As writers, we improve not only by writing, but by reading as well. In this article, I will share 5 books that I really enjoyed.

Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis

"Fifteen Dogs" details the story of fifteen dogs that have been given human intelligence by Hermes and Apollo. The two Greek Gods had a bet on whether the dogs will be happier with heightened consciousness and the use of language. It is an interesting and compelling read, but even more than that, Fifteen Dogs discusses what it means to be human and dives deep into the notion of identity.

The Theban Plays by Sophocles

The Theban Plays is a collection of three plays; King Oedipus, Oedipus At Colonus, and Antigone; by the Greek Playwright Sophocles (496-406BCE). In these plays, Sophocles points out the hubris and frailty of humankind.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Being a nerdfighter, I have to mention this book. Looking for Alaska is a young adult novel about teenager Miles Halter. Miles, obsessed with the last words of famous people and wanting to gain a deeper perspective on life, leaves Florida to attend the Culver Creek Preparatory High School. There, he meets a loyal group of friends and falls in love with the beautiful Alaska Young. Then, when tragedy strikes one night, he and his friends are forced to come to terms with the many things in life. I really love this book because it is an amazing and meaningful coming-of-age novel that deals with themes like grief and love.

The Collected Poems by T.S. Eliot

This series of poems really blew my mind the first time I read it. Not only are there great imagery, each poem tells a story. The poems all have many layers to it, and it takes a long time to fully understand it, but they are really worth a read.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Due to recency bias, I have to recommend this incredible book. "The Secret History" is narrated by Richard Papen years after he attended Hampton College and got tangled into the murder of his friend Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran. It is credited with the establishment of the genre of dark academia, that's how amazing it is!

Written by the13thbluecat