10 Timeless Books You Need to Reread Right Now
Which books from your time in school, stuck with you through adulthood? Some classics hold timeless magic between their pages that you can come back to time and time again and they will be just as relevant as ever. Many of the books that frequented our middle and high school curriculums feature themes of dystopian or utopian society, rebellion, or some form of cognitive dissonance—all things that can feel extremely relevant in 2020. Schedule a few hours to unplug this week and revisit these familiar stories. You may be delighted to uncover fresh perspectives with your new and improved adult lens.
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A high school classic! With the context of our world today, rereading Orwell’s work will feel even more real than it did the first time you read it.
Refresher: Winston Smith loses his identity while he lives under the oppressive regime of Big Brother. He is forced to rewrite history in favor of the authoritarian leaders. Orwell’s work holds a mirror up to our society and has remained relevant since its publishing in 1949.
If you’re looking to read one of the many monumental black female authors, give Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God another read.
Refresher: Janie Crawford, a middle aged black woman in the middle of being married off by her mother, finds herself falling in love with another man. Through each relationship, she learns something new about herself and what self power truly means.
A true American classic that discusses the lesson of good and evil; another great book to read during these modern times!
Refresher: We follow Scout Finch on her journey of learning the difference between good and evil through her father, Atticus, as he defends a black man in court. Scout begins to truly see what racism is and decides for herself what is good and what is evil.
A book that truly defined many of our childhoods! While the book had great message at the time, it serves as a great reminder today.
Refresher: The Prince embarks on a journey of discovering the real truth and meaning of life from the fox. Both the Prince and the fox remind us that “...it is only with the heart that one can see rightly” (Antoine).
A great coming of age story that will take you back in time to your angsty teenage self.
Refresher: Holden Caulfield struggles with the thought of growing up and losing his adolescence. He especially struggles with the thought that he is unable to protect other children from the “cliff” of adulthood.
If you’re a big fan of the Hulu T.V. show, it’s time to give the book another read! This is yet another book that seems a little too realistic to be regarded as fictional.
Refresher: Offred lives in a totalitarian state formerly known as the United States of America. Due to low fertility rates, Offred has become a child bearing maid for the superior families.
A great classic to read that all made us laugh, cry, and reflect — all things that are so important to do right now.
Refresher: Skeeter Phelan, a white journalist, takes an interest in writing the truth of what it means to be a domestic servant. She turns to Aibileen, a black domestic server, who has raised many of white children and kept homes in order. Together they defy the odds of the conservative south.
The Young Adult Series You Loved
If you are really wanting to bring out your inner teen, reread your favorite series, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Inkheart, The Hunger Games, or Nancy Drew.
There are countless young adult books that define our coming of age years. Dive back into those golden mysteries, rebellions, and magic. See if they still hold up or if it brings you back to simpler and more fun times.
The Giver took us into a dystopia in which the protagonist heroically overcomes his hardships. See if this sparks any inspiration for you to persevere through your own personal struggles.
Refresher: Jonas, an eleven year old boy, lives in a dystopian world in which certain senses have been dulled to contain human instinct. Jonas is assigned the role of the Giver, and what he learns about life changes him forever.
Another book with a strong message and reminder for the hardship and uncertainty we are facing right now.
Refresher: Francie Nolan, an impoverished girl growing up in Brooklyn during the twentieth century, learns about the class system in society, how to be kind to all, and what it means to be an adult.