Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make Me Think


Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this week's topic: Top Ten Books That Made Me Think.

1.  Ishmael by Daniel Quinn - I know many complain that it is didactic but I still really enjoyed this novel.

2.  We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver - this story provokes a lot of difficult questions and is a great book club choice.

3.  Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger (I need to re-read this sucker!)

4.  The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - religion and interplanetary travel...what a head trip!

5.  1984 by George Orwell - gotta question authority every once in awhile :)

6.  Caucasia by Danzy Senna - really delves into issues of race and identity (highly recommended).

7.  The Stranger by Albert Camus - gotta love some existentialist lit!

8.  The Giver by Lois Lowry - one of the quintessential dystopian novels

9.  The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta - how would you behave if "the Rapture" or something eerily similar happened and you were left behind? 

10.  Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse - great book!  Makes you contemplate the transitory essence of life as well as brings up the point/counterpoint between religious adherence vs. partaking in worldly vices.  This same theme is brought up in Hesse's Siddhartha which is also a fantastic and thought-provoking novel.
Narcissus and Goldmund

16 comments:

  1. After looking at your list I need to read Franny and Zooey and the Sparrow. I can't believe I have not read them yet.

    Glad to see your back!!!

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    1. Thanks Anne! Yes you must read both of those books...they're amazing!

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  2. Good list and I agree with you about The Giver and 1984. I also have been wanting to read We Need to Talk about Kevin for quite sometime now.

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    1. Oooh, you should! It's not an easy read but definitely thought-provoking.

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  3. We Need to Talk About Kevin is a great book for this list!

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  4. AH, The Stranger! That is definitely a book that makes you think. Like you said, got to love existentialist lit! ;)

    ~Allison @ Good Books and Good Wine

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    1. Wow, I was not expecting too many folks to be fans of The Stranger - PS I love your review additions to GB&GW!

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  5. No YA! Yay! And now I will check out the rest of your site and start following you.

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    1. Yay! Thanks for following, although I do read YA from time to time :)

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  6. I have never seen anyone else ever list The Sparrow on anything. I love that book. It is on my list also. Did you read the sequel?

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    1. No I didn't, did you? Is it any good? I've read mixed reviews about it...

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  7. I want to read The Leftovers. I love the image on the cover!

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  8. Oh man, how could I forget We Need to Talk About Kevin! That one and The Sparrow should have been high on my list. They both left me reeling for weeks!

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