My Default List When Asked, “What’s Your Favorite Book?”
Interesting reads from all genres to remind you why you love reading.
Interesting reads from all genres to remind you why you love reading.
I stutter whenever people ask me for book recommendations.
Even though I’ve read more than 800 books in my life, it’s difficult for me to answer this question. I’m too worried about what they might think of my taste, what genre they’re interested in, etc. Or even worse: what if I tell them a book closest to my heart and they don’t like reading it?
I compiled this post to answer questions like that. If you’re on the lookout for some interesting books that will remind you why you loved reading so much in school, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on. You never know you might find your next favorite book among these.
(Note: The links mentioned in this article are affiliate links. If you choose to purchase these books through them, it will help me earn a small amount — at no extra cost to you. Thanks!)
1. The Amulet of Samarkand — Jonathan Stroud
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
This is the first book of the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. Set in modern-day London, the book chronicles the lives of 12-year old magician’s apprentice Nathaniel and his only friend, the djinni Bartimaeus.
It makes for an endearingly humorous and breathtakingly fast-paced read that’s sure to leave a mark on the reader. In fact, this might be the very first novel where you’ll look forward to the footnotes more than the actual text.
Bartimaeus of Uruk, a djinni (in his own words) ‘with more resourcefulness (not to mention mindless optimism) in his toenails than other hundreds of porridge-brained spirits together’ exists in his own world, peppered with the most enchanting details and described in a delightfully sassy voice.
While summoned by Nathaniel and bound to do his bidding, our darling Barty amuses himself with ‘plenty of fights, chases and sarcastic wordplay’ that helps keep his spirits high during the self-admittedly excruciating period he has to spend on our earth.
2. Animal Farm — George Orwell
Genre: Roman à clef, Satire, Fiction
The book can be read and enjoyed as a traditional farm fable, where a group of animals is tired of being dominated by humans in all spheres of their lives.
So they stage an epic insurrection, overthrow the ‘evil’ humans, and set up their own ‘independent’ way of life — plowing fields, building windmills, and harvesting the food on their own.
Sadly, for these animals, things do not remain as rosy for long.
This book can also be read as satire — using the darkest, driest humor to chronicle everything that’s wrong with society the way it currently is.
Animal Farm makes for an enjoyable read with an amusing ending, whether or not you get the numerous references to a communist society.
3. A Storm of Swords — R.R. Martin
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Technically, this is the third book of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R R Martin. It is also my favorite among the lot.
It has everything a reader might desire for in a novel — politics, plotting, romance, betrayal, and drama — lots of it.
At 1298 pages long, this book is not easy for a non-reader to complete. But if you’re a lover of books, then you sure can’t miss this series.
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix — J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
All the Harry Potter books are great. Period. But this one ended up being the one I could best relate with because when I read it, I was perhaps 13 or 14, like Harry — who was 15.
Harry, in this book, is awkward, clueless, misunderstood and all of it angers him. And when he gets VERY angry, he shouts in ALL CAPITALS!
Also, the bit about Cho Chang and him not being able to come to terms with his feelings for her was adorable. The magic and epic battles aside, this book is super relatable for teenagers.
5. And Then There Were None — Agatha Christie
Genre: Crime Fiction
Ten people trapped in an isolated house with no means of escape for three days.
Ten tiny china soldiers on the dining table that keep disappearing as mysteriously as the people get killed — one by one.
Ten people trapped together. One of them is a killer. None of the others have a way of knowing who it is.
It’s almost as if a gruesome game is being played that would end only when each and every occupant is killed — a case that keeps the police stumped for years.
Thank God for the epilogue that threw light on events. This certainly is a murder mystery to beat all murder mysteries.
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