Books That Changed Our Lives: Picks From Millennial Book Club At Mandel Public Library

From the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach:

June 21, 2020

by Bethany and Emily

This month, Millennials Ruin Book Club discussed the books that changed our lives. From lifelong favorites we pick up again and again to books that change the way we view the world or ourselves, the titles on this list changed us - perhaps they’ll change you, too!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

America’s favorite book, according to PBS’s Great American Read (2018). The theme of racial injustice is as relevant in 2020 as it was 60 years ago when the book was first published. Many of us were required to read this in school, but picking it up again in adulthood is a worthy endeavor, and the 1962 movie adaptation starring Gregory Peck as is worth a (re)watch as well.

Available as an e-book and audiobook from cloudLibrary

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

“Beneath this novel’s compelling story and the shimmering elegance with which it’s told, lies a bedrock of wisdom about following one’s heart” (Booklist, 1993). Originally written in Portuguese, this widely-translated international bestseller regularly appears on recommended reading lists.

Available as an e-book and audiobook from cloudLibrary

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg

When Option A fails you, you must find another way. Option B explores “how we deal with adversity, but perhaps more important, how we can be fiercely resilient in the face of tragedy.” Sandberg, author of the mega-hit Lean In (2013) and COO for Facebook, offers “a richly informed, engaging read that will broaden readers’ understanding of empathy and reveal the strength of the human spirit” (Booklist, 2017).

Available as an e-book and audiobook from cloudLibrary

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This eye-opening exploration of African identity follows protagonist Ifemelu around the world from modern-day Nigeria to the UK and East Coast America. “Americanah is a courageous, world-class novel about independence, integrity, community, and love and what it takes to become a ‘full human being’” (Booklist, 2013).

Available as an e-book from cloudLibrary

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

“When you lift up women, you lift up everybody - families, communities, entire countries…” -Barack Obama. Melinda tells the stories of the inspiring people she's met through her work all over the world and powerfully illustrates issues that need our attention. “At a time when beneficial globalization is being threatened by nationalism, and women’s rights are in danger of being rolled back to nineteenth-century norms, Gates offers urgent reminders of why it’s necessary to help women everywhere achieve their full potential” (Booklist, 2019).

Available as an e-book and audiobook from cloudLibrary

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

“Owens’ first novel is a leisurely, lyrical tale of a young woman growing up in isolation in the 1950s and ‘60s, in a marsh on the North Carolina coast” (Booklist, 2018). A book about self-preservation and overcoming adversity, this unputdownable hit has appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list a total of 30 times since its publication (as of this writing, it sits at #4 on the fiction list).

Available as an e-book and audiobook from cloudLibrary

Millennials Ruin Book Club meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Join our Facebook group for updates. New members are always welcome!

This press release was produced by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.