Authors from all over the world came together last week to celebrate the best and brightest in contemporary literature at the 2014 PEN Literary Awards.

The ceremony honors both recently published authors and those whose work has been pivotal in crafting the modern literary scene. Prize-winning books ranged from deep dives into the world of sports medicine to playful children's stories to enchanting literary fiction.

See also: 14 Books That Change When You Reread Them Later in Life

These books are all must-reads, but in case you need more convincing to check out these titles, here are seven reasons why you should be reading this year's 2014 PEN Literary Award winners.

Reasons Why You Should Be Reading This Year's PEN Literary Award Winners

Want more great book recommendations from Mashable? Join MashableReads, Mashable's social book club. You'll have the chance to win free copies of new novels, and participate in conversations with various authors.

BONUS: Authors in Conversation with MashableReads



