Favourited Books

Creating a list of favourite novels or series is a virtual impossibility for an English Major, or book-lover like myself. Most anything can be good for SOME reason, so we narrow it down to the overly wonderful - but even then, what is the rubric, what are the justifications? And, too, in contrast to which other books that have been read - whioch are left out? This one is written well, that one has my favourite character. Another makes me laugh, while yet something else made me cry. Selecting my "favourite" books was not easy by any means, and this list is neither wholly inclusive nor ranked in any specific order, merely those books which strike me as something special out all all books i have read to date. Taking into consideration style, content, character and everything else, I've chosen seven books I'd recommend to anyone.

* The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams.
This series consists of four 'original' books: The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Life the Universe and Everything, So Long and Thanks for All the Fish with a later added fifth novel, Mostly Harmless. This latest, Adams stated, was added to provide a more fitting ending, as the series was previously ended during a time of the authors deep depression. Lets just say, read all five.
I chose this series because the books are hilarious, clever, off-beat, and well written. There is something about the smart humour and original plot ideas that is just brilliant. I’ve read them many many times. (I do that, with books I love) and they are still amazing. Each time I find new bits that are wonderful, and pour over my favourite pages again and again.
“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”

* The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde.
Let's just say, Fforde is a genius, end of story. The series consists of the novels: The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, Something Rotten and First Among Sequels in that order, all of which feature one Thursday Next. For anyone who loves reading or writing, you have to read these books. Fforde creates THE MOST original world, writing style and plot ideas I have ever read. Ever. He’s a nutter, but a fabulous one. That, and the world he creates is so insanely complicated and detailed – he misses nothing. Each book is intricately connected to the next, and just when you think he's left something out, it gets fully explained later. Not that you'll always understand - his particular brand of genius can be slightly over my head, but not in the 'this is pointless' sense that makes things unreadable the entertainment value reamins. They truly are the most genius books I have read.
“take no heed of her…she reads a lot of books.”

* The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini.
I was hooked with the very first page. the imagery - the weight of the words, carried so much meaning and so easily stretched to the reader. I cried. I cried a lot. The style of writing is first person, and wonderful. It is a terrible, tragic honest story that holds nothing back and doesn’t sugar-coat anything. The Hero is not always good. In fact, he often does the wrong thing in the most terrible way, and is nothing like a hero at all. And yet, you love him. You love all of them, despite everything, and the pain and guilt and suffering and loyalty just make the whole thing beautiful. Despair is not despair if there is still a flicker of hope, and this story excudes that through wonderuful imagery and relations.
“A smile. Barely there, but there.”

* The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
The style, more than anything, is what gets me with this one. This book keeps bringing me back. I find something new and wonderful in it each time, and could quote page after page of beautiful succinct phrases. Somehow her writing is just so poignant and raw. I was truly inspired by the way she presents everything through words, pictures and poetic sticato sentences. I absolutely adore the style, and the story is a beautifully tragic one, all the way to the end.
“Nothing mattered much. Nothing much mattered. And the less it mattered the less it mattered. It was never important enough. Because Worse Things had happened. In the country that she came from, poised forever between the terror of war and the horror of peace Worse Things kept happening.”

* Watership Down by Richard Adams.
I have three copies of this book. I love it so very much, and have read it so many times, the first copy is literally in pieces. It kills me that people say of this "isn’t that that story about rabbits” with such distain... like it’s a kids book. And on that note, why is it in the children’s section of Chapters? Really? I mean, I was young when I first read it - grade 7 probablly, but it’s so much more than that. I just hate to see it reduced to 'another kids book'. Although I love animals, and that whole aspect, this is much more than just a book about some rabbits. It’s about hope, and loyalty, and adventure. About the ways of life, and trust in yourself and your friends. Community. honour... a whole slew of things. Plus, it is very very smart and well written. the characters are relatable, the hardships tragic, and the allegories raw. This book deserves a second look.
“Rabbits need dignity and above all the will to accept their fate."

* A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
I could write for days on this book, and have done, and not just because it is long. Because it is a moving story of pure humanity. The characters are broken down the the very lowest of lows, and yet - and yet some form of hope remains. The story is, yet again, heartbreaking but beautiful. There is one moment, that too me, though quite simple, is just the most unbelievablly tragic thing I may ever had read to date. The portrait of each character - their history, relations, everything is so thurough, so real, and so very believable you can't help but connect with each and every one of them. Fabulous work.
"It is a fine balance, between hope and despair..."

* Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Consisting of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Pheonix, The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hollows.
No, they are not just some books about a wizard.
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"