Music and Book Recommendations

Novels, a word many students dread to hear, as the first thing that comes to mind is the dozen of books that our English teacher would ask us to read to write an essay, which is why I’m here to change that idea and to recommend multiple music and books that are a masterpiece.

It Ends With Us Forever

Starting off strong, I highly recommend ‘It Ends With Us Forever’, a novel by Colleen Hoover. The story starts off with the main character Lily Bloom, who had just recently graduated, moving to Boston. On one dark and lonely night, she meets her future husband, Ryle Kincaid, a famous and renowned neurosurgeon working in one of the best hospitals in the world. The story gives a touch of reality, yet at the same time, you won’t be able to book your book down any time; safe to say, ‘It Ends With Us Forever’ is the perfect story to read when you’re bored.

Genre: Romance

Trigger warning: Physical abuse, attempted rape, vulgar language, alcohol abuse, depression, violence, and suicide (brief mention)

Age rating: 14+

Sweater Weather

‘Sweather Weather’, a song made by the infamous band The Neighbourhood, the song is a metaphor for the man’s feelings towards his lover. However, it’s not as obvious compared to many other songs. This song is the perfect song to blast during late-night sessions with your lover, or perhaps even during a car karaoke; in other words, it’s the perfect song to keep your mind away from the world and to jam out to. The Neighbourhood has made multiple other masterpieces, such as ‘Daddy Issues’, ‘You Get Me So High’, ‘Softcore’, ‘Cry Baby’, and many others, as the list goes on and on.

Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative

Warnings: Many implied inappropriate scenes

Age rating: 14-15+

So This Is Love

‘So This Is Love’ is a novel written by Elizabeth Lim, exploring the what if’s of what could’ve happened if Cinderella had never tried on the glass slipper. What if the Prince didn’t know that the woman he had such a wonderful time with at the ball was Cinderella? In addition to this, the writer Elizabeth Lim also writes many more twisted tales, most if not all of them being related to Disney characters but putting a little twist into them. The writer Elizabeth has a way with words. I highly recommend this to teenagers looking to find something simple and easy to read and understand.

Genre: Fairy tale, Fantasy fiction

Age rating: 12-17 year olds

505

‘505’, a song similar to the theme of ‘Sweather Weather’, something so similar and familiar, yet at the same time something so different and refreshing. The song ‘505’ is made by the band ‘The Arctic Monkeys’. The song ‘505’ talks about how the singer has a love and hate relationship with the individual talked about and that the individual is a toxic lover. The singer wants to end their relationship, but at the same time, they can’t seem to bring themselves to do so, as the song mentions how the singer just completely crumbles every time they see their lover cry.

Genre: Alternative/Indie

Warnings: Explicitly inappropriate lines/verses, implied toxic relationship, romance.

Age rating: 16-17+

No Longer Human

Last but not least is ‘No Longer Human’, a novel written by Japanese writer Osamu Dazai. The novel talks about Oba Yozo, the main character. All his life, he’s been seen as the ‘clown’, the one who always makes others laugh, the stupid one. In addition to that, the novel is incredibly realistic, as it is semi-autobiographical. The writer Dazai Osamu is highly talented. His writing style is unique, immersing the reader to continue turning and flipping the following few pages. Yet, all at the same time, the reader still tries to process what is happening. ‘No Longer Human’ is a novel that’s so raw and naked, but that’s the beauty of it; it just feels so real.

Genre: Semi-biographical

Warnings: Drug abuse, Depression, Suicide (failed attempt), Ableism, Abuse, Drug addiction, Classism, Death, Grooming, Incest, Rape, Suicide Ideation

Age rating: 17-18+