Ten Books I’m Excited About in 2017

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A.L. Mabry, Books in 2017, Brandon Sanderson, david wiley, Elin Pettersson, George R.R. Martin, John Ryers, Joshua Robertson, Lilian Oake, Neil Gaiman, Sarah J. Maas

In no particular order, here are ten books that I am fairly certain are coming in 2017 that I am excited to get my hands on and read:

**I’m holding out hope that George R.R. Martin will release The Winds of Winter this year, but since it isn’t confirmed it will not make the list.

10. Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien – Seriously. Tolkien = Satisfaction

9. Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson – I haven’t started his Stormlight Archive series yet, but listening to A Wheel of Time right now has me already earmarking this as the next epic fantasy series to dive into.

8. Throne of Glass Book#6 by Sarah J. Maas – The final book in her series, I’ve finally started in on book 5 and cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.

7. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman – Do I even need to explain myself on this one?

6. Soul Purge: Book One of the Chthonian Guardian Trilogy by A.L. Mabry – One of the talented co-founders of OWS Ink. This one sounds promising!

5. The Glass Thief by John Ryers, Jan. 1 2017 – Start the new year right and grab a copy of this gem of a book.

4. Dark Grasp by Elin V. Pettersson – Zombie unicorns? What an imagination this talented author has!

3. Voices of Jaydur Series Book #1 by Lilian Oake (yet to be named officially), Fall 2017 – I loved her short book, An Ogre’s Tale, and I am excited to read anything she writes.

2. Maharia (Kaelandur Series, Book #3) by Joshua Robertson, April 2017 – I haven’t started on his Kaelandur series yet, but once the third and final book is out I am certain to binge read them all.

1. A Merchant in Oria by David Wiley – Yes, this will be my first non-anthology publication. The wonderful people at OWS Ink are projecting this to be among their Spring 2017 releases, and more details will certainly be following as I get them!

Best Villains of 2016

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Anaerfell, Calamity, Into the Shadow Wood, Les Miserables, Siren's Song, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Magician's Nephew, The Prince Warriors, The Warded Man, Top Ten List, Unfinished Tales, Villains

Welcome to the third installment in my Top 10 of 2016. Be sure to check out my previous posts if you missed them, and check back in the coming days for the remainder of the series. Today I cover the best villains from books I read in 2016, so read on to find out who made the cut!

December 26: Best Books I’ve Read in 2016
December 27: Best Book Covers of 2016
December 28: Best Villains of 2016
December 29: Best Boyfriends/Girlfriends of 2016
December 30: Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2017

10. Poneros from The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer

The unseen evil force responsible for the never-ending war going on in Ahoratos, and the fictional stand-in for the forces of evil in our own world. His behind-the-scenes presence is strong enough to earn him a spot on the list.

9. Braeden from Into the Shadow Wood by Allison D. Reid

Granted, he never actively appears during the novella, but his fingerprints are all over the things descending upon Einar and his companions. The sinister overtone to this book grants Braeden a spot on this list.

8. Jadis from The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

She snaps Uncle Andrew into complete subservience. She attempts to tempt Digory into using an apple for his own selfish wants, which would have twisted its power to make him and his mother miserable instead. And she will become the White Witch now that she has been unleashed upon Narnia.

7. Tyran and Drast’s father from Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd

There is a lot of evidence throughout that Drast and Tyran have been molded into who they are by their father, who is abusive and power-hungry, which leaves the reader questioning whether the actions of the two brothers are their own fault or if the blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of their father.

6. Glaurung from Unfinished Tales by J.R.R. Tolkien

He manipulates Turin Turambar and his family into a tragedy that leaves them all dead. Glaurung is a sinister dragon that puts Smaug to shame, and is a part of one of the most heart-wrenching and memorable tales that Tolkien ever wrote.

