lora-mathis:

Yes, I would recommend the books that have holed places in me, but I have no guarantees that you will feel the same way as I do about them. 

1. Catcher In The Rye by Salinger - I know, I know, who hasn’t read this at this point? The first time I read this, I liked it, but I didn’t see why it was branded as THE novel for youths. The second time I read it, when I was in the middle of my teenage years, it made a lot that was going on in my life make sense. This was a period when I was learning what friendship really meant and what sort of person I wanted to portray myself as. I began to think about what Holden Caulfield would do before making decisions. The most specific time I remember doing this was when I left a high school party because I didn’t feel like being there or really care for the people who were invited. I’m not sure that was too effective, but I definitely had Holden in mind when making the decision to not surround myself with people who only brought me down. 
   
   
2. Slaughterhouse Five by Vonnegut - Yeah, my favorite books are classics that are on most “Must Read” lists. Vonnegut’s voice is so refreshingly humorous and truthful. I admire his wit and clear intelligence. Each time I read this novel, I am unable to speak for a few hours. It makes me think about death, time, and existence in a completely new way.
   
   
3. A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway. I’ve got a thing for Hemingway (dem writers of American classics though) and have read a lot of his work. This was the first novel of his that I picked up. The love story in it is heartbreaking, and it’s also a great teller of the war. These lines especially kill me: “Maybe you’ll fall in love with me all over again.” “Hell, I love you enough already. What do you want to do, ruin me?” “Yes, I want to ruin you.” “Good, that’s what I want too.” 
   
   
4. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. I read this novel because Bukowski mentioned it in a poem (I cannot remember which one, but if you know, lemme know). The title is as beautiful as the novel itself. It follows the interconnected stories of multiple characters and spoke to me a great deal about the deep loneliness we all carry inside of us.
5. On the Road by Kerouac. In all honesty, this should be number one. I feel like I have read this book so many times and brought it to so many different places with me (I like bringing it when I am traveling), that I’ve lived in it a little. I feel like Kerouac understands constant searching, unshakable passion, and the chase for art & desire in a way most people in my everyday life have not been able to. 
   
   
6. Just Kids by Patti Smith. Patti Smith is a damn goddess. Poet, memoirist, artist, spoken word performer, muse, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician-she nails it all. Reading her personal account of making herself known as an artist in New York in the 60s was inspiring as someone who wants to make a living creatively. Getting an intimate look into her time with her first love, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, was absolutely beautiful. I want what they had. I want to experience life in as many shades as Patti Smith does. 
   
   
7. The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I love this novel. I love that it takes a classic novel (Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway) and applies it to modern times. I love Cunningham’s incredible grasp of language, and his ability to produce detailed settings that remain in your head long after you’ve closed the book. I love his multi-faceted characters and how easy they are to relate for and care for. In all honesty, I saw the movie before I read the book (my mom took me to see it when I was 8 years old, which was traumatizing to say the least), but the novel is masterful. It’s a quick, easy read and highly engaging the entire time. Note: the novel largely focuses on suicide and depression and, to me, is rather hard hitting.
   
   
8. East of Eden by Steinbeck. I thank my 11th grade English teacher for requiring me to read this. Steinbeck is another master of the English language. His plot lines are as thick as my thighs (haha), his characters are rich and unique, his setting descriptions are drool worthy. The novel is long, but worth it, so worth it. I highly recommend this for anyone who has trouble staying concentrated while reading. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down. 
   
   
9. Memoirs of a Beatnik by Diane di Prima. I did not know this was erotica until I was halfway through the first chapter. Part memoir, part erotica, the book follows di Prima as a youth in New York City, in which she was a shining figure in the Beat movement. She slept on the street, paid the rent as a nude model, met interesting folks, and worked mercilessly on her writing. Her voice is honest and refreshing and honestly, reading this had me turned on for a good month. The sex scenes are very explicit, but I recommend it if you’re looking for something equally juicy & interesting.