A list of books for when you need a little inspiration in your life.
by Aisiri Amin
Amidst the chaos of adulting, the rush to keep up with life, the constant confusion and the beautifully tragic heartbreaks, twentysomethings often forget to live, to let go and to dream. As one gets caught up with the sudden burden of responsibilities, the desperate search for a sense of direction and the need for stability, life tip-toes by. The burning fire that the hearts hosted in your idealistic teenage years has been dampened by the reality of the world. But the fire keeps the soul alive, keeps the extraordinary dreams alive.
So, here is a list of some works of literature to rekindle that fire. The imaginative world of fiction helps you to test the scope of the possible. These literary works will inspire you, heal you, and fuel your passion.
1. 1984 by George Orwell
Orwell’s dystopian masterwork, Nineteen-eighty-four published in 1949 still remains one of the most relevant pieces of work. His prophetic vision is eerily similar to the world we live in today. The novel gives a haunting futuristic view through the narrator Winston Smith who works for the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history to make the ruling Party look good.
The totalitarian superstate, the Big brother, and the mass media that manipulate public opinion makes the novel timelier now than ever. As twentysomethings who are finding their way, this novel fuels the passion for individualism whilst also giving a sneak peak into the world that we might be moving towards.
You can get it here.
2. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
An extended essay by Woolf based on her speech at Cambridge powerfully brings forth the feminist thought highlighting the inequality faced by women in the artistic world. She famously said, “A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” Without financial or intellectual freedom, a woman will be a fly trapped in the web spun by the patriarchal society.
As an example, she talks about the fate of Shakespeare’s imagined sister who set out to do what he did. Through it she raises important questions; would she have been as successful as him? Would the society let that happen? The essay raises many such questions that the youth, regardless of gender, needs to discuss.
You can get it here.
3. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
The once-anonymous columnist at The Rompus, Strayed gives the advice that each one of us needs at some point in our life. As you step into the whole 20s spectrum, a number of things hit you. It may be something as common as being broke or as heartbreaking as losing a child. These are the times when only the right words can help you move on. A collection of Strayed’s best advice columns along with the unpublished ones, this book is armed with the words that will heal, give you hope, and help you rise again.
You can get it here.
4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Following his debut, The Kite Runner, Hosseini tells the story of two women born a generation apart but tied together by fate. It is a compelling story about the heartbreakingly brave journey through abuse, loss, misery, and war. The horrors the characters live through are not overstated, the emotions are raw, and they hit all the right spots. It brings you closer to understanding the atrocities that some people live through every single day. It bursts the bubble and makes life more real.
You can get it here.
5. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
An intriguing story about two egg twins, Estha and Rahel are set in the backdrop of communism, casteism, and societal obligations. The story is unfolded in flashbacks of their childhood revealing the past in fragments, which hold the key to their bleak present. With exceptional language, compelling writing style, rawness of the characters, and the desperation in the emotions, Roy’s debut novel clutches on to your soul. From dysfunctionality of the fractured family to the calamitous forbidden love, the heart-breaking story is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.
You can get it here.
Aisiri Amin (she/her) is an independent journalist specializing in gender, culture, and social justice. She is a struggling optimist, trying to understand the world through cinema, books, and travel.