5. Prof from Calamity by Brandon Sanderson

An unexpected shift, placing one of the primary heroes and the mentor of the series into the role of a super villain for the final book in the series. Things are intense as David and company try to defeat their old leader who has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.

4. Fernand Mondego, Danglars, and Villefort from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

They betrayed Edmund Dantes for various reasons, each one remaining silent as the man wrongly suffers for years of imprisonment. You cannot help but cheer Dantes on as he exacts his plots for revenge over the course of the book.

3. Inspector Javert from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The dogged persistence shown by Javert as he pursues Jean Valjean time and again makes him a memorable villain. His struggles with the morality of the situations, as the book winds down to its end, elevated him to become an even more interesting character.

2. The Rock Demon from The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

This thing is massive. It loses an arm and spends a lot of the book chasing after the main character, who was responsible for the dismemberment. This demon is the thing of nightmares, as are many of the things that made appearances in the first book of this series.

1. Draewulf from Siren’s Song by Mary Weber

Ancient, wolf-formed shapeshifter whose armies are sweeping throughout the land, conquering kingdoms and dispatching rulers. Draewulf is exactly the villain I both love and hate, and the fact that his power continues to grow stronger makes him a looming threat.

Best Book Covers of 2016

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After Avalon, Age of Myth, Best Book Covers 2016, Bounty of the Everdark, Empire of Storms, Into the Shadow Wood, Magnus Chase, Passenger, The Dinosaur KNights, The Waking Fire, Top Ten List

Welcome to the second post in a series of Top 10 of 2016 posts to wrap up the year. The next area I’ll be looking at is the best book covers of 2016 (only looking at books that were released in 2016). Here are the slate of posts and when they’ll be appearing…I hope you’ll come back to see what I pick for each of these and feel free to comment with your own answers.

December 26: Best Books I’ve Read in 2016
December 27: Best Book Covers of 2016
December 28: Best Villains of 2016
December 29: Best Boyfriends/Girlfriends of 2016
December 30: Top 10 Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2017

***Looking back, I didn’t really read too many 2016 releases so I looked at a whole slew of Fantasy/Sci-Fi/YA covers and picked out a few of my favorites. Just look at these gorgeous covers and tell me you wouldn’t want to pick at least a few of these up based solely upon the cover!

10. Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan

9. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

8. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

7. The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan

6. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

5. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

4. The Dinosaur Knights by Victor Milan

3. Bounty of the Everdark by Lillian Oake

2. After Avalon

1. Into the Shadow Wood by Allison D. Reid

 

Best Books I’ve Read in 2016

Tags

Allison D. Reid, Angela B. Chrysler, Best Books 2016, Book Review, Brandon Sanderson, Elise Kova, George R.R. Martin, Gina Detwiler, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mary Weber, Priscilla Shirer, Scott Westerfeld

**Note: In the interest of consistency, I’m sticking solely to books written after 1900. So while some of my other reads, like Les Mis or Count of Monte Cristo would certainly make the cut I want to make sure to give the spotlight to more recent authors.

10: Dolor and Shadow by Angela B. Chrysler

I was immediately entranced with the premise of the book, since it envisions Viking/Norse mythology from the perspective of the elves. I knew, going in, that there would be a lot to love about the world being built and, in that aspect, I was not disappointed in the least. The worldbuilding here is magnificent and, once you get used to the onslaught of names and places, you can really begin to feel immersed in the world. Things are just so well-developed in this book that it feels reminiscent of the wholeness that Tolkien brought together with Middle-Earth in his books. This is one of the greatest strengths a book can have, that synergy with the wholeness of the world that allows for complete immersion, and is one of the things I love the most about reading fantasy novels. Continue Reading

9: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R.R. Martin

The trio of stories in this collection are absolutely fantastic in every way. In spite of the stories taking place nearly a century before A Game of Thrones, there are many familiar house names and sigils to remind you that you are immersed in the same bloody, conflict-driven world of Westeros that the other books inhabit. Martin is a master at weaving in realistic details of the Medieval world and culture, ranging from the depictions of tourneys to the clothing and armor to the food they ate at the table. Continue Reading

