It was apparently my birthday today, and I decided (surprise!) to talk about books, because what else can I do, really. Since I never get tired of recommending books, I decided to share about 25 books that have somehow had an impact on my life, through my 25 years of life.
Books I Grew Up With:
By categorizing books in “middle grade” and “YA” I have come to realize that I didn’t necessarily read middle grade books when I was in middle grade. I actually read them when I was in primary school and like, started reading YA when I actually still was in middle school if that makes sense? I also know that the French school system is different from the US one, and decided not to dwell on that. So anyway. Here are four books or book series that I read either in primary school or middle school, and to this day, still consider favourites.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
When I was a kid, I used to spend a lot of time at my local libary, and this is how I originally stumbled opon the world of Narnia. To this day, I have read the book series at least three times (although I am honestly not that big on rereading books) and absolutely cherish them forever. They seriously made me want to travel to a magical realm, and I just really love the characters.
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan
While everyone was reading *HP* my middle grade self was doing her best not to be basic, and reading Percy Jackson. I seriously love this book series so much, and I have read the first book three times overall. I actually just finished reading Rick Riordan’s other mythological book series Magnus Chase, and I seriously cannot get enough. If you haven’t read those books yet, do yourself a favour and check them out, I swear you won’t regret it.
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
I discovered this book series randomly while trying to read all of the books at my loveal library (because yes, I still thought it was possible at the time), and boy was I not prepared for the emotional stress it would give me. If you don’t know this book series, it is a kind of dystopia that presents a world situation where the power is reversed between Black and White people. It is absolutely excellent, and also yes, I cried so much while reading those books but it was totally worth it.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
This is the first Sarah Dessen that I read, and I somehow became obsessed with it. I read it in the 8th grade and somehow really related with Auden staying up all night and procrastinating in 24/7 cafés. I guess this book made me the disaster adult that I am today. It’s been more than ten years, and I still think about it so it has to count for something.
Books that introduced me to literary fiction:
The Reader by Bernard Schlink as well as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
Both of these books were given to me as a gift, and somehow ended up being some of the first “adult fiction” I ever read. I completely fell in love with them, and to this day, I am still obsessed with WWII historical fiction, and books set in post-war Germany.
Books I read in high school because I was very basic, it was 2012 and I was on tumblr:
*which somehow seems even more appropriate considering the Destiel drama that has been going on this week, yes I’m still on tumblr, and also the fact that Twilight and The Hunger Games both managed to make a comeback this year*
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and of course, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Because yes, who am I kidding. They are also part of the very elective club of books I ended up rereading around the time I started book blogging. I don’t thing they need much introduction anymore. And yes, I know TFIOS can be considered cliché and hipster, but I still think it’s a very good book, and I cried every single time I read it or watched the movie. As for THG I saw a video on Youtube saying that if it had been written by a man rather than a woman, it would probably be considered a literary fiction book by now, and I have to agree. This topic makes me want to write an essay on sexism in the publishing, but that’s a whole other topic, so let’s just say that I consider both of those YA classics, love them dearly, and move on
And simultaneously, some of the first books I remember reading in English:
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
This one I haven’t seen on bookstagