Welcome to my bookshelf! Over the past couple of months, I shared some of the most outstanding books. I was aiming to only give fifty, but I've now reached. So far, I have exceeded that number and shared 67 of my favorite novels.
And there are still so many more to go! Instead of five parts, I might have to do six. So, I would just like to thank y'all for sticking with me on this series.
I'm really excited about today. Most of this article's books are classics. Let me just check. In fact, seven out of ten of the novels are in that genre. Some of you might argue that the others should be squeezed into that genre.
Without further ado, here are ten more of my favorite books!
Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling
Though he may be known for The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling wrote many other famous works. I think this novel was his best. And let me tell you why.
As I'm sure you can tell, I love stories that have the proud main character change and develop into an admirable person. This is one such tale. Following young Harvey Cheyne, Jr., this story shows how the son of a rich man and affectionate mother falls overboard.
The strangest thing is it's the best thing that has ever happened to him. The 15-year-old lad who once was pampered and idle adapts to life on a fishing boat. Learning how to work hard and be thankful for the smallest things, the boy becomes a man. To be truthful, I don't think there was a more worthy coming-of-age story.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Suppose Captains Courageous is the epitome of a coming-of-age story. In that case, A Tale of Two Cities is the model novel for a tale of sacrifice. Honestly, I can't tell you why without giving you spoilers!
Sydney Carton, a lawyer, meets Lucie Manette's love while at a trial. There is only one problem. She loves another – Carton's client, Charles Darnay.
But this is the weird thing: Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay look precisely alike, even though they are in no way related.
Okay. All I've stated is only a quarter of the story. The most important thing is this: France is in a war – with itself. The lower class is outraged by how they have been treated by the upper class. The poor rage against the nobility and kill their enemies with the infamous guillotine to solve the problem.
And this proves a problem for Charles Darnay; he is royalty. And he has one of the most prominent enemies in the revolution that has been out to get him for the longest time.
Joni by Joni Eareckson
When you're in your youth, you never consider the terrible things that can happen to you. This was the case with Joni, an adventurous young woman. One day, she is swimming with family and friends; the next, she is in the hospital, completely paralyzed.
What she thinks will only last several days turns out to be a lifetime. And, oh, how she wants to give up. If she can't move like she once used to, then life is not worth living.
The problem is, no one will let her give up. Instead, they force her to find something to live for and constantly remind her about her faith. And so, she lived on and became an inspiration to so many young people today.
She picked up art but couldn't draw with her hands. One day, she put a pencil in her mouth and began to stroke up and down on the blank pieces of paper.
Through it all, God taught her important lessons. How she needed to learn to depend on him. Joni went through heartbreak, but God showed that He was still with the young woman. She was embarrassed, but He was still there.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
“You examine me, Miss Eyre", said he. "Do you think me handsome?" I should have deliberated, have replied to this question by something conventionally vague and polite; but the answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I was aware: "No, sir.”
And so that is how any who read this book will remember the strange romance between the young woman and middle-aged man.
It all started when Jane Eyre, an orphan, became a governess to a small girl at Thornfield Hall. Still struggling with her past, the woman eventually comes to meet the owner of the great hall. Though not impressed, she gradually begins to love him passionately, and her feelings are returned.
But since Jane is always to have the worst of life, the happiness is not to last. She discovers a horrible secret and is faced with a decision to make.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
According to Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, a person is corrupted by society. They are not born with an evil nature. But William Golding decided to argue against this broadly accepted idea.
And he did it in such a way that his novel still shakes me to this day.
Ralph finds himself stuck on an island with a load of other boys, all tweens. With no adults around, the boys take it upon themselves to create a society to thrive in with Ralph as the leader. Jack, a choir boy, is supposed to provide the food, and Piggy, a paunchy boy with asthma, will help make fires with his glasses.
Everything goes well, for a time. Until the first boy, who is probably younger than ten, is killed by the others, and Jack becomes hungry for blood.
Though horrifying and disturbing, this novel went to show that people are born with an evil nature. There was not society around to corrupt the boys. They were already corrupted by sin.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
I know. Another Dicken's novel, but I can't help it! This author just has a way of pulling you into the story with all his characters. In fact, I would go so far as to say that he was the king of building characters. No matter how hard you try, you will not find one personality that is the same in all his novels.
He also makes your heart burn with rage because of how he addresses the injustice shown in that day. And that brings me to Oliver Twist.
