Hello lovely readers as I said I am back again but I am weaning my self in to blogging again slowly so i thought i would do a piece all about my favorite books. I think I have mentioned before I am a very fussy reader and I really struggle to find books to read and sometimes even if i find a story I like I still struggle to read the writing style. I do how ever love to read, I love getting absorbed in a book and I really think the old saying that a good book is like a good friend is true. Most of these books I have just read once but left a lasting impression on me. So here are my top ten reads they include series and single books.....
10. In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami and Ralph McCarthy
This book is not for the faint of heart or any one who does not posses a strong stomach. I will say it now it is very disturbing, strange and sickening. However much like the Dexter series it get inside the mind of a killer. It is horrific and shocking and very Japanese but I liked it cause i wasn't bored by it and it left me thinking about the characters and the events for ages afterwards. Like I said it is very graphic and if your not in to gore and such then there is no point even picking it up but if you are looking for something different then give it a go. My husband couldn't get on with it but I couldn't put it down and was always on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly come next.
9. The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas
Bit of a mind flip this one, think Inception, matrix, thought experiments, Donnie Darko and you are in the right so of playing field. Once again not every ones cup of tea but it fascinated me. One girls story intertwined with a book from the past, is it real, what is going on? There were some bits the were a bit slow but it kept me reading and page turning.
8. Flowers For Algernon (Gollancz S.F.) by Daniel Keyes
This is just brilliant, narrators writing speech changes as he changes. The whole book is slightly sad and very poignant. Charlie the narrator becomes the subject of a new and complicated brain surgery that can change the subjects IQ, the story deals with the emotional challenges faced by charlie and how liberating and difficult it can be to change. It is a very believable story with all the technological advances it is a story that I could see happening with any medical trial to a certain extent.
7. Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden
Simply put this is completely and utterly beautiful. So detailed and filled with emotion. A real roller-coaster of wonderful highs for terrible lows this book is an imprint of a life that is so thought out and carefully drawn you would think it was real. Every character is so real and it feels like you are in the streets Kyoto with them learning their ancient ways and customs and it is hard not to fall in love with the world and become enthralled by the complicated at times dangerous and secretive lives of the geisha's and their customers.
6. The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
Another mind bending inception type story. What is happening? What is real? Strange and tense this novel i think is a bit of a marmite book. Personally I loved it, my mind was working and racing along with the plot and the mysterious characters. Eric the main character wakes up with out any memory to speak of. His quest to find out who is his turns out to be dangerous and confusing. Dark powers are nipping at his heals at every turn. A lot is left for the reader to decide so if you like conclusive ending with everything laid out neatly for you, then this will frustrate you. If you like to draw your own conclusions and interpret stories with your own theories you will love it.
5.The Beach by Alex Garland
Cult fiction at it's best. Lots of people have read the book or seen the film. Again you might need a strong stomach but this is thrilling and full of twists and turns. Everything seems to be paradise, but is paradise all it's cracked up to be and can it be sustained when the cracks start to appear. It moves fast and goes bang from the start. I sat feeling shocked and awed at the end.
4. Stargirl: Pink by Jerry Spinelli
I love this book, I first read it as a teenager and it is one of a few books that I have re-read and re-read and re-read only the next few books and two others (charlie and the chocolate factory and the magicians nephew) belong in that category. It tells the tale of a young man who encounters and is completely absorbed by an enchanting and odd new girl at school. The book is poetic and charming. You can't help but love the whimsical star girl and wonder if you will ever meet her.
3. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
I love physics, and although this book was written the year I was born (1988) it is still an amazing and interesting read, there are of course other more recent book detailing newer theories and discoveries but for getting an understanding of Hawkins work and of famous experiments such as schrodinger's cat and the double split experiment it is very good. I also love Everything that can happen does happen by Brian Cox as well.
2.His Dark Materials slipcase: "Northern Lights", "Subtle Knife", "Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
A spine tingling mix of religion, politics, science and fantasy. Just brilliant. This is no mere children's book trilogy. Pullman does not patronise his readers in the least. The characters are well developed and the adventure is big and brilliant. The second book starts a little slow for me but how you can not love these books is beyond me. The trilogy is clever and heartbreaking and breath taking. If you love epic fantasy this is perfect.
1. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
As i have said I am obsessed with Harry's story. I love every thing about it. Hogwarts for me is a second home, I escape there when I am sad and find a display of pretty much every single human emotion possible in this series. I have just come back from the Warner brothers studio tour and it was like coming home walking through the great hall and drinking butterbeer. There is not much more to say that haven't said before!
So what are your fave books? I hope you enjoyed having a read and that you have a lovely week
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