8: King of Ages: A King Arthur Anthology

This is an excellent collection of stories that re-imagine King Arthur through various time periods and acting in various situations. Some of the tales take on a traditional feel, while others are extremely innovative in their approach. Arthur and Merlin are the constants in every tale, although not always with those exact names, and many other gems of Arthurian legend are scattered throughout the thirteen stories in this anthology. It was almost as much fun picking out those references as it was reading the stories themselves, but that is my own love of Arthurian legend talking. Continue Reading

7: Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova

I love books with dragons in them, and I love it even more when an author does something nontraditional with them. It was why Rachel Hartman’s Seraphina struck a chord with me, and why this book does the same thing. It has dragons, but not in the way you would ever expect. It is interesting how separate the dragon society is from those operating on Loom, yet how critical they are to the magic and technology on Loom. Two thumbs up based solely on the usage of dragons in this book. Continue Reading

6: Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld

Short version: I loved this book. It is exactly the series I needed to read before getting to finish reading Brandon Sanderson’s Reckoners series because I realize now I need a steady flow of new YA superhero novels to keep coming. Because they are awesome and exciting and full of fun in a way that is completely different from watching the latest Marvel movie or binge watching their latest TV show. If this isn’t a thriving subgenre already, Sanderson and Westerfeld will have breathed life into that subgenre. Continue Reading

5: Siren’s Song by Mary Weber

I was so torn for half of this book. I wanted to read this book, because I loved the characters and the world and wanted to know what would happen. Yet part of me wished to delay reading this book even longer in order to prevent my time with Nym and Eogan and Myles and Rasha and the rest to come to an end. This book has seriously sat on my shelf since March, ignored because I didn’t want to conclude this trilogy. Yet, as with all good things, it eventually had to come to an end. And now, looking back, I am so glad I finally got around to reading this book.

I absolutely love Mary Weber’s writing and her fun, engaging characters. The imaginative world. The overwhelming sense of impending doom and dread that casts an overtone upon everything going on. Those things carried through in all three books, each in its own unique way. Yet the sense of despair is at its peak in this book. They even have a timeline, given early on, about when they can expect Draewulf to make his appearance for, what will amount to, their final battle to destroy him and, should they fail, the world will be subjected to his evil plots and armies of wraiths for who in hulls knows how long. Litches, this book still has me hooked. Continue Reading

4: The Prince Warriors/The Prince Warriors and the Unseen Invasion by Priscilla Shirer and Gina Detwiler (Yes, this is two books)

Do not let the ages of the protagonists of this book fool you, this is not just a book for kids. While it is certainly a Middle Grade fantasy fiction book, it excels at being something that people of all ages should be able to read and enjoy. This book’s premise is centered firmly around Ephesians 6:10-18, the Armor of God, but it contains so much spiritual and scriptural depth within these pages that even an experienced Christian could absorb some great insight and practical application from this book.

I absolutely love a good Middle Grade book, and this one rates right up among the highest. The group of protagonists are all easy to identify with, and all of them have both their flaws and their strengths. Not only will a reader be able to identify with at least one of these main characters in the book, it is geared as well to allow an inward reflection and invites you to personally consider yourself within the scope of the world as a Prince Warrior or a Princess Warrior. Continue Reading and don’t miss my review of Book Two as well.

3: The Wind Rider Chronicles by Allison D. Reid (Yes, this is three books! Review snippet from Journey to Aviad, the first book)

The writing in this book is beautiful, elegant, and masterful. It was enchanting and kept me riveted to the tale. The story came alive as I was reading the words, filling my mind and my soul with the poetical prose laced with Christian themes. This is everything I have always sought for in a Christian fantasy book, and something I have rarely seen pulled off with such excellence.

