10 Books for 10 Genres

Yeah, nobody actually asked for this, but here it is anyway. I'm creating a list of ten fictional books that are personal favorites of mine. I'm excluding nonfiction, (for length reasons,) plays, (because they would all be by Shakespeare,) and books of poetry (because I have barely read any.) 

Some of these are extremely cliche, and I am aware of that, but some things are cliche for a reason. Also, I am actually the worst at compiling lists and ranking them, so these will not be listed in order of my favoritism, but instead by genres, however specific and obscure some of those genres may be. My inability to choose favorites also means that I'll be counting each series I mention as one book.

Philosophical Fiction: "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

I actually just read this one for the first time very recently and I was amazed by it; particularly by the way that I felt like it forced me to interact with it; navigating through its extremely ambiguous morality. The entire concept of the story is one that I found to be very intriguing and gripping throughout. There is a lot of dialogue and inner-dialogue, so it can be a bit slow,  but the philosophical nature of the book sort of dictates that it be so, as it is presenting different ways of thinking and different lenses through which we look at our own identity and morality. I never found it in any way to be boring or uninteresting. 

Summary: It is essentially about the subject of a painting who represents the artists' idea of beauty perfected in innocence. In a moment of extreme emotion, he wishes to stay forever young and attractive, projecting unto the painting the consequences of both physical age and of the sins that he may commit thereon after. It follows his life and the lives of those around them, and how they change with time. 

Speculative Fiction: "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis

I've read a fair amount of C.S. Lewis' books and this is my favorite. Through the narrative of a theological dream, he ventures through a conceptual Hell and Heaven. Conversing with inhabitants of each, he explores the concept of an absolute good and evil as well as the self-deception and delusion of man. While it is written in the form of a loose story, most of the meat of the novel is found within the conversations

with and among the spirits of the afterlife. There are stark contrasts between many of them as they reflect on their own lives and identities, speculating on where they are and why. It is a short book. I easily read it in a sitting, and it was well worth the time, as I saw much of myself reflected back at me through its pages, and I was forced to sit and to be introspective after finishing it.

Southern Gothic: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

A classic, set in a small town of Alabama in the 1930's, this book has always been a favorite of mine. I love the decision that Lee made to narrate the extremely adult issues in the book through the eyes of a child. In doing so, she created a powerful story and a commentary on equality and the courage to fight for it. Atticus Finch, the father of the narrator and the central character of the main plot, is a lawyer defending a man who has little to no chance in court. He is one of my favorite literary characters and carries himself with a dignity that stands out against an overwhelming presence of racism and hate. 

I could write about how the publishing of Go Set a Watchman, which was not actually even this book's sequel but rather its first draft, ruins all of this, but I will refrain.

Historical Fiction: "The Great Gatsby" by Scott F. Fitzgerald 

I was forced to read this book for school when I was thirteen, but appreciated it much more when revisiting it later. It is a beautifully written novel; not a single word wasted. The symbolism and the messages that the story conveys are valuable and important, written within the layers of each deeply flawed character. The longing for what lies in the past, for love, and for the american dream are personified and pursued in a portrait of the roaring twenties and of the mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby.  

A short read, this book is descriptive and gripping throughout, with a powerful ending.

Adventure: "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas

I, unfortunately, watched a movie adaptation of this before reading the book, but it is such an awesome story. This classic is an epic tale of love, betrayal, adventure, revenge, and mercy. I will say that it is an extremely long book that one needs to be quite dedicated to in order to finish, but it is suspenseful and energetic enough to remain gripping, once it gets going (which, admittedly, does take a bit of time.)

Summary: Set in the brief era of the Bourbon Restoration of France, the story revolves around a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, losing everything. It follows him through his imprisonment, escape, and discovery of a grand fortune, which he devotes towards taking revenge on those who have wronged him.

Gaslamp Fantasy: "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

I kind of randomly stumbled across this book a couple of years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite books. Being an extremely visual reader, this was incredible to read and I commend the author for her originality and creativity with the setting. It is such a bizarre, beautiful book with a unique story and deeply interesting characters. It deviates a lot from the typical traits of a fantasy novel, as it takes place in the Victorian era and doesn't necessarily have a rigidly clear antagonist throughout the entire thing, but instead, takes readers through an experience while following a story that unwraps and reveals itself as it goes. 

Summary: This book is actually very difficult to summarize but I will do my best. The Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams) is unique in

its nature as it never advertises itself and it is only open at night. Constantly traveling, it attracts huge crowds who come to experience its surreal wonders and ethereal enigmas, such as a blooming garden of ice and a vertical maze of clouds. Its aesthetic is completely without color, everyone clad exclusively in black and white, and is constantly changing and evolving. While it is marvelous and mysterious, by nature, what nobody realizes is that it serves as a sort of dueling ground for two legitimate magicians within the creators/performers of the circus. These two individuals have been raised, since childhood, to compete, remaining within the boundaries of the circus, and neither of them knows the identity of the other.

The book focuses primarily on the main narrative, focusing on the two protagonists, but regularly shifts gears into a detailed account of a circus visitor. Through this person, the book takes one through the entire circus, as a spectator, experiencing the magic of it all with no insight into the inner workings of it.

Epic Fantasy: "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien 

This is legitimately nothing short of a masterpiece and, in my opinion, the best fantasy series ever written. The story is beautifully pieced together and Tolkien is extremely thorough and creative in his world-building. This is a book that I believe everyone should read at least once. I will admit that Tolkien is not one for brevity, so if you have a hard time focusing, and particularly if you have already seen the movies, this may be a struggle, but it is well worth it.

Science Fiction: "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley 

A classic example of Hollywood utterly destroying a perfect story, Frankenstein is an incredible work of literature. The character of Frankenstein's Monster is actually an extremely sympathetic one, and the chillingly tragic story is written very eloquently, bringing up serious themes of the pursuit of knowledge and the consequences of attaining it. This story impacted me so heavily that it stayed with me long after I had finished reading it. 

Dystopian Fiction: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradburry 

I largely love this book about media censorship because people have tried to ban it so many times. However, even aside from that incredible

irony, it is simply a great story, containing a perfect balance of philosophy, action, suspense, and hope. It is odd and intriguing in a unique way, with some eerily accurate predictions of the future from a man who wrote it in 1953. 

YA Dystopian Fiction: "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is the good Dystopian YA series that inspired a lot of other writers to create terrible ones. It's the only one that I was able to revisit and still enjoy, even despite a few weaknesses (expected in even the best Young Adult novels.) While Catching Fire is my favorite of the series, I would say that all three books are great. The creativity that went into the entire concept and the author's dedication to executing it well show in this engaging, terrifying, and exciting story. I honestly love these books.

 I love reading, but with my lifestyle, I will go months with very little time to read or watch anything, so I have to make up for it by reading gobs of books in between these busy spurts. Therefore, I strive to make every read a good one, only occasionally risking it on something I've never heard of or that looks intriguing and could go either way. I find others' suggestions super helpful, so please let me know if you have any!

Thanks for Reading!

-- Emily 

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