Have you found your best piece of fiction yet? Picking up the right book at the right time is crucial. Some books have proved to be a turning point in one’s life, whereas some books spark the essential feeling of rejuvenation. This article tells you about the must-read fiction books that you should put on your shelves. These books are the effective amalgamation of various attributes that will last in your life- joy, sorrows, inspiration, motivation, and lastly, entertainment. Read on to know more.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird is a book based on several characters that dwell on the cruel practices of discrimination by the people. A sin is committed by confirming an innocent on death trial, metaphorically depicted as killing a mockingbird to intensify the depth of sin. But it gets revoked when the attorney’s kids are saved by a person who is termed as lunatic by society.
The attorney’s kids grow up enough to understand how the different communities of the society pretend to live in harmony, but in reality, are carrying destructive mentalities. Then they realize how their father fought for a man of other community but lost the trail due to underlying racial discrimination—a heart-wrenching and tragic read that is too real to be depicted as a fictional tale.
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice is a book that belongs to a historical era where wealth, status, and reputation are essential for two people to sit together. However, for Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth Bennet, all this needs to be kept aside to like each other.
The book is a collection of mesmerizing drama instances where a significant moral of keeping aside the judgements on the first impression. Finally, when all the misunderstandings are cleared, and all the pride and prejudice are stripped off, what lasts is how kind the two people are. The book reaches its climax with Ms. Bennet having constant ups and downs in her pride, whereas Mr. Darcy gradually loses on his prejudice- until Ms. Bennet rejects him in the end.
3. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The book that was once banned due to its high controversies is one of the must-reads before you turn 30. There are many reasons, but some of them include Prof. Robert Langdon’s characterization, a high scholar of ambigrams and typography. Besides, the historic beauty of literature portrayed in the book fascinates every reader. Nonetheless, the drama, turn of events, and plot of the book are sure to keep you hooked until you reach the last page of The Da Vinci Code.
4. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
While reading this book, you’re bound to believe all the things the author has depicted even when it’s known these facts don’t exist.
This book is the author’s memory with a child, whom he calls ‘Little Prince.’ The child tells him the journey from his home, called Asteroid B 612, to the earth and all his encounters during this adventure.
On a factual basis, this book expresses all human emotions from a child’s point of view. Lastly, when the boy realizes he must go back to his planet and disappears, the book ends on a bittersweet note.
If you haven’t yet, then definitely consider it as one of the must-read books!
5. Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
Who Moved My Cheese is a treat of inspiration served in a plate of fable. The book is a quirky representation of how humans get comfortable in an environment that denies changes in their lives. But ultimately, without facing your fears and crawling above your fear, you’ll get extinct.
When a pair of mice and humans enter a maze searching for ‘Cheese,’ they must be prepared for the consequences such as depleting resources and entering the maze again to find the next destination of ‘Cheese.’ In the process, when people tend to stay in denial and refuse to enter the maze, they might be too late to catch up. However, the others can only suggest ideas and leave trails for you to find the Cheese but can’t make you come with them. The maze, cheese, and trails are used as an ideal metaphor for environment, success, and help. The last message makes a significant impact on the mind that can motivate you and help you escape the fear of changing.
6. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Nothing can stop the Harry Potter series from topping this list. JK Rowling takes you on an adventurous tour. Set entirely in a fictional school called Hogwarts with three friends making their way into the world of magic, revealing a lot of secrets, threats, and making sure to win your heart.
The book takes the reader on an adventure by the friends- Ron, Harry and Hermione. We read about their emotions, enemies, and ultimately, the triumph of good over evil. Do read this book to understand the author’s real depth of imagination to create a magical world that feels nothing less-than reality.
7. Sanctuary by Nora Roberts
Sanctuary is a story of a photographer Jo, who turns to face her fears and an unknown threat- a photographer who has her candid photographs. The truth lies at a place from where she wanted to escape long ago. A book that takes us on a journey of a lot of revealing secrets and hidden truths. This book is a glimpse of broken relationships and a quest for the truth. Read this suspenseful book by the best-selling author Nora Roberts.
8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
This story is a semi-autobiography of the author, J.D. Salinger, and is associated with Holden’s protagonist. Holden’s adventures are his significant encounters with instances of adulthood and his deep-buried fantasy of being the ‘Catcher in the rye.’
Lastly, as he sees his sister enjoying a zoo ride, he realizes how he saved a child from terrifying adulthood. The book has a sweet conclusion of how one should protect his innocence over adulthood.
9. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is based on a person’s quest that takes him to the Pyramids to search for wealth. His experiences during the journey are what teach him most of the valuable life lessons.
As we conclude towards the climax, the shepherd-Santiago learns about love, life, cruel people, and a risky adventure to Africa’s tribes. Not until the book has been just started, Paulo Coehlo manages to take the reader into two visually different worlds and how they seem to be lively to the reader. Best read for adventure lovers!
10. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
The Monk who Sold His Ferrari is one of the best self-help book enveloped in the form of a conversation between Mr. Julian Mantle and his friend, John.
The seven principles explained in the book are:
- Master your mind
- Follow your purpose
- Practice Kaizen (a Japanese practice to achieve peace of mine)
- Live with discipline
- Respect your time
- Selflessly serve others and
- Embrace the present.
The book not only motivates us but also inspires us from the adventures and experiences of Julian Mantle. Worth recommending to the ones with the right amount of positivity in their life.
11. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The book is a psychological thriller set across two generations that explores horrendous crimes and attempts to seal them. When Mikael Blomkvist is asked to search for Harriet’s mysterious disappearance, a set of hidden serial killings unearth. Salander, a detective- initially spying on Blomkvist, accompanies him in finding this serial killer and their relation with Harriet. This book is worth every sleepless night as this gripping tale doesn’t let you off the hook even once!
12. Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon
Master of the Game, written by Sidney Sheldon, portrays Kate Blackwell’s character, who gets what she wants by all the possible means. Sidney Sheldon has always preferred women as the lead protagonists in his novels- but here, Kate is the good and an evil woman as well. Must read this book for the games played by Kate for the sake of her family and future, and how it upturns people’s lives related to her. Lastly, as she sees the ghosts of her past on the birthday, every story is a chilling adventure of bluffs and mastermind tactics that’ll simply keep you amazed. Set over four generations with interesting tales of struggle, deceit, and masterminds playing their best moves, you can’t miss this one.
13. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Life of Pi not only inspires you but also takes you on a journey of survival with a young boy with a tiger trapped on a boat in a seamless ocean with no sight of boundaries. A beautiful journey to a carnivorous island and making peace with a feral animal for the sake of mutual survival gives an in-depth sense of wrestles against death. The book, at last, ends with a sweet yet sour lesson of letting go. Read this book for your inner awakening and a sense of adventure simultaneously.
14. The Shining by Stephen King
This story is all about a man and his family encountering ghosts of the ‘Overlook’ hotel at a remote place. The hotel, being severely greedy for the family’s little son- Danny’s psychic abilities, wants him dead. The other story follows how the family manages to get rid of the ‘possessed’ Jack- the caretaker and the family’s head.
Overall, this book is a perfect amalgamation of thrill, sudden ghost attacks, and an unsettling hotel history. When the ghosts in the hotel tend to help the possessed Jack kill his family, it also shows how brutally they stab him when he tries to help his son.
Third, in Stephen King’s book series, you can’t tend to miss this book.
15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This book is a complex tale of a person searching for liberation and freedom, which is well-settled away from his home. Only then, he realizes he was never free from the cruel politics in and out of his home. Set in a beautiful and vividly imaginable backdrop of the French Revolution, this book makes every turning page worth reading.
Lastly, the quest of the protagonist- Charles Darnay, to gain real liberty from the sins of his family by upturning all the evil deeds onto someone makes the story with a bittersweet climax. Without giving any spoilers, what keeps you in tears is the sacrifice of a third person for the love of his friends. Hope it’s a good read for you.
Conclusion
These were some of the books we’d recommend you to read before you turn 30 because they’re full of life skills and experiences to be learnt. You can rejoice in friendships with the Harry Potter series, learn about mind-games with Sidney Sheldon books, and take a glimpse of yourself through self-awakening books by Robin Sharma. Some of the chapters in the books are full of characters that you’ll be relating to your real-life close ones, and this is how the book becomes one of the heartfelt pieces of literature.
Indeed, you’ll not be able to relate to books like Life of Pi, where there were some brutal actions of nature involved, but you certainly will be able to empathize with someone’s situation and laud their bravery. This, in turn, inspires you to face your challenges and create a better version of yourself.
So hope you all like these books and read them to your fullest. It’s never too late.
Author Bio: This article has been written by Rishika Desai, B.Tech Computer Engineering Student at Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology (VIIT), Pune. She is a good dancer, poet and a writer. Animal love engulfs her heart and content writing comprises her present. You can follow Rishika on Twitter @ich_rish99.