Sunday Funday List: Top 10 Novels that Have Stuck with Me

Hey everyone! Sorry this one is a little late, quite a busy Labor Day weekend! But this weekend my list was practically handed to me by Tana. Thanks Tana!! I was asked by her to make a list of the top 10 books that have stuck with me. So here they are below, in no particular order:

1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is and forever will be my favorite series. I catch references to it in everyday life and it has affected me as a reader, as well as a person. I grew up with these characters and learned a lot from them. Their stories are ones that I never get tired of and I miss when I'm not reading them. Every September first I'm sad I'm not on the train to Hogwarts. But I can always go back by picking up one of these books. Thank you so much J.K. Rowling for creating a series that has touched so many peoples' lives.


2. The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I'd heard of The Secret History, but what got me to read it was reading a quote on the back of another book (The Raising by Laura Kasischke, I recommend it) saying that it was reminiscent of The Secret History. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I'm a huge fan of a mystery, especially a dark, twisted one. This is especially good for those in college, or that have been to college, as it plays a lot off of what occurs on a college campus. Definitely pick this one up.


3. Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke

Speaking of Laura Kasischke, this novel has not left me alone. I just recently read it, but it's still the only thing I can think about! This thriller is on another level. Once you finish it you see all the signs of what's going on, but while you're reading it you just want to know WTF is going on. Keep an eye out for my review which I will be posting soon on The Founding Fields.


4. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman

This is not the first Carol Goodman book I read, but so far has probably been my favorite. I stayed up all night tearing through it, and once I went to sleep, wasn't able to. I kept thinking about the story, and was a little uncertain of what lurked in the shadows across the room. All of her novels are fantastic and I highly recommend all of them, but definitely start with The Lake of Dead Languages, you won't be sorry.


5. A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle Trilogy #1) by Libba Bray

This is one of my favorite YA series. It's set in Victorian England at a private school where some pretty strange things happen. The world building in this is so unique and Libba Bray's description makes you feel like you're there the whole time. I really enjoyed the characters and the story, and have read this a million times. It's always on my list for recommendations.


6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This book is in almost in a dystopian vein, which would make it appealing to many kids reading today. The idea of a group of kids being stranded on an island and slowly devolving and losing their minds is terrifying. This book has stuck with me, imagining what would I do if I was in a situation like this? If you like Lost, this is a darker, scary story of what would happen (which if you like Lost, is hard to imagine!), but all involving young, teenage boys. Good luck! Also, it'll help you win at trivia games, thanks Piggy!


7. The Awakening by Kate Chopin

This was a required reading the summer before senior year AP English and I loved it! It's under 200 pages, but Kate Chopin fits so much in there you feel like you've read over 500 pages and run a marathon. The Awakening is a glimpse into life in French Creole Louisiana and what it was like to be a woman there at the end of the nineteenth century. Having been written in 1899 the themes in this novel were definitely a little more "risque" than what the public expected, but it is definitely important for people to read, women and men. I also suggest reading the short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Comparing the way these authors write about womens' lives in this period gives you a lot of insight.


8. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

I thought the first novel I read by Jennifer McMahon, Don't Breathe a Word, scared me. Oh no. That was nothing compared to The Winter People. Holy. Crap. Yikes. I'm still afraid of my closet some nights, and I read this months ago. This atmospheric novel will suck you in and keep you there until you think you're done, but then you suddenly find yourself in the woods and hear something scurry by. ::shudders:: Such a good book. Please read it, and check out my review here.


9. In the Forests of the Night (Den of Shadows #1) by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

One of the best vampire series, period. These are REAL vampires. No sappy love triangles. No one trying to be something they're not. These are scary, dark creatures. And the series is amazing, especially for the age of the author when this was written! When asked for a vampire YA series, this is always the first that pops into my head. She also has a great shapeshifter series!


10. The Magicians (The Magicians #1) by Lev Grossman

I love this fantasy series. It is definitely a growing up story, but also a great fantasy world that I would love to live in. Magic here is difficult and you have to work for it, it's science and math and depends on the weather. Lev Grossman's writing is amazing and you instantly fall in love with the characters, Brakebills and Fillory. If you're looking for a good fantasy/sci-fi series, check this one out!!