Emblematic of the Beat Generation, a literary movement post-World War II challenging American culture and society, Jack Kerouac’s 1957 novel is inspired by his journeys across the US with friends. Painting a picture of the cultural Beat experience while highlighting his introspection and growth as a young adult, the notable time period and memorable characterization make for a fascinating read. Through On the Road, everyone can spark a desire for freedom and growth.

Eve Babitz never failed to capture the spirit of LA through her charismatic stories of her own fascinating life. In Slow Days, Fast Company, she channels the intrigue of the 60s. Babitz flawlessly captures the 60s and invites readers to relive it alongside her. As Babitz reflects on her experiences and sheds light on this distinctive time period, she shares a collection of stories that provide brilliant insight into the atmosphere of Hollywood.

The Poisonwood Bible follows a family led by Baptist minister Nathan Price from the US to a village in the Belgian Congo, driven by Price’s idea that those living there need saving. Barbara Kingsolver tells the story through the perspectives of each of the five women in the family, Orleanna Price and her four daughters. The voices of the women counter the self-righteousness of the father and bring up the difficulty of approaching guilt, through both a familial and cultural lens. Challenging cultural arrogance and diving into ideas about colonialism, Kingsolver creates a book that gives you a fresh perspective. 

All About Love: New Visions reconsiders modern notions of love, re-introducing love as an action, rather than simply a fleeting emotion. With absorbing writing and valuable insight, bell hooks’ teachings will stick with you long past the last page. In All About Love: New Visions, she traces the perception of love back to early childhood, inspiring readers to reflect on past experiences and apply new understandings to personal growth.

Joan Didion consistently approached difficult topics with analysis and elegance throughout her lifetime in writing. In Blue Nights, she reflects upon the death of her daughter, Quintana Roo Dunne, and works through the challenges of loss with delicate vulnerability. Including details about her youth and marriage as she examines grief and parenthood, she shares her thoughts on life and aging. Readers will find joining Didion in this valuable memoir to be an enlightening and sentimental experience, while also inspiring introspection.

This astounding book works simultaneously with English and Italian language, crafting a journey that readers will never forget. Jhumpa Lahiri is known for her writing both in English and Italian. In Other Words chronicles the beginning of her interest in Italian and dives into her learning experience, expressing her beautiful love of language. She provides insight into her growth over the years through a process of writing in Italian. With the story presented in both languages side by side, you will find an enchanting story of growth.

TJ Klune’s cozy fantasy book is the perfect companion after a long day at school. The House in the Cerulean Sea tells the story of government worker Linus Baker, whose job is to monitor orphanages of magical children to check how they are functioning. Linus is tasked with inspecting a particular orphanage on a secluded? island, where the children are considered dangerous. The House in the Cerulean Sea is a tale about overcoming misconceptions to build connections and family. With endearing characters and a compelling plot, this book is a must-read to start the year.

In Outline, Rachel Cusk tells the story of a writer traveling to Athens to instruct a writing course over the summer. Cusk reveals that the protagonist is a woman, but for most of the book, the character remains unnamed, putting more of the focus on the perspectives she surrounds herself with. In truth, she often feels more like a disconnected narrator than a protagonist, serving to listen to the life stories of the characters she encounters, rather than expose her own opinion. Through the journey of Outline, readers embark on a journey that starts with seemingly simple interactions and branches out into deeper themes, allowing them to explore their concepts of creativity and self-expression.

Crossroads takes place in the 70s, following the Hildenbrandts, a Midwestern family with an associate pastor of a suburban church as a father. Each of the Hildenbrandts–Russ, the father, Marion, the mother, and the four children, Clem, Becky, Perry, and Judson–struggle to find their place in the family and the world as a whole. Crossroads tackles questions about morals and identity through the lens of a historical period, both entertaining readers and inspiring self-reflection.

Ocean Vuong’s writing always succeeds in moving readers as he challenges difficult emotions and experiences on the page, and his most recent poetry collection, Time Is a Mother, is no exception. Taking a touching approach to grief, Vuong reflects upon the loss of his mother and the survival that comes afterward. Time Is a Mother is brilliant and thoughtful, with a particular highlight being the poem “The Last Prom Queen in Antarctica,” each word evocative and deliberate.