Content Warning: This articles contains mentions of suicide as well as novels that contain references to suicide, racism, and cannibalism.
I think I can confidently say that many of us desire to read more in our daily lives. In the past year, I have gotten more into reading as a regular hobby, with my fair share of reading slumps. Here are some of my tips for getting out of a reading slump, and five books I would recommend to help along the way.
My first tip is to bring a book with you everywhere you go, and read it during any free time. Replace the moments when you’re scrolling on your phone with picking up your book. You’d be surprised by how fast you can finish a book with this method. I would also recommend reading before bed, rather than going on your phone. It’s a great way to ground yourself before bed and relax. It’s important that you don’t view this new hobby as a chore; if you begin to feel like you need to read everyday and dread it, reevaluate the frequency at which you want to read. Maybe reading everyday isn’t necessary for you, and that’s perfectly okay. The goal is to make this an enjoyable pastime, not a bore. Now onto some book recommendations!
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
“The Bell Jar” follows Esther Greenwood, a young, aspiring poet, through her selection to join an internship in New York. At that time, she is met with challenging issues surrounding her identity and society. This, along with a rejection from a prestigious writing course, sends her into a spiral, which lands her in the psychiatric hospital due to suicidal ideation. Plath does a brilliant job of painting Esther’s fall into mental despair. She adds a unique sense of humor to the grim topic that makes readers feel guilty for letting out a chuckle. “The Bell Jar” has another layer of disturbing realism as it is a semi-autobiographical story. Plath was falling into her own mental health challenges during the writing of this novel, and six months after its release, she took her own life.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
“Such a Fun Age” follows a young 25 year old Black woman, Emira Tucker, through her journey as a babysitter. The story opens to an incident at the grocery store, when Tucker is accused of kidnapping the child she is babysitting, who happens to be white. Reid shows the complexities of modern day racism in conjunction with the power dynamics between fake white allyship, and microaggressions. This book is a lighthearted, hilarious approach to modern day racism in literature as it covers serious topics in an accessible, humorous way.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” by Maria Semple follows the witty and peculiar Bee Branch, and her obscure mother, Bernadette Fox, as they prepare for a family trip to Antarctica, Bee’s dream vacation, when Bernadette promptly runs away. Prior to this, Bernadette is facing many internal struggles with agoraphobia: the fear of leaving your house, marital struggles, career regrets, and more; overall, she was not in a good place. This book is an exciting, easy read that immerses you in the characters’ thought processes beautifully. Semple engrosses you into the messiness of this family’s life, and highlights how ultimately giving each other a little bit of grace could really help in the long run.
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
“Tender is the Flesh” will leave you feeling so disgusted and uncontrollably uncomfortable you will question your sanity for reading it. The novel features a cannibalistic society as all animal products have been contaminated with an illness, rendering them unsafe to eat. This then encourages the breeding of humans to be kept and slaughtered like cattle. The protagonist, Marcos, is a human meat supplier who is conflicted with his profession, as well as with the society around him. The novel displays how personal morals and beliefs can be washed away in the pressure and normality of certain atrocities, ultimately leaving readers, including myself, with the question of if you could see yourself in the same position as the characters in “Tender is the Flesh.” This book is gruesome, and you will probably have to step away from it at times, but it is important to practice being uncomfortable, and Bazterrica gave us the perfect vessel to explore this.
Autumn by Ali Smith
“Autumn” by Ali Smith is the first of four in the seasonal quartet series, but holds strong as a stand alone. “Autumn” is a peculiar read, and will most likely leave you a little confused at times. The novel follows a beautiful friendship between the wise sage, Daniel, and young Elisabeth who initially met as neighbors. Daniel is an inspiration to growing Elisabeth and serves as a guide to her throughout life, but ultimately exemplifies the subjective experience of time. Smith paints a multi-level, complex worth that fascinates and intrigues readers til the very end.
While these are just a few recommendations from an average reader, I hope they aid you to reinvigorate, or develop, your desire to read! Books have been a vessel to portray humanity for centuries, and will be for centuries to come.