10 books recommended by RM from BTS that every fan should read

BTS fans assemble! Did you know that the leader of the South Korean band, BTS, Kim Nam-joon aka The Rap Monster (RM) is also an avid reader? He has shared his reading recommendations and we’ve got our hands on it! The book list, which is nothing short of classic must-reads and cuts across genres, should be explored by everyone, but especially BTS fans. The list includes:

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An exercise in empathy, perseverance, and joie-de-vivre, 'Me Before You' is the story of the young, handsome, rich and talented Will Traynor, who has everything life has to offer until the day he meets with an accident and ends up in a wheelchair. Louisa Clark, a young girl full of life and hope, is hired to look after him and dissuade him from choosing euthanasia. The book is all things beautiful as it takes us on a journey that teaches one how to fully live, and leaves the reader with a bitter-sweet feeling.

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Holden Caulfield’s life is eventful. A 17-year-old who comes across the superficiality of society, Holden criticizes it as he explores the concepts of belonging, innocence, alienation, loss, mental health, and connection. A classic example of teenage rebellion, 'The Catcher in the Rye' is a fictional treat for all age groups!

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Albert Camus was a philosopher whose principal philosophy, absurdism, is the ruling theme of the book. Portrayed through murder on a beach in Algeria, the book questions the theme of humanity and what it means to be human in the truest sense. Interestingly, 'The Stranger' is a 1942 French novella that has been widely translated since the time it was written.

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In a world that combines fiction with fantasy, the reader and the protagonist together explore a parallel existence in 1Q84 wherein things aren’t as they’re supposed to be. A world that bears a question mark upon itself, this parallel universe is a dystopia and is composed of eccentric elements. Mostly compared to George Orwell’s dystopian works, this one is an excellent piece of writing that RM has recommended for all the right reasons.

Pic credit: Vintage

Set in Gwagju in South Korea, the book explores prevalent themes of violence, humanity, censorship, and life after the Gwangju Uprising. The book has been translated by Deborah Smith and was originally written in Japanese.

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The book talks about spirituality, self-realization, and finding the self. Max Demian is the friend/ classmate who accompanies the protagonist on his journey of self-discovery. Kim Nam-joon was spotted reading the book backstage during the shoot of a music video and references to the book have also been made in the album ‘Wings’ of the boy-band.

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Extremely popular among literature enthusiasts, Franz Kafka explores the perspective of a man who turns into an insect one morning. The way he sees the world and handles his alienation from it are the principal themes of this book.

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RM mentioned reading this book in a 2018 interview and was spotted with it again in a comeback show preview. The book is not a novel but contains two short stories that center on the maternal idea, love, grief, and sexuality.

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Henry Thoreau built a cabin in the woodlands and lived in it for two years. His experiments with simplicity, and a life in nature during which he relied upon nobody but himself, have been documented in this book.

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Narrated from two perspectives, this one is the story of So-nyo, a woman who gets separated from her husband at a train station and is now being searched for by her family who realizes her worth only after losing her.

Pic credit: W&N