10 books you should read.

These are ten books that should be read by everybody but are often overlooked. 

1.Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola

While the version of this that I read was a translation, which underscored the complexity associated with the writing, the plot and characters in this book are amazing. The story shows the psychological look at the 'human animal' going into detail about the feelings of guilt and lust. Also, this book is going to be a film so get reading before the hype starts up and you can look smart and intellectual among all of your friends. 


2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

 

The story of Frankenstein is a well known one but many who know it are more familiar with the movie version of this classic. The actual story plot is quite different from the expectation I had. The whole book is written from an unlikely protagonist, with neither the creator nor the monster having the vocal voice in the novel. The story of Frankenstein and his creator are instead described by the captain of a ship that is trying to reach the North Pole. Also, an interesting fact that I discovered about this book was that Mary Shelly wrote this novel in response to a game set up by Lord Byron.

3. Carmilla by Joesph Sheridan Le Fanu

Out of all the novels I have read recently this one proposed an idea that was so far away from my perceptions. Everyone is familiar with the classic story of Dracula; however, Carmilla was written before Dracula and presents a female image to the vampire that is uncommon even now.


4. The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson

The Morning Gift is a book that I have read many times and the quintessential beauty associated with this should receive more recognition than it gets. I started reading these when I was a teenager and I still like these historical romance novels.

5. One Day by David Nicholls

My father told me to read this novel long before a movie deal was in its midst. If anyone hasn't read this book they should. It portrays such a realistic poignant romance that is affected my life and people's faults. Both Emma and Dexter are characters that show that romance is not always perfect and neither is life. By far Emma was my favorite character and if nothing else the way she lives her life and the progress through life made me evaluate and think of where I am going to be in 20 or 30 years time.



6. Divergent by Veronica Roth

 I read this book on the behest of a friend and I am glad she made me read this; one of my favourite genres of literature is dystopian novels and this has all the elements and then some. I did have some grievances with the end of the book but I was so immersed in the story that it was of little consequence. This book is a part of a series as well so the next book in this series will be interesting to watch on. It could be the next big blockbuster series. Move over Hunger Games, Divergent is on the way.

7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This book is a long read and it can drag at times but the character development is amazing in it. Imagine a story set around a hero who has already gone through the heroism and is left bitter and lonely; having the ability to tell his story in exact detail, including the sad, the bad and the tragic. The second book in this series is out as well and the progression from this to the next is extremely accurate. The author does not trip himself up by forgetting plot twists and designs; it is amazing how much detail is in this book. I read this book when it came out first and when the second one came out I started from the start not wanting to miss a step. It may not have been necessary but it was just that good.

8. Checkmate by Malorie Blackman

This story twists the realms of black and white switching the situation of both races and shows a similar world with drastic consequences. This book illuminates a common problem in society and it has a powerful effect on the reader; asking them to evaluate the world around them and the history that has past. I was brought to tears many times during the whole series and each finished chapter enticed me to the next. I read the whole series in the space of two weeks.

9. The Age of Five series by Trudi Canavan

As you can tell I like trilogies and this is one of my favourite. There are a number of twists and turns throughout the books that keep you guessing until the end. Trudi Canavan is brilliant writer in my opinion and any of her books keeps me absorbed for hours. However, these are my favourite and while it may not be the most classically illuminating as some of the books in this list it does allow the reader to be immersed in a fantasy world that you would wish you could never leave.

10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

There has been a lot of hype about these books since it hit the big screen so they deserve a mention in this list. These books also show my liking for dystopian novels and the message that even one person can make a difference (even when they don't want to) is definitely highlighted in these books