Let’s admit it; we human beings are dramatic creatures. This was true way back in ancient Greece where drama was first formalized as an art form for the viewing pleasure of the masses, and it is true today, when we can’t help but possess an inexplicable interest in dramatic storylines and actual lives (Keeping Up With The Kardashians comes to mind immediately).
With the summer well and truly underway, bookworms all over the world have the freedom to finally devour the booklist they have been carefully curating throughout the year. You might be an indifferent individual, or you might be looking for drama to soothe your heart. Either way, including a few drama titles on your list, will liven up your reading, and who knows, you might realize how much you enjoy this genre.
Here are the five drama books you should look out for this summer. Fortunately for you, translator agencies have translated these books into various languages so readers from different demographics can read with ease.
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We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Eva has detested motherhood from the start, but when her teenage son becomes responsible for the murder of his fellow high school students, a cafeteria worker, and a friendly teacher, she has some serious thinking to do. Now, two years later, a surprising series of direct correspondence with her estranged husband might enable her to come to terms with her marriage and motherhood, and realize that she is far more responsible for her son’s behavior than she thinks. International bestseller Lionel Shriver manages to deliver a riveting account of motherhood and its challenges in this dramatic story.
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The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This is an unforgettable story about three women who are intent on revolutionizing the place and time that they occupy: 22-year old Skeeter whose mother won’t be content until her daughter has married, Aibileen who, as a black maid in the 1960s not only has to struggle in society but also deal with the loss of her son, and witty Minny who is an excellent cook but is always getting in trouble due to her sharp tongue.
Though very different from each other, these women come together because they share a common goal: break free of the chains that society binds them with. Filled with poignancy and humor, The Help is a delightful story that will be relevant for years to come.
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Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Fifty-year-old Alice Howland has it all: a great family, a wonderful house on the Cape and a dream job at Harvard as a professor. However, when she realizes that she is developing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, life takes a turn for the worse. Even though she is struggling to retain her sense of self, she pushes forward with her life, determined to keep fighting. A beautiful and heart-wrenching tale, Still Alice is a masterpiece by first-time author Lisa Genova.
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An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
A dramatic story with a touch of sci-fi, An Ocean of Minutes is set in 1981 when thousands of people are dying from a pandemic disease. Polly gets recruited by a time-traveling agency to work as a bonded laborer in the future, in exchange for looking after her sick soul mate Frank. They planned to meet in 1993, but Polly gets sent to 1998 instead. Now, the two must find each other, against tremendous odds.
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All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Quinn and Graham believe in perfect love, but the couple’s troubled marriage comprising of mistakes and secrets kept from each other threatens to tear them apart. Will they keep struggling for perfection, or will they learn to love each other despite their imperfections? In this profoundly thought-provoking novel, Colleen Hoover delivers an unforgettable dramatic love story.
