I thought this was a fun exercise to try to get back into it. Only three? I could keep going but I tried to pick some of the most impactful books that came to mind. Happy reading! I look forward to seeing other people’s lists.
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien – Tolkien was a big part of mine and my siblings’ childhood growing up, and this was the first book that my mother ever read to me, so it’s been a part of my life for my entire life. Love it or hate it, it’s important to me, especially now after my mother’s passing a few years ago.
Travels with Herodotus by Ryszard Kapucinski – I recommend this book highly to anyone who grew up in any sort of monoculture areas and is looking to travel and experience other countries and cultures. It’s a lovely book, and it will strike a chord if you’re a history buff. I recommend also reading the inspiration for the book’s format, The Histories by Herodotus, for deeper context.
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov – This is my favorite Faustian tale that I “discovered” during an undergrad class titled Angels & Demons. I find this book perhaps less comforting under current events, now that we are dealing with the issues of the fascist rise to power and related disappearances of citizens in the United States that are akin to the social commentary elements of the novel. I always recommend everyone read this book at least once. It’s a haunting story that I return to every few years.
Read Cat Bounce 