Four Books People in Their 20s Should Read

By Antoinette Santos on September 13, 2014

“Change of Heart” by Jodi Picoult

Source: www.jodipicoult.com

What makes Picoult’s writing so phenomenal is the way it articulates controversial and heated topics. Picoult is notorious for tackling contentious issues and breaking them apart, forcing her readers to see every facet of each side.

“Change of Heart” is a quality example of Picoult’s compelling writing style. Shay Bourne, the novel’s protagonist, is a death row prisoner whose only wish is to donate his heart to someone. The catch is that that someone is his victim and the reason why Bourne is in prison.

Every other character in the novel grows conflicted and torn between concepts regarding religion, the law, and politics. The book talks about these subjects in a light that compels readers to think about the compassionate and disturbing parts of humanity.

“Change of Heart” causes readers to question and redefine their ideas of acceptance, belief, and forgiveness, three aspects essential to those in their 20s.

“Looking for Alaska” by John Green

source: www.barnesandnoble.com

Technically, “Looking for Alaska” is a young adult novel, however, the backbone of the plot can easily apply to individuals in their 20s.

The novel is about a teenager named Miles Halter who leaves his comfortable, yet dull home in Florida for Culver Creek Boarding School. Very quickly, pranks, confusion, spontaneity and rule breaking all enter Miles’ life in a whirlwind he can hardly comprehend. However, what Miles really cannot wrap his head around are his feelings for his larger than life, paradox of a friend, Alaska Young.

“Looking for Alaska” is applicable to those in their 20s because it tackles the idea of invincibility, straying away from your comfort zone and the difference between loving a person and loving the idea of a person. Although the novel will probably resonate more with young adults, the underlying messages are pertinent and speak volumes if you read closely.

“Big Fish” by Daniel Wallace

source: www.bookcrossing.com

“Big Fish” is one of those stories where, in my opinion, the book and movie are equally as captivating. This novel is essentially a story about stories. The protagonist, William Bloom, prefers cold, hard facts and the truth. However, his father, Edward Bloom, lies on the opposite end of the spectrum.

As Edward lies on his deathbed, readers delve into the fantastical stories that made him the remarkable man he is today. “Big Fish” allows readers to use their imagination and create a world inside their own head, something that, in my opinion, 20-somethings often forget to do.

“The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom

source: www.wikipedia.com

If someone were to ask me to create a list of books that I find extremely unique, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” would be the first on the list. With this novel, Albom managed to create a story that brings death to life on paper.

When Eddie, a man who does maintenance at an amusement park, dies by saving a little girl, he is sent to heaven. The interesting part is that at heaven, Eddie meets five people who immensely affected his life.

This novel is so resounding because it forces us to think about the people in our lives and how they shape us. The individuals we surround ourselves with influence us in more ways than we can imagine. “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” reminds us how much others affect us, and perhaps how much we impact others as well.

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