I love reading. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and I don’t think I’m ever likely to stop.
Still, there are some books that just stand head and shoulders above the rest. They may not objectively be the best books in the world, but for whatever reason, they are books that I just couldn’t get enough of. Books that stuck with me. Books that defined and continue to define the kind of writer I try to be.
And so, I am happy to share a few of these with you now. There are probably plenty more, of course, but these were the first titles that came to mind when I decided to write a post like this (no doubt, you will have a few favourites of your own, so be sure to share these with us in the comments below so we can all run out and read them). And so, without further ado:
The Vagrant by Peter Newman
Every now and again you find a book that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and forces you to keep reading it while you beg for more. This was my experience with The Vagrant (and, to a slightly lesser extent, the subsequent sequels) by Peter Newman.
The world Newman has created is just so vivid; so alive, and filled with characters who stay with you years after you’ve finished reading.
Click here to buy The Vagrant on Amazon.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lewis Wallace
I’m not normally a fan of religious fiction but I will make an exception for this classic. It’s an epic tale of conspiracy, revenge, romance, adventure and even chariot racing. Themes of family, friendship, gender, slavery and life-after-death are all explored in a way that leaves the reader thinking long after the book has been finished.
It does include a little more theo-philospohical musings than might appeal to the average modern reader but what can I say? I like that sort of thing.
Click here to buy Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ on Amazon.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
If you like your adventure stories epic, they don’t come much more epic than this classic by Alexandre Dumas. It’s a long and complex bit of fiction with a rich array of characters, and all so masterfully woven together that it never felt like it was dragging despite its length.
Note: The version I read was beautifully unabridged and translated into English by Robin Buss.
Click here to buy The Count of Monte Cristo on Amazon.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
I have rather a lot of John Steinbeck books, but this was the first one I ever read and it remains a firm favourite. Steinbeck makes masterful use of the English language to bring his characters to life in ways that are both beautiful and disturbing in this sad story of futility and bigotry.
Click here to buy Of Mice and Men on Amazon.
The Green Mile by Stephen King
You’ve seen the movie right? A true classic of the genre. An undeniable cinematic masterpiece but… the book was still better. This novel has vibrant characters, detailed settings and a beautiful first person narrative in which the protagonist describes events that happened in his past as well as events that are happening to him now, as he writes the story decades later.
Click here to buy The Green Mile on Amazon.
The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
This is another fantasy story which was so perfectly imagined and so beautifully described that it was hard to believe the gloomy world of Scadrial wasn’t a real place. It also boasts my favourite magic system of all time, in which able characters consume and ‘burn’ metals that endow them with particular abilities. Best of all though, this story boasts a vivid and well developed cast of characters (even the minor ones!).
PENSTRICKEN 
Leave a comment