📚 Books to Read After The Stranger
Just finished the stranger? Here are 5 magical next reads curated just for you:
📘 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Rating: 3.81 / 5 (3,242,049 ratings), Published: 1951
When to read it: When you're feeling disconnected from the world around you and questioning societal norms.
Following a young man's aimless wandering through New York City, this classic coming-of-age novel delves into themes of alienation, loss, and the search for authenticity. Salinger's introspective exploration of youth and rebellion makes it a poignant choice after "The Stranger".
Genres: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Classic Literature
After reading: Readers will be left reflecting on the complexities of adolescence, the masks we wear in society, and the quest for genuine connection in a world that often feels superficial.
📘 Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Rating: 4.17 / 5 (72,757 ratings), Published: 1864
When to read it: When you're grappling with existential questions about the nature of truth and the purpose of existence.
Dostoevsky's novella follows an unnamed narrator who embodies alienation, bitterness, and self-destructive tendencies. Through this introspective and psychologically intense work, readers are challenged to confront their own inner turmoil and societal disillusionment.
Genres: Russian Literature, Existentialism, Psychological Fiction
After reading: This introspective journey will leave readers pondering the complexities of human nature, the consequences of isolation, and the eternal struggle for meaning in a chaotic world.
📘 The Trial by Franz Kafka
Rating: 3.99 / 5 (218,955 ratings), Published: 1925
When to read it: During moments of uncertainty or when you're questioning the workings of authority and justice.
Kafka's surreal and disorienting narrative follows Josef K., who is arrested and prosecuted by an obscure authority for a crime that is never revealed. Exploring themes of bureaucracy, absurdity, and power dynamics, "The Trial" challenges readers to confront the arbitrary nature of justice and control.
Genres: Absurdist Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Dystopian
After reading: Readers will find themselves contemplating the nature of guilt, the vulnerabilities of individual agency in the face of societal structures, and the pervasive sense of powerlessness in a system beyond comprehension.
📘 Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre
Rating: 3.93 / 5 (32,162 ratings), Published: 1938
When to read it: When you're seeking to delve into the depths of existential anguish and philosophical reflection.
Sartre's protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, experiences an existential crisis when confronted with the absurdity of existence and the inherent meaninglessness of life. Through Roquentin's visceral and intellectual struggles, Sartre invites readers to confront their own experience of existence and the nauseating realization of freedom and responsibility.
Genres: Existentialism, Philosophical Fiction, Modern Classics
After reading: This profound exploration of existential dread will prompt readers to reexamine their own perceptions of reality, identity, and the fundamental choices that shape our lives.
📘 The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato
When to read it: When you're pondering the nature of truth, justice, and the integrity of one's convictions.
In this dialogical account, Plato examines the trial, verdict, and eventual death of the philosopher Socrates. Through Socrates' unwavering commitment to philosophical inquiry and his defiance of societal expectations, readers are challenged to contemplate the nature of wisdom, integrity, and the pursuit of truth in the face of adversity.
Genres: Philosophy, Ancient Literature, Ethics
After reading: Delving into this timeless work will inspire readers to question their own beliefs, engage in critical self-examination, and reaffirm the enduring significance of ethical principles and intellectual courage in a world rife with uncertainty.