The main character, a young girl name Elowyn, is one of the best young female protagonists that I have read in quite some time, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her on these early adventures in the book. She is at home among the beauty of nature, marveling at the hand of Aviad in shaping all of the things around her and blessing her with beautiful scenes. She has an awe and reverence that is both child-like and mature, something that places well with the Christian themes. Her inner struggles with not being worthy of being in Aviad’s presence is something we all, as Christians, can relate to. Continue Reading, and don’t miss my review of the sequel, Ancient Voices, as well as her companion novella, Into the Shadow Wood.

2: Calamity by Brandon Sanderson

I wanted to read this book like a kid wants to eat a giant lollipop. I was excited to read the book just like the kid gets excited about lollipops, but I didn’t want it to end too soon just like the kid who gets the giant lollipop so they can savor the experience a little longer. Yes, this series will be full of  intentionally bad metaphors, and Calamity certainly had some memorable ones in there. The humor that Sanderson laced into this book, as well as the previous books, makes this a fun read while the action and intrigue makes it an entertaining romp through a world where superpowers don’t go to the good guys. Or, rather, it seems that everyone who gets superpowers turns bad, and they are known as Epics.

It is difficult to write a spoiler-free review of the final book in a trilogy like this, but I want this to be a comprehensive review for more than just this one book. I want someone to read this and go pick up the entire trilogy (Steelheart, Firefight, Calamity) plus the short between the first two (Mitosis). The Reckoners are back in action in this finale that certainly lives up to every expectation that it promised. The showdown that has been coming is epic. And Epic. Continue Reading

1: Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle Earth by J.R.R. Tolkien

A man who is as thorough in his revisions as Tolkien was will inevitably leave behind tales that never quite reach that state of completion. It is no surprise that there are many stories from The Silmarillion that Tolkien attempted to expand upon and never quite reached the end. After all, he was notorious for not only going through a manuscript thoroughly to revise it if there was any indication of interest in publishing it, but he also would start at the beginning of a tale every time he picked it back up to work on it. This habit led to many great beginnings to work that never quite reached that status of being complete. And thus they find life in this publication, alongside various essays on topics such as the Istari and Palantiri, and that is a great thing for fans of Tolkien and of fantasy.

The collection in here ranges from fascinating narratives to a genealogical listing of the kings written in a style that you would expect to find within a history book. There are some items that will interest certain readers more than others, and the impulse of the reader may be to skip ahead to the things of interest and leave the others unread. Which, in many cases, would be to skip over all of the First Age and most of the Second Age stuff. That, I believe, would be a tragic mistake. The best of the tales appear in those two ages, being longer narratives that, while incomplete, give a flavor of the epic nature of the characters rooted in Middle-Earth history. Fans who have read The Silmarillion will certainly enjoy getting a deeper dive into the adventures of some of these familiar figures, such as Túrin Turambar, and even a reader who has not enjoyed The Silmarillion will still find much to enjoy in some of those tales. I’d argue that they are presented in a far more compelling manner than The Silmarillion, having more development and storytelling than appears in the other work. Continue Reading

So there you have it, my ten favorite books from 2016. What are some of your favorites? Have you read any of the books that appeared on my list?

Ten Reasons Why Writers Make Good Neighbors

Andrea Lundgren

This morning, I was awoken to the sounds of saws and dump trucks  as road construction continued just outside. And it got me thinking: if you could pick your neighbor, you should always go with a writer.

