There’s nothing better than getting lost in a book and getting lost in the story. Some fiction is life-changing and changes your worldview forever. There are some books that will bring you to tears and consume your thoughts for days or weeks afterwards. If you’re a reader looking for books that will have a lasting impact on you, these five books are sure to help.
Although it cannot be defined in one word, we have compiled some literary novels that share common themes and have a similar impact on readers. Small-town tragedy, family drama, relationships, hope, justice, and redemption are woven into each work. These moving novels follow characters who reflect on their difficult pasts, face reality, forgive, and find a way to move on.
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
One fateful night, three teenagers drive recklessly in the middle of the night, resulting in an accident that kills a young woman. The accident had repercussions for decades. As the years go by, the accident becomes more and more haunting for brothers Theo and Sarah Wilf. Sarah tries to drown her past in alcohol and affairs, but Theo hopes that success in his career will help him forget the lies he told that night. Life becomes about their grief, guilt, and truths they wish to keep buried.
Told through multiple perspectives that jump between 1985 and 2020, it reveals the inner lives of two families living on the same street. But the timeline and story are drawn together by a curious neighborhood boy who recognizes the point where everyone’s lives converge. This character-driven story does not shy away from the love, loss, and loneliness of human existence, but instead gravitates towards the existential in a way that comforts rather than frightens, and shows that connection and love are the most valuable parts of life. is emphasized.
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“Little Bird” by Ashby Jones
The murder of a black teenager by a white police officer brings two like-minded people together in a small, racially segregated town with deep scars of racial violence, each grappling with grief and guilt. . In 1964, Shane witnesses the murder of his best friend and surrogate brother Jesse by a drunken white police officer. However, the court declared the police officer innocent, and Shane left town to escape his grief. Almost eight years later, he returned with only one mission. It was about avenging the death of a friend.
The daughter of a lawyer who was unable to convict Jesse’s killer returns to town, burdened with guilt over the unforgivable act she committed. Like Shane, she came back with a mission. She must uncover the truth behind her father’s failures and retrace her father’s final footsteps. When the two finally meet for the first time, their connection is instant and powerful. As their bond deepens, they are torn between their desire for redemption and the possibility of a new path through love and forgiveness.
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“Good Happy Girl” by Marissa Higgins
Helen avoids personal tragedy and a turbulent home life from her childhood. Therefore, she immerses herself in caring for her grandmother, self-destructive behavior, sleeping with couples, and flirting with co-workers. when she meets Katherine and Katrina are a couple who begin an intense emotional and sexual relationship, and they encourage her to open up.
Soon, Helen is faced with past traumas that she had tried to forget. She realized there was one person who could get the real answers. It’s her father who needs her help for parole. Will Helen be able to overcome the tendencies that are ruining her life and finally bridge the deep gap between herself and others who could love and care for her? good happy girl It has been described as both “extremely sad” and “shockingly kind.”
night. sleep. death. Stars. Written by Joyce Carol Oates
Whitey, a powerful patriarch in his 60s, observes the fight on the side of the highway. When he pulled over to help, he quickly realized he was watching a police officer hit a black man and intervened to stop the violence. Instead, Whitey becomes the victim, and the truth of his death is obscured by a false police report.
The novel follows the aftermath of this father’s death and the impact it had on those he left behind. From adult children who think they’ve stepped out of their father’s shadow to a widow who unexpectedly meets a new partner, each family member deals with a different kind of grief. Joyce Carol Oates explores themes of family psychological trauma, race, class, and the dark side of American society.
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Can’t Shake the Dust by CH Fuchs
Riding a beat-up DIY car on the back roads of southern Georgia, “Little” Bill Lemon III sets out on a journey to help his family and overcome the harsh realities of life. From his grandfather’s infamous bar to his mother’s shady dog breeding business and his father’s questionable background, Little lives a life on the margins. Trying to put his troubled legacy behind him, Little turns his attention to becoming a champion in the hope that victory will be the key to a better life.
Caught between self-destruction and redemption, the young protagonist embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Will Little be able to overcome adversity, find a way to overcome hardship, free his life from the control of his family and take it into his own hands? This propulsive coming-of-age novel is filled with family tension, difficult decisions, and personal growth.
