Are you exhausted by the daily grind and in desperate need of a break from reality? Look no further because I have the perfect solution for you.
I love reading books & I know how powerful a good story can be in transporting you to another world. I have compiled a list of the best books that will help you escape reality and find some much-needed escapism.
So grab a cup of tea, settle in & let’s go exploring some fantastic new worlds!
1. "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
This novel follows the journey of Santiago, a young shepherd who travels to Egypt in search of a treasure he has dreamed about. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about the meaning of life and the importance of pursuing one’s dreams.
2. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams
This hilarious science fiction novel follows the misadventures of Arthur Dent, an ordinary man who is whisked away from Earth moments before it is destroyed to make way for a new intergalactic bypass. Arthur travels through space & time with a cast of interesting characters, encountering strange & wonderful creatures along the way.
3. "Watership Down" by Richard Adams
This classic novel follows a group of rabbits who are forced to flee their warren in search of a new home. They face many challenges and dangers along the way but they also learn valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty & the power of community.
4. "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis
The first book in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series, this beloved children’s book is the first in the series. It follows the adventures of four siblings who discover Narnia, a magical world through a wardrobe in an old country house. They must assist the lion Aslan in defeating the evil White Witch & restoring peace to the land of Narnia.
5. "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll
This fantastical novel tells the story of Alice, a young girl who falls down a rabbit hole and finds herself in Wonderland, a strange and wonderful world. She meets a wacky group of people there including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat & the Queen of Hearts.
6. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This classic novel follows Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man who throws lavish parties in an attempt to reclaim his former love, Daisy Buchanan. The novel, set in the Roaring Twenties, explores themes of love, obsession & the corrupting influence of wealth.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning story explores Celie, a young African American woman living in the rural South in the early 1900s. Celie recounts her struggles as a poor, uneducated black woman, including domestic abuse and racism, in a series of letters to God.
8. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez
This epic novel tells the story of the Buenda family, who live in the fictional Colombian town of Macondo. The family goes through the joys and sorrows of life, as well as the magical and surreal events that are typical of Márquez’s writing, over several generations.
9. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in the segregated South during the 1930s is the main character of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The novel explores themes of racism, stereotyping & the loss of innocence through Scout’s eyes.
This coming-of-age novel follows Holden Caulfield, a teen who has been expelled from prep school. Holden struggles with the complexities of adulthood as he wanders the streets of New York as well as his own frustration with the world.
11. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
The story of Dorian Gray, a young man who is given a magical portrait that captures the ravages of time while keeping him eternally young and stunning is told in this classic novel. As Dorian descends into hedonism and corruption the portrait serves as a reminder of vanity’s destructive power.
12. "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The tale of the Karamazov brothers who are split apart by jealousy, greed & their own conflicting beliefs about God and morality is told in this epic novel. The novel portrays some of the deep questions about the human experience through their struggles.
13. "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck
This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows the Joad family as they are forced to flee their Oklahoma home and relocate to California during the Great Depression. The novel explores themes of poverty, injustice & the human capacity for resilience through their struggles & hardships.
14. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Esther Greenwood, a young woman suffering from depression and a sense of isolation from the world around her is the leading lady of this semi-autobiographical novel. The novel explores the inner workings of the mind & the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most overwhelming challenges through Esther’s experiences.
That’s all, friends! I hope this list has inspired you to escape reality and immerse yourself in a world of pure self indulgence. Remember that books have the ability to transport us to new and exciting places, to make us laugh and cry & to help us see the world in new ways.
So, whether you want to travel to a faraway land or simply relax and enjoy a good mystery, I am confident you will find it in these pages. So grab a book, switch off your phone & prepare for some much-needed rest. Good luck with your reading!
