Reading has always been an escape for me. I think my passion for it started in middle school (back when Young Adult fiction was more than just paranormal romance) and continued throughout the rest of my life. Reading inspires me to act creatively and appreciate life from a different perspective. 

With the world currently in turmoil, here are some (not all) of my favorite books. If you’re looking for an escape from the news, these offer a little escape, and yes, some sadness. But sometimes just knowing that sadness is part of the human experience can make things just a little easier.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (or anything by Ray Bradbury)

“And then let's be frank, Leo, how long can you look at a sunset? Who wants a sunset to last? Who wants perfect temperature? Who wants air smelling good always? So after a while, who would notice? Better, for a minute or two, a sunset. After that, let's have something else. People are like that, Leo. How could you forget?"

This man was a genius. When he died in 2012, the world lost an amazing gem. His books–which follow stories of life on Mars and dystopian futures–made me realize that I don’t hate science fiction. It’s because his novels show more than aliens and robots. They show the truths behind humanity and somehow Bradbury knows what we’re all thinking inside. Not to mention, he predicted much of the technology we have today.

This book follows a twelve-year-old boy named Douglas Spaulding during a summer in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois which is based on an Illinois town Bradbury grew up in. Written in a series of vignettes, the books touches on fear, what it means to be alive, what technology does to us, and an appreciation for life.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

“If neurotic is wanting two mutually exclusive things at one and the same time, then I'm neurotic as hell. I'll be flying back and forth between one mutually exclusive thing and another for the rest of my days.”

Another one of my favorite authors, Sylvia Plath, in both this novel and her personal journals, had a way of understanding people. Her level of intuition when it came to the good and bad in the world was impressive. Esther, the main character in The Bell Jar, has similarities to Plath’s life–working at a magazine when younger and spiraling into a depression. While not the most uplifting novel, it really sucks you in and you can’t seem to put it down.

Franny & Zooey by J.D. Salinger

“You don't know how to talk to people you don't like. Don't love, really. You can't live in the world with such strong likes and dislikes.”

I must have a thing for somber novels! I know Catcher in the Rye is Salinger’s most popular books, but this one has its merits. Featuring characters from the Glass family, who were frequent characters in Salinger’s work, this book takes place almost entirely in the Glass’ living room. Zooey’s younger sister Franny is having an existential crisis about how selfish the world can be while Zooey tries to help her understand the world.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

“They have worries, they're counting the miles, they're thinking about where to sleep tonight, how much money for gas, the weather, how they'll get there - and all the time they'll get there anyway, you see.”

One of the famous writers of the Beat generation, this book follows Sal Paradise (the fiction version of Kerouac) and his friends (other well-known authors of the Beat generation) on a road trip across the U.S. Fun fact: Kerouac actually typed the manuscript for the story on a 120-foot long scroll.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This book is truly a classic. It’s short, sweet, and one of the most inspiring books you will ever read! It may be written like a children’s book, but the lessons it teaches are so important for adults. The narrator of the story is a pilot whose plane has crashed in the desert. There he meets a young prince who asks a lot of questions and tells the pilot the story of his life, traveling to different planets and meeting different characters who all exemplify different aspects of humanity. He does this to discover more about life after living on one planet and taking care of a talking rose who is his only friend. I know this all sounds very strange, but this book is one of the greatest books of all time. A quick and inspiring read!