Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. Tag five friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!
Thanks to Deity Derin ( derinthemadscientist) for giving me something other than freaking out to do while writing this monster of a mini-thesis. This was a damn difficult list to make, let me tell you.
1. Animorphs Book 29 – The Sickness by K.A. Applegate.
Like Derin said, Animorphs needs to be read as a series in order for the full effect to be realised. And 29 isn’t even my all-time favourite book of the lot. It’s definitely on the top five, but not necessarily number one. The reason I put it on here is because it’s the one that smacked me around the head (metaphorically speaking) as a kid. And I’m talking 12-year-old me, before I’d read and fully comprehended the full series. This was one of the few Animorphs books my library had, and I read it simply because I wanted another Cassie-narrated book. I got a whole lot more than that. Not only did this book finally address one of my long-time pet peeves of “children’s” media not doing injuries or sickness justice (that’s a rant I can go on about for days) but it also let me understand myself a bit more. It’s no secret at all that my favourite Animorphs character is Jake. But I’ve always identified with Cassie the most. When she’s written right, I can understand her without trying. I get her – her and her morals and her confusion and her selfishness and her desire to just make people okay. And in this one, Cassie’s “mistake” of trusting Aftran is shown to have sparked and entire peace movement. A third option that nobody really thought of – one that’s still got so much to iron out but one that’s magnificent. Once again, the Yeerks are not just the enemy. And for one of the first times ever, Cassie has to fix her own messes. Which leads to Ax being saved and Aftran getting a happy ever after. I just… I really like this book and the personal lessons Kid Ghosty learned from them. They don’t make sense to anybody reading this, I know. But this book just made my heart… swell. And it always has. Also, we got Cassie and Jake dancing together. Cherry on top.
2. The Dream Merchant by Isabel Hoving.
This book. I have searched for this book for years because I need a copy of it. But I live in the bowls of the earth, so go figure. A friend’s godmother bought this book for her as a whim present when she came back from overseas, and I lent it one day in class when I was bored. I expected to read a little, then give it back. No biggie. Except it was. This book was a big biggie. Okay, the exposition was flawed. The characterisation was a little wonky at times. And, darnit, I was just plain confused out of my mind in a few places. But I’m guessing that’s a translation issue? Anyway, despite all of that this book was brilliant. I loved the concept, I loved the characters. I loved that ‘the chosen one’ turned out not to be what they thought he was, that his friend turned out having the power instead. I love how everything was shades of grey. And, flipping damnit, I love the twins. I have a great love for the twin trope and this one just laid it on beautifully. I loved the allusions to history, and the lore this book did set up (however vaguely) and I just… all the feelings about this book, I swear.
3. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
I re-read all seven of the Narnia books every year. Every year. I adore this book series with all of my being. Number two is still my all-time favourite, however. And, no, it’s not because Peter Pevensie was the first character I’d ever had a crush on. I love the idea of Narnia in and of itself, and I love that Lewis was so eager for readers to expand his universe. And, boy, have they. The fanfic I have read… But the real clincher of this book – and the whole series – is definitely the Christian motifs behind it. I find the deeper meaning and I love it. Sure, some of it is intrinsically flawed. There are a lot of period-related (and possibly personal) prejudices in this series, yeah. But it always has and will never stop speaking to me as a lover of fantasy and a lover of Christ.
4. The Black Stallion Revolts by Walter Farley
I think the reason I’m so weary about series these days is because in my childhood I tended to pick books that were only one of, like, a thousand. And my local library was tiny and could not help me. And I didn’t get pocket money. So I was left in anguish wondering what the hell happened next.
