Readers share favorite books

This story will highlight some books that students enjoy reading. So fellow book lovers, get ready. Being a book lover myself, I enjoy seeing other books that may catch my attention to give me a good read. Now let’s talk about books!

The first book is one of my personal favorites that I have read many times. I could read this book over and over again without getting tired of it. I did want to put a disclaimer to say this book is not for the faint of heart because it deals with suicide and thoughts of murder. The title of the book is Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. The description that the book gives is “ [i]n addition to the P-38, there are four gifts, one for each of my friends. I want to say good-bye to them properly. I want to give them each something to remember me by. To let them know I really cared about them and I’m sorry I couldn’t be more than I was- that I couldn’t stick around- and that what’s going to happen today isn’t their fault.”

“Today is Leonard Peacock’s birthday. It is also the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather’s P-38 pistol. Maybe one day he’ll believe that being different is ok, important even. But not today.”  On the back of the book are some reviews of the book such as  “ Leonard’s life teeters dangerously between moments of pain and beauty. A fast read, because I needed to keep reading. I will not forget Leonard Peacock. I love this book.”- Jay Asher 

The next book is a favorite of Mariah Cooper, a previous vocalist major from Plainfield Indiana. The book is called The Cabin by Natasha Preston. The synopsis of this book is,“ They think they’re invincible. They think they can do and say whatever they want. They think there are no consequences. They’ve left me no choice. It’s time for them to pay. A weekend partying at a remote cabin is just what Mackenzie needs. She can’t wait to let loose with her friends. But a crazy night of fun leaves two of them dead―murdered.With no signs of a forced entry or struggle, suspicion turns to the five survivors. Someone isn’t telling the truth. And Mackenzie’s first mistake? Assuming the killing is over…” The reason Cooper enjoys this book is because in her words “it is a murder mystery and plays tricks with your mind.”

This next book is another one of my favorites and I feel the need to disclaim that it contains topics some people may find sensitive. It talks about cutting, counseling, and sexual abuse. The book is called Scars by Cheryl RainField, the synopsis for this books is “Kendra hasn’t felt safe since devastation memories of childhood sexual abuse began surfacing, especially because she still can’t remember the most important detail–her abuser’s identify. Kendra knows someone is always watching, following her and leaving menacing messages, and making her fear for her life. Kendra cuts to relieve the pressure; It’s how she copes, along with her brilliant, expressive artwork. Her mother is too self-absorbed to listen, so Kendra finds support elsewhere from her therapist and her art teacher; from Sandy, a family friend who encourages her painting; and from Meghan, a friend and maybe more. Will they ever learn the truth about Kendra’s terrible secret? Scars is the story of one girl’s frightening path to the truth.” To add to the description a quote from the back of the book states, “Scars is a painful and well told story, obviously written with the heart’s blood of the author. I could be a life-saver for other young victims of abuse and self-harm.” from Lois Buncan, Margaret A. Edwards

The last book is called The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. This book is a favorite of Marissa Bradley, a Physical therapist assistant major from Jasper Indiana. And this book’s description is, “The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette’s brilliant and charismatic father captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn’t want the responsibility of raising a family.The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.” And the reason why it is Bradley’s favorite book is because,

 “ It tells an amazing real story and is incredibly shocking.”

All the books above are sold on Amazon and other booksellers.