More than just really good reads, these six novels are loaded with life-changing lessons for any and every kind of reader. Enjoy!
A Man Called Ove, Fredrick Backman
There’s a reason this book spent over a year on the bestseller list and sold more than three million copies. Heartwarming and life-affirming, it tells the tale of a grumpy Swedish widower whose troublesome neighbours keep getting in the way of his plans to end his life. As an unlikely friendship develops between him and them, Ove’s perspective – and, ultimately, his life – begins to change for the better. In our frenetic and stressful world, A Man Called Ove is a welcome reminder that, no matter how isolated we may feel, we are never alone.
Expecting Adam, by Martha Beck
This is the true memoir of John and Martha Beck, two type-A Harvard academics whose world is shaken beyond recognition when their unborn child gets diagnosed with Down Syndrome. What follows is a journey that cannot be explained and only be described as magical. Expecting Adam challenges many of our preconceived ideas and raises many important questions. What defines success? What really matters to us as human beings? Is there more to life than meets the eye? And can something that’s traditionally defined as “bad news” become the biggest blessing of your life?
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman
Friendless, isolated and socially shunned, Eleanor Oliphant plods through life entirely alone and on autopilot. An sudden encounter with the “man of her dreams” jolts her out of life’s habitual patterns and sets her on a painful but powerful course of self-discovery, friendship and reinvention. Insightful, unconventional and inexplicably lovable, Eleanor is more than just an unlikely heroine; she is proof that anything and anyone can change, and that all it takes is a willingness to step out of your comfort zone.
Open, by Andre Agassi
“The same court on which you suffer your bloodiest defeat can become the scene of your sweetest triumph”… Andre Agassi understands the thrill of success and the bitter taste of defeat better than most. In this beautifully written autobiography, he shares the many highs and lows of his journey as a professional tennis player who reached number one in 1995, only to slip to 141 over the following two years, and then climb all the way back to number one by 1999. This book is surprising, inspiring and real – just like the person it’s about.
Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
If you haven’t read Eat, Pray, Love, you have almost certainly heard of it. Elizabeth Gilbert skyrocketed to fame with this transformative tale of personal growth in the wake of a painful divorce. In a bid to reconnect with her true self, she embarked upon a journey to Italy, India and Bali, where she ate, prayed and loved her way to freedom and inner peace. More than 10 million copies of Eat, Pray, Love have been sold around the world… why not add one to your personal collection?
Me Before You, Jojo Moyes
Your comfort zone may be comfortable, but it’s no place for growth or change. That’s what Louisa Clark discovered when she accepted a job as caregiver to Will Traynor, a wealthy 35-year-old quadriplegic who had all but given up on life. Their friendship gets off to a rocky start, but it blossoms into a powerful relationship that brings meaning and purpose to both of their lives and – ultimately – sets them both free. It’s an emotionally moving read with an equally moving message: live boldly, live well.
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