Gearing up for another amazing weekend of...nothing to do? Sparkler daytripper937 has some book recommendations that will keep you busy, at least for a little while. —SparkNotes Editors
Everyone has their list of things to do before they die. Items on those lists range from getting married, to becoming a famous actor, to not being eaten by a shark. If there's one thing I think everyone should do before dying, it's finding a truly touching and unforgettable book. It seems that the school curriculum gives us plenty of books that we'd love to forget, and none that we'd like to remember forever. So here are some worth the reading.
1. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton, 1967) - You may or may not have read this one, but it's certainly at the top of my list. Once you get past names like "Ponyboy," "Two-Bit," and "Sodapop," you'll find that there's a beautiful story underneath. It's angsty, sweet, and sad, all at the same time. Plus, the movie starred Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Machio, and a young, fairly sane Tom Cruise. Not bad, right?
2. The Body (Stephen King, 1982) - Stephen King is known as the Master of Horror, and that title is certainly fitting here. What makes him a master is his ability to go from thrills and bumps in the night to something much more frightening—reality. The Body is a tale of four young boys who venture to find the body of a kid their age. Along the way, they don't just find the body of Ray Brower, but they also discover their deepest, innermost fears. It's touching and incredibly easy to relate to.
3. The Virgin Suicides (Jeffery Euginides, 1993) - As the title suggests, The Virgin Suicides is about three virginal and terribly troubled sisters, who, after the death of their youngest sister, struggle to "accept their world as it's handed down to them." Beautiful and haunting, it's well worth the read.
4. Hairstyles of the Damned (Joe Meno, 2004) - Brian Oswald is a kid we all know—dorky, a little confused, a little invisible. He's also in love with his mean, fat best friend, who is in love with a skinhead. Hairstyles is an honest depiction of high school love and friendship. It shares with us all the embarrassing nitty gritty details of high school—the things we would never dream of sharing, even though they've happened to everyone.
5. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger, 1951) - Okay, so I'm trying to give you guys a list of the not-so-shoved-down-your-throat-type-books, but really, this one is well worth it. I think if there's one book out there that's not only timeless, but relatable, it's The Catcher in the Rye. Holden Caulfield is angsty, complaining, and, like Brian Oswald, a kid we all know. And honestly, if you haven't read it yet, then your high school experience isn't complete; it's almost essential to get through this one by your senior year.
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By: Contributor
Topics: Books
Tags: sparkler posts, today in books
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