Moving in to a new term in my final year as an English literature student is a strange thing. Having wallowed through Medieval tomes, dusty Dickensian novels and more modernist poetry than T.S.Eliot would have wished on anyone, it's come to a time to contemplate what I've learned.
The sad thing about studying literature is that in many respects it takes some of the joy out of reading. Liking nothing more than a night in good book and a few glasses of wine is a penchant which quickly evaporates once cramming in three novels and numerous articles a week becomes a dreary routine. So I've decided, in a bid to inspire me to love my subject and throw myself into my penultimate term with gusto, to try and remember just why I love literature.
So here it is, in five super-fun installments, my 50 best loved books. It's not exactly high brow, but these are the books that have made me laugh, cry and keep on reading, even when analysing just why Lizzie and Mr Darcy click makes me want to do anything but. Enjoy!
50. DEAD FAMOUS- BEN ELTON
A work of comedic brilliance, oozing with sarcasm and satire, whodunit 'Dead Famous' burst into early twenty-first century literature as reality TV was taking over our lives. Set in a Big-Brother style television set-up, Elton introduces a cast of crazy characters in his wry take on trash TV, throwing in a murder and a hilariously exaggerated portrayal of the sexualised, bizarre nature of reality television.
49. ONE DAY- DAVID NICHOLLS
It may be poolside reading, but 'One Day' perfectly hits the spot for light reading with a heart. A sweet romance that deals with the trials of founding yourself in adult life, the novel catches up with its two central characters on one day annually for 20 years. Fast forwarding through a slow-burning love affair, as well as the highs and lows of adulthood, you'll need tissues at the ready for this heart wrenching blockbuster.
48. FIVE CHILDREN AND IT- EDITH NESBIT
A classic 'be careful what you wish for, it might come true,' this early twentieth century children's novel is a funny and heart-warming tale. With all the elements of magic, adventure and family perfect for a children's book, this is a literary classic.
47. THE DA VINCI CODE- DAN BROWN
Another summer read, this story of conspiracy, deceit and murder seized the public imagination. A dark tale delving into the secrets of Christianity, 'The Da Vinci Code' is intelligent and interesting as a speculative work of non-fiction, whilst also being a gripping piece of fiction.
46. DISGRACE- J.M.COETZEE
One of the few books from my course to make this list, 'Disgrace' is a multi-prize winning tale of class, race and gender in post-apartheid South Africa. Following the rape of his daughter, womanising, disgraced former professor David Lurie is forced to confront his own values. A dark and unsettling novel, 'Disgrace' is unrelenting in its confrontation of the boundaries of violence and self in a disjointed society
45. DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS- JOHN WYNDHAM
A classic of 1950's post-apocalyptic fiction, all notions of bad black and white film versions must be put aside before reading this brilliant book. Fantastical and scary, 'Day of the Triffids' contains all the elements of a modern zombie novel way before its time-- man wakes up in hospital having avoided a catastrophe (in this case a meteor shower rendering everyone blind) to find the world completely changed. Belief must be suspended to engage with this tale of killer plants, but its a classic modern horror, perfectly engaging with the theoretical collapse of civilisation.
44. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS- AGATHA CHRISTIE
Although more or less any Agatha Christie is worth a read, this classic detective novel has all the familiarity of an early twentieth century tale of murder, with perhaps Christie's most dramatic twist.
43. THE QUEEN AND I- SUE TOWNSEND
The hilarious queen of satire Sue Townsend wonderfully if a little harshly portrays 1990's benefits Britain in her take on what would happen if the Republican Party came to power. A genuinely funny novel, Townsend's imagination is boundless in her fantastic and exaggerated characterisation, in a story which speculates on how the royal family would cope if moved to a council estate.
42. THE INTIMATE ADVENTURES OF A LONDON CALL GIRL- BELLE DE JOUR
A perfect portrayal of the changing face of the novel, Dr Brooke Magnanti's collection of blogs documenting her time as a London escort is honest, funny, shocking, and contains more awkward sex moments than the problem pages of Cosmo.
41. CARRIE'S WAR- NINA BAWDEN
Another not-to-be-missed children's novel, 'Carrie's War' documents the fictional experiences of evacuees in the second world war. A perfect portrayal of a child's take on the disruption of family life, and the age-old secrets of country life, construed as mystery and horror through innocent eyes, 'Carrie's War' focuses on an unseen side of the wartime experience.
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