Books for a 23 year old woman I’d like to encourage to read. What moved you as a young woman and made you want to read more?

Question

Jeanine Nault · Answer

Burger’s Daughter: Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer’s historical and political portrait of an anti-apartheid family’s legacy in South Africa

Clara · Answer

My Brilliant Friend (Elena Ferrante): Just remarkable.

AMB · Answer

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery : Blue Castle is written by L.M. Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables. Prior to reading Blue Castle, I had no idea Montgomery had written other books. Here is the Goodreads book synopsis and what ended up grabbing my attention (and led me to eventually reading it):

“If it had not rained on a certain May morning, Valancy Stirling's whole life would have been entirely different."

At twenty-nine, Valancy had never been in love and it seemed romance had completely passed her by. Her only consolation were the "forbidden" books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle.

All her life Valancy lived on a quiet little street, in an ugly little house, never daring to contradict her overbearing mother and meddlesome aunt. Until the fateful day a letter came from Doctor Trent—and Valancy decided to throw caution to the wind once and for all...

For the first time in her life, Valancy said and did exactly what she wanted. Soon she discovered a world full of fine surprises and real adventures that she never knew could exist outside of her secret Blue Castle.

fairuseabby · Answer

White Teeth by Zadie Smith: Some books are about the plot, but this book is about the narration. I love young Zadie Smith’s wry, frenetic voice and the NW London multigenerational drama. Couldn’t put it down!

Emily H · Answer

Trick Mirror: Jia is my hero

Alexis · Answer

the idiot by Elif Batuman: the perfect bildungsroman esp if you are also a confused college girl in a massive thrifted coat

molly · Answer

the sun also rises - hemingway: “oh darling, i’ve been so miserable”

Miranda · Answer

Slouching Toward Bethlehem: On Self Respect was life changing for me.

Lisa · Answer

Sheila Heti: If she's into the slightly absurd, like Miranda July, may I suggest Sheila Heti. How Should A Person Be? is a good start. Pure Colour is very abstract and a little mindbending.

JaperMoon · Answer

The First Bad Man: If she finds reading boring, try something a little absurd like Miranda July.

If MJ is too out there, maybe try Ann Patchet :)

amy hagedorn · Answer

The White Album (Joan Didion): THIS! Photo: Me @ 23 reading it performatively <3

eva h · Answer

I Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith): overdue for a reread

eva h · Answer

Rogues (Patrick Radden Keefe): a really good one for a reading slump, highly recommend.

eva h · Answer

The Silver Chair (C.S. Lewis): highly recommend re reading (or reading for the first time) the chronicles of narnia in your early 20s

eva h · Answer

Discontent (Beatriz Serrano): good for anyone but especially young women and especially people who may feel lost in an office job / postgrad life.

eva h · Answer

Headshot (Rita Bullwinkel): read and loved in my last full month of being 23.

Kate · Answer

chemistry by weike wang: the perfect book to thrust in a struggling and twenty something's hands. every line is perfect

Hannah Harvey · Answer

The Group (Mary McCarthy): the books I was drawn to at that time in my life were often of the “postgrad figuring it out in the city” genre, especially midcentury books that made me feel like what I was experiencing was timeless and universal. this book is funny and wry and full of drama, and McCarthy is so so so brilliant. See also: the best of everything by Rona Jaffe!