Anyway, that was just a mini-rant. The Black Stallion series is another one from my childhood that I will love until the day I die. I started reading it when I was in that “oooh, horses!” phase of my tweens (yeah. I had one of those.) but even after it ended I have loved these books. I know they’re a bit ridiculous – the Black is personified far too much and they go through enough drama for a soap opera without ever having any permanent consequences – and they’re not written brilliantly, but darn it all I love this series. And this is one of the greatest in the line of books. It had a great storyline, had some really adorable bromance (can you use that term if it’s between a horse and his owner??) and also dragged Alec to a place of exploration. And I just loved seeing Alec re-discover himself, grow up a bit more and still manage to be him even when he didn’t remember who he was. This book wasn’t deep, or anything, but I love it.
5. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
My flatmate introduced me to this one last year and it knocked me clean off my feet. A lot of the Christian media I’ve seen have all been great with the message but rather wince-worthy with the acting or the writing. Not this one. I could not put the darn book down. And it hurt, and it frustrated, and it shamed me and it made me realise a few things about myself I didn’t want to realise. Also, ignoring the whole Christian motif of it all, I just really want a guy to love me as much as Michael loved her. Yes, I’m a hopeless sodding romantic. And the things this guy endured for her… Also the strength of Miriam and Sarah herself just gave me so much hope and humbled me quite a bit. Every inch of love for this book.
6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.
This was another “accidental” read. And it floored me completely. The writing was super and the plot was just… harrowing. I’ve always been a firm believer of “the snowball effect” – how one thing you do or say to somebody could mean nothing to you, but could be the final little tap to send them over the edge. How the little things people do – or don’t do – build up inside until it’s too much. And this book showed that. Yeah, Hannah was a kid who perhaps over-reacted a little. But it’s the principle. And the principle hit hard. It hit hard and hasn’t stopped hitting since I first put the book down. Also, I found Clay an absolute sweetheart and my affection for him just helped things along a great deal.
7. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Do I really need to say it? Really? I’m sure I ranted about this book enough. It’s the hopeless romantic thing, but also a little deeper than that. All cards out on the table, my greatest desire in life is to be worth something to those I love. I don’t want to save the world. I just want those I love to be proud of me and happy to have known me. That, added to the fact that I’ve always hated the inevitability of hurting those you get close to, and this book struck right in the heart for all the right reasons.
8. Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce.
Okay, confession – I read The Song of the Lioness series a very, very long time ago, so I can only remember fuzzy details. My library back home got rid of the books, and I haven’t had time to track them down. But even so, I remember absolutely freaking adoring this series. Alanna was my darned freaking hero, and not only because she had a great pet cat (I’m a cat person) or a twin brother (twin thing again) or a great lover (romantic, even when I was young.) If you have not read this series, go and read this series. It is epic, it is well-written (from what I can remember, at least) and it is just full of awesome lore and worldbuilding and snark and magic and freaking swordfighting. Not to mention Alanna, okay? I need to re-read this series to be a little more coherent as to why these books have stayed with me but they have. They are epic. And the final one is no exception to the rule, even if it did leave me crying for about two days after reading it.
9. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George.
I went through a wolf stage, too. I’m not over my wolf stage, really. Anyway, this and its sequel Julie did even more smacking on the head when I was younger. Not only did it have awesome references to Innuit culture in amongst the freaking wolves but it was also the first indication that the Western society in which I lived was not the greatest. I think I read this book for the first time when I was nine, and although it was old even then it made me twig that human beings aren’t that nice, a lot of the time. And that what “they” say is progress and good and whatever actually hurt a lot more than save. It actually just taught me a few cautionary lessons, and had a bit of romance in the sequel. They were generally just great books. (And I managed to find this one for 8 bucks at a garage sale by chance last year. Over the moon about that.)
10. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Nothing I say will ever be enough to give this book justice. That’s all I’m going to say – all I can say. I haven’t yet watched the movie because I was so wrecked by this book I don’t know if I can stand it being altered in any way. This book, guys.
(Special mentions to My Sister's Keeper and Darkhenge.)
And, with that, I tag: thesilverdevastation, overzelos, whatchuknowbouts, demenior and tygerwolfe.
