My Top Five classic book recommendations, and why everyone should read them

My father is an avid reader. He instilled this love for books in most of us kids. Of the hundreds, likely thousands, of books I have read there are some that stuck with me on the deepest of levels. Reading allows us to enter worlds we could never have dreamed of. Books put us in dynamic situations that leave us on the edge of our seats. Sometimes, we find ourselves screaming to the characters as they enter dangerous territories or unforeseen tragedies. We have all watched a movie and cried tears of happiness, fear, or despair. But, a book my friends, a good book requires that we create these worlds inside ourselves and live them as if we are there. Don't be fooled by these titles. Some of these books will challenge everything you believed about humanity. Here are my top five, life-changing books, that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Enjoy.

1 Watership Down, Richard Adams. 1972

Watership Down tells the story of a warren of rabbits who lose their home and must endure the adventure of a lifetime in hopes of relocating. The main protagonist, Hazel, and his family encounter endless tragedy, good fortune, and life lessons in their fight to survive. If you've never read it, you may think I am recommending a children's book to you. In my youth, it actually was required reading. However, it is likely not something you want to share with your younger children. Especially the majority of today's youth. Over the years, many have speculated on the true meaning of Mr. Adams's story. Readers across the globe have come to conclusions ranging from communism to organized religion. Watership Down is also one of the most notoriously "canceled" books worldwide. Its content and appropriateness are often a source of debate.

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2 Go Ask Alice, 1971. Anonymous

Go Ask Alice is a first-person Diary, written under an Anonymous pen, that records the struggles of a 15-year-old girl. Set in the early 1970s, she recounts her struggles with body image and fitting in. We follow her into drug addiction and experimentation that pulls you through every twist and turn. The deep, psychological, experience that comes with reading this book is worth noting. Or perhaps, a warning for the potential reader. Go Ask Alice is frequently "canceled" due to the explicitly detailed accounts of Alice's experiences.

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3 A Girl and Five Brave Horses, 1961. Sonora Carver

Have you ever seen the movie, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken? If you have, then you should know it is loosely based on this book. This is the autobiography of a sideshow "diving girl" of the 1920s. Sonora finds herself in this death-defying and fortunately banned, stunt of jumping off of 40' towers on the back of a horse. The pair would land in a large pool of water, comparable to the above-ground pools of today. It was a popular attraction in the early 1900s. The show was run by Dr. W.F. Carver, who previously hosted The Wild West Show. Sound familiar? That's because Dr. Carver ran his Western reenactment show with Wild Bill Hickock and Buffalo Bill Cody. The recounts of her life, and turning tragedy into triumph, are worth the read.

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4 National Velvet, Enid Bagnold. 1934

While Elizabeth Taylor was iconic in the 1944 film, the story was best told in a book. National Velvet follows the story of a high-strung, ambitious teenager named Velvet. Based in Sussex, she and her family acquire a horse named the Pie who she enters into The Grand National. At the time, only men were allowed to competitively steeplechase. Velvet disguises herself as a young man to run the race. It's a story that was way ahead of its time. Highlighting the strength and tenacity of women, and rivaling them alongside men. You didn't see a lot of that in the early 1900s.

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5 Charlottes Web, E.B. White. 1952

A charming children's novel on the surface, Charlottes Web challenged the humanity of men at every turn. The story of two creatures who were doomed to be subjected to the needs, or in Charlottes case fears, of human beings unexpectedly become fast friends. That storyline alone makes it a perfect book to return to as an adult. It isn't all doom and gloom, the story also highlighted compassion toward all creatures. Not a common practice in the mid 20th century, when farm animals were more a commodity than a pet. Charlottes Web is still a book I would highly recommend for children in upper grades of Elementary school. In fact, it's an amazing tale to share together and open up lines of conversation about kindness.

There you have it, my top favorite reads of all time. In closing, I'd like to leave you with an honorable mention. The Bridges of Madison County. If you like a good romance, this is the book for you. Written by Robert James Waller (published 1992), it tells the tale of an Italian-American farmer's wife desperate for more. Mix in a four-day long romance with a younger stranger, and it has all the makings of a good novel.

Thank you so much for reading.

You can find me across social media at http://www.DenaDanzig.com

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