The most recommended books about social class

I love a novel that probes the lives and habits of the rich and reticent.

In this one, set mostly in the summer of 1951, young Miranda Schuyler arrives on elite, exclusive Winthrop Island. She’s from a fancy family that’s lost their money and the man of the house, as her father was killed in the war, so she’s a bit of a wannabe. But her mother marries super-wealthy Hugh Fisher, and so things are looking up, at least financially. Then Miranda falls in love with the wrong boy—the son of a local fisherman, and things get complicated.

There are secrets and surprises, jealousy and threats and finally, there is a murder. But who did it? That’s just one of the things that’s revealed in this nuanced and richly detailed story of young love that manages, against all odds, to survive.

Well, I haven’t made it to the last book in the series yet but I’m about to begin just as soon as I get off of this computer.

I loved America’s story, but Eadlyn has more spunk and independence. I loved seeing how she handled whatever came her way. Her strength is a huge highlight of the story.

Rich boarding school meets murder mystery in Jesse Q. Sutanto’s The New Girl—except main character Lia Setiawan is anything but wealthy, and we already know she’s the killer.

It was an accident, but that doesn’t stop her from worrying about going to prison for her teacher’s murder as the detectives circle the drain. I laughed out loud so many times while I flew through this book, the question of whether she’d get caught ripping me to shreds in anticipation.

There are no spoilers here, but I’ll tell you it’s worth the wild ride.

I can sum up the book by saying – This guy really knows how to write! 

Sea of Poppies is the first volume of a trilogy. At first, it seems that the author is telling unconnected stories about various people in early nineteenth-century India. But these characters gradually come together to create a compelling epic. The action shifts from India to China, Mauritius, and Singapore. Eventually, the reader finds out that this trilogy is an account of the First Opium War, as seen from the perspective of India. 

Although that war has been largely forgotten in the West, few wars have been more important. The Opium Wars forced China to open up to the outside world, setting into motion a cascade of events that continue to shape our world. 

Ghosh has an ear for language, and he makes each character’s dialogue seem authentic. Most importantly, he has immense empathy with… show more.

Since the days of Ronald Regan, trickle-down economic theory has been a pipe dream of the uneducated and I don’t even have a degree. Mark Mattern does a great job inverting the theory of trickle-down in explaining that indeed wealth piles from the bottom up not drip down from the top. I recommend reading this book before you read mine for the simple fact that instead of inverted trickle-down theory, I describe how water moves like a stream through an ecosystem. If it is not properly pitched from the mountaintop to the valley, with proper displacement of creatures below, and flow rate through the foothills, we are inevitably left dependent on drinking from a wasteland.

In this world inspired by the French Revolution, we witness the start of the revolution, the fall of the monarchy, and the reign of terror that follows, all through the eyes of Eliste vo Derivalle, a young noblewoman who starts out the book highly prejudiced against non-nobles and slowly learns humility by the end of the novel.

Having grown up immensely privileged, Eliste lacks useful skills and is constantly dependent on others. Her entitlement for the majority of the novel makes her difficult to warm to, but she's not an inherently bad person: She's clever, resilient, spirited, and treats her maid kindly. As she's put through the wringer, she unlearns her privilege and emerges a far more interesting woman trying to work out what it means to be in solidarity with others.

My Big Welcome illustrates how kindness can help children overcome anxiety when they’re starting at a new school, moving, meeting new people. The story introduces a number of classroom situations that a newcomer might face. Emilia, the new girl, is welcomed with warmth and kindness. And the bright illustrations give off such a positive vibe.

Elizabeth Hoyt was the first historical romance writer I read, and she hooked me on the genre. The Raven Prince is probably my favorite of hers. I love how the meet-cute is actually more of a meet-hate, and how Anna pursues her own happiness with guts and determination, even when Edward has his head firmly planted where the sun don’t shine. This book is also notable for the fact the hero has noticeable scars that to the casual eye might make him unattractive. There is a realism to the couple that you don’t find in a lot of historical romances. Definitely a top pick.

Jo Montfort cannot be chained by the expectations of others for long. The monumental event of her father’s “accidental” death triggers her to break free to discover the dirty truth that was once veiled in brittle glamour. A strong heroine and scandalous outings in the nights makes this read a thrilling ride to savour in the late-night hours.

Jane Austen is unparalleled in her depiction of good and evil on a domestic level. While the situations are slightly less dramatic than in the other books I have selected, Mansfield Park compellingly presents the consequences of habituated action. Fanny Price is not perfect and certainly not most people’s cup of tea, but, like all Austen heroines, represents virtue and a growing self-knowledge over the course of the novel. The Crawford siblings are vivid examples of dulled moral vision. Without committing the literary sin of giving away the end, I will say that the “anti-romance” trajectory of the plot is wonderfully satisfying. Further, Sir Thomas Bertram may be my favorite male Austen character of all.