Top Ten Book Reccommendations

My mom always says that whenever she tries to picture a younger me, it’s with my nose buried in a book. In fact, I was such a book addict that once at the age of 6, I got separated from my parents at the mall because I lingered at the bookstore a little too long leading to the most terrifying memory of my childhood.

Given that, I’ve decided what could be a better addition to my blogging experiments than a list of books that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have tried to include books that are not as well-known and loved among casual readers and yet are worth a read (such as Harry Potter, Divergent, Percy Jackson, Tfios etc. which will always be loved). Here we go.

1. The Martian by Andy Weir

You might’ve heard of this book thanks to the recent adaptation into a movie starring Matt Damon. However, while the movie had its virtues, the book is excellent. It is one of my most favorite novels. Martian is a fiction about a Mars astronaut named Mark Watney who accidentally gets left behind and how he survives the ordeal.

 

The reason I recommend the book over the movie is that the book deals with the more technical aspects of his survival. While this might sound boring, it is actually quite interesting to follow Mark’s thought process. Another delightful bonus is the character of Mark itself – with an excellent sense of humor, captivating experiences and relatable personality.

The final selling point of the book is the author himself.  Not only has he researched the book enough to make it perfectly believable, he is also a Whovian and a Sherlock-ian. So awesome!

 

2. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

 

This is another book which acquired much fame after being adapted into a movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The reason I recommend this book is that the story line is bound to keep you on your toes and your eyes peeled for new information. While those who have seen the movie may not enjoy it as much due to spoilers, if you are new to Gone Girl the suspense will be sure to blow your mind.

 

3. Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

This book is not nearly as well-known as the ones listed above but definitely deserves a mention. Finding Jake is told from the point of view of a stay at home dad whose son is involved in a high school shootout. With Jake missing and everyone accusing him of being the shooter, his father must review everything he knows about his son while dreadfully pondering only one question – Where is Jake?

The book addresses the issue of school shootouts very gracefully and forces the readers to think about the problems that people in today’s world, especially adolescents, face.

 

4. Paper towns by John Green

Admittedly Paper towns is quite a popular book given the movie adaptation and the fame of the author himself. However, it is not quite as popular as “Looking for Alaska” and “The Fault in our Stars” by the very same author. I have always thought this to be unfair as while both books have their merits, it has always been Paper towns that holds a special place in my heart.  Paper towns follows Quentin Jacobsen, a studious and simple boy, who has spent a lifetime admiring his popular neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. The story follows how they towards the end of high school Margo suddenly appears in the night at his window and persuades him to join her in a night filled with adventurous tasks in a quest for revenge. The very next day, Margo disappears without a word and as Quentin attempts to find her, he finds himself discovering new facets of Margo that he never thought existed.

 

5. Steelheart (Book 1 in the Reckoners series) by Brandon Sanderson

Steelheart is again a book not as well-known as the ones mentioned above but nevertheless intriguing. Steelheart describes a future world in which a burst in the sky called Calamity gives the ordinary people of Earth superpowers making them Epics. However, instead of being a force for good, the Epics become corrupt and take over the world with none to step up to them.

Steelheart describes how The Reckoners, the only group of people willing to stand up to the Epics plot their downfall.

 

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is based in World War 2 ridden Germany. The story is narrated by Death, as he describes Liesel Werner and her encounters with death, destruction and war. The book follows Liesel as she copes with the horrors of war, while still adapting to her new life in her adoptive family and new friend, Rudy Steiner.

While the movie adaptation didn’t acquire quite as much popularity, the book is heart-warming and worth a read.

 

7. The Giver by Lois Lowry

 

 

The Giver describes a post-apocalyptic society that appears to be perfect on the outside but as you discover more, reveals gross imperfections. The story follows Jonas a 12 year old boy as he realizes that the society he has known all his life has really just robbed people of emotions, individuality and life.

The Giver is the first in a Quartet and while all 4 story lines are linked, they describe different societies existing around the same time and the effects of the apocalypse on these societies, each equally intriguing.

 

8. The Half Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno

 

While not a very famous book, The Half Life of Molly Pierce follows the story of 17 year old Molly and is utterly captivating. In all her life she has always felt like something is missing and often she finds huge gaps in her memory, but she could never act on it. However, a horrible accident changes everything she has ever known about herself.

 

9. Legend by Marie Lu

Set again in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, Legend is part of a trilogy that describes the encounters of government prodigy June and notorious criminal Day. June is a soldier of the Republic of America, where the gap between the rich and poor is extremely defined and the poor lack rights.

The book is an excellent combinations of various genres including romance, sci-fi, drama and dystopian.

 

10. All our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

All our yesterdays is a Sci-Fi based on time travel. Imprisoned in a military base, Em along with the boy in the neighboring cell, Finn, must escape and follow a list of instructions in order to prevent the invention of a time machine that will end to the destruction of the world as they know it.

That’s all for today. Do tell me if you’ve read any of these books and your opinions on them. I would also love recommendations for similar books! Stay tuned for more such books and hit like if you’ve read any of these!