10 Books That Everyone Should Read for an Experience of a Lifetime
George R.R. Martin once said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
Anyone who has ever picked up a piece of literature that has touched their heart can feel the reverberation of the deep conviction and truth the above words hold. A good book holds such an immense power over its readers that it can mold their emotions to the whim of the words it encapsulates and leaves an irremovable mark in their hearts, drawing them and enticing them back to its pages time and again.
Below are 10 books that are sure to trap listeners and take them into another realm through the magic of their brilliance.
10. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Considered to be one of the greatest literary works for children, the book takes on an entirely new meaning when read from an adult’s perspective, leading to massive post-modern conjectures and theories. The prevalent theme of escapism resulting from an insanely creative mind which led to the creation of characters like the Mad Hatter, The Queen of Hearts, The Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit creates in it a land that provides solace to hearts of all ages.
9. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Also called The Modern Prometheus, this celebrated novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein who succumbs to the horrors of his own creation. Mary Shelley’s book came to be regarded as one of the earliest works of science fiction that finds its roots in Gothic and Romantic literature. One has to truly read the book to feel the spine-chilling appeal it holds to this day.
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Early 19th century England: the era of love, romances, ball gowns, and single gentlemen of “good fortune”. It is a story about love lost and found, misunderstanding, and above all “first impressions” and last. Austen readers do not miss the Easter eggs she hides in her writing: her depth of psychological understanding represented through characters like Elizabeth and Darcy, and the contemporary socio-political conditions of England. It was this book that inspired the popular Bridgerton series of today.
7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The eldest of the Brontë Sisters rose to fame with this 19th-century classic story of Jane Eyre - a horribly mistreated orphan latte becomes a governess at the house of wealthy Edward Rochester, at Thornfield Hall, where she finally finds some semblance of peace. But things soon take a crucial turn as Jane’s happiness dangles by a thread. The book has been a subject of extensive study through post-modern perspectives in recent years, especially the character of the mysterious Bertha Mason.
6. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
This classic presents the perspective of the sailor Ishmael as he narrates the obsession of the captain of the whaling ship Pequod, Captain Ahab, with the great white whale known as Moby Dick upon which he seeks vengeance after losing his leg to it on a previous voyage. This unhealthy obsession possesses him in such frenzy that he prioritizes revenge over the peril of death.
5. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A book that will leave readers shattered and yet heal their souls in a cathartic way, the book is a story about terror, politics, diaspora, and above all, a friendship that transcends time and reason. It is a book about promises and a reality check into the lives of Afghan people after the Taliban took over the country for the first time and finds relevance as history repeats itself once again.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The story records the journey of a Spanish shepherd in search of gold he saw in his dream and going through a massive transformation as he learns the “language of the universe”. It is a book that leaves hearts full and minds full of contemplation: an irreplaceable gem in Coelho’s treasure trove.
3. The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
One of the greatest franchise successes to have achieved unrivaled global acclaim, J.K. Rowling literally weaves magic into this series as she captures the journey of Harry Potter and his friends in the wizarding world. A collection of magical and mythical creatures find their way into this series that formed a massive part of everyone’s childhood.
2. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
How can one not fall in love with Dickens’ favorite child as he takes readers through the lives of London’s social classes through the eyes of one of the most literary characters of all time? Also, how can one not adore Aunt Betsey Trotwood and Mr. Dick?
1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Set in a dystopian future, the book gives a horrific view of a world where fundamentalism seizes all power, human rights are discarded and women become nameless objects only meant for procreation. The book is now a major Prime series.
Though these are only a few among the uncountable list of great books across the world, if one happens to read any of these, they will have had the experience of a lifetime.