1. Writers are quiet. When we’re building something, all you’re hear is a clatter (along with a few incoherent grumbles and the slurp of tea or coffee, perhaps). When we delete something, there’s a few clicks or the backspace button (followed by more grumbling and perhaps a few choice words that don’t belong in polite conversation). We won’t wake the neighborhood. In fact, if our creativity is very successful, we might not even venture outside the house.
2. Writers are friendly. Sure, we might just be watching you, noting your mannerisms so we can use them in our next novel, but at least we’re interested in you, right?
3. Writers are discreet. We know when to…

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Top Ten Books of the Bible

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Books of the Bible, Gospel, Jesus, scripture, the Bible, Top Ten List

For this month’s top ten list, I thought it would be fun to make a list of top ten books in the Bible. These are not, by any means, the ten most impactful nor the most essential books, but rather those that I enjoy reading and, in almost every case, rereading. Of course the four Gospel books are arguably the most important books, along with Genesis and Revelation. Romans is among the most powerful in delivering a message. This list is nothing more than one Christian’s personal preference, so take it as such and know that I would welcome reading your own list! But before we jump into my list, here is a very interesting graphic by BibleGateway with the most popular books:

10. Ezra – This is probably not a book that would make many of your top ten lists, which is part of the reason why I am glad it is so high on mine. I have always enjoyed the story of the man who led his people out of Babylon, displayed dire concern for the welfare of his nation, sparked a spiritual revival, and ultimately saw the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem. In particular Chapter 9:5-15 is of note, as that is the part containing a great intercessory prayer on behalf of his nation.

9. 1 Kings – This is probably another unexpected entry, and it is all because of the story of one man: Elijah. It was a tough call between Elijah and Elisha, as both of them have excellent stories embedded in the two books of Kings. But ultimately, Elijah’s showdown with the followers of Baal at Mount Carmel just cannot be topped. Also working in the favor of the books of Kings would be the picture of how a nation’s fervor for God can ebb and flow, usually following the actions and choices of the leader. How great it is when  you come to those ones who truly sought after God, breaking down the idolatrous barriers erected by his predecessors. Some might find the book a tough read, being historical and all, but there is a lot of good stuff in here.

8. Ezekiel – It is hard to rate a book so high when I have read it only once, but it has left a lasting impression. I remember reading the book and loving the imagery contained in there, and it had a bigger impact on that first read than either Isaiah or Jeremiah. Its place has dropped over the years, mainly because I have not revisited it, but that is a problem I plan to correct this year as I am reading through each of the prophetic books. It will be interesting to see how this shifts after I get a second read completed.

7. Judges – This book reads like a series of short stories, following the lives of men and women who were called to guide Israel in the right direction prior to their demand for a king. Like the Kings of Israel, some Judges did a better job than others. And the one story in here that steals the show, every time, is Samson. Not only is it really awesome to picture one man fighting with the jawbone of a donkey, but it also serves as a great reminder that even the strongest of men have weaknesses that can humble them. And no man, however strong, is truly strong apart from the power of God.

6. 2 Timothy – One of the shorter books on the list, and the first of Paul’s epistles to grace the list. Like its predecessor, the book of 2 Timothy passes along messages regarding the importance of teaching others and being ready to preach the Gospel. This one scores high on the list primarily because it usually gets read right after I go through the first one, which is a few spots higher on this list. The message resonates with me every time, which is why the two Timothy letters are probably the most-read books in the Bible for me.

5. Titus – This placement can be summed up with two verses: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Titus 2:7-8. I love those verses, and those serve as a backbone to what I strive to do as a Christian. This is the shortest of the books on my list, and, like Timothy, has a message that really packs a powerful punch and resonates with my soul. It is now common practice for me to read this right after the Timothies.

4. John – A Gospel book arrives at last, and if you were expecting to find all four of them on this list you will be disappointed. All four of them are excellent, each one having its own unique style and merit. But while Matthew, Mark, and Luke all are centered around the actions and teachings of Jesus, John takes things to a different level and revolves around the spiritual impact of Jesus and his ministry. That is not to say that it is better than the other three, but rather the depth of the material is what makes me return to John time and time again.

