Got anyone you need to apologize to? If you do, you’re in luck—today is National Pardon Day. National Pardon Day is all about forgiveness, moving on, and letting go of the past. It originated on September 8th, 1974, when President Gerald Ford made the controversial decision to pardon ex-President Richard Nixon. Nixon had been implicated in one of the biggest American scandals ever, the Watergate affair.
Forgiveness benefits both parties, no matter whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of an apology. It can bring peace as well as happiness, save relationships, and allow you to move on with your life. Even if you don’t have any real-life matters that need to be settled, you can still celebrate today by living vicariously through book characters. So, without further ado, here are five fictional reads that touch upon the theme of forgiveness.
1. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
A tale of redemption and understanding. Sage Singer is a baker still reeling from the loss of her mother. She distracts herself with preparing pastries and breads for her shop, trying to escape loneliness and bad memories. In order to cope with her sadness, Sage attends a grief support group, where she meets Josef Weber. Josef begins to drop by her bakery often and the two end up forming an unexpected friendship. Everything changes when Josef confesses a shocking secret kept hidden for decades. With this confession also comes a request, one that will likely have moral and legal repercussions for Sage if she agrees to it.
2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This heart-wrenching novel follows the unlikely friendship of two guys: Amir, a wealthy boy, and Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. The two boys live in Afghanistan and spend their days kite fighting, with Hassan serving as Amir’s “kite runner.” However, acts of cowardice and betrayal cause a rift between the two and lead to their separation. Years later, one encounters a possibility for atonement. This book demonstrates how one can seek forgiveness through actions as well as words.
3. Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
Forgiveness does not always have to mean letting someone back into your life. It can also mean letting go of the past and moving forward. Sky and Lay Li have always been best friends. That is, up until high school. When Lay Li ditches Sky for other relationships, Sky is forced to accept this and move on. In doing so, she ends up finding herself and a new passion.
4. Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A story of mystery, prejudice, and forgiveness. Barkley Cove is a small town nestled on North Carolina’s coastline. For years, it has been plagued with rumors of the “Marsh Girl,” also known as Kya Clark. Naturally, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya of being involved. However, Kya is different from how the townsfolk describe her. Sensitive, intelligent, and accomplished, Kya has survived for years on her own in the marsh. Now, can she survive the trial of a town that has always seemingly disliked her?
5. When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
Twenty-seven days ago, Cleo and Layla’s friendship ended. Now, Cleo wants to get rid of every memory, good or bad, that connects her to her former friend. However, forgetting their history is not as easy as Cleo thought it would be. Despite budding friendships and a new crush, Layla becomes almost impossible to avoid. An emotional story about self-forgiveness, new beginnings, and vulnerability.
If you feel inclined to celebrate National Pardon Day even more, here are a couple related articles:
