We've all done it. Scoffed at the love for a movie franchise just to fall deeply in love with it years after everyone else. Ignored the hype of a TV show just to accidentally stumble across it and spend the next 6 hours telling yourself "one more episode". Continually skip by that one book on the bookshelf until you finally give it a chance and find yourself a few days later lying in bed, the book in your arms, wondering what you're going to do with your life now you've turned the last page.
So here are a few books that have done exactly this to me that I'd encourage everyone to give a go:
Yes this series was written for children. No, I do not care. I read the first book as a child, completely oblivious to the fact there were more books until I was at college. I then ordered them all online and buried my nose in them. The series starts off when Anne Shirley - an orphan - arrives at Green Gables to discover the family wanted to adopt a boy instead. Ouch,
Anne is such a lovable character, and the world is very sweet. It's so sweet sometimes it's almost like a fairy tale, which puts many people off. As a usual lover of drama, tragedy and heartbreak it isn't the type of thing I feel I should like, yet I love it. The truth is that sometimes real life is too damn depressing and I need a visit to Prince Edward Island. I want to get caught up in all the neighbourly gossip and ponder over who is courting whom. Yes, it may seem too "goody goody", but I think it's meant to be a reflection of Anne's optimistic character rather than the world, author or quality of her work. There are some heartbreaking events, especially later in the series where the books are focused more on Anne's children. I won't give away any spoilers, but there were tears.
So why is this on my list? I read the first book when I was a little girl. I loved it when I was a little girl, and I wish I'd found the rest when I was a little girl. It's a series a hold dear to my heart, and a series I can't abide others bad mouthing. Yet I've never met anyone who's read it who doesn't love it (unless they've failed to mention this to me). Plus Gilbert Blythe was my first fictional crush - who didn't crush on him?
As a Christian, I love a good religious themed book. This story is told through the letters sent by a senior demon, "Screwtape" to his nephew, a junior demon, "Wormwood". Wormwood has been assigned a man to temp and lead to damnation.
It's one of those books that just sticks around and makes you think. Although I'd recommend this to anyone, I felt I found a greater depth reading this as a Christian than I would have otherwise. It explored many issues, and deeper than they may at first seem in such a short book. Not only was it smart and entertaining, I found it busted a lot of myths about my beliefs too. I wish I'd discovered it many years ago when I struggled with what religion really meant to me.
I did read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe series as a child (spoiler: they're all about Christianity), so I wasn't expecting the darker, twisted style this book was written in. Although I did thoroughly enjoy it.
And before anyone asks, no, I do not take this book literally.
So I hadn't read a lot of sci-fi before I read this series. Mainly because a lot of new sci-fi movies put me off (and no, I'm not referring to the new Star Wars, which I loved). I wanted to give sci-fi a try and asked a friend for advice on where to start, and ended up with Arthur C Clarke.
An interesting fact is that the novel and the movie were written at the same time. Clarke and Kubrick worked alongside each other and ended up producing both a fantastic movie and novel (with a few notable differences to suit each platform). You learn something new every day, eh?
I never thought I'd say this, but I loved these books. Although they may get to "sciency" for some people, I find it interesting and pulls me further into the plot. The first book begins way back in time when humans were still apes, and a mysterious "monolith" appears on Earth. It nudges along evolution and the apes end up evolving into men. Men who reach the moon, and discover another monolith...
This book opened me up to the world of great sci-fi novels. I'd been judging the whole genre on a few rubbish movies, which I now regret. After reading this book I decided to start reading more genres, no matter what I thought of them. I even expanded that and began to read more graphic novels, comics, short fiction and non-fiction too. There's only one genre I struggle with now, and that's romance - but I'm trying! "The Rosie Project" is on my reading list...
It took me quite a while to get round to this classic, but oh was I happy when I finally did. Everyone knows the story of Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet To Come, but it didn't make the original any less riveting. What else can you expect from Charles Dickens?
I read this during Christmas one year (shocker, I know), and it did make you put things in perspective. I'll be super cheesy and say it reminds you of what Christmas is all about. Yet it does it in such a compelling way it's hard not to praise. I'd go as far to say that this is a must read, for everyone. You can take a lot from this book if you wish to do so. There's a lot crammed into this little tale, which is probably why it is one of the most famous and most adapted tales ever made.
I only read the original a few years ago, but I wish I'd read it as a child. Not just for the style, or the plot, but for the lessons that stick with you just like the eerie images of the three ghosts.
Also, if you didn't find the "Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come" even a little scary, you're telling porky pies.
Yes, I was quite late to discover Game of Thrones. Anyone who knows me would probably assume I followed it from the start the way I talk about it. Truthfully, I didn't even watch it until shortly before the fifth season. Yes, I watched the show before I read the books - something quite unusual for me.
