Everyone who loves books and even those who do not should read these books once in their lifetime. It is a generic list that would interest everyone as it is a combination of both, fiction and non-fiction.
The Great Gatsby – F.Scott Fitzgerald
The story of Jay Gatsby from rags to riches is a thorough entertainer. With its characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on the prosperous Long Island, the classic belongs to its own time. The style of writing, the design and illustrations make it a must read.
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch & Jeffrey Zaslow
Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was dying of pancreatic cancer when he gave his last lecture entitled ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’. This non-fiction novel is based on that lecture where he reveals childhood stories and things he wanted his children to know about life.
A short history of nearly everything – Bill Bryson
A popular science book that explains the most intriguing questions through the people who made discoveries regarding them. Bryson’s quest to know the answers from experts in the field resulted in this book that is profound and funny at the same time.
The Life of Pi – Yann Martel
A fantasy adventure novel that takes us to the adventures that the main character ‘Pi’ has when he is stranded in the Pacific Ocean for 227 days. He discovers things about himself and his life that he never knew. There are certain things only tough situations can teach you.
Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
Through the descriptions of life based on his own experiences and experiences of other people in Nazi death camps during the World War II, Frankl explores lessons of spiritual survival, where he argues that we cannot avoid the suffering but we should learn to cope up with it and find meaning in it and move forward with a renewed purpose.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go – Dr. Seuss
The popular children’s book that talks about life and its challenges through simple rhymes, is often associated with high school and college graduations. But it nonetheless is a book worth reading for all ages.
To Kill A Mockingbird – Harper Lee
A classic masterpiece of American literature, this novel is the story of a lawyer who has taken on the duty of defending a black man accused of sexually assaulting a white female in an extremely bigoted community. The compassion is deeply moving and makes it worth reading once before you die.
A passage to India – E.M.Froster
Set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement, the novel is based on Forster’s experiences in India. It talks about the clash of cultures in British India after the turn of the century and describes how a common misunderstanding erupts into a devastating affair.
Ulysses – James Joyce
The book is based on Homer’s epic poem ‘The Odyssey’. Joyce has turned the poem in a story and is the first fiction writer who has explored this style of writing. The novel establishes a series of parallels between its characters and events and those of the poem.
The Sound and the Fury – William Faulkner
The tragic story of three Compson brothers and their struggles as their family falls from grace, has been described using a number of narrative styles. It is considered to be one of the greatest novel of 20th century.
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