There is an ongoing debate on which authors should be included or excluded from college literature programs. Professors stand by the centuries-old novels that have something meaningful to say, while students often complain about the difficult language of those books or that they are irrelevant nowadays. 

Studying literature can be important in many ways. It’s a great stress reliever, and you can learn a lot of things about others and yourself while reading. Here are just a few aspects in which literature is useful:

• fueling imagination;
• boosting concentration;
• expanding your vocabulary;
• improving your writing and communication skills;
• encouraging critical thinking.

Unfortunately, even if you have the best literature examples at your disposal, they will be of no use if one has trouble understanding the subject. It often leads to students opting for ordering their essays from write my essay services instead of reading books and writing papers on their own. 

But regardless of the way the literature is studied, the list of authors must be updated from time to time. It’s not that old books are bad, but there are new releases that may speak about the same issues but from a different perspective. So, let’s check the authors and their books that should be added to college literature programs. 

Ian Banks “The Wasp Factory”

Ian Banks was a Scottish writer who had written fourteen mainstream novels and the same number of science fiction novels. Banks originally envisioned himself to be just a science fiction author. But all of his early manuscripts of that genre were rejected by publishers. That led Banks to switch to the horror genre; thus, “The Wasp Factory” appeared.

The debut novel proved to be a success, which allowed Ian Banks to start writing full-time. Upon its release in 1984, “The Wasp Factory” received both acclaim and criticism, with The Irish Times calling the book “a work of unparalleled depravity.” But the book continued receiving acclaim from readers and critics alike. The poll conducted by The Independent listed the novel as one of the top 100 books of the 20th century. 

The novel is a first-person narrative told by 16-year-old Frank Cauldhame, who killed three children before he turned ten. Although it’s not for the faint-hearted, the novel reveals the problems of identity that many people go through. It also can give the idea of how fascism appears.

Celeste Ng “Everything I Never Told You”

The American writer Celeste Ng was born in a family of immigrants from Hong Kong. And her works often focus on racial topics and questions of identity. Her second novel “Little Fires Everywhere” topped the New York Times best-sellers list for three weeks and was adapted into Hulu’s hit series of the same name. And while the adaptation of her debut novel is in development hell, it’s worth checking. 

“Everything I Never Told You” was released in 2014 and won five awards, including the Hopwood Award and the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. The book won the Amazon Book of the Year, beating out Stephen King’s novel. Aside from that, the book received critical acclaim and hit several best-sellers lists.

Set in the 1970s, “Everything I Never Told You” follows a mixed family trying to cope with the apparent suicide of their eldest daughter. Trying to figure out the reasons, they come to realize that they knew very little about their own daughter and sister. 

The novel is a painful observation of racial barriers, the burden of family expectations, and the basic thirst for belonging. It also shows the importance of verbalizing our feelings, concerns, and fears. The book illustrates how miscommunication or the absence of communication can lead to tragic outcomes. 

Ocean Vuong “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous”

Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese-born American poet and writer. His first collection of poetry was released in 2010, while 2022 sees the release of the fourth one. His debut novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” was published in 2019. Aside from peaking in the top ten of the New York Times best-sellers list, it was named one of the ten best books of 2019 by The Washington Post. 

“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is an epistolary novel presented in the form of a letter of a Vietnamese American to his illiterate mother. On the surface, it’s the recollection of the narrator’s life, including the problems of identity, being torn between American and Vietnamese traditions, and first love. 

But the book goes deeper. And if you want to learn about the shocks of the Vietnam War from a different perspective, “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” expands on this topic as well. There are no dedicated chapters or passages about the war. But you can read it between the lines.

Haruki Murakami “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki”

Haruki Murakami’s first novel was published in 1979. Since then, he has remained one of the best-selling and most famous Japanese writers, although he’s often being criticized for being non-Japanese. Probably, that’s the reason why his works were translated into more than fifty languages, prompting Murakami to become one of the most popular Japanese writers in the world. 

Murakami’s thirteenth novel “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki” was released in April 2013 and sold more than one million copies in Japan alone by the end of the year. The English translation published in 2014 topped the New York Times best-sellers lists. The book was also praised by critics, who found it interesting to readers irrespective of their familiarity with the author’s other works. 

The book follows the eponymous title character who tries to figure out why his old friends stopped communicating with him. 

Like most of Murakami’s works, it also shows the impact that the past has on our lives. Past never leaves completely, and if you don’t try to get to the core of the problem, it will harm your romantic life and social capabilities. 

Ruth Rendell “A Judgement in Stone”

Ruth Rendell was an English writer of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. Throughout her career, which spanned over six decades, Rendell has written more than fifty novels. Some of her works were named the best examples of the genre. 

Her 1977 novel “A Judgement in Stone” is widely considered to be one of her best works. The novel can provide readers with examples of madness happening in suburban areas. 

The book follows the story of a rich family murdered by their housekeeper. But “A Judgement in Stone” is first and foremost the book about the importance of literacy. The family was murdered because the housekeeper couldn’t read or write.

Takeaway

Of course, there are countless ways to update college literature programs and numerous authors whose works students would appreciate. One thing to keep in mind is the necessity to broaden the outlook of learners. Offering new perspectives on studying literature will only increase student motivation.