The young boy is an orphan who has been mistreated his whole life. That's why he decides to run away to London.
But his life turns out to be no better off. Picked up by Fagin, an elderly chap who teaches young boys how to pickpocket, he becomes friends with the young Dodger. He meets the terrifying Bill Sikes and the kind Nancy.
One day, he gets caught and is put into the care of a considerate gentleman who takes excellent care of the lad. But things cannot forever be happy with Oliver. Once Sikes learns that the boy is caught, he devises a plan to bring the boy back.
The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton
I felt a bit of nostalgia when I wrote down that title. Though these books are more for kids, they will stick with me forever. How could I ever forget my adventures with those five kids?
This series follows Georgina (But don't call her that! She prefers to go by George.); Timothy, the dog; Julian; Dick; and Anne. It seems a mystery is always following them wherever they go. And with mystery comes danger.
I don't think there is any better way to sum this series up than with the 1978 theme song:
Wherever there's adventure to be found, Just a clue or a secret message bring the Famous Five around, Whenever there's a mystery to be solved, Up in the ruined castle, Or down in Smugglers Cove.
We are the Famous Five, Julian, Dick and Anne, George and Timmy the dog, We are the Famous Five, We're coming back to you, Whenever there's time, Time after time.
Whatever awaits behind closed doors, Strange noises in the cellar or the sound of creaky floors, We never let a mystery pass us by, Just leave a clue and leave the rest to the Famous Five.
The Robber's Cave by A. L. O. E. (A Lady Of England)
It is vital to be an example to those around us – no matter how hard it may be. Even if we're surrounded by a gang of robbers… Wait, what? A band of thieves? That escalated quickly!
But this is what life is for Raphael. The young man once used to be a thief himself until he came to the Lord. But he stays with the gang only to be an example to them, especially to his younger brother Enrico. How much Raphael wants Enrico to become a follower of Jesus!
Then one day, everything changes. An Englishman named Horace is captured by the bandits for ransom money. The young man becomes close friends with Raphael and learns more about his extraordinary faith.
But something must happen soon. If the ransom money is not brought forward in time, the bandits' cruel leader will slay young Horace in cold blood.
Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Never have I laughed harder. You know a book is funny when you can re-read it, and you are still cracking up. It would scare my sister how I would just randomly laugh at each turn of the page.
J., George, and Harris decide it is high time for a vacation. So they decide to get a large boat and go sailing down a river. All goes well despite a few mishaps, but only a few.
While lazing around, J. has a few flashbacks of enjoyable and unenjoyable times alike.
If I'm going to be honest with you, this book is sorta pointless. But if you think about it, isn't most comedy?
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Have you ever thought of what it would be like to live forever? I'm sure we all have. It sounds like a dream, doesn't it?
Not to the Tuck family.
You see, many, many years ago, the Tucks drank from a specific spring. What many would consider being a blessing, to the Tucks, was a curse. They would now live forever, and no one could kill them.
Because of this, they were looked upon as evil and were abandoned by family and friends. That was until Winnie Foster came into the picture. Before she could drink out of the small spring, Jesse Tuck stopped her and had to kidnap her to keep her quiet.
As she gradually comes to know the kind family, she wonders what it would be like to live forever, especially with Jesse.
If you think about it, we all want to avoid death without wondering what it would be like to go on and on. Your friends would die, and so would family. You'd eventually become a loner. Maybe being everlasting doesn't sound like a dream after all.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Another Bronte. This one actually happens to be the sister of Charlotte Bronte, the author of Jane Eyre. If you thought Charlotte's book was dark or odd, then Wuthering Heights is even more so.
If I'm going to be honest, I'd have to say this is one of the darkest and most enchanting books I've ever read. Since it wasn't easy to forget, it haunted me for a while.
Heathcliff wildly loves Catherine Earnshaw. She, in turn, feels the same, but she keeps it to herself. For her benefit, she marries another man who is neck-high in money—this results in pain, heartache, and even death.
Heathcliff is a very rash character and seeks revenge in the most appalling and despicable ways. Catherine is no different. They pass off their misery to their children, who must try to undo all that their parents did.
That's all for this week! Comment below and tell me if you have ever read any of the above books! If so, which ones did you like or dislike? Are some of these on your list of favorite books? If you haven't read any on the list, which sounds most interesting to you?
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