The first question people ask me when they realise I’m a bookworm is, “Could you recommend me some names? I haven’t read a book in ages.” (or, “Gosh! You’re such a nerd. How do you get the time to read?” *eye roll* )
I, for some unknown reason, find it kind of difficult to just suggest books right off the bat. So to save me from those awkward moments, here’s what I think are 5 Books Everyone Will Enjoy (Probably) !
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Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe ❝ The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.❞
Page count- 209
Set in late 19th century Nigeria, it portrays the African culture vividly. As a person who had never previously indulged in African literature, I was downright mesmerised by this short novel, especially the ending. The story is beautifully sectioned as it follows the life of Okonkwo, the protagonist and a tragic hero.
The vocabulary isn’t that difficult, but the names are (I couldn’t pronounce any of them even in my head). It can be read as a standalone but it’s actually a trilogy.
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower – Stephen Chbosky
❝…even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.❞
Page count-256
There are books that touch your heart, and then there are books that become a permanent resident in your soul. The latter is this absolutely amazing work of Chbosky. It is an epistolary novel (written in the form of letters) which definitely made it more appealing to me because I prefer shorter chapters and less details.
All of the characters are so relatable, the storyline isn’t all larger than life and it contains just the perfect amount of drama, humour and sadness. I found Charlie, the wallflower, absolutely endearing as well as Sam, Patrick and Mary (her narcissistic attitude is sometimes so amusing). Even if you’ve watched the movie – which is one great literary adaptation- you must read the book!
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The Outsiders – S. E. Hinton❝ They grew up on the outside of society. They weren’t looking for a fight. They were looking to belong.❞
Page count- 192
Looking for a classic that won’t make you question your English skills? The Outsiders is the one for you! (I sound like a infomercial selling magical socks)
Set in the mid 1960s, it is narrated by Ponyboy, who’s a part of a teen gang known as Greasers. The gang rivalry between Greasers and the Socs result into some bitter incidents where blood as well as tears are shed.
The name of the protagonist is not the only thing that makes him standout, he perceives things differently too. The two-week period covered in the novel shows some drastic change in his viewpoints and shows the readers how unfair life might be. It’s the right size for someone’s who’s trying to enter the world of reading.
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The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini❝ There is only one sin and that is theft… when you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth.❞
Page count – 372
We all love a heart wrenching story every now and then, don’t we? I certainly do! The Kite Runner gives you an insight into the lives of Afghanis during the Soviet invasion, and it’s definitely not just a informative piece of writing but I’d call it a beautiful tale of relationships, regret and redemption.
Hosseini has successfully weaved the hardships endured by improverished castes together with a beautiful story of friendship. You can’t possibly imagine how enormous the price of a moment of cowardice can be; Amir’s lamentation seemed almost palpable.
I’d be lying if I said it’s a hard to put down novel because I certainly had to take a few breaks while reading because it was at times extremely overwhelming (and also because my eyes were sweating profusely at times). But no, it’s not all depressing! It has the sweet essence of Afghani traditions and the satisfaction of repentance.
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The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank.❝ You can be lonely even when you are loved by many people, since you are still not anybody’s one and only. ❞
Page count- 283 (roughly)
You can know about World War II through textbooks, but if you want to feel the despair, the mirage of safety and hope the innocents endured during the war then this diary is quite perfect.
Surprisingly, I could relate to Anne’s annoyance whenever her opinions were labelled ‘worthless’ because she was young, or to her anger towards her mother – makes her seem pretty ordinary, doesn’t it? She’s far from that, I assure you. Her character development rendered me speechless; she went from an exuberant teenager suffocating in the Secret Annexe to this thoughtful person who held onto even the slightest ray of hope.
It has been translated to a good number of languages – I have read the English translation and the language was downright beautiful. You can read it in whichever language you are comfortable with and since abridged versions are also available, you can try that one first and see for yourself if you enjoy it or not!
Really hope you guys find my suggestions helpful. I’d love to hear the titles of books you think can be enjoyed by (almost) everyone ! Comment below !
[ We all have different opinions and these are mine, they could be poles apart from yours – that’s okay! ]
fiction over reality 
❤️❤️❤️
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