Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari & Eric Klinenberg

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

A fun and informative read outlaying the differences between dating now and in the past.

Summary of the Summary:

Apparently a lot has changed in the dating world since the time of our parents, and even our grandparents. Aziz Ansari, and his sociologist friend Eric Klinenberg, explore this idea through the scopes of dating styles, cultures, methods, and more. Most of the information is a no-brainer, information you've probably already figured out yourself, but with a scientific backing. Nonetheless, it's interesting to read it all compiled together, mixed together with personal stories from interview subjects and amusing anecdotes and metaphors from the wit of Ansari himself. If you've watching Ansari's Netflix show, Master of None, then you've heard the majority of the information in this book, just in a

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

A beautifully calm story about love, loss, and identity. 

Summary of the Summary:

There are no cliffhangers or any suspense, and it certainly isn't a cliffhanger, but there is something so beautifully calm about Colm Tóibín's writing, it just flows off the page and into your mind like a classical song. Reading his book Brooklyn was like eating a bowl of velvety ice cream, it all just went down so smoothly. His writing is a great advantage to the story, as it is fairly uneventful. The story trucks along well enough and there are plot points, but it is not a thriller and the plot is essentially a following a girl as she adjusts to a new life in America. Overall, the novel does carry some interesting themes of love and identity, and how the two can

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

North Korea is a terrible place to live.

Summary of the Summary:

Through interviews with North Korean defectors, Barbara Demick paints a horrifying picture of life within the reclusive state. From famines and black markets, to forbidden loves and abandoned children, the stories the once loyal citizens tell are absurd and stranger than fiction, yet heart-breaking and eye-opening. The events discussed follow 15 years, including the famine in the 90's, the death of the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, and the rise of his son, Kim Jong-il. Written in a journalistic style,

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

An intriguing and twisting tale examining the duplicity of marriage.

Summary of the Summary:

Lauren Groff weaves a tale of marriage in two different parts: one from the husband's point of view that expels the wonders of fate making everything possible; and the other from the wife's, who understands how the world works and how to make it work for her. The first half drags a bit, creating an almost infuriating character who can't do wrong and everything works out for in the end. But then we begin the "Furies" section and everything we knew before is flipped on its head as we learn the seemingly true story behind it all. Reminiscent of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl,

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

A lot of people died on Everest in 1996.  This is one man's page-turning account of the events.

Summary of the Summary:

In one of his most well-known works, journalist and author Jon Krakauer tells his version of events that led to the deadliest season on Mt. Everest (until 2015). Through thorough storytelling coupled with intriguing characters and an exciting premise, the author weaves a tale that keeps the reader enthralled page by

Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

Summary of the Summary of the Summary:

Quirky, quiet, charming

Summary of the Summary:

A quiet tale of a girl who escapes her abusive father by settling in a small Massachusetts town and marrying a local man with a daughter. Allusions to fairy tales are scattered throughout, but seemingly in contrast to the story at hand which is anything but a fairy tale. Anticlimactic twists are

My Must-Read Essentials

Every reader has their favorite books, and I am no different. But most of the time my reasoning for something being my "favorite" doesn't translate to words. It's just a feeling, an indescribable enjoyment I had while reading, a presence that still lingers long after I've finished the last page.

On the other hand, there are what I would call "must-reads": the books that I recommend to others for specific reasons. Some of these also fall under my favorites, but for all on this list I have tangible reasons for wanting to share these with everyone I know.