It’s hard to pick a favorite read when you’re a total bookworm. Yet, I persevered and picked five! The five books I have picked are a mix of fiction and non-fiction that made me look at a range topics from a different perspective. Minus the Fire keeper’s Daughter, all other books are quite underrated. They were published a couple of years before – BUT they still don’t have the recognition they deserve. Which is why I am here to explain, why you should be adding these books to your TBR pile this year.

1) The radium girls

This is the true story of a group of women who went through unfathomable challenges to bring to light the exploitation of workers in industries during the radium era. Radium was considered as the wonder element and industries clamored to capitalize on its many uses. To work in a radium related industry was coveted. The young men and women who worked there were considered the luckiest alive. That is, until they start developing a range of inexplicable ailments. Despite their many protests, the industries that once sang their praises refused to take responsibility. The poison in the meantime, ate away their lives and all their savings.

Why you should read it: A shocking page-turner, put together by countless interviews and research, this book sheds light on the courageous journey of a group of women who fought for their rights in what is considered America’s biggest scandals of the 20th century. Their hard work saved thousands of lives and paved the way for much needed regulations for industry workers. This book illustrates the magnitude of what can be achieved if you stand up for what is right.

2) If the oceans were ink

The story starts with the author making a rather candid confession. As a journalist who grew up in the Midwest and Middle East covering Islamic affairs for world renown publications she has never read the Qur’an nor made an attempt to understand it. She explains this is why Islam is seen as a controversial religion. The Qur’an which is considered as the heart of Islam, is “…invoked more often than read…” In this novel Carla Powers dives into the heart of the Qur’an with renowned scholar and sheikh Mohamed Akram Nadvi to better understand a text that has been taken out of context a number of times.

Why you should read it: Like it’s title implies, the book is a journey into the heart of the Qur’an. This book offers a mere glimpse into a faith that preaches peace but in most cases is seen as chaotic. Both Powers and Nadwi discuss its most politicized verses and offer their insights explaining why there is so much controversy surrounding it.

3) The fire keeper’s daughter

This is the story about a Native-American teen who goes undercover in her community to unearth the secrets surrounding a drug related murder. While befriending the charming new recruit in her brother’s hockey team, Daunis realizes that not everyone around her can be trusted. Things take a rather drastic turn, when she witnesses a shocking murder that makes her reassess her loyalties. Who can she trust in a small community where everyone has some connection to the murder?

Why you should read it: Even though it is a fictional story with a splash of magical realism; its characters, setting and plot are all layered with a dose of Native American history, rituals and traditions. This to me was a history lesson wrapped up as a murder mystery. I am not complaining, and I don’t think you would too!

4) The other Einstein

She was a Serbian physicist and mathematician. Her close friends and family called her Mitza. She was witty when she chose to and brilliant when called upon. She was a wife and a mother of three kids. Yet, you would not know her by her maiden name. Rather, she is known to the world as Einstein’s first wife. Mitza had just one shot at being a scientist and Einstein took it away from her. This book sums it up perfectly – “Women scientists didn’t get second chances“. A fictional story that will definitely make you reassess how you feel about Einstein.

Why you should read it: To understand that behind every great discovery made by a man there was a woman toiling away in the background. These women are never accounted for and in most cases die without their name ever being known. Their names should be known and we need to understand the role they played in shaping history.

5) Kim Jiyoung born 1982

Cho Nam-Joo takes the reader on the rather distressing journey of a woman’s life (dare I say Asian woman?) From being side-lined at home over her princeling brother, to having to work twice as a hard to achieve her dreams, the story’s protagonist is set for failure right from the beginning. The story starts with Jiyoung having left her job to care for her newborn. But when she starts exhibiting a series of strange symptoms, her husband sends her to a psychiatrist where she recounts her life story.

Why you should read it: While the story is fictional, the author has done a rather marvelous job of reinforcing her points with actual facts and statistics in the footnotes. Reading this book will give you a glimpse into the extent of patriarchy that exists in the South Korean community and how societal demands eventually drive women into madness.