So I've now read all of the released books in the series, along with the three novellas in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms", and even the short children's book: "The Ice Dragon". I've still to read another two novellas set in the "Game of Thrones" universe: "The Princess and the Queen" and "The Rogue Prince". As you can tell, I love the world.
As a child I was a huge lover of fantasy. Why read about the monotonous world I already live in when I could read about magic, quests and fairy tale beasts set in whole new worlds? That was the logic I applied to my reading habits then. Although I do still indulge in fantasy, I'm well aware modern day literature can be anything but boring, and some fantasy can turn into snooze fests.
So why did it take me so long to read this series? Well anyone who hasn't been living under a rock will have heard of the TV series, Game of Thrones. It is hugely popular, yet before I watched it I knew nearly nothing about it. This is what I did know: 1) It was often described as a "porno". 2) It was violent and a lot of central characters died. So I shrugged it off along with everything else popular that doesn't interest me. Until my mum bought the first 3 series for my dad as a Christmas gift and he told me it was a great show. "Is it better than Breaking Bad?" I enquired (his favourite TV series). He was unsure, which made me watch it that night. A few episodes in I was hooked, and I soon fired through the books too. Now that the 6th series has ended and "The Winds of Winter" has still to be released, I'm searching for anything that can fill the huge Westeros shaped hole in my mind just now. When reading the books I just kept repeating the same thing to myself: "Why didn't I give this a chance sooner?".
Yet another short and sweet novel... although this one is admittedly lacking in the latter. Animal Farm is about a farm of animals that rise up against the farmer and take over the place for themselves. They then elect the pigs to run the place, as they are of course the most intelligent animals of the lot. What happens then? Well, you'll have to read it for yourself (it doesn't take long), but their slogan may give you an idea: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.".
It's a brilliant read, and I can't help but continually compare it to modern day politics where I live. For all my international readers out there (I do have some!), British politics are a complete mess just now. If you don't laugh you'll cry. A lot. And if you're smart you'll jump in a boat and swim away in the river of your tears to a better world. Am I being dramatic? Maybe.
I could most probably add a lot more titles to this list, but I'm forcing myself to keep it short. If anyone's interested in what books I do read, check out my goodreads account. Not to brag, but I have Stephen King as a friend on it. Okay, he does have over 2000 friends, but still...
Do you have any books you wish you'd read sooner? I'd love to hear about them!
PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.
So here are a few books that have done exactly this to me that I'd encourage everyone to give a go:
The Anne of Green Gables Series
Yes this series was written for children. No, I do not care. I read the first book as a child, completely oblivious to the fact there were more books until I was at college. I then ordered them all online and buried my nose in them. The series starts off when Anne Shirley - an orphan - arrives at Green Gables to discover the family wanted to adopt a boy instead. Ouch,
Anne is such a lovable character, and the world is very sweet. It's so sweet sometimes it's almost like a fairy tale, which puts many people off. As a usual lover of drama, tragedy and heartbreak it isn't the type of thing I feel I should like, yet I love it. The truth is that sometimes real life is too damn depressing and I need a visit to Prince Edward Island. I want to get caught up in all the neighbourly gossip and ponder over who is courting whom. Yes, it may seem too "goody goody", but I think it's meant to be a reflection of Anne's optimistic character rather than the world, author or quality of her work. There are some heartbreaking events, especially later in the series where the books are focused more on Anne's children. I won't give away any spoilers, but there were tears.
So why is this on my list? I read the first book when I was a little girl. I loved it when I was a little girl, and I wish I'd found the rest when I was a little girl. It's a series a hold dear to my heart, and a series I can't abide others bad mouthing. Yet I've never met anyone who's read it who doesn't love it (unless they've failed to mention this to me). Plus Gilbert Blythe was my first fictional crush - who didn't crush on him?
The Screwtape Letters
As a Christian, I love a good religious themed book. This story is told through the letters sent by a senior demon, "Screwtape" to his nephew, a junior demon, "Wormwood". Wormwood has been assigned a man to temp and lead to damnation.
It's one of those books that just sticks around and makes you think. Although I'd recommend this to anyone, I felt I found a greater depth reading this as a Christian than I would have otherwise. It explored many issues, and deeper than they may at first seem in such a short book. Not only was it smart and entertaining, I found it busted a lot of myths about my beliefs too. I wish I'd discovered it many years ago when I struggled with what religion really meant to me.
I did read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe series as a child (spoiler: they're all about Christianity), so I wasn't expecting the darker, twisted style this book was written in. Although I did thoroughly enjoy it.
And before anyone asks, no, I do not take this book literally.
