So I’ve wanted to do a second top ten list since my inaugural post in November last year. I wanted to do a book list the first time around but I’ve been daunted by the task because I am such an avid reader (without the most discerning taste) that it was near to impossible for me to develop this list. I’m sure I have forgotten more books than I can count…so as you read please keep in mind that this was formulated from what came top of mind when I thought to myself “what books did I love reading?” Also, I am going strictly fiction on this one or it would get way to out of hand…hope you enjoy!
1) Fugitive pieces – Anne Michaels
This book was given to me by my sister years and years ago…the first time I read it I was in high school and definitely not advanced enough for it. In fact I hated it the first time I read it. However something possessed me to reread it when I got to university and since then I can’t count how many times I’ve read this book. It is definitely my favourite book I’ve ever read and my favourite quote comes from it “make beauty necessary make necessity beautiful”.
It is about a young Jewish boy whose family is killed by Nazis and is taken in by a greek man who ultimately raises him. They eventually move to Toronto where he meets a woman and marries but has a hard time letting go of his past – it is a story of love, trauma and challenge and it is SO good, a definite must read!
2) Twilight series – Stephenie Meyer
I don’t really think anything needs to be said on this one – if you haven’t read it then you don’t understand. You can judge me openly or behind my back but I stand behind my decision. Potentially one of the best series I’ve ever read and certainly the best love story.
3) Tara Road – Maeve Binchy
Maeve Binchy I would have to say is my favourite author as I’ve read, and enjoyed, every book of hers. She was introduced to me by my mother because she is an Irish author that my mom has always followed. Deciding which one of her books to put on my list was a challenge because I’ve loved so many of them; Tara Road was the first book of hers I ever read and started my love affair with her novels and so that is how I landed on this one.
Tara Road is about two women who exchange homes (something like the holiday – the Cameron Diaz movie) in an effort to escape personal crises and become lifelong friends. It is a story of how people are resilient and can build themselves back up from any devastation. It’s a great pick me up book if in need of a smile.
4) Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina was one of the hardest books I’ve ever read. It was exceptionally long, excruciatingly detailed and verbose and jam-packed with historical references. However, it is known as the greatest love story of all time and me being the sap that I am had to read it. I would explain it as being one of those books you would consider an investment. And it’s not until you close the back cover and finish it that you truly take something away from it. It’s not like a page turning can’t ever put it down kind of book – but it will make you think for weeks afterward and definitely challenge even the most advanced of readers.
5) Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men is a book that was suggested to me by a friend that always reads very challenging and very thought provoking books. As can be told by my list of top ten, I usually read books for entertainment value and less often for their literary impact. However, I accepted the challenge of reading this one mainly because it was really short and I figured if it hated it at least it wouldn’t have been a huge time investment – but instead I absolutely loved it.
Like The Giver (below) it is a highly controversial and challenged novel and is read in many schools. It is about two men during the great depression who are forced to flee town based on rape charges and find themselves employment on a ranch where their situation doesn’t much improve. It is a devastating tale of friendship – and unlike most of the other books on this list, does not have a Hollywood ending.
6) LOTR trilogy (including the hobbit) – J.R.R. Tolkien
BEST TRILOGY EVER – nothing else needs to be said.
7) The Giver – Lois Lowry
The Giver was a book I read in elementary school that completely blew my mind.
Side note: It kind of reminds me of the movie with Carey Mulligan called Never Let Me Go which is amazing and everyone should watch it.
In the book children are assigned jobs based on personality tests and live out their lives based on everything being predetermined for them. It is supposed to show this way of life as utopian until the boy whose job it is to receive the memories of those from the past, before this was how the world worked, starts to wonder if there shouldn’t be more to life. This book is highly controversial and a lot of schools no longer permit it to be on the reading lists – however I have never forgotten it and have read it many times since Grade 7 and it still amazes me, so I would definitely encourage every kid to read it and every adult as well.
8) A Million Little Pieces – James Frey
So I know this book caught a lot of grief for being told as a memoir when he embellished a lot of the details for literary effect, but to that I say, who the hell cares? I LOVED this book. I think I read it in one day and stayed up all night because I couldn’t put it down. It was so tragic, so dark, so depressing and yet so uplifting and so hopeful at the same time. Real or fake I don’t care – I loved this book and James Frey is an amazing author that can write a serious page turner!
9) A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Again, this is a book from my childhood that I’ve read more times than I can count. It was given to me by my aunt and I think it was my first hard cover book. I remember building a little fort out of my covers, like the girl in the book does and reading beneath it.
It is a tragic story about loss – but shows the perseverance and will of what we will do to right our situations. Even as a little girl, she is able to find the best in the worst situation and eventually escape her challenges and live the life she deserves.
Side note: I think I have a theme here in the books I like – always people who suffer a tragedy and end up pulling through it.
10) Lullabies for Little Criminals – Heather O’Neill
Lullabies for Little Criminals is one of those books that while you’re reading it you can’t help but to talk to everyone around you about the book you’re reading. Every time you turn the page you’re thinking, this can’t be happening, this can’t get any worse, oh my god how is this going on?!
I absolutely enjoyed every page of this story, it was so gut wrenching and depressing to see the challenges that such a young girl was going through and to realize that this is probably a lot of children’s realities around the world. The devastation of drugs and drug addiction is something that totally intrigues me, because I just can’t understand it – read this book, its amazing!!
P.S. To all those who suggested Inception be on my top ten movies…I’ve now watched it and yes I did really enjoy it but still it would not make the cut of fav movies.
