Top 5, Top 5, Top 5, And The Whole City (Read) Me
Please tell me someone laughed or at least appreciated the Drake reference in my title (the lyrics are from his song, Grammys). I thought I was being a little funny for the first time in my life. Me hinting at a pop culture reference? *Friends and family faint in surprise* Seriously though, this is the hippest I've been in a while, and it's the hippest sentence you'll see in this blog post because I am about to dive into the world of literature. From here on out, it's nerdy book-lover A Madison Classic talking, so be prepared.
For dramatic effect, my top choices are in descending order.
5. Believarexic by J.J. Johnson
As I said in my Books To Read: Vacation Edition post, (be sure to read it here if you missed it), I really enjoy reading books on heavy topics. Just like you probably inferred from the title, this novel focuses on an eating disorder. The main character, Jennifer, is checked into the eating disorder unit of the Samuel Tuke Center. She faces challenging nurses and patients, as well as difficulties with herself, her eating disorder, and her family. The novel was a beautiful coming of age tale, full of many incredible quotes that provided lots of food for thought. Plus, it just seemed much more focused on the self-realization that Jennifer experienced rather than simply her life in the hospital, which was a unique viewpoint compared to other novels of this genre. Honestly, I read this book in two days because I couldn't put it down, so if you're in the mood to feel many emotions and grow along with Jennifer, be sure to add this one to your reading list.
If you want more details, be sure to check out its GoodReads' page here.
4. In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom by Yeonmi Park
This book will not be everyone's cup of tea, and before I picked it up, I didn't think it would be mine either. Boy was I wrong. In Order to Live is a nonfiction piece, something I don't typically go for. Specifically, it's an autobiography about Yeonmi Park's escape from North Korea, including her struggle in China, making her way to freedom in South Korea, and searching to find her sister that fled the country before her. I cannot even stress how eye-opening and life-changing this book was. I still have not lost the feeling of gratitude for how lucky I am with my life here in the USA. It was heart-breaking and inspiring to hear Yeonmi's story, and I think it's one everyone needs to listen to. Plus, it hints at 1984 by George Orwell, aka my favorite book of all time so you know I'm a fan. If you're thinking this is just something a literature nerd would enjoy, think again. Even my grandma adored the book, so I'm confident you will too.
If you want more details, be sure to check out its GoodReads' page here.
3. The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee
In my opinion, every Gossip Girl or 90210 fan out there needs to read this book as soon as possible. I happened upon this title as I was browsing the library shelves (something i do far too often). Slightly intrigued, I added it to my pile and figured I'd get around to it if I finished every other book I had to read. Somehow, it stayed on my mind, so I decided to dive in, and man, I'm so happy I did. Basically, this story is told with differing points of view in every chapter, each with a character of a different social status, much like Gossip Girl. The fun twist is that it takes place in a futuristic society where New York City is now completely in a tower, with each floor (from 1-1000) representing each individual's social class. Complete with drama, relationships, love, secrets, backstabbing, and scandals, this read is a tv show in novel form, and I couldn't put it down. Even more exciting, it's becoming a series! The second book comes out on August 29th, and you bet I'll be picking it up.
If you want more details, be sure to check out its GoodReads' page here.
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Although it's now mentioned on my About the Author page and a #MotivationMonday post (click here and here respectively to read them), as well as already in this post, I feel the need to say it again: 1984 by George Orwell is my favorite book of all time. Oddly enough, I just discovered it this past year, so I hadn't read Orwell's other famed work, Animal Farm. This summer, I knew I wanted to change that fact, so I checked it out from the library right away. To be completely truthful, in the first couple chapters, I was not entirely sold, and it almost felt painful to continue reading, but all of a sudden, I was hooked, just like I had been with 1984, and I devoured the book quickly. Overall, Animal Farm is a description of how communism works, using animals as the main characters. It may sound like a weird concept, but trust me, it's brilliant. I guarantee I will re-read this selection in this upcoming year, and I think it's a crucial read for every human being, especially as a way to learn how communism works.
If you want more details, be sure to check out its GoodReads' page here.
1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
In this case, the best was definitely saved for last. If you take one thing away from this post, I hope it's the importance of reading The Hate U Give! This story is a fictional piece about the Black Lives Matter movement, focusing on a young, African-American girl named Starr Carter. While she's in the car with Khalil, one of her best friends, they are pulled over and Khalil is shot by a police officer. Starr's world is turned upside down, and this novel gives an inside look at the legal, emotional, and communal sides to these police shootings. While it seems like the book may be too preachy, it's not. It's simply informative, allowing you to draw your own conclusions. The writing is impeccable, and the knowledge it provides is extremely needed in our lives. I'm begging you to read this book. I will even personally send you my copy if it means you'll indulge in its pages. Without a doubt, it's the best book I read in the past three months, and it opened my eyes to a whole new side of a well-known social movement.
If you want more details, be sure to check out its GoodReads' page here.
-here's to you staying up too late because you just can't wait to see what happens next in one of these books-
xoxo madison