Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Top 10 Tuesday: Books to remember!



Top Ten "Older" Books You Don't Want People To Forget About... Or 8 Books you need to remember (and read!) and 2 that it's really ok to just forget about. Seriously, just let them go. (Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish)



1. 
The Chrestomanci Series by Diana Wynne Jones
Because of the powerful love people have for Harry Potter (understandably), The Hunger Games (understandably) and Twilight (not so understandably!) I feel like very few people are likely to find this series unless handed to them directly. The first in the series, Charmed Life, was first published in the late 1970s so they're a little older than the examples above, but they're phenomenal YA fantasy novels filled with magic, alternate worlds, dragons, multiple lives and darling characters without being too fantasy.

2. 
Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis
Things move fast in the comic world, and it doesn't take long for a phenomenal series to be knocked off it's perch by another fantastic series. Transmetropolitan is outrageous, gratuitous, dangerously honest and kicks complete ass. The protagonist, Spider Jerusalem, is a futuristic and slightly more outrageous (if that's even possible) version of famed writer Hunter S. Thompson and it really celebrates that gonzo style of journalism. It will blow your mind.

3. 
The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
After the failure of a movie I feel like it's important to stand by the book and let you all know that it's fantastic, and interesting, and well-written, and funny and insightful and outrageous and basically everything the movie didn't quite manage to be. The Rum Diary follows journalist Paul Kemp (one of HST's alter-egos) through a debaucherous alcohol fueled adventure in Puerto Rico during the 1950s.

4.
And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks by Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs
Both Burroughs and Kerouac are (rightly) known for some prolific books, but this collaboration is possibly my favourite book from both of them. Alternating chapters, the book is loosely based on an unfortunate series of events that lead to one of their friends killing another of their friends. This book came before the momentous books they would eventually write and it provides a unique look into two young men as they try and find their writing styles.

5. 
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
This book is, hands down, one of my favourites, and it's possible that if the movie hadn't come out last year I never would have found out that it existed! It's beautiful and sad and tells an impossibly good tale of three friends growing up together. I won't say more for fear of spoiling it (it's the kind of book that is best when you know very little) but I can't emphasise enough how important it is TO READ THIS BOOK!

6
April Fool's Day by Bryce Courtenay
I'm not sure how well known Bryce Courtenay is to anyone reading this that isn't from Australia, but he's a hell of a story teller best known for telling epic stories that usually span multiple years, if not generations. April Fool's Day is epic in both in size and scope but unlike his other work this book is non-fiction and focuses on only one life, the life of his young son Damon. Damon was haemophiliac and contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion and died at 24. This book will break your heart, but it's an amazing look into the life of a young man who didn't let his illness define him or hold him back.

7. 
How I became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely
This book seemed to slip under most people's radar when it was released in 2009, but found a resurgence in popularity last year and rightly so. This book is freaking hilarious, which isn't surprising considering Steve Hely is an American TV writer currently writing for The Office. It's also biting satire of the current state of mainstream and uber popular fiction, and while it isn't perfect I'd love to see it have another spike in popularity.

8. 
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
I know what you're thinking, this book is EVERYWHERE but that's for a good reason, it's fantastic! I included it in the list, because I'm meeting more and more people who are deciding to watch the show without reading the book, and you really must read the book! The TV show is fantastic but, and I'm sure most of you will agree, it can't quite reach the heights of the book and I doubt it ever will. READ THE BOOK GUYS!

And now for a couple of books that you can put away and forget about!

9. 
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I'm sure there are a few of you who would disagree but this is a terrible book and it needs to disappear. Like, right now. It's had its moment in the sun (so to speak!) and it's time to let a decent book get a little bit of the glory. Want to read a love story with vampires? Read Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist, it is one of the best books to come out in recent years. Want a YA with heart? Read Harry Potter, The Chrestomanci Series or Looking for Alibrandi. There are so many better options, so why waste your valuable reading time on something that fails to meet the simplest of criteria?

10.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Perhaps I'll be in the minority with this one too, but ugh, yuk this book is terrible. I didn't like the style or story line, but where it meets the most ire from me is with the characters. They're insufferable, horrible people who never show the slightest speck of love for anyone, let alone each other. I was so close to burning down the entire world after reading this, simply because it would be the most effective way of eliminating this book forever.

