This list has been about the books I was assigned to read in college, but I've read some amazing books that weren't a part of any curriculum. Don't worry, I'm not going to begin a whole new list while keeping you in suspense about the number one on this list. I'm just going to briefly mention the wonderful books I had a chance to read in recent years.
I guess I could place all of these books in two categories: YA Lit and classic fiction.
We'll start with the YA Lit:
Catching Fire and Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins. I was assigned to read the first Hunger Games in a class, but the rest of the series was all on me. I quite enjoyed them, but sadly the last two books were never able to capture the greatness of the first.
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, and all the books that follow including the Shadow series. I loved this whole series. Although, like most series, the first book was certainly the most captivating. Card's moral quandaries are among the best in all of fiction.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. Contrary to my own opinion as stated in the last two paragraphs, this series certainly got better with each
tome. I have no problem admitting that I love every page of every Potter novel and film, and I have every intention of being there on opening day (July 15) when it comes time to say goodbye.This is a small sampling of the young adult books I read for pleasure when I should have been studying or writing or reading something more "literary." There are other books that I read that won't be mentioned by name because those I am ashamed to admit to devouring.
I didn't spend every free moment learning about contemporary teen angst. I spent a lot of time with the classics. You want vampire lust? You want daddy issues? You want debauchery? You want passion so deep it ruins generations of families? Yeah, I read that stuff, too.
In the summer of 2010, I decided to read some classics. Coincidentally, they all happened to have something to do with the supernatural, so I called it my summer of classic "horror." I loved every book.
Dracula by Bram Stoker. Apparently it was quite common back then for tales to be told via some
sort of frame device. Stoker magnificently uses letters, newspaper articles, and journal entries to tell the tale of a vampire. Dracula is not as hot as vampires are nowadays, but he was certainly just as creepy.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I love this book. Had it been assigned, it would definitely be on the top ten list, probably top five. I always thought I knew the story of the monster, but unless you read the book, you'll never understand just how tragic his existence really is. One of my college professors is teaching this novel as a part of one of his classes this summer. Maybe I'll have to go just to have the chance to read it again.The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. If I were the quoting
type, you know those people who watch a movie just once and then quote all the funny or poignant parts over and over again until you want to hit them, I would be quite sore after reading this book. Nearly every page has some snarky comment about life. People would also think I was quite the downer since the novel has a quite depressing take on things.Finally, my favorite non-assigned book of my college career. My number one, and had it been assigned, likely my overall number one, but I haven't decided that yet.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I guess you could say this
book was assigned, but by a friend, not a professor, so it goes on this list. Let me assure you, I'm not placing this book on the list to score points with said friend or anything like that. I simply love this book. I actually read it twice during the last two years and it only gets better upon close examination. The characters are all despicable. They treat each other horribly. And nowhere else have I seen characters so willing to hurt eachother for because they love eachother. There is more passion in this novel than in all of the books that comprise the contemporary phenomena of passion.There you have it. The best books that I read just for fun in the last few years.
