10 good reads for the perpetually curious

1) The House of Mirth - Edth Wharton

This is a must read. It gives us an idea of how society functioned before women gained the right to choice and independence. It follows the story of Lily Bart, a woman trapped within convention yet unknowingly fighting for a new age of women. The diversity and depth of characters is impressive, thus incorporating the reader into its world as if we were within the novel itself.

2) The Angel at the Grave - Edith Wharton

A fascinating lens into the life of a young girl living in the shadow of men. If you liked the yellow wallpaper (by Charlotte Perkins), you will surely like this. It is an easy read, and not too long, yet is so powerful you won't be able to get it out of your head.

3) Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Definitely the best book if you are a bookworm just starting out, whether you haven't read for a while or you are just starting out, this book is sure to entice you to want to read more. It concerns an unnamed young woman who impetuously marries a wealthy widower, only to discover that he and his household are haunted by the memory of his late first wife, the title character. It is beautifully gothic, and if you enjoy it i'd recommend reading Wuthering Heights next. Other good reads for if you are just starting out include The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald) or Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson)

4) Mrs Dalloway or To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf

Both are fantastic novels about social connections within society and family. Mrs Dalloway focusses on a women's role within society with a touch of post-war reflection, pioneering ideas surrounding psychology and mental illness. If you like Mrs Dalloway's web-like structure of connectedness, read Middlemarch (and don't be scared by its length!)

5) Tess of the D'Urbevilles - Thomas Hardy

A poignant read about the misuse of an innocent and pure woman. It shows off what i like to believe is Hardy's feminist side (but that's up to you to decide). It has an underlying moral message which serves as delicious food for thought.

6) The Master and Margerita - Mikhail Bulgakov

A fantastic entry into Russian literature, less sombre than Dostoevsky yet brilliantly mysterious. If you liked reading novels such as Harry Potter or Skulduggery Pleasant as a child, this is one for you. It was written and censored during the soviet regime and has some fascinating political messages.

7) Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? - Lorrie Moore

This novel is very different to the others on the list, it discusses a difficult journey into adulthood through a witty narration and playful anecdotes, yet beneath the uproarious humour, its undertones are bittersweet.

8) Housekeeping - Marilynne Robinson

This book centres around the question of what makes a home. Similar to the previous novel, it discusses childhood, specifically trauma and finding out who you are, or perhaps who you are meant to be. Coupled with a cold, bleak setting, this novel is sure to give you shivers... in a good way i promise.

9) Howards End - E.M. Forster

This novel also revolves around the topic of home, and what makes one. However, the essence of the novel is made up of relationships between people, the bridging of class and status. Forster is the master of depicting how friendships form, and if you enjoy this read A Passage to India. It is set in the early 20th century and examines how class distinctions and troubled relations affect the relationship between families and, in particular, the ownership of a cherished estate known as Howards End.

10) The Perks of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

It may strike you as strange that this novel appears on this list, it has taken the name of a teen fiction meant for a younger readership. However, Chbosky really knows how to enter the mind of a young adult and build a riveting story around it. The novel casts light on psychology, not just that of teenagers, and gives us insight into how we cope with trauma. Honestly, this is simply a must read.

#readingrecommendations #curiosity