As someone who has been tracking their reads on goodreads for over two decades, these are my favorite five star reads (that I would still recommend) from across that time period.
Sections
4
Memior
Nonfiction
Classic Literature
Fiction
Memior
Poignant and Eye-Opening
Night
Written by an American journalist who was in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb exploded - extremely eye opening. Originally written as a long-form magazine piece.
Hiroshima
I've enjoyed following this author's journey ever since reading this
Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life
One of the best memoir's I have ever read, about a Christian family that is sent to concentration camps during the Holocaust
The Hiding Place, Young Reader's Edition|Paperback
Unfortunately I have been in a David Sedaris chokehold for over ten years
Naked
Yes, another David Sedaris rec
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Through making this list, I learned that all the David Sedaris books have new covers. This is my least-favorite new cover, but my favorite book of his!
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Nonfiction
One of the first author's I ever saw speak at my college campus, this book was such a fun discovery
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Revised and Expanded)|Paperback
I'm still spouting off fun facts from this book even though I read it almost 20 years ago in college. Did you know that most stores would make more money not having valuable items pu away in glass cases? More would get stolen, but way more would get ...
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping: Updated and Revised for the Internet, the Global Consumer, and Beyond|Paperback
Of course I went through a C.S. Lewis phase
Mere Christianity|Paperback
I had to check out the source material that lead Lin-Manuel to believe he was gangster enough for his own musical, just in time to avoid being kicked off the ten dollar bill!
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow,
This book was extremely interesting and informative (though very long). You can reward yourself with the corresponding Andrew Garfield series when you finish.
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith
Classic Literature
Still hands down a favorite - perfect to read in October!
Rebecca
This is a true American classic. I loved reading this and think it should be assigned more in school!
True Grit
Another great October read
The Picture of Dorian Gray
These book comes off as surprisingly modern and definitely exceeded my expectations. I was very mesmerized with Tolstoy's ability to recognize and portray so many subtle but significant observations about humanity. The breadth of subjects covered int...
Anna Karenina
My favorite book that I was forced to read
Lord of the Flies
My all time favorite book. The first book that explores the interior thoughts of an adolescent girl (and so much more!)
Jane Eyre (Special Edition)
A beautifully written classic
Love in the Time of Cholera
Recently reread, I think this is a must-read for all women
The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland, and Selected Writings
This book made the number one spot on the New Yorker's Best Books of the 21st century list, and I wholeheartedly agree with that ranking. The entire series is fantastic.
My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels #1)
Fiction
Ian McEwan never shows any mercy when it comes to a reader's emotions
On Chesil Beach
My first Paula McLain read, this book kicked off my love of historical fiction and still holds a top spot in my rankings
The Paris Wife: A Novel
A beautiful multi-generational historical fiction. A top of all time. The title turns people off whenever I recommend it, but the book is excellent!
The Shoemaker's Wife: A Novel
impactful, restrained prose
The Lifeboat
I often check to see if this author has written a new book - this one was so beautiful and heart wrenching. I'm still waiting!
I Am Forbidden: A Novel
My friend's and I passed the same copy of this around in high school - I think about 20 of us read the same copy, it's so sentimental to me still.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This is the first book I remember being enamored with
