(Grown-Up) Books For Your Own Reading List

Jennie Utsinger said:  Paul Kalanithi was a neurosurgeon who died from stage IV metastatic lung cancer at age 37. This stunning and heart-wrenching memoir explores his journey from medical student to neurosurgeon as he grapples with the idea of how to lead a meaningful life, especially in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Paul Kalanithi's prose is beautiful and he does an excellent job of conveying the upheaval of his diagnosis at a young age and how he grapples with it.

Margaret Atwood's novel is set in a dystopian future and follows Offred, a handmaid, in this patriarchal society. Formerly the United States, a new regime has taken over, stripping women of their rights, and Offred must navigate her way to freedom through rules so horrifying, mysterious, and dangerous they're hard to fathom. This book is a major page-turner and haunts the reader long after the past page is read.

Amanda Banta said:  The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah, tells of two sisters in Nazi-occupied France, one doing whatever is necessary to keep family and friends alive and safe while the other discovers a need to actively fight back against the enemy. Both are passionate about and desperate for their causes as they endure the unthinkable that World War II has made their reality.

You do not have to be a history buff to be entranced by this novel. The suspenseful adventure and danger that the sisters encounter keeps you on the edge of your seat and pulls your emotions in every direction conceivable.

Amanda Banta said:  This Pulitzer Prize winner by Donna Tartt is heartbreaking and uplifting. It starts dark, gets darker but rewards readers with a compelling plot and satisfying end. It's a novel that has stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

Theo, a teenager, survives the accident that kills his mother. He leaves the scene with a painting that physically keeps his connection to his mother. The story follows Theo as he struggles to find his way in his new reality, ultimately falling into the underground art world because of the painting and its hold on him.

Kelly R said:  Jeannette Walls tells the true story of her wandering and dysfunctional childhood, one of four children growing up with unpredictable parents who eventually chose to live homeless. The captivating writing chronicles the incredible and shocking experiences that punctuated her childhood, with a surprising tenderness for her parents despite their flaws.

Kelly R said:  Tina Fey tells the autobiographical story of her journey from awkward suburban kid to successful comedienne, with her signature dry humor and personal voice coming through on every page. Along the way, Fey takes a shot at unraveling some of life's big mysteries, like how to balance work and family and where to find the best rest stop delicacies on Pennsylvania's Interstate 80.

Vanessa M. said:  With over 4 years on the New York Times Bestseller's List, Laura Hillenbrand's biography about Louis Zamperini will stay with you long after you finish the last page. This book chronicles Zamperini's astounding life journey from his troubled boyhood, to becoming a running prodigy at the 1936 Olympics, to the survival and strength of both his body and spirit through the extreme difficulties of World War II. His story encapsulates persistence, resilience, and forgiveness in a way that will touch you to your core.

Shila said:  Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng was published and became a best selling novel only a few years back and already, its TV adaptation mini series has been produced and is now airing on Hulu. This is a binge-worthy tv series with 8 dramatic episodes starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.

That said, I like the book so much better. Consider this as one of the best books to read right now before you watch because the novel and the on-screen script differ in so many ways. However, the book and TV series both shed light on motherhood, socio-economic class and racial inequities, and focus on the circumstances related to a mysterious suburban house fire.

Lisa R said:  This poetic novel by Italo Calvino is my all-time favorite book. Someone is mixing up the pages in books and you, Dear Reader, are on an ever more ludicrous quest to find out who is behind it. Along the way, you'll read the tantalizing first chapter of ten, very different, novels, which will set the tone for the scenes that lay ahead in your own journey. You may never find out what happens to most of the protagonists you meet, but that's okay. The joy of reading itself turns out to be the entire point.

Michael Farina said:  I know: sci-fi? Hear me out. The introverted protagonist does its very important job just well enough to avoid disaster, while trying to avoid annoying people and stealing time for its guilty pleasure – binging soap operas.

Alexandra F. said:  I am a huge fan of fantasy, and while epics like Lord of the Rings will always have a special place in my heart, Jim Butcher's mystery/fantasy series, The Dresden Files, are the books I read over and over (and over) again. Harry Dresden is a modern day wizard and private investigator who uses magic to solve mysterious crimes in his home city of Chicago, usually as a consultant for the police. And, in case this short intro sounds silly to you, I promise the books are well-written, have fantastic characters, and tell great (even meaningful) stories that keep me, at least, eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Alexandra F. said:  I had the great privilege of going to school where Bryan Stevenson taught as a professor, and hearing him speak about his life's work defending children, the poor, and those on death row was one of the most moving and inspiring experiences I had as a student - and that is exactly how I felt when I read his book years later. Just Mercy recalls an early case where he represented a man sentenced to death who insisted upon his innocence. It is a powerful, transformative, and eye-opening book - one that rocks you because of the injustice he encounters, yet somehow still leaves you feeling hopeful and believing you can make a difference.

Kelly R said:  A charming story about a cranky but lovable old man whose solitary life is changed when a young family moves in next door.

Alexandra F. said:  The Way of Kings is the first book in Brandon Sanderson’s ongoing epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive - one of my favorite series of all time, and a favorite for many of my friends and family members as well. The series is told from the perspective of several different characters as they live through an apocalyptic war against otherworldly beings bent on destroying humankind. A masterpiece in world building, story telling and character development, the thousands of pages are a commitment, but a really fun one!

Kelly R said:  A fictional 1970s rock band's rise to fame and eventual breakup, told from the point-of-view of the band members and those close to them in a unique interview-style format. This was a real page turner for me, a little reminiscent of Almost Famous.