You'll never guess what this post is about.
Yes, I have still more books I think people should read
Welcome to instalment 4: the legend continues to continue.
How did we get here?
Well, I looked up top book lists and they were all hot garbage.
So I've made my own list.
Many books are worthy but had to be excluded because I have not read them.
I limited myself to using each author only once, but if you like them you should keep reading, almost all of them have many works to chose from.
This list is mostly fiction because its what I read.
This list is designed to make you both well read and interesting at parties, and is in no particular order.
That said, let us begin!
31. Jane Austin - Pride and Prejudice
Genre: Victorian
Perhaps our lone representative from the Victorians.
I'm not super enthusiastic about Jane Austen but of all the contemporary authors you could reel off, she stands head and shoulders above the crowd, she is the one your friends who don't read much might have read, and even if they haven't they'd still know her name and Mr Darcy.
Maybe I'll catch flack for not listing Dickens, but spoiler: I don't like Dickens.
You're free to try and convince me I'm underestimating his genius, the genius of being paid by the word and taking forever to say anything.
Other Victorians you might enjoy that I've read but not on this list:
H.G. Wells: Time Machine, War of the Worlds, Invisible Man,
Mary Shelley: Frankenstein
Bram Stoker: Dracula
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes
32. Margaret Mitchell - Gone with the Wind
Genre: Historical Fiction
Holy Smokes!
Honestly, I was floored by this novel.
There is no way I should have been as interested in this story as I was, especially considering it was easily in the longer works camp. I could not put this one down, and when I had other things I had to do I would have that nervous energy where I was itching to get back to reading on. The plot is driven entirely by the characters who are masterfully written. The author is spectacular, and while I see the movie referenced all the time (which I still haven't seen), I never hear her name mentioned.
Strong female protagonist who is captivating to watch vacillate between being soft as cushions and hard as nails.
33. Neil Gaimen - American Gods
Genre: Fiction
Big popular author, I remember liking American Gods quite a bit, that it had me guessing as to how the plot was going to resolve itself the whole time. That the writing was great, I've always meant to read more of Gaimen's works and never quite have. I think his sandman series is pretty popular?
34. Andy Wier - The Martian
Genre: Sci-Fi
Aside from the set up of there being a powerful Martian dust storm --Mars has a rather thin atmosphere, a 'Martian storm' would be a light puff of breeze-- this book is focused on the science, and its awesome. A rescue craft that blows itself to pieces because they forgot to factor in that food would liquify under a high G launch, slosh around, changing the balance, spin the rocket out where it detonates? The attention to details, combined with the engineering behind the equipment, how the harsh environment is, at every moment, trying to kill the stranded astronaut, and all the clever solutions he comes up with makes for a great story.
Just don't read Project Hail Mary
35. F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
Genre: Fiction
When I read this in gradeschool I hated this book because I despised the characters in it. I didn't realize at the time: that was the point. You are supposed to loath Daisy and Tom. Knowing that that totally reversed my opinion of the novel, its fantastic.
36. George Orwell - 1984
Genre: Dystopia
A book that gets referenced all the time, but be warned its dark, so very dark. Now, you could read the much shorter Animal Farm, but that is just as dark.
Anyway, a book you should read but won't necessarily make you happy.
37. Geoffrey Chaucer - The Canterbury Tales
Genre: Poetry
Reaching real far back for a little fun. Just a bunch of people telling stories to pass the time. Extra points for this one if you read it in the original middle English. Middle English does not look like modern English but if you read a page or so you can fall into a rhythm were it makes sense.
I'm explaining it poorly
its like those optical illusions you can only see by unfocusing your eyes.
38. Beowulf
Genre: Poetry
Even older, no author to cite because its that old.
Beowulf rocks up with his Posse Comitatus to help out the king, kills a monster but is then forced to deal with the monsters mother who is even bigger and badder.
Michael Crichton wrote a book that became a movie Eaters of the Dead (starring Antonio Banderas) that took a lot of inspiration from this poem.
39. Alexandre Dumas - The Three Musketeers
Genre: Fiction
Just a rollicking good time back in the days of dueling and single shot pistols and big plummed hats. Throw in court intrigues, love affairs, and murder, what more could you ask for? The characters are famous, read the work that invented them.
40. Jack London - Sea Wolf
Genre: Fiction
I've always enjoyed Jack London. As an accomplishment for having a character that does not speak White Fang is top tier. For my recommendation however I'll put Sea Wolf because Wolf Larson is an interesting character in the way he thinks. Admittedly the final scene is a touch weak but I can forgive it that because the rest of the book is great.
Ok, just one more part to round out the list so stay tuned for the final installment.
Is there anyone in this one you think doesn't belong?
Who do you think will make an appearance in the final list?
(Hint: I'm going mostly modern for the last list)
Let me know!
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