5 ONLY books that MUST be read.

[Hullygully]

Any era, any genre.

No crap.

Go.

Not that I've been thinking about this allllll afternoon at the slight expense of doing actual work but...

I proudly present my five. Yup; 5. All with reasons. Not at all a rule breaker here.

The Hunger Games - I know it's a kids' book, but I think everyone should read it; it's a damning picture of the extremes of governmental control, reality television and the resilience of youth. I love it, despite how ruined I felt by the end of the trilogy. (and yes, I'm cheating because it's actually 3 books, but I am imagining somehow, somewhere there's a single book version of the set...)

Pride and Prejudice - Well, it was very close between this and Persuasion, but I think Elizabeth Bennet is just that little bit stronger a lead character. But yeah - it should be read because it shows a good case against stubbornmindedness, and because it felt right to balance a future dystopia with a classic tale of the past.

Harry Potter - Another childrens' series, I'm severely pushing at the rules set forth. But anyway, my reasoning for this one is that, as a young adult I read these books and my imagination ran wild. The world Rowling has created is so full of details and possibility and I think is in part to blame for my not-so-secret desire to be a writer. Also, because of the way Harry ages as we read, and changes before our very eyes from an innocent young 11 year old through his angsty teens, to the final 17 year old world-saving young man.

The Year of the Flood - although I think is the middle of 3 Margaret Attwood books, so can I have another imagined compendium with Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, and then probably MaddAddam when I've read it. Because they're a more grown up Hunger Games; and worse they're a little bit more believable.

And finally... of the books of the world that I think MUST be read...

Deerskin - it's a fairytale retelling by Robin McKinley, and actually I don't think it must be read by anyone. But it's a book I read at least once a year and for some reason I just love it to pieces, so it's on my list out of loyalty and favouritism. So there.

'a curious incident of the dog in the night-time' - Mark Haddon (an amazing and very original read)

'Wizards first rule (and the rest of the series!) - Terry Goodkind

'The Beach' - Alex Garland (Ignore the god awful film that was made, the book was brilliant)

His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman - (again ignore the film, the books are brill, I read these not so long ago, I know their meant as 'teen lit' , but thoroughly enjoyed!!)

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Rachel Joyce (I've just finished reading this and fell in love from the get go, tale of an ordinary bloke who just 'goes for a walk' because of a letter, was brilliant!)

Lolita is, I think, a very good choice. Everything that's already been said about it rings true for me.

In think i might also add Boy A by Jonathan Trigell or The Sleep of Reason by David James Smith because of the way they tapped into the way our society reacted to the murder of James Bulger.

Mary, lol, no we not talking about books that changes civilisation , just decent reads - and (none of the above) are actually good books lol!

(oops, don't wish to offend!!)

somedizzy we wont even read 'The Sun' because of Hillsborough, haven't heard of the David James Smith book, will read x

Ok here goes (although I doubt many would agree with me)

The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks - fascinating insight to the human mind

Parkinson's Law by Northcote Parkinson - v old book about the politics of business (I have my grandfather's copy)

Trilby by George du Maurier - to understand the real meaning behind the term Svengali

Dracula by Bram stoker - just for terrifying purposes

The man who made husbands jealous by Jilly Cooper - because life is too short and everyone should read at least one bonk buster and this is my favourite!!!

Who said Knowledge of Angels, I LOVE that book!

I'm going to say:

1984. The greatest book I've ever read. The father of the dystopian novel.

Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe. Massively underrated, African literature needs to be more widely read.

The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver. Africa a different way.

100 Years of Solitude. Awesome epic.

The Year of the Flood, Atwood. This is where I cheat a bit, as the entire trilogy is worth reading. It's Atwood at her best, although I adore The Handmaids a tale, I think this is a refined dystopia with fantastic characters and a terrible vision of the world that could be.

I struggled not to include Birdsong, or Wide Sargasso Sea (and Jane Eyre for obvious reasons), or Arthur and George.

Surprised to see Room being mentioned. Clever concept, but not the best book I've ever read.

The list for right now. But ask again in a few minutes and four of the five will have changed.

-The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. The book Wilkie Collins would have written were he still alive. And a lesbian academic. But a taut wonder of the soul nonetheless.

-Nothing To Be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes. Always at his best as an essayist. A book about death and life and philosophy and mortality. That is warm and funny.

-Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. It's not Conrad's fault that this inspired Apocalypse Now. A drudge of a film that takes longer to watch than to read this novella. 100 pages that define humanity.

-Catcher In The Rye by J D Salinger. Hokey teen angst? Darn right. And all the better for it. After reading this it is essential to watch John Hughes films on a loop and dig out one's old Joy Division t shirt. (Can be substituted for 'The Bell Jar'. Same reasoning)

-The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. I am learning Italian. For holidays sure. But primarily because I want to read this in the original. Human. Warm. Wise. Funny. Wistful. The world is better for having had Primo in it. This choice will not change.

somedizzy sorry, didn't say we live in the 'area' (even shop in the strand) - Don't think anyone wants to read books about it as its still so fresh in everyone's memory here, and people here seem to still take whole thing personally - It's a weird thing - x

Y Y Y The Handmaid's Tale. Anna Karenina. Cant decide on the best of the others. KJB, certainly.

Oh yes:

Primo Levi - The periodic table
VS Naipul -anything ny him but 'A House for Mr Biswas'
Steinbeck - of mice and men

Oh shit, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. But it might not have made my final list.

Jonathon Livingston Seagull. S Bach. Made me think as a teen
Anna Karenina Tolstoy. Fantastic, gripping read.
Rose Madder Stephen King. One of his best novels, the writing kept me gripped to the end.
The Hobbit. Tolkien. Just the best fantasy novel written.
The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck. Another thought provoking book

Gonna add another.

(Rules? Don't do rules...)

-Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal by Jeannette Winterson. A mature woman's confessional and partner piece to 'Oranges'. This was an unexpected joy of an impulse buy. I want her to be my friend. We'd fall out soon enough. But it would be worth it.

And another.

-In The Woods by Tana French. Recommended from MN. Loved it from the lyrical prologue on. Had I known it was crime fiction before I started I wouldn't have read it. A lesson learned..

My Primo Levi choice would be 'If this is a man'.If everyone were made to read this book,the world wouldn't be full of such wickedness,I'm sure.

(I will swap that for my choice of 'Senseless acts of beauty' to keep within my 5))

I think the same about Periodic Table, verysmallsqueak. Better written than If This Is A Man, the same sentiments are there..

Maryz- were you a prefect at school? Just asking..

This might be my 9th or 10th but I am a rule breaker. Oscar Wildes The Nightingale and the Rose is such a beautiful (short) story book.

Glad you put the Bible Maryz, was going to put it but havent read the whole thing, only snippits, mainly at Sunday School a million years ago, but some great stories. I`m digressing arnt I.

retiredgoth I have to admit that I have not read it.But I will now!

Oh Bum,the bookshelf just caught my eye,and I now need to swap 'Aftermath' for 'Down and out in Paris and London' (Orwell, of course)

Rules are for breaking, no?

Tafflee it's an amazing book. I am the same age as the boys who killed him and as such it's always loomed large in my consciousness.