2001: A Space Odyssey
So I hadn't read a lot of sci-fi before I read this series. Mainly because a lot of new sci-fi movies put me off (and no, I'm not referring to the new Star Wars, which I loved). I wanted to give sci-fi a try and asked a friend for advice on where to start, and ended up with Arthur C Clarke.
An interesting fact is that the novel and the movie were written at the same time. Clarke and Kubrick worked alongside each other and ended up producing both a fantastic movie and novel (with a few notable differences to suit each platform). You learn something new every day, eh?
I never thought I'd say this, but I loved these books. Although they may get to "sciency" for some people, I find it interesting and pulls me further into the plot. The first book begins way back in time when humans were still apes, and a mysterious "monolith" appears on Earth. It nudges along evolution and the apes end up evolving into men. Men who reach the moon, and discover another monolith...
This book opened me up to the world of great sci-fi novels. I'd been judging the whole genre on a few rubbish movies, which I now regret. After reading this book I decided to start reading more genres, no matter what I thought of them. I even expanded that and began to read more graphic novels, comics, short fiction and non-fiction too. There's only one genre I struggle with now, and that's romance - but I'm trying! "The Rosie Project" is on my reading list...
A Christmas Carol
It took me quite a while to get round to this classic, but oh was I happy when I finally did. Everyone knows the story of Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet To Come, but it didn't make the original any less riveting. What else can you expect from Charles Dickens?
I read this during Christmas one year (shocker, I know), and it did make you put things in perspective. I'll be super cheesy and say it reminds you of what Christmas is all about. Yet it does it in such a compelling way it's hard not to praise. I'd go as far to say that this is a must read, for everyone. You can take a lot from this book if you wish to do so. There's a lot crammed into this little tale, which is probably why it is one of the most famous and most adapted tales ever made.
I only read the original a few years ago, but I wish I'd read it as a child. Not just for the style, or the plot, but for the lessons that stick with you just like the eerie images of the three ghosts.
Also, if you didn't find the "Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come" even a little scary, you're telling porky pies.
A Song of Ice and Fire
Yes, I was quite late to discover Game of Thrones. Anyone who knows me would probably assume I followed it from the start the way I talk about it. Truthfully, I didn't even watch it until shortly before the fifth season. Yes, I watched the show before I read the books - something quite unusual for me.
So I've now read all of the released books in the series, along with the three novellas in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms", and even the short children's book: "The Ice Dragon". I've still to read another two novellas set in the "Game of Thrones" universe: "The Princess and the Queen" and "The Rogue Prince". As you can tell, I love the world.
As a child I was a huge lover of fantasy. Why read about the monotonous world I already live in when I could read about magic, quests and fairy tale beasts set in whole new worlds? That was the logic I applied to my reading habits then. Although I do still indulge in fantasy, I'm well aware modern day literature can be anything but boring, and some fantasy can turn into snooze fests.
So why did it take me so long to read this series? Well anyone who hasn't been living under a rock will have heard of the TV series, Game of Thrones. It is hugely popular, yet before I watched it I knew nearly nothing about it. This is what I did know: 1) It was often described as a "porno". 2) It was violent and a lot of central characters died. So I shrugged it off along with everything else popular that doesn't interest me. Until my mum bought the first 3 series for my dad as a Christmas gift and he told me it was a great show. "Is it better than Breaking Bad?" I enquired (his favourite TV series). He was unsure, which made me watch it that night. A few episodes in I was hooked, and I soon fired through the books too. Now that the 6th series has ended and "The Winds of Winter" has still to be released, I'm searching for anything that can fill the huge Westeros shaped hole in my mind just now. When reading the books I just kept repeating the same thing to myself: "Why didn't I give this a chance sooner?".
Animal Farm
Yet another short and sweet novel... although this one is admittedly lacking in the latter. Animal Farm is about a farm of animals that rise up against the farmer and take over the place for themselves. They then elect the pigs to run the place, as they are of course the most intelligent animals of the lot. What happens then? Well, you'll have to read it for yourself (it doesn't take long), but their slogan may give you an idea: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.".
It's a brilliant read, and I can't help but continually compare it to modern day politics where I live. For all my international readers out there (I do have some!), British politics are a complete mess just now. If you don't laugh you'll cry. A lot. And if you're smart you'll jump in a boat and swim away in the river of your tears to a better world. Am I being dramatic? Maybe.
I could most probably add a lot more titles to this list, but I'm forcing myself to keep it short. If anyone's interested in what books I do read, check out my goodreads account. Not to brag, but I have Stephen King as a friend on it. Okay, he does have over 2000 friends, but still...
Do you have any books you wish you'd read sooner? I'd love to hear about them!
PS. Keep up with me on Instagram here.
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