Curated book lists and podcast picks that capture nostalgia and connect the past to present-day stories and conversations.
Some were assigned reading, some were quietly passed between friends. Either way, these controversial books pushed Gen X readers in the ’80s and ’90s to question authority and think a little harder about the world around them.
Before BookTok or e-readers, there were backpacks stuffed with paperbacks that were traded, borrowed, and loved until the spines cracked. Between math homework and mixtapes, my backpack always had at least one paperback tucked inside, usually worn at the corners, traded with a friend, or borrowed from the library. From Sweet Valley High to The…