Reading has been and will always be a political statement. It may not feel political when you pick up a book, but when you’re reading, you’re (typically) taking in an experience outside of your own. Books are the windows to the world and life experiences we may never experience ourselves. Reading gives you the power to grow your knowledge and shape your beliefs. Most of us think of reading a book as a hobby and a way to escape into a completely different world purely for entertainment. I definitely believe reading should be a fun and enjoyable experience. Reading, visiting bookstores, and interacting with other readers are some of my favorite things to do. But when someone claims they only read to “escape”, that is in fact a political statement. It’s a statement of privilege and accessibility to books of your choosing.
Whether you think about it, when you pick up a new book to read, you’re making a political choice—a choice to embrace a story that challenges injustice or the status quo. Reading stories with only similar experiences to your own is a choice. Every choice you make about a book you check out from the library or buy from your favorite bookstore matters. Reading fosters the ability to develop or strengthen empathy and relationships. Empathy and understanding are essential to humanity, and becoming more well-rounded individuals will help us have a greater impact on our society.
I’ve compiled a list of novels that may not look political at first glance but have relevant political themes. This list is simply a starting point. I’d argue we should consume as much literature as we can get our hands on. More importantly, we need to talk about what we’re reading. Talk about it with a friend or family member. Post a review online. Share the book to your social media accounts. Maybe even join the Indianapolis Moms Book Club and chat with a group of ladies who love books but also foster love and acceptance for others at our meetings.
Let’s get into the list —
Race & Class – Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
Reproductive Rights – Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Gun Violence – Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Immigration – Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Anti-Authoritarianism – The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
LGBTQ+ Rights – How We Named the Stars by Andres N. Ordorica
Climate Change – The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi
Women’s Rights/Feminism – There are a lot of obvious and well-known recommendations on this topic, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Bell Jar, A Room of One’s Own to name a few. I’m recommending something a little newer, The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton.
Disability Inclusion – The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Poverty – Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Censorship – Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
Additional reading recommendations:
Nonfiction: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler, Another Day in the Death of America by Gary Younge, In the Country We Love by Diane Guerrero, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Under a White Sky by Elizabeth Kolbert, Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, Disability Visibility by Alice Wong (editor), Evicted by Matthew Desmond, That Librarian by Amanda Jones
I could go on with book recommendations. But let’s just focus on creating the first ripple and reading with an open heart and an open mind. And don’t forget to share books you enjoyed with others!
