Today’s quote: “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” – Mark Twain
Without further ado, and in no particular order, here are the top 10 fiction books I’ve read.
The Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull
In 3rd grade, I picked up Fablehaven and hardly set it down. I paced myself with the other books in the series and finished the final book in 7th grade.
The Fablehaven series paved the way for my love of fantasy, adventure novels, and fiction as a whole. Some of my clearest memories are closely linked with fear – in a good way, an exhilarating type of fear – as I read about Kendra and Seth and their intense journeys.
Dear reader, I need your help. What is the name for the bittersweet feeling you experience when you finish a series that you really enjoy?
Maybe there isn’t a name for it. But there should be. The Fablehaven series introduced me to a deep, happy sadness soon after I closed the cover on the last book.
Click on the image of the books above to access Brandon Mull’s website and view the other two books complementing the Fablehaven series.
Books in the series: Fablehaven, Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star, Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague, Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison.
The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
“I used to do Tai Chi every morning,” my friend said as we drove to the climbing gym. We were discussing the benefits of yoga and concentrated breathing. “It’s a lot of slow, controlled movements,” he said.
“That reminds me of my friend who…” My voice trailed off and I could only chuckle and shake my head.
“What?” my friend asked. I explained that I had to cut my sentence short because I was about to refer to the main character of The Kingkiller Chronicles as my friend and reference book two.
I remember where I was sitting when I first heard about The Name of the Wind and added it to my never-ending list of books to read. I remember where I was sitting when I turned the last page, shut the book, paused to soak it all in, then reopened the book to the first page and started reading it again.
The Name of the Wind is a full story in and of itself, but a veritable introduction to a much larger story. Books one and two follow Kvothe and his present retelling of adventures from his past.
Check out Pat’s website for more info. He leads and participates in fundraisers for various charities every now and then. You can support some cool organizations and get some cool items in the process.
During one of the recent fundraisers, I got a signed copy of the 10th anniversary edition of TNOTW. Pat wrote seven words just for me! What do these seven words mean?!?! Read The Name of the Wind to find out!
Books in the series: The Name of the Wind (Book 1), The Wise Man’s Fear (Book 2), The Slow Regard of Silent Things (a book about a minor character in the series), The Doors of Stone (Book 3 – yet to be published).
The Millennium Series by Stieg Larsson
Larsson had planned 10 crime fiction books for this series. He completed three before his sudden death in 2004. The three books became known as The Millennium Series or The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy.
Though the books are lengthy, they are just about as concise as they could be. They’re cram packed full of intricate details and historical landmarks that add depth to the plot and bring the story to life.
Trigger warning (TW) – Before reading, please be aware that there are scenes containing extreme violence, brutality, vulgarity, etc.
Books in the series: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.
The Winter of our Discontent by John Steinbeck
Somewhere along the way I began collecting John Steinbeck books. It takes a certain mood for me to enjoy them.
Like many of Steinbeck’s pieces, The Winter of Our Discontent explores themes of hypocrisy and loneliness. The depth of the main character’s struggles was further deepened by my state of mind at the time I read it.
It’s all about timing.
If you choose to read The Winter of Our Discontent, I encourage you to also attempt to choose the right time for it. You’ll encounter depressing emphases on darkness, hopelessness, and moral ambiguity in the story. You may not enjoy it and you may not understand how it made my top 10 list. For me, it was all about timing.
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
The Dresden Files in three words: Wizard in Chicago.
As of 2022, Jim Butcher has released 17 books and plans to have either 23 or 24 total books in The Dresden Files. There are also a few compilations of short stories already published as tie-ins to The Dresden Files.
After reading 9 books in this urban fantasy series, there’s too much for me to comment on in a brief review, so maybe you’d better check out the author’s website here for more information.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Throughout the 814 pages comprising A Little Life, you will see the narrative’s perspective switch between 3rd-person and 1st-person, a technique I thought fit the telling of the story very well. Hanya Yanagihara paints a stunning picture that may be intimidating and frightening at first glance.
At second glance, you may find yourself staring, unable to look away, admiring the masterpiece Yanagihara gave life to.
TW – Before reading, please be aware that there are scenes containing extreme violence, brutality, vulgarity, etc.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
For an assignment in high school English class, we had to choose a book on which to do our year-end project. From the list of 5-10 options, I chose The Road. I did not regret my decision for a moment. In fact, I reread McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel post-graduation.
If you are looking for an action book with simple language and memorable, intense scenes, check out The Road.
Fun fact: Cormac McCarthy’s Olivetti typewriter on which he typed more than 5 million words – including those which developed into The Road – sold for over $250,000 at auction.
En attendant Godot (Waiting for Godot) by Samuel Beckett
In one way or another, we’re all waiting for Godot.
Beckett’s tragicomedy, En attendant Godot, is internationally recognized as one of the most significant plays in the 20th century. The minimalistic scenery and simplistic dialogue contribute to building mystery and intrigue in the plot.
Admittedly, I have not read all too many plays, nor would I consider myself much of a theatergoer. Regardless, I was thoroughly impressed with this piece. If you haven’t tried reading a play, I would definitely recommend En attendant Godot.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient is a true page turner. I read this book in two days.
For an introduction to this psychological thriller – which was inspired in part by the works of Agatha Christie – click here to visit goodreads.com. Be careful not to look at any comments or reviews on Goodreads unless you want to see spoilers.
Side note: Goodreads is a social media platform that allows you to connect with friends and see what books they are reading, what books they have read, and what books they want to read. Create a free account and add me as a friend!
I’ve heard mixed reviews on The Silent Patient, Michaelides’s debut novel. Opinions are usually fairly extreme towards loving it or hating it. Luckily, I fell into the former grouping. I’d be interested to know where you fall.
TW – Before reading, please be aware that there are scenes containing extreme violence, brutality, vulgarity, etc.
Light in August by William Faulkner
Light in August is a southern gothic novel set in the 1930s. Faulkner explores themes of race, sex, class, and religion in the American South. The narrative follows the lives of two strangers. By focusing on characters who are misfits, outcasts, or otherwise marginalized in their community, Faulkner portrays the clash of alienated individuals against a prejudiced rural society.
I’ve tried my hand at three Faulkner novels. I find them hard to enjoy (and understand) at times, as is the case with Steinbeck’s books. However, there’s a reason these two authors are well known. It’s in the details. Certain subtleties in Light in August made such deep impressions on me that I couldn’t resist including it in this list.
To all the book lovers out there: What are some books that would make your top 10 list of best works of fiction you’ve encountered?
Riddle:
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What are they?
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