(Free-Photos/Pixabay)
Growing up I was not a big reader. The only books I read were the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series. If it did not have anything to do with sports or WWE, no one bothered to give it to me. As I got older and having to read novels in high school English classes, I started to enjoy reading much more. The people I give the most credit to for my love of reading have to be my twelfth grade English and Creative Writing teachers, Mr. Yuen, and Ms. Hughes. So, thank you to the both of them.
Over the years I have read books that cover all genres. There are some that I have read multiple times over the years that I will read again occasionally. Of course, growing up, I loved and read the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series. I am not sure what my childhood would have been like If I had not read them.
Here are my six favourite books that I hope you will try out one day.
The Winter of our Discontent: John Steinbeck
The story of Ethan Allan Hawley, a member of a once very wealthy family who has now gone broke. Throughout the novel we read about an honest man’s internal struggles with the temptations of easy money, and his own morals.
I have read a good amount of Steinbeck’s work. Even though this novel is my favourite, I would suggest checking out the rest of his work. You will not be disappointed.
The Great Gatsby: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Now I am sure a lot of people may have read this in a high school English class. If not, well then, The Great Gatsby should be at the top of your list. The story is about the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. The book is narrated by the character Nick Carraway who moves to New York, right next Gatsby. As the story is being told in flashbacks, we read about the mysterious Jay Gatsby and the way he lives his life to achieve the one desire he has, to reunite with the love of his life Daisy Buchanan. We see Gatsby go from living in poverty, to living a very wealthy lifestyle, from being with Daisy to…. well, you are going to have to read this novel to find out the rest.
The Great Gatsby is a classic piece of American fiction. It has been touted as one of the best American Novels. I have read it numerous times, and it is a novel I always recommend to people.
The Call of the Wild: Jack London
One of Jack London’s most popular books. It is the story of a 140-pound dog named Buck, who has been taken from his comfortable life, and thrown into the madness of the Klondike Gold Rush, and the harsh living conditions of a frontier lifestyle. Now living a harsh lifestyle, Buck meets John Thornton who saves him from his previous abusive masters. The two proceed to go on a wild adventure that perfectly shows that a dog is man’s best friend. This is a story that is heartwarming, tragic, and truly shows what loyalty is all about.
Catch-22: Joseph Heller
Catch-22 is a satirical novel which is centered on Captain John Yossarian, an American bombardier who is based on a Mediterranean island during World War 2. We read about Yossarian’s wild attempts to stay alive, his theories about the war being a personal attack, and how the military is trying to send him to an untimely death. Through most of the novel we see Yossarian produce creative ways of escaping his missions and staying alive.
Scar Tissue: Anthony Kiedis
The story of the Red-Hot Chili Pepper’s vocalist Anthony Kiedis. It is easily, the best autobiography I have ever read. It is so good, I had trouble putting it down. It follows Kiedis’ life from the year he was born in 1962 to 2004 when the book was released. We lean about his life growing up, his experiences and difficulties with drug addiction, the bands creation and rise to the top, and most importantly his journey to becoming clean and sober.
For a while Kiedis had regrets about releasing Scar Tissue. But after hearing about the positive impact on people the book had, he realized that it was worth it because people became inspired to get their lives back on track after hearing his story.
This is a must read for not just fans of Kiedis and the Chili Peppers, but for anyone that wants to read about the wild life of a rock star, who went from the top of the mountain, down to rock bottom, and all the way back up again.
(Free-Photos/Pixabay)
The Sixteenth Round: Rubin “Hurricane” Carter
This book was written while Rubin Carter was in prison and was first published in 1974. From his difficult childhood to becoming one of the top contenders for the middleweight boxing championship. It looked like Rubin Carter’s life would become everything he had every dreamed it would. Until May 26th, 1967, when his life and career was changed forever. Carter, along with another man were wrongfully convicted and found guilty of the murders of three people and were sentenced to three consecutive life sentences. He spent 20 years in prison. We read about his journey from the ring to solitary confinement. This book became his cry for help to the public, his way to set the record straight, and force a new trial.
Bob Dylan’s classic “Hurricane” was about Carter and his struggles. Muhammad Ali and thousands of other people learned of his story and began to help his cause.
You may not be a sports fan, or even a boxing fan, this man’s story is one you will want to read about. “The Sixteenth Round” is a shocking story of racial injustice and the inhumanity of prison that ended up helping save Rubin Carter’s life.
(kalhh/Pixabay)
I never used to read. Two of my high school teachers led me on a path that helped me find my love of reading, and now I read like crazy. I have read so many terrific books over the years, these six books are the ones that have had an impact or mean the most to me. I would highly suggest any of them to anyone, any day of the week.
If you are like I was and reading is not your thing, just pick a book and give it a try. We can learn so much from the words these authors have put it front of us. Whether these stories come from someone in present day or in the past, there is always a message behind them. You may find one that speaks to you and inspires you to do something special, or they may just inspire you to keep on reading.
– Kosta Pappas