The books I love to read most transport me to another place, another time, let me walk in the shoes of someone whose life is far different than my own. These books help me understand the world a little better, which I believe is the true power of literature and also the reason why I write.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

This pick is kind of a cheat, because really, I recommend the entire 4-part Neapolitan series. The first in the series, “My Brilliant Friend”, takes place in the 1950s, in a lower-class neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples and introduces us to Elena and Lila and their tumultuous friendship which spans decades.

Ferrante examines the complications of friendship, womanhood, and a country on the precipice of change.

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

I read Braithwaite’s fantastic debut in two sittings! I picked it up in City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco because of its beautiful cover and was hooked from page one. “My Sister, the Serial Killer” is set in Lagos, Nigeria and told with gallows humor at a thrilling pace. Modern noir at its very best.

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West

When a professor assigned my graduate studies class this over 1,000-page tome to read in two weeks, I have to admit, I wasn’t too pleased. But I’m so happy I read it, as Rebecca West’s “Black Lamb and Grey Falcon” is truly a classic.

West takes us to former Yugoslavia on the brink of WWII, and offers historical insights on the Balkans, dazzling descriptions of the landscape, and sharp observations on the nature of humans.

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

This book left me absolutely gutted. Erdrich transports readers to the Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota in the 1980s and tells the story of a 13-year-old boy who seeks justice and understanding in the wake of a horrific crime committed against his mother. It is a mystery, a familial story, a coming-of-age story, and a layered look at a culture and its history.

Sula by Toni Morrison

I was reading “Sula” for a book club I’m in, when I heard the news of Toni Morrison’s passing. She was the greatest American writer. Period. She left her mark on the world with 11 brilliant novels, children’s books, and numerous essays. When I first read “The Bluest Eye” in high school, it had a profound effect on how I view the world.

“Sula”—the story of two female friends—is another example of the magnitude of Morrison’s genius. I am constantly in awe of her sentences, her stories, and the lasting images she bestowed on us.