A different top 10 to spark some conversation hopefully.
Hi everybody,
I frequently get recommended top 10 book lists of all time. They can be fascinating to look through and pick the ones you've read, but always very predictable, so I thought it would be fun to give my own top 10 and see what people think. I'm sorry in advance if this breaks any rules. I tried to make sure in advance, but I feel I've probably missed something. I mostly wanted to make this to talk about novels I really enjoyed and to hear others' opinions, and even see others' own personalised top 10 lists. I wanted to keep this mostly to fiction personally, otherwise I'd just be listing textbooks, but would love to see others with fascinating and diverse takes.
1. Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
I'm a huge King fan, although admittedly I haven't read all of his work yet, but I have made a start, so I wanted to include one of his on here. I'm a Uni student in my very early 20's and reading this novella collection, especially the eponymous Hearts in Atlantis, really changed how I approached studying and school as a whole. Throughout the collection is a fascinating study of relationships and the cost of adulthood and the fading of innocence. Also got to appreciate tower connections.
2. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd
This was an incredibly fascinating story about a child's grief. This book is overflowing with metaphors that lie underneath the surface story of a monster telling stories to a child. This book struck an emotional chord with me that not many books have before. Patrick Ness also does a fantastic job bringing this story to life from Dowd's Idea.
3. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
I'm not familiar with much of Wilde's work, but I did have to read this in high school and enjoyed it right away. This was possibly one of the funniest books I've read. The idea of loving someone because their name is Ernest, will be earnest, just for them to be lying and not be named Ernest at all is inherently the funniest thing imaginable and makes this a mandatory read for that matter alone. The entire play is rife with wit, and an engaging plot definitely kept me captivated, and I could not recommend it more.
4. Othello by Shakspere
I belive shakspere is overrated. Hot take, I know, but I just cannot enjoy most of his work. Othello, however, is in my opinion one of the best tragedies I've read. Iago's soliloquies are so unique and interesting, especially as he reveals his motives for the downfall of Othello.
“I know not if’t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety.”
— Iago, Othello, Act 1, Scene 3
This quote alone has led to multiple essays about Iago's true motivation, with some people looking deeper into the words and believing he's merely making an excuse to hate Othello. An interesting dynamic that really draws me into this book.
5. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
A Famous Collection of three poems (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso), it is quite possibly the most talked about work in literature, and I doubt I need to say much. A lot of the modern ideals have moved on from the politics and ideology of Dante's time, such as Homosexuality being a sin, but the fantastic rhythm and flow of the writing style is beautiful yet incredibly challenging. Maybe a bit of a generic pick, but the literature and word choices are undeniably beautiful.
6. The Wasteland by T.S Eliot
Arguably more challenging than the Divine Comedy, not for the word choices or age, but for the references and constant changing of language through the poem. Once again, beautifully written with such emotion throughout, with this burden of grief for loved ones and culture in general carried through the entire poem. Reading this with annotations is almost a must, but it excels the experience by miles. One of the most underrated poems, in my opinion.
7. The Hobbit
I had to put The Hobbit here. Everyone loves the LOTR and The Hobbit. It's the quintessential fantasy series before Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. Personally, I enjoy The Hobbit far more for Bilbo's snark and reluctance for adventure all the way through. The story is fun and light and easily accessible, and sets up one of the most well-known series of all time. Need I say anymore?
8. The Beast in the Cave by H.P Lovecraft
Now I admit I have been playing fast and loose with the words 'book' and 'novel', but this isn't a list to be taken too seriously its more to allow me to talk about some texts I really like, that is to say, I really like The Beast in the Cave. One of the lesser talked about Lovecraft poems for its distinct lack of cosmic elements, but the existential horror is till there. I mostly like it for how different it is to Lovecraft's other work, and how terrifying he makes the unseen beast and how depressing the seen beast too.
9. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
I'll keep this one quick cause it's been talked to death. Fantastic writing and the unconventional use of dialogue is fascinating. It is also horrific and delves deep into the worst side of humanity.
10. The Great Train Robbery by Michael Chricton
One of the greatest sci-fi writers of all times western book that gives gunpowder plot and Guy Fawkes vibes with a meeting in secrecy, elaborate plans and high stakes and tension. A fun read and a change of pace from Chricton's usual style of writing. This well-structured heist truly feels set in the 1800's with the attention to detail Chricton gives all his novels. Quite possibly one of his most grounded novels, and incredibly fun.
Honorable mentions
The Iliad/Odyssey by Homer, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Moby Dick by Herman Melville. All fantastic pieces of literature, but for the latter three felt too overrepresented, and for the Iliad and Odyssey, I'm yet to read them, but am excited to.
Thanks for reading, and any criticism of the list in a civil manner is appreciated. I'm also interested in how my top 10 list looks as a reader.
Long days and pleasant nights, everyone.