Fall 2018 Book Recommendations
By Stefanie Baptista
Staff Writer
Since the temperatures are dropping and a mound of snow will inevitably arrive at our doorsteps sooner than we think (I mean, c’mon, this is New England), that means more time will be spent indoors. What’s the perfect indoor activity, you ask? Well, reading, of course! Books have the ability to take you places while you stay stationed right on your couch. Or your bed. Or your rocking chair, if you’re into that sort of thing. Is there anything more ideal?! So, cozy on up with some coffee and one (or all) of my recommendations and get reading!
Books for…
When you want a new perspective:
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (If you choose to read only one book in your entire life, let this be it. This is easily one of the most eye-opening books I have ever read and I cannot recommend it enough. Reading about the lives of others, even if it’s through fiction, can really help you look at your own life/struggles in a new light.)
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (The other most eye-opening book I have ever read. There’s the quote, “You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you,” and I often times find myself coming back to this when I need a little bit of guidance. If you find reading about the Holocaust and psychology interesting, pick this up immediately. And then again, and again, and again.)
When you want to be nosey:
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (After reading both of these books, I feel like Mindy Kaling and I are best friends. She just doesn’t know that yet.)
When you want a good laugh:
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak (If you read these stories in the voice of Ryan from The Office {B.J. Novak is the actor who plays him, if you didn’t know that. I’m not just randomly saying that. Phew. That could’ve been weird.}, they become even funnier. Thank me later.)
My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper (This is one of my current reads and I never want to finish it. A book has never made me laugh harder. Ellie Kemper is an icon.)
Bonus:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (I wasn’t really sure how to categorize this because it made me laugh, cry, ask “What the heck is going on?,” etc. Nonetheless, it is an incredibly witty and charming read.)
These are just a few of my personal recommendations to get you started. There’s a whole world of books out there! There are also a lot of books out there that aren’t written by actors from The Office, contrary to what this list might have you believe.
Stefanie Baptista is a Staff Writer for The Comment.
