The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
At its core, this Jazz Age novel is a story about a man who spends a summer becoming one of literature’s most famous third wheels. As it progresses, the book also becomes the novelised embodiment of #FirstWorldProblems. However, the ending will make you rethink that Gatsby-themed party you’ve been planning.
A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin
Pick a character. Do you like them? Good. Now, become really invested in their story. Do you feel an emotional connection forming? Very good. Oh look – your chosen character has died. Repeat process ad infinitum.
The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
Also known as How to be hipster: a counter-culture handbook, featuring that guy in the beanie from your ENG 110 class who tries to read his “deep” short stories to any unlucky soul who will listen.
Finnegans Wake – James Joyce
If you Google this book’s title, some of the first results to appear are “Is Finnegans Wake worth reading?” and “Is Finnegans Wake a joke?” Go figure. This novel is notorious for being one of the most complex books in the English language, and you’ll probably lie about finishing it.
Illustration: Asiphe Dlulane
