genre: Classic literature, Fiction, Romance
Wuthering Heights, written by the much-acclaimed Emily Bronte, is a timeless classic of English literature. It is a tale of love, propriety, and tragedy.
Mr. Lockwood, a gentleman from the city, rents Thrush Cross Grange, an estate in the English countryside.
As the story progresses, our protagonist finds himself uncovering a mystery. He is bound to his room due to bad weather; with nothing else to do, he dwells on family secrets relating to the estate’s owner Mr. Heathcliff.
This book is a mix of tragedy, horror, and romance and will grip you from the very beginning to the end. The style of writing is deeply expressive and descriptive.
Get it from here.
6. The Last Wish: Introducing The Witcher
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
Published: 2008 (English), 1993 (Polish)
Genre: High Fantasy
You might have heard about the Witcher recently due to its Netflix adaptation starring Henry Cavill, or perhaps you have played one of the three video games, the last of which is insanely popular. However, before it was a video game or a TV show, Witcher was a series of fantasy novels written by the Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The Last Wish is the first of the two short books that start the Witcher saga. At the heart of it, we have our protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher. In this fictional world, a Witcher is a sword-for-hire who specializes in killing monsters for money. Due to their elite training and mutations, Witcherscan sustains damage and takes down dangerous monsters that pose a threat to the common folk.
The Last Wish is a series of short stories that give us a glimpse into the life and adventures of Geralt. It is an easy read and deeply rewarding.
The Witcher series is one of my all-time favorite fantasy novels. The story is merely riveting, and the characters are deeply engaging.
Get it from here.
5. The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
Author: Nicholas Carr
Published: 2011
Genre: Nonfiction, Psychology, Science
This book is a little different than the other books on this list. It is not a fiction book, and the reason I want people to read it is that it offers profound insight into what the internet is doing to our lives and, most importantly, our brains.
Nicholas Carr presents his research in this book on the question, “Is Google making us stupid?”. He argues that human thought historically has been shaped by “tools of the mind”- from the alphabet to maps, to the printings press, to clocks and the computer.
Citing the work of neuroscientists, he makes the case that as opposed to books and written media in general, the internet encourages the rapid, distracted sampling of small bits of information from many sources. He argues that we are becoming ever more adept at scanning and skimming, but we are losing our capacity for concentration, contemplation, and reflection.
Get it from here.
4. Jane Eyre
Author: Charlotte Bronte
Published: 1847
Genre: Classic Literature, Fiction, Romance
Jane Eyre, much like wuthering heights, is a timeless English classic written by Charlotte Bronte, sister of Emily Bronte. It is a profoundly moving tale of a woman named Jane Eyre, an orphan who has endured a harsh childhood. Her life takes a turn when she comes under the employ of a mysterious Mr. Rochester, who hires her as a tutor for his daughter.
Get it from here.
3. Less Than Zero
Author: Bret Easton Ellis
Published: 1985
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Written by the same author who wrote the very famous “American Psycho,” Less Than Zero is a fictional story about a lost generation who got to experience sex, drugs, and disaffection at too early of an age, which enters them into a world of casual nihilism, passivity and a place that is devoid of feeling or hope.
The story follows Clay’s character, who comes home for Christmas from his college and finds himself surrounded by exuberant wealth, moral entropy, and drug abuse.
Get it from here.
2. Animal Farm
Author: George Orwell
Published: 1945
Genre: Classic Fiction, Allegorical
Written by George Orwell, Animal Farm is an allegorical novel that uses farm animals to show the social disparity in society. It Is a commentary on freedom, liberty, exploitation of the poor, and the monopoly of the rich.
Readers are taken through a journey of struggle and conviction. Farm animals create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality with their hard work, only to be exploited by those higher up on the hierarchy.
Get it from here.
1. Pride and Prejudice
Author: Jane Austen
Published: 1813
Genre: Classical Romance, Fiction
There are some books that, even if you have no interest in reading, you still know about them. Pride and Prejudice is one such book. It is perhaps the most fantastic romance ever written in classical literature, and its timeless popularity and multiple movie adaptations are a testament to that fact.
Set in 17th century England, the story follows the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet, one of 5 daughters belonging to Mr. Bennet of Longbourn estate. Since Mr. Bennet has no son, his property can be passed down to any of his daughters, and hence they are set to become destitute after his death.
Given the circumstances, at least one of his daughters is required to marry to support the others.
The novel revolves around the importance of marrying for love rather than money or social prestige, despite the communal pressure to make a wealthy match.
Get it from here.