My Favourite Books!

Hi,

I thought that today I would just discuss some of my all time favourite books. You'll probably notice that these books will range over different periods of history and also many different genres and authors but there is definitely a pattern among these books. My reading has definitely expanded since I started studying Literature at University.

 I hope this post helps give you some recommendations and maybe some inspiration to pick up a book you wouldn't normally reach for.

Oh and I should preface this by saying this list is not in order. I couldn't possibly rank some of these books above others so please keep that in mind! I will try and avoid any spoilers!

Let's Begin!

1. Pride and Prejudice, By Jane Austen

This was probably the first classic novel I ever fully read and I just fell in love. Elizabeth Bennet is probably one of my favourite literary characters of all time. I just think she is so strong minded and intelligent. She doesn't take any sh*t from Mr Darcy or Wickham or Collins. We all need to cherish Mr Bingley for being the novel's sweetheart and applaud Austen's confidence in awarding the most beautiful, kind and lovely women in the text with the name Jane! If you are wanting to pick up any classic novel, I would definitely recommend this one. It is very much dialogue heavy though, so if you're not a fan of that maybe give it a miss.  And I don't know if this is a controversial opinion or not, but I really do not recommend watching the 2005 film with Keira Nightly. I would suggest watching the 1995 tv adaptation starring Colin Firth instead, It is much longer and takes more commitment but it is definitely worth it.  

2. Alice In Wonderland, By Lewis Carrol

I am pretty sure most people know this story, whether that be from the book or the Disney film. Either way, it's great! The characters are so memorable and loveable, yet when you delve into the symbolism of the story, each represent something very serious. One way of looking at it is that each character represents a different mental illness and I highly recommend you research this as it is truly amazing and something that none of us notice as children. Overall, I just love the happy and wacky world of Wonderland and everything in it.

3. 1984, By George Orwell

This novel is very different to the others on this list. I first studied dystopian literature at college and this book blew my mind. Although it is fascinating, it is also terrifying how our society is beginning to mirror the society of Oceania (the world inside the book). I recommend this if you really want a book to make you think. If you're a fan of politics, this book will also be great for you. But I suggest that everybody read it.

4. Little Women, By Louisa May Alcott

This book is just an overall pleasant read. Despite some real problems that the sister's face, especially regarding the character of Beth, the novel is very heartwarming. I love reading about the sisterhood of this family and I see myself through all 4 sisters. I love the fact that each sister represents a different art form; art, literature, music and performance. This book kind of has it all, romance, drama, trauma. What more could you ask for?

5. Great Expectations, By Charles Dickens 

I was first introduced to the work of Dickens very recently in one of my university modules. I always avoided his work for some reason and i'm not sure why. I think I always assumed it would be complex and difficult to read. Somewhere in my mind I think I related him to Charles Darwin aswell which didn't help his case because I am terrible at science! But Dickens is so easy to read. This book in particular is just an overall great story. Following the life of Pip is fascinating and the characters are all so iconic. If you've never read Dickens before, I highly recommend you do and don't confuse him with Darwin! But I think that might just have been me😂

6. Shakespeare!

This last one is kind of a cheat but I couldn't pick just one of Shakespeare's plays. It is a given that I would love Shakespeare, I am an English Literature student afterall! I am completely aware that Shakespeare can be pretty hard to read for some people but please don't let this stop you from learning the stories of these plays! If you can, watch them or read a modern version of the play. They are each fantastic in their own ways. If I had to pick one play over them all, I think I would have to choose Hamlet. This is Shakespeare's longest play but that is because so much happens! There are so many great productions out there that you can watch, I always love the David Tennant one (because who doesn't love David Tennant!).

Anyway, I should probably stop now or I could ramble on forever. If you enjoyed this post and want me to talk about more of my favourite books then please let me know. And leave a comment telling me your favourite book! I'm always looking for suggestions.

Lucy x