Seven books to read in the twenties

Being a twenty-something is all about college life, new friends, romance, and a truckload of excitement about the future. 

For many, this transformative decade of the twenties is a journey to discover the self and figure out what exactly inspires them! At the same time, you feel stuck somewhere between being a carefree kid and an adult with many responsibilities. It is the decade where what one reads shapes the way he thinks in the next decade. 

So, here are our top 7 reads for every young adult out there looking for a new experience and a better perspective.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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The semi-autobiographical work of Sylvia Plath narrates her experiences and encounter with mental illness during adulthood. The novel centers around the struggles of Esther Greenwood (the protagonist), overcoming her problems against societal pressures. As someone in their twenties, you will relate to the author’s beautiful descriptions of a mind between freshman and junior year in college. Plath, with her poetic imagery, portrays her real-life experiences as an intern for Mademoiselle magazine. So, if you are facing that darker side of growing up, this book will definitely make you feel less alone.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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It is one of those books that you must have already read in your teens. But if not, you are surely missing out on a lot! 

Though not about life in the twenties, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower provides meaningful insights that are beyond words. The book is about a high school kid, Charlie. It is about his journey to find himself and what he wants out of life. Charlie befriends two people from his college, Sam, and Patrick. With them, everything changes in Charlie’s life. He attends parties, school dances and begins to experience life in new ways. The author pens down everything from Charlie’s eyes, addressing an anonymous friend. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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This classic modern American literature became an immediate bestseller and a critical success in the 1960s. This deeply moving novel by Harper Lee takes you back to the roots of human behavior. It talks about innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, humor and pathos. 

The book is about a gentle Southern Lawyer, Atticus Finch, who becomes the subject to the wrath of his fellows for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. Loosely centered around the real-life experiences of growing up in Monroeville, Alabama, this bestseller brought the Pulitzer award to the American author.

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

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It is about three women (Isabella, Mary, and Lauren) dealing with career pressure, heartbreak, family pressure, and newfound love – and all of this while going through endless rounds of weddings and bridal showers. All of these women are bridesmaids, and despite being happy, they are sick and tired of celebrating their friends. The novel follows the story of these women and their lives through blind dates, ski vacations, boozy lunches, and family holidays. In a way, Girls in White Dresses chronicles the struggles and unexpected joys of modern life.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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Ever since the Hulu series started, this novel has been in the reading repertoire of many! Atwood’s novel, though written in the mid-1980s, is incredibly relevant even today. The setting of this novel is in a post-modern era, in the Republic of Gilead. The story follows the establishment of a conservative religious sect that does not allow women to read, work, or have money. The only thing they are expected and valued for is their ability to reproduce.

This powerful read with the author’s writing style and intelligent observations inspire some serious thinking in the readers!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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This timeless classic by Fitzgerald draws legions of readers through ages. The compelling storyline of this novel is something you cannot miss out on reading. This work of art is more like a moral guide for students to help in their early careers, learning about themselves, or anything to do with employment. The book got one of the best-written introductions ever.

It follows the life of Gatsby, who is a rich man. But irrespective of the amount of money he spends, there is still one last thing that he can never afford. The Great Gatsby provides great introspection and a way to determine the flaws within the self!

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

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Slightly towards the difficult level of reading, this novel by Nabokov is one of the most popular novels of the 20th century. The story follows (and is narrated) by a man named Humbert. After the death of his wife in a car accident, he gets into an illicit relationship with his stepdaughter. Later he named his daughter Lolita, who is actually twelve years old. It is one of those novels that makes you empathize with characters that you would not have otherwise!

Be it fiction or memoirs reading, helps you learn a lot about yourself and the world around you. Now that you have some exciting reads, do not let this pivotal decade of the twenties go in vain. So, grab your copies today, and Happy Reading!