The world of the printed page is an amazing world full of wonder, action and twists. Here are my top five favorite books.
- It by Stephen King (1986). The mind of Stephen King is one of infinite creativity. This novel takes you on one of the most gut-wrenching adventures of the world. It centers around the relatively peaceful town of Derry, Maine. However, when residents of Derry begin to vanish (mainly children), the town becomes concerned. To combat this unknown monstrosity, seven fearless kids, named the Losers Club, band together to put a stop to the countless murders. That is, if they can face their fears conjured by the clown that dwells in the sewers: Pennywise. If you enjoy a 1100-page novel, this is right up your alley. In my opinion, it is a very good read. It gives you more insight into some of the characters and is very suspenseful.
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth (2011). This is one of the most unique books I have read. It centers around a world divided into five separate factions. It mainly revolves around Beatrice Prior, an Abnegation-born kid. But, during a Choosing Ceremony where one chooses their own faction, she chooses Dauntless. From here, Beatrice endures countless training methods, simulations, and discovers something in her that could spell her final days. I like the overall mysterious plot. It is said that one of the factions is formulating something sinister and you are left trying to figure out what it is. It is a great book and the first of a trilogy.
3.Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (2012). This is also the beginning of a trilogy. It is one of the most intense books I have read. Centered around the year 2024, 14 kids must prepare for survival as they are trapped in a Greenway Superstore and battle against catastrophic events. I love the stakes in this book. There are terrifying compounds that, if inhaled, can have drastic consequences for our characters. It is a suspenseful read.
- The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien (1937) This is a great prelude to The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit is a story centered around Bilbo Baggins and his friends as they embark on a treacherous quest to obtain a ring from the devious Gollum. Armed with his wits and assistance from his friends and Gandalf, a mystical wizard, Bilbo must endure dangerous archer elves and a horrifying dragon named Smaug. I like the journey the book takes you on. You are, at first, greeted with a calm journey, but it slowly becomes more dangerous as the story progresses. It is a brilliant book.
- Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton (1990). Jurassic Park is one of the greatest books ever created. When John Hammond, a wealthy man, invites Paleontologist, Alan Grant, and Paleobotanist, Ellie Satler, to a remote island 120 miles from Costa Rica, they experience what people crave to see: real dinosaurs. They are mesmerized by what they see, but when something unexpected occurs, the park is shut down and the dinosaurs are roaming the island. Will our characters be able to survive the dangers of prehistoric life, or will they end up a main course for animals that lived 65 million years ago? I like the buildup to the dinosaur scares. They are, at first, concealed from the reader so you don’t know where they are, but as the scare unfolds, you are just anxiously wondering what is going to happen. This book spawned a sequel, The Lost World in 1995, and it birthed one of the greatest franchises the world has ever seen. It is a marvelous book.
Right now, I am reading The Martian by Andy Weir (2014), a story about a singular pilot stranded on Mars. We will have to see if it steals a spot from any of the books I mentioned, but for now, those are my top five favorite books.
