Holidays offer us a chance to relax, enjoy some leisure time, and recharge our batteries. One way to make the most of this time is to lose yourself in a good book.

This article presents a selection of five books that are worth reading, including intense detective crime genres, novels that revisit history, and memoirs that explore life and death.

1. When Breath Becomes Air

Written by Paul Kalanithi, this autobiography is a memoir about life and death. The author, who was terminally ill with lung cancer, was also a doctor and a father.

In this book, he chronicles his journey from being a young medical student to a neuroscientist who could take charge of his own side, from a teenager to an elderly father, and finally to a cancer patient in a hospital bed. This poignant book about life and death is a heart-wrenching read that can evoke a range of emotions.

2. The Trespasser

Tana French's novel has been named one of the hottest crime detective novels on Amazon this year. The book tells the story of two young detectives, Antoinette Conway and Stephen Moran, who are investigating the murder of a woman in Dublin. While the woman's boyfriend is initially the main suspect, the detectives discover that this is not a domestic murder case.

However, the sheriff orders them to arrest the woman's boyfriend, which raises questions about what secrets are hidden in the case and what kind of shady transactions the police have been involved in.

3. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

This book by Matthew Desmond offers a riveting story about poverty and interest in American cities through housing. Desmond, who lived in rental housing on Chicago's impoverished North Side while a sociology graduate student, chronicles the lives of families and individuals trapped in the city's bottom rungs.

The author analyzes the psychological and economic consequences of housing and reintroduces "exploitation" into the discussion of poverty. The book offers vivid examples of the plight of poor people in the United States.

4. Swing Time

This fictional novel by Zadie Smith tells the story of two girls, the protagonist and her childhood friend, Tracey. The girls met in a dance class in London in 1982, and while Tracey dreamed of becoming a big star, fate did not favor them.

Over time, estrangement developed between the former friends, and the story takes the reader to the present when the two girls meet in Africa after many years of not seeing each other. The story is full of class and character conflicts and is a microcosm of society.

5. The Vegetarian

Written by Korean female writer Han Kang, this novel tells the story of Yeong-hye, an ordinary housewife who becomes a vegetarian after a terrible nightmare. Over time, Yeong-hye becomes more and more extreme in her self-restraint and throws away all meat in the house, and refuses all food intake.

The story is divided into three parts, and each part is narrated by a different character: Yeong-hye's husband, brother-in-law, and sister. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the themes of vegetarianism, mental health, and the darker aspects of human nature.

These five books offer a range of themes and genres that are worth exploring. Whether you are interested in crime detective stories, personal memoirs, or historical accounts, there is something for everyone in this selection.

So, grab a book, find a comfortable spot, and immerse yourself in the world of words.