The old year is out, the new one is in. The contrived demarcation of time offers a chance to re-construct and re-construct whatever we want to change in our lives, including ourselves. We usually call these changes “resolutions”. What are yours for 2017?

The attempt to change is a test of fortitude and fate. Even for things we think we want, change upsets routines, at least for awhile. Fortunately, literature can inspire the stick-to-itivness required to overcome obstacles. Stories of people who triumphed over adversity remind us of human spirit and capability. If you’re in need of inspiration and a great read, check out these dozen books (fiction, non-fiction, memoir, graphic novel) about people who started over:

The Awakening – Kate Chopin (1899)
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston (1937)
The Alchemist – Paul Coelho (1988)
A Bend in the River – V.S. Naipaul (1989)
Breath, Eyes, Memory – Edwidge Danticat (1994)
The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion (2005)
The Arrival – Shaun Tan(2006)
What is the What – Dave Eggers (2006)
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
A Good American – Alex George (2012)
Starting Over – Elizabeth Spencer (2014)
The Underground Railroad – Colson Whitehead (2016)