Six Amazing Books – Breana Roberts

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin was a great book because it was the first real book that I read that consisted of individual essays. I loved how each essay explored different, intimate aspects of Baldwin’s life.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly made me really think. I had to be really focused when reading in order to understand all of the elaborate details. I enjoyed decoding the story and really exploring the inner thoughts of both Victor and his monster.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my all time favorites. I particularly enjoyed how the book seemed to come alive when I read it. The Gatsby read as if I were watching a play leaping from the pages.

The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger was not love at first read. I did not like the book at all until I finished the entire book. Catcher was one of the books that I was entirely confused while reading, and it was not until the last ten or so pages that it all made sense. It is a book that I remember the details, but more importantly the story and Salinger’s messages continue to linger in the back of my mind.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain immediately sparked my interest because of its controversial topic. However, I did not particularly find the language easy to read, but appreciated that the words were true to the characters. I loved the book's meaning and how there are many interpretations to its different elements and themes.

Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman was probably the hardest book I have ever read. The book itself was captivating; I could hardly let it go. However, the theme of death and struggle had me in tears during my entire read. It is a book that I completely identify with. I actually read the book while on a plane to Prague, the day before I visited concentration camps. I believe that Alicia is “the underdog” book when it comes to Holocaust books, but it is one of my all time favorites.