Emma Keeling | Contributor
Winding down after a long day of whatever it is you’re doing – studying, working, any of the other thousand things people have going on – isn’t always easy. There’s tomorrow to think about, that class you might be slipping in, and is that your car making a weird noise? Regardless of what’s going on in your life, reading before bed is a great way to relax your body and mind to prepare for the nights rest ahead. Let’s face it, it’s so easy to turn on Netflix on your TV or laptop before bed. But so is picking up that book you have on your bedside table, especially if you know it’s a good one! So, below is a list of 5 Books to Help You go to Sleep Happy to help clear your head and get to bed.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
August “Auggie” Pullman is a young boy with a medical condition that leaves his face misconfigured. He has been homeschooled his whole life and finally joins regular school at the beginning of his fifth-grade year. There’re bullies, newfound friendships, some mild family drama, and lots of love in this young-adult novel. Wonder will leave you feeling wholesome, hopeful, and excited (but not too excited!) to read another chapter the next night.
For the movie, click the following link: https://amzn.to/31JwDZu
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
This romance begins as an older gentleman reading a tender love story to a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s – Noah and Allie fall incredibly in love one summer in the 1930’s, until Allie must leave with her family, leaving Noah behind. After seeing him in a newspaper 14 years later, Allie decides to visit Noah as a friend, due to the fact she is engaged. However, their time spent together unveils a lasting love and she must choose between the two men. The love between Allie and Noah will make your heart warm, and the leisurely pace of Sparks’ writing will relax your mind so you can fall asleep.
For the movie, click the following link: https://amzn.to/3kz2H9V
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden is a collection of five short stories, finished just a few weeks before Johnson’s death and published posthumously. Written so close to his death, Johnson writes about old age and morality, ghosts of the past, and the odd way the universe unfolds one’s life. If you can stay away from being too philosophical while reading, this book is a great way to wind down and think of how life is larger than our day to day problems. Also, the short stories are a nice and easy way of putting the book down and getting to bed.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Noah and Jude are twins – at first, inseparable. As they get older, they drift apart and are barely speaking. Noah tells the first years of their relationship while Jude tells the later years. Between the two coming of age children, there is a lot of sibling rivalry and betrayal, an unexpected death, and an unlikely turn of events that leads the two back to each other. While there are many sort of crazy things that happen in this books, it addresses modern issues that will leave you seeing things in a different light. Author of The Sky is Everywhere, Jandy Nelson has been previously praised for her elegant and inspiring writing – something that will have you feeling at ease and hopefully sleepy!
The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
The world is moving at a quite remarkably quick pace, so it can be hard to slow down at nighttime to go to sleep. The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down written by Haemin Sunim, a Zen Buddhist teach and writer in South Korea and is composed of short chapters full of inspiring and incredibly thoughtful words, advice, and wisdom. This book brings the reader back to what’s most important in life, and instead of falling asleep nervous or anxious for the next day, you can go to sleep refreshed and hopeful the following day will be positive.
Emma Keeling is a third-year student at BGSU studying Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Her favorite genres of book include mystery and horror and her favorite author is Stephen King. She can usually be found curled up on the couch studying, reading, or watching movies. To easily contact Emma, email her at emmamk@bgsu.edu.
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