What Are Your Top 5 Books?

So, your favorite books. I know, I know. Choosing favorite books is like choosing favorite children, but I figured I'd give it a shot. For the record, these are my favorite books, which is a different thing than what I would consider the "best" books. For example, the best Nazi movie might be Schindler's List, but my FAVORITE is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

See the difference?

Ender's Game -- Yeah, the computer game that explores his psyche is a little much, but the kid's a tactical genius with a heart. I will never get tired of that.

The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings -- Do I really need to talk about this? (And yes, series count as one book. IT'S MY GAME SHUT UP!)

Dune -- I talked about this once, but for those who missed it: sandworms, desert ninjas, Sting.

Mistborn Trilogy -- The newest one on the list, so I'm not sure how it will stand the test of time. But at the moment? Original and awesome superpowers, clever heists, immortal tyrants, and subverted fantasy tropes all over the place.

Marvel 1602 -- An interesting look at what Marvel superheroes might be like in the 16th century rather than the 20th. Hey, I had to put one graphic novel on the list, and this one creeps me out less than Watchmen and V for Vendetta (though both of those are good as well). Plus it's written by Neil Gaiman. Double win.

Now that I look at this, it's interesting to note that 4 out of 5 of these revolve around the Chosen One trope. I shouldn't be surprised, I guess.

Of course you all hate my top 5. So what are yours?

9 comments:

Matthew MacNish said...

You don't think that ecollegefinder.com thing is spam? Every blogger I know got nominated, and I suspect they're just fishing for backlinks to up their ranking.

I could be wrong.

I'd really have to think to come up with my 5 faves. But LOTR is, and always will be, number one.

Steve MC said...

Loved Ender's Game, and got into Dune after watching the great Sci-Fi Channel miniseries for both Dune and Children of Dune.

My own Top Five Books Ever? I'd have to say Huck Finn (the first half, before the Nazis show up), Treasure Island, Shogun, Dispatches, and whichever book's on my next to read list.

vic caswell said...

i love that your favorite nazi movie is indiana jones! hilarious!

ummm... yikes. my list will change depending on what i read last...
some that i've read multiple times and loved for a long time are: LITTLE WOMEN, THE SECRET GARDEN, CHRISTY, THE HOBBIT (more so than LOTR), THE CRUCIBLE (are we counting plays? if not- THIS PRESENT DARKNESS)... there are others i've read more recently that might push those out of their spots... but i always have shiny-just-finished-book-afterglow... and it's hard to tell how much i'll love those books in a couple years.

Matthew MacNish said...

Oh, defs Shogun. I love that book. If only Clavell's others could have been as good. Although, Shogun was essentially a direct novelization of history.

Lindsay Kitson said...

The Last Unicorn
The Westmark Trilogy
The Windup Girl
The Hunger Games
Who Fears Death

The last two of those I only just finished, but they were amazing and shot up to favourites in a way that I think will actually stand the test of time. The only one that has the chosen one thing going on is Who Fears Death - I don't tend to go for that theme. I tend to like protagonists that are average people called to do extraordinary things, and change their worlds for the better.

Angela Brown said...

No, don't hate your list at all. Ender's Game and LOTR would be on their as well for me. But I would add the entire Narnia series. Yeah, I bought the really big book with Aslan on the cover. Then I'd have to think about the other two books/series for a bit.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Love Ender's Game and Dune, though neither are on my list.
I actually have a top 3 list because after that it fluctuates too much.
Mine are (in no particular order)

The Stand
The Mists of Avalon
Clan of the Cave Bear

Makes me want to read them all right now. Again.

Deniz Bevan said...

Well, The Hobbit and LOTR of course. Heck I'd count the entire Tolkien canon as one book/one influence. It's hard to choose four definitive others. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. But everything else falls under the category of YA/MG/British authors I loved when I was young and still reread. Yes, that's one category :-)

fairyhedgehog said...

Ender's Game and Tolkien: tick.

Dune: half tick.

The other two are new to me.

My top five has to include at least one Pratchett, maybe Night Watch although Witches Abroad is a classic.

And one Tanya Huff and one Diane Duane. That's me done!