25 comments:

  1. I'm so torn! I love that you put in The Rum Diary (because really, Hunter S. Thompson can do no wrong), but find it blasphemous that you didn't care for Wuthering Heights, lol. I'm gonna go ahead and love this list, since you said what I've been thinking since day one: "it's a terrible book and it needs to disappear." :)

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    1. If you find the Wuthering Heights comment blasphemous, I'll recommend staying away from other TTT posts where I blast Jane Austen too!

      Glad you agree with Twilight and The Rum Diary though!

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  2. I hate Twilight too! Yes! How I Became a Famous Novelist is hilarious and Never Let Me Go is fantastic. I need to check out #4- I didn't even know it existed.

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    1. I came across it in a bookstore one day and had to buy it, it's very unpolished in a lot of ways, but I found it fascinating. I think (and this might not be 100% right) that it was only published a few years ago, but was written back in the mid-1940s or early 1950s and kept as a manuscript.

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  3. I've never heard of And the Hippos...Thank you so much for sharing.

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  4. I agree with Twilight! I mean, it's one of those books that people read and they discovered their love for YA. :) How cool is that? ;)

    J'adore Happy Endings

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  5. I completely agree with Twilight. Bella frustrates me so much, there are much better YA books out there

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    1. Exactly! It's had it's turn, now let's focus on something else (and not 50 Shades!!)

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  6. I agree on Twilight ;) I haven't read Wuthering Heights, but I have seen some movie versions and I can understand that you hate the characters.

    And I want to read Game of Thrones (was planning to read them even before the series, but now I feel like I really need to)

    My TTT @thedailyprophecy

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  7. I've been meaning to read The Chrestomanci series for awhile! And Game of Thrones too, though the size intimidates me. I agree about Twilight, I loved it at the time but now it needs to go die in a fire. I like Wuthering Heights as a book but it's a TERRIBLE love story. It's not a love story, actually, it's a horror!

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    1. Ha, maybe that was my problem, I was reading it as a love story instead of a horror!

      Game of Thrones will probably take awhile to get through (unless you close yourself off from life like I did)but it's sooo worth it.

      And definitely get into the Chrestomanci series, it's a delightful read!

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  8. You killed me a little when you said you didn't like WH, but were redeemed with Never Let Me Go. The movie version of that was excellent as well. Twilight is terrible but what can you do, lol.

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    1. I know, I really need to keep these confessions to myself -they make me a pariah in the book blogging community!

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  9. Haha, agree with Twilight! In fact can all books with a human girl and paranormal boy disappear? I find them all terrible!

    I've yet to read Game of Thrones but I enjoyed watching series 1. Must get round to reading it someday! :)

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    1. The show is fantastic, and I'm almost a little disappointed that I didn't watch it knowing nothing about the story as it is in the book, but the books are also amazing. So watch the show and read the books and live happily ever after!

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  10. Totally picking up The Chrestomanci Series - I have Diana Wynne Jones on my list too :)

    Also, I ALMOST put Never Let Me Go on my list...such a haunting story! Great list!

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    1. Thanks Kat!

      So glad I converted someone to The Chrestomanci series (even if technically I didn't since you already love Howl's!)

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  11. I haven't heard of most of these, embarrassingly enough. Thanks for the heads up!

    My TTT: http://shelversanon.blogspot.com/2012/10/top-10-tuesday-top-ten-older-books-you.html

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    1. I always love the spread books to new people, so I'm happy to help!

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  12. I have several of these books already on my shelves or wishlisted, but thanks - you've just added a couple more! I only read 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' recently but I loved it, so I'm looking forward to picking up more of Thompson's work next time I need my brain frazzling. HAVE to disagree on Wuthering Heights though - it's definitely an intense and unhealthy love story, but the sweep of the moors and Heathcliff's descent into madness? You don't get a much more perfect novel for cold autumn nights by the fire...

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    1. I'm always happy to help expand people's TBR lists :)

      Maybe my problem with Wuthering Heights is living in the tropics in Australia - no cold autumn nights or fires for me!

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  13. You already know my views on Twilight (gag me with a spoon) but I hate Wuthering Heights even more. The next time I hear someone tell me how much they love Heathcliff, I'm going to get drunk, beat them, and then ask them how much they love him now. Okay, I wouldn't really do that, but seriously? How can people find him to be "dark and brooding and romantic" when all he does is whine about his dead girlfriend, booze, and smack his kids around?

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