3. Joshua – This is the book I often turn to when I am looking to engage in a study of manhood, leadership, and prayer. The man who had to follow in the footsteps of Moses, Joshua leads God’s people out of the wilderness and into the land promised to Abraham. But everything is far from peaceful and Joshua engages in a series of battles where he relies, time and again, on God’s power and God’s commands rather than his own (or what would make sense to us). Joshua’s prayer to stop the sun and the moon is one of the most powerful moments in the entire Bible and to know that I can tap into a fraction of that potential with the proper prayer life is enough to motivate me to draw closer to God through prayer.

2. 1 Timothy – My favorite letter of Paul and my top book in the New Testament. It is no surprise, as previous entries alluded to its presence. The practical advice, geared toward those who are called to teach as well as verse 4:12 make this one a gem among gems in the Bible. As a newer Christian, as well as moderately on the young side in age, I still hold onto 1 Timothy 4:12 as a verse to write upon my heart. I plan to instill it into the hearts of all my children some day, as well. If you haven’t read 1 Timothy in a while, do yourself a favor and dive right in. There is bound to be something there for you.

1. Job – This has been my favorite book ever since my first reading of the Bible. I have read and studied it a few times and still haven’t managed to wrap my head around the magnitude of everything in here. Many people point to the early chapters of God and Satan discussing Job, or look at this as a great book for human suffering, but it is so much more than that. There is an unending reassurance in here that God is in control. Who am I to question why this happened instead of that? Who am I to tell God what I deserve (as if that conversation could EVER go well, as we are all sinners and all deserving of the eternal torment of hell if judged by the merits of our own actions) or do not deserve? The questioning, the doubting, the agonizing all builds up to the crescendo where God steps in and takes over the discussion. And it is wonderful.

What about you? What would your top books of the Bible be? If you decide to do a post on your own blog, be sure to tag me so I can read your list as well!

Top Ten Books You Should’ve Read in High School But Didn’t

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1984, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Beowulf, Books You Should Have Read in High School, Ender's Game, Fahrenheit 451, Frankenstein, Hamlet, Jane Eyre, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Hobbit, Top Ten List

All of us were guilty of it at some point in time. A class assigned a book that just didn’t appeal to us, or we didn’t have the time to get it in. Or maybe you read it and found yourself bored out of your mind. There are some books that schools have their students read that are simply there because, well, everyone places that book on the reading list. They get paraded around as being worth reading because they are old, by famous authors, but the weight of their worth is never actually evaluated in terms of whether the book is enjoyable to read.

It is no secret that I love reading older books as much as I do the newer ones. I was lucky enough that one of my two teachers for English and Literature classes actually assigned books that were worth reading (while the other stuck to those oh-so-dreadful books like Grapes of Wrath) and introduced me to books that ran away with my imagination. So several of these books below are directly from what he pointed me toward. The others have come across my table later in life and, upon evaluating the books that are commonly-assigned reads, they stood out as being ones that are very much worth picking up and reading. You can thank me later. In no particular order:

• 1984 by George Orwell

Odds are that you’ve heard, or even used, the phrase that “Big Brother is watching”. But if you skipped the book, you missed out on the magnitude behind the entire plot. It is so much more than spying on the doings of the common people, it includes an almost brain-washing of the masses daily to change who they are at war with, who they have peace with, and so much more. Woven within this frightening image of the future is a great story that will keep you riveted the entire way. Another book to read with a glimpse at a possible future, which just barely missed the list, would be Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Forget what you think you know about Frankenstein, because the tale of the book is very different from anything that the popular culture and the movies have created. It can be a hard stereotype to break, but this book will do so when you get to see an intelligent creation struggle with people’s reactions to its own existence. This is one of the shorter reads on the list, and that alone should grant it merit on your reading list. This is one of those many instances where the book is way better than any other adaptation.

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The first of the books I can credit to the aforementioned teacher in high school. This is not a short book. The leatherbound copy on my bookshelf comes in at over 1,000 pages, but don’t let the size deter you on this one. This is a novel that has it all: action, adventure, true love, fencing, fighting, torture, prison escapes, political intrigue, pirates, treasure, and so much more. I finally reread this book back in January and was blown away by just how magnificent this novel truly is. It all builds up for an unforgettable literary experience.

