10 literary books every person should read

It never occurred to me to write a post such as this until a few weeks ago when a friend asked me to share the top ten books I’ve ever read. Without sharing my age, I’ll just say that I’ve read a lot of books in my lifetime, including The Aeneid… in Latin! (Which sadly does not make my list. Hmm…) So here it is. The top ten books that impacted me deeply.

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Angela’s Ashes

It’s been many years since I read this book by Frank McCourt, which is the memoir of his childhood steeped in poverty in Ireland. But what I remember after closing the last page is thinking that this book should be required reading for my children. For all children. Maybe for all Americans. It instills an overpowering sense of gratitude in anyone who walks through its pages.

Ellen Foster

This little book that was made into a Hallmark movie is a far cry from translating an ancient novel from Latin to English, but it touched me in a way that I never want to forget. Similar to Angela’s Ashes, it focuses on the resilience of children in the midst of sadness and hardship. The main character is an orphaned girl who searches for a sense of belonging. A family. Kaye Gibbons writes this short coming-of-age novel with tenderness and humor and a sweet sadness that will definitely leave watermarks from your tears on its pages. A simple, easy-to-read book that melts your heart.

The God of Small Things

If I had to choose only one novel that is my favorite, this is it. However, it has been so long since I’ve read Arundhati Roy’s novel The God of Small Things, I don’t remember some of the names or details. I do, however, remember many of her haunting phrases such as how one of the children is referred to as “the one loved a little less.” Roy’s writing is beautiful and powerful, as she tells the story of two fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the “Love Laws” prevalent in 1960s Kerala, India. There are too many things to say about this book, so I’ll just share my favorite of one of its reviews.

The God of Small Things] offers such magic, mystery, and sadness that, literally, this reader turned the last page and decided to reread it. Immediately. It’s that haunting.–USA Today

A Lesson Before Dying

This novel by Ernest Gaines is a must-read for all. Set in 1940s Cajun country, this compassionate story is about a young man who visits a black youth on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Together they come to understand the heroism of resisting. This little novel is exactly as the San Francisco Chronicle describes it – a lesson for living.

“A quietly moving novel [that] takes us back to a place we’ve been before to impart a lesson for living.” —San Francisco Chronicle

The Sound and the Fury

William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury is hailed as his best novel. After all, it did win a Nobel Prize. It won my heart as well. It tells the story of a family of Southern Aristocrats on the brink of personal and financial ruin. I wouldn’t say it is an easy book to digest and definitely not a casual beach read. It is way more complex than that, especially as it paints memorable pictures of all its unique characters. The interweaving and nonlinear structure of this book add to its complexity.

I was in my late teens when I read this, and I remember it as one of the first books that completely transported me to another place. The author pulls you in so deeply, and as you get to know the characters intimately, you also feel the profound beauty of Faulkner’s writing. This changes you somehow. Do yourself a favor. Read this classic.

The Glass Castle

I can’t imagine finding anyone who has read this novel by Jeannette Walls and not loved it. It is the author’s memoir of a childhood embedded in dysfunction. It is a lesson in resilience that will stay with you. Still not convinced? Read my previous book review on this novel.

Paradise

I have to confess that I love every book written by Toni Morrison. I think she is a genius. Her stories are captivating, and her sentences are beautiful. Some of the words from her novels you just want to tuck into your pockets so you’ll never forget them. My favorite is from her novel Beloved.

Sweet, she thought. He must think I can’t bear to hear him say it. That after all I have told him and after telling me how many feet I have, “goodbye” would break me into pieces.

Sethe from Beloved

With that said, I think my personal favorite of Morrison’s books is Paradise. It is a bit easier to read than Beloved yet, in true Morrison style, it is filled with powerful language and imagery. This is one author to which every person should be introduced. And if the first sentence of Paradise doesn’t draw you in, I don’t know what will…

“They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time.”

Of Mice and Men

This book is short. It can be read in a day, but it will stay with you forever. John Steinbeck’s novel about two friends, George and Lenny, was originally written in 1937, yet is still relevant today. It addresses large issues such as sexism, racism, and prejudice toward those with disabilities. Yet at its core, it is about friendship. Which can be a very complicated thing.

The Boxcar Children

Before you gasp WTF, hear me out. I included this book because it was with this book that my passion for reading began. My second grade teacher read us a chapter every day after lunch. I remember sitting quietly at a little wooden desk with my head resting on my hands. Listening. The adventures of Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny captured my imagination. Fifty years later I still remember Jessie fashioning a meal of bread and cheese for her younger siblings in the abandoned boxcar in the forest. That book carved a small notch in my soul and has lived there ever since.

Fun fact – my teacher gave me her original copy of that book when I was an adult. She would have been touched to know that I have read it to my own sons when they were young. It was a rainy day when we finished it, all of us nestled in my bed, reading for hours. The magic of Gertrude Warner’s The Boxcar Children enthralled them. Parents, read to your children. And put this book on the top of your list. (Full disclosure – I don’t recommend the subsequent books in the series. They just don’t compare to the original story.)

The Outsiders

Here’s the deal. This book is not a literary challenge for adults. But for teens and preteens? It’s a requirement. At least in my opinion. I read it as a young girl and loved it. It may have been one of the first books I decided to keep in my personal library, forever. The story of this teen gang speaks to the universal struggle of teens to find meaning in their lives and a sense of acceptance. This book can play an importance role in the formative years of young adults.

Fun but useless fact – recently at a local brewery, I noticed one of the craft beer selections was named Stay Golden. When asked by the server what I wanted, I couldn’t resist. I had to say, “Stay Golden… Ponyboy.” I’d love to know who named that beer. Definitely not the server. He just thought I was weird.

Hope you enjoyed this post. Check out more of my book reviews here.

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