Fiction
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane is a poor, plain, orphan growing up in the household of her hateful aunt. Despite being neglected and overworked she endures. She is sent to boarding school, where the treatment is no better. In spite of the torture and loss Jane manages to emerge with her spirit and integrity unbroken. She becomes a governess to the children of Thornfield Hall. Once there she finds herself falling in love with her employer Mr. Rochester. A deep dark secret tears apart their relationship, forcing Jane to face poverty and isolation once again.
Nonfiction
Angela's Ashes, T'is, Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
I am a great fan of Frank McCourt's work. His blunt honesty and self-deprecating humor make his subject matter as accessible as it is memorable. Growing up in Ireland lent itself to many colorful stories which he lays out in Angela's Ashes. Upon reaching adulthood McCourt sails back to New York and begins life again as a struggling student and then teacher in T'is. Teacher Man offers a look into his teaching years and the warmth and honesty of each tale will endear this book to you forever. Each book is written in natural language and so a small swearing advisory is in place :)
Adult Pick
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
This is one of my favorite books and I can't do a better job of telling you about the book than the book jacket can. "Is it possible to share your life with someone whose record collection is incompatible with your own? Can people have terrible taste and still be worth knowing? Do songs about broken hearts and misery and loneliness mess up your life if consumed in excess? For Rob Fleming, thirty-five years old, a pop addict and owner of a failing record shop, these are the sort of questions that need an answer, and soon. His girlfriend has just left him. Can he really go on living in a poky flat surrounded by vinyl and CDs or should he get a real home, a real family and a real job? Perhaps most difficult of all, will he ever be able to stop thinking about life in terms of the All Time Top Five bands, books, films, songs - even now that he's been dumped again, the top five break-ups. Memorable, sad and very, very funny, this is the truest book you will ever read about the things that really matter."
