As the years go by, students seem less and less likely to read for fun, which is a shame if you’re someone like me. As an English major, I read a lot of books. Some have changed my life completely, and others not so much.
Here are 10 books I’d recommend to English majors and anyone else who loves to read. Some are books I’ve read for school, but most I’ve read and loved on my own.
1.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” by Rick Riordan
Yes, the whole series. I first read this series in eighth grade and now I’m 22 and thoroughly enjoying the TV show adaptation. This series taught me so much about friendship, having confidence in yourself, and Greek mythology lore that I eventually had to relearn completely because it’s all very watered down for kids. I think this series is great and worth a read, even if you think you’re too old for it.
2.
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley
Most English majors will probably have to read this one at some point. I read it for the first time last semester and loved it. I think it’s a really beautiful story about humanity and how kindness (or a lack thereof) really affects the world and people around us.
3.
“Paradise Lost” by John Milton
This is another book I had to read for a class last semester and it really surprised me. I thought it was excellent! It’s definitely a difficult read because of the writing style, but so worth it. This one can go hand-in-hand with “Frankenstein,”and it’s very interesting to read the two back-to-back. If you have the mental stamina, I highly, highly recommend this.
4.
“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
I’m recommending this book in place of “1984,” by George Orwell because, quite frankly, I don’t like it, I find “The Hunger Games,” to be a great, more modern “replacement.” It also has a large focus on government censorship and control, but it might be a little easier for modern audiences to understand, especially young people. Sorry to any Orwell lovers out there. I am not one of you.
5.
Shakespeare
I’ll recommend Shakespeare as an author instead of any specific plays because there are just too many. Personally, I really like Shakespeare, and I think it can be fun to read and analyze his plays.Yes, I am aware of how nerdy that is. My favorite Shakespeare works are King Lear, Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing.
6.
“Immortal Longings” by Chloe Gong
Chloe Gong is one of my favorite authors, and this is easily one of my favorite books of hers. It’s inspired by “Antony and Cleopatra,” written by the man himself, Will Shakespeare, and set in an industrial, dystopian-inspired fantasy world with a battle-royale fight to the death for riches and fame. It’s so good. The characters are kind of the “bad guys,” which is a really fun switch-up from typical fantasy. It’s a great read.
7.
“A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
This is a play that I read in my junior year of high school, and I remember it as one of the first books I had to read for school that I actually really enjoyed. It’s a great story about a Black family in Harlem and their experience in a free world that still doesn’t always feel free. It’s a very short, but impactful read.
8.
“The Yellow-Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This is hands-down one of my favorite reads ever for a class, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading it a couple times. It’s technically more of a short story than a book, but still worthy of my list. It’s the kind of story you read and then immediately want to look up on Google to discover how other people interpret it, which I always view as a good sign.
9.
“The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow
This book came out last year and I just read it for the first time in January. It was so excellent. It’s a really gorgeous story about love and time travel and magic and knights, and literally, what more could you possibly want from a book? When I finished reading it, I was sobbing my eyes out because I was so sad it was over (it has a happy ending, I promise). I will recommend this book to everyone I meet, as well as Harrow’s other works, which are also really excellent.
10.
Jane Austen
Last, but never least, is Jane Austen. I’m not listing a specific Austen book because, to be honest, I haven’t read any. I took a class a couple years ago on Jane Austen where we read all of her teenage writings. I learned so much about her and really grew to appreciate her as a keystone author in the world of English literature, so I’m recommending her anyway. I think she is very admirable and was insanely skilled at writing for someone so young.
I hope you enjoy these recommendations and discover a title you’ve never read before. Happy reading!
