Herland. Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This book is amazing. Not only is it a rare find of dystopian/utopian literature, written in the early 20th century and not published until the end of the 20th century, but it is an amazing piece of feminist literature. No, just because it's titled "Herland" doesn't mean that it advocates a land full of women as being best, like Amazonian propaganda. It is a wonderful take at what makes masculinity and femininity, as well as a perfect society that is still extremely relevant. 

The Help. Kathryn Stockett

This book. Oh, this book. I love it. I know that there are a lot of arguments on how it portrays African American women from a white author, but I still love it despite the valid arguments. I think it's important that at least the story is told, no matter who is writing it. I just saw the movie tonight and I'm completely at odds as to which is better -- which is an amazing thing. 

The Book Thief. Markus Zusak

This is my bathroom book. I know that's a terrible book to choose as a bathroom book, but just go with me on this one. Bathroom books are snippets, you're not in there for long. Thus, it takes you a lot longer to read a bathroom book. That's why this is such a book, I want to savor it. It's like nothing I've ever read before. It's extremely fresh in the analysis of the topic and especially in the narrator. I love it. Go read it now!

Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen

This is one of my most challenging books to get into. I'm generally not a period person, or whatever you want to call older english language writing. It's just difficult. I know I'm not the only one out there. However, sometimes I can just take off with a period book. When I read North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell I couldn't put it down. So, after being in an "Un-Official Jane Austen Book Club" and by being a huge fan of the movies, it is time. I highly recommend you at least give it a try, this may be the period book for you. Guys, yes, it's a chick book. But it's THE chick book. Take a peek into this and you may take a peek into pop culture and why women believe in romantic fantasies. It has secrets... Naw' I'm just kidding but it's a classic. Go read it.

Also, there are so many gorgeous covers for this one I could barely try to even pick just one...
The Bennet Sisters's Top Ten Covers
The Penguin Classic cover
Austenprose's Top Ten List
Marvel's Comic Interpretation (SO AWESOME)

Image from Random Buzzers

All Quiet on the Western Front. Erich Maria Remarque

I actually found this book in my garage whilst doing some summer cleaning. It was my dad's and it was in a box of books he was going to consign. I stole it, and a couple other classics I have had yet to read, and got to it. I was supposed to read this book for a Quick Recall (Quixbowl, Academic Team, what have you) season for the literary section of our tournaments but I never did. I had too many other books to read for class and I wasn't old enough, that I know now. 

This novel is heartbreaking. Go read it now. Now go think about what humanity is doing and go fix it and quit killing each other. 

Image source: Rooftop Reviews (a fellow google blogger). 

Great Apes. Will Self

I picked up Self's book about a year ago and have finally gotten into it. Sometimes you pick up books when you don't need them at all, knowing you will need them later. Talk about contemplating one's humanity, while still maintaining humor. Continuing on with our fascination of our humanity through the relationship between humans and apes, as seen in Planet of the Apes, King Kong and many other films and movies, this book is a wonderful addition to the niche. Written in 1997, it's reads as timeless. Self is so inventive in exploring art, society, humanity, and perspective. Are we all mad? What is madness? It's all very interesting. 

Image source: A Piece of Monologue