The word stunning has two definitions, according to Dictionary.com: “Of striking beauty or excellence,” and “Causing, capable of causing, or liable to cause astonishment, bewilderment, or a loss of consciousness or strength.”
For the purpose of this blog post, the meaning of stunning will be a combination of the two definitions above.
Some of the books mentioned on this list are stunning in the sense that they are fun, light, and feel-good reads. However, others are stunning in the sense that they are at times harder to read but so exceptionally written that you won’t want to stop.
The books mentioned below are ones you won’t want to miss out on reading.
With that said, here are five stunning books to read this summer.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker – *warning: graphic content mentioned*
The Color Purple by Alice Walker.
Description from Goodreads.com:
“Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls ‘father’, she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker – a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.”
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
From the outside Ove is a grumpy old man but on the inside there is sadness and a story.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
Description from Goodreads.com:
“So, when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.”
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Description from Goodreads.com:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind.
“An acclaimed bestseller and international sensation, Patrick Süskind’s classic novel provokes a terrifying examination of what happens when one man’s indulgence in his greatest passion—his sense of smell—leads to murder.”
Flux by Orion Carloto
Description from Goodreads.com:
Flux by Orion Carloto.
“Flux is a somber narrative, an ode to change, a collection of poetry and prose written from the many states of grief over a broken heart. With original illustrations by artist Katie Roberts, Orion Carloto creates a dream world for the brokenhearted and paints a whimsical picture around the themes of love, loss, solitude, depression, sex, nostalgia, and unrequited romance. Flux takes readers through a raw and sorrowful journey of each and every bitter moment of heartbreak.”
The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
Description from Goodreads.com:
The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz.
“Like so many others, David Lebovitz dreamed about living in Paris ever since he first visited the city in the 1980s. Finally, after a nearly two-decade career as a pastry chef and cookbook author, he moved to Paris to start a new life. Having crammed all his worldly belongings into three suitcases, he arrived, hopes high, at his new apartment in the lively Bastille neighborhood. But he soon discovered it’s a different world ‘en France.’
From learning the ironclad rules of social conduct to the mysteries of men’s footwear, from shopkeepers who work so hard not to sell you anything to the etiquette of working the right way around the cheese plate, here is David’s story of how he came to fall in love with–and even understand–this glorious, yet sometimes maddening, city.”
