Hello everyone! Today I just wanted to drop by and list a couple of my favorite books. Most of these I read while in either high school or college (maybe you read them too!). I just wanted to share.

The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler

The first one on my list is one I read in a college class. We read something like 10 books in there, and this one was everyone’s favorite–probably because of its comparative short length. Besides that, it follows a man who suddenly loses his wife in an accident. The story is touching, yet the characters are quirky. Tyler’s solid and brief prose illustrates the poignant emotional journey for the characters. Also, there is a character with “Rust” as a last name, so there’s a definite plus for me.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Probably Vonnegut’s most famous novel, Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim as he has become displaced in time and space. Pilgrim survives the bombing of Dresden in World War II. This semi-autobiographical story combines sci-fi, war, and Vonnegut’s signature dark humor. This book made me a Vonnegut fan. So it goes.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

It seems that every list featuring anyone’s favorite books must have at least one dystopian novel. This list is no exception. It is set in a future in which women have no rights under a theocratic, far-right Christian regime where fertility rates are horrendously low. Offred, the book’s protagonist, is one of only a few women who can bear children in this oppressive society. Always a must-read for me. Now where is my copy…?

What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal] by Zoe Heller

Oh… this book is good. Barbara, a schoolteacher, becomes obsessed with a colleague after she has an affair with one of her students. Heller brilliantly manipulates the reader’s emotions in this thriller. The final few lines never fails to send chills down my spine.  Go forth and get a copy for yourself!

Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar (and several illustrators)

*gasp* A graphic novel/comic book graces my list? That’s right. One of my favorite comic books ever, Superman: Red Son tells the story of an alternate universe in which Superman didn’t arrive in Smallville, Kansas, but in the Soviet Union. The story features other alternative takes on other iconic characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, and the Green Lanterns. The art is magnificent and the story is even better. If you like comics, or are willing to give them a chance, please give Superman: Red Son a try.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

You’ve probably seen the movie, but have you read the book it’s based on? If you haven’t, you really need to read the book. I’m not saying the movie is a bad adaptation (in fact, I would say it is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I have seen), but reading the book is great experience. I have already blogged about the novel here, so go and check out that post and then get the book after that!

 

Thank you for reading my list of favorite books. These are only a few of them, but they are at the top of my favorites list. Please take time to read some of them if you get a chance. If you have any comments, please don’t hesitate.

Later.