Books That Live Rent-Free in My Head

Not all books are forgettable. Some linger like ghosts or old friends. Here are 5 that won’t leave me alone.

📘 The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath

What it’s about: A story about a young woman struggling with mental health and feeling out of place in the world.
Read this if you like emotional, honest stories that go deep, even when they’re hard to read.

Sylvia Plath doesn’t hold anything back; her words cut deep. If you’re someone who prefers cosy reads and gentle narratives, avoid this book. It’s too intense to reread and too powerful to forget.

📗 Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke

What it’s about: A series of thoughtful letters full of gentle advice about life, art, and being true to yourself.
Read this if you enjoy quiet, reflective books and need a little creative encouragement.

Of all the books I read last year, this one was my favourite. There’s something about the tone—so kind, respectful, and deeply caring. Turns out, I really have a thing for letters. Thoughtful, caring, with love, those kinds.

📕 One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez

What it’s about: A magical and emotional multi-generational story that is a mixture of love, sadness, humour, and beauty.
Read this if you want to get lost in a big, unforgettable story that feels like a dream.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions: magical, absurd, hilarious, passionate, and devastating. It evoked in me this range of emotions, unlike any other book I've read.🖤

📙 A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf

What it’s about: An essay about why women need space to create and grow.
Read this if you know what it’s like to want your own space or care about women’s rights and creativity.

I understood what Woolf meant when she said that a woman must have money and a room of her own to write. For those of us who’ve longed for space—to think, to breathe, to be—this essay hits hard. It’s not just about writing; it’s about freedom and the luxury of having your own corner in the world.

📒 The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy

What it’s about: A poetic and painful story about family, love, and how small things can change everything.
Read this if you like beautiful writing with deep emotions and powerful messages.

This book holds a very specific kind of power for me. It’s poetic, political, and personal. When I recently reread it, one line hit me all over again: when Roy refers to Anglophiles as “shit-wipers,” I laughed. It's true, especially in post-colonial contexts, where people still glorify whiteness while looking down on their own.

What books live rent-free in your head?