• Beowulf

By far the oldest of things on this list, yet it has merit in its own right. Pick up a good, readable translation such as the one by Seamus Heaney and get swept away on an adventure that will see the protagonist, Beowulf, do battle with three different monsters (one of them is a dragon!) by the time it reaches its conclusion. Or, if the thought of this old poem really intimidates you, check out my previous post on Beowulf and click the link that takes you to Beowulf for Beginners. Once you familiarize yourself with the story, you might be better prepared to dive into the poetic translation of Heaney. Fans of this one would also do well to pick up a few of the Icelandic Sagas, such as Njal’s Saga or Egil’s Saga.

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Another shorter work, this one being a fun and whimsical story that we’re all fairly familiar with from the various film adaptations. Much like Carroll’s Jabberwocky poem, you can expect to come across the strange and unexpected in this story and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass. If you have a rainy afternoon and are looking for something to occupy your time, leave the Netflix turned off and pick this book up. You’ll enjoy the experience.

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I didn’t read this one until a college Lit course that was solely reading Victorian literature. Among all of the books we read that term, which included works by Dickens, Austen, Thackeray, and Eliot, this book stood head and shoulders above the rest as being the highlight of the term. It had everything the others contained: a fun glimpse into the Victorian-era lives, while pairing it with elements of the supernatural. The underlying themes captured my mind while the book itself stole my reader’s heart and I cannot wait to dive back into this one. It was that good.

• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This is the second book on the list that I have to thank that high school teacher for introducing me to. I do not know how I made it to my Junior year of high school without reading a single word of Tolkien, but this book did not exist to me until that class. I devoured the book in two days and dove straight into the Lord of the Rings trilogy afterwards (by his recommendation, of course!) and this has since become my favorite book of all time. I reread this one almost every year for a reason, and fully expect that my children will know this story just as well as I do. I still have not decided whether or not they will ever get to learn that movies were made “based” on this book…

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This is another book that I absolutely devoted every possible moment toward reading when I first encountered it. I spent an entire afternoon lost in the world of Bradbury’s imagining and have since revisited it two more times (including an audiobook venture last year) and it still captivates me every single time. This one pairs well with 1984 on the list, showing a possible future where books, and the information contained in them, are considered dangerous. Bradbury was a tremendous writer, and if you only read one thing by him in your lifetime, this would be the one to read. But you may find, like I did, that his fiction is too good to stop after reading just one of his books. If you need to scratch that Bradbury itch after finishing this, I recommend The Martian Chronicles as a good second read.

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

The last of the books I can thank my old teacher for, this one probably isn’t on many high school reading lists but I firmly believe that it should be. If you guessed that I downed this book in a day or two, you’d be correct. Forget the recent movie, this book is so much better than anything in that film. Ender Wiggin made his mark in this book and it was something the direct sequels never really lived up to. Enjoy following this young boy through Battle School as he tries to help Earth ward off the threat of a future Bugger invasion and then follow it up by reading Armada by Ernest Cline if you’re looking for something more in a similar style.

• Hamlet by William Shakespeare

This list would be a tragedy without at least one Shakespearean play and this one still stands far above the others as being the best of the best. Forget the typical reading of Romeo and Juliet and opt instead for this dark tragedy about the prince of Denmark. It is such a quotable work, and something everyone should get the chance to experience. This was Shakespeare writing at his finest, when so many of the gems were coming out, and while you can ask a dozen Shakespeare scholars which one work should be read and get a dozen answers, this one should make all of their lists for top three Shakespearian plays. Then hop on Youtube and watch the version with David Tennant, Patrick Stewart, and Penny Downie.

Have you read any of these books? Agree or disagree with what is on this list? What are some of the books from high school reading lists that you would recommend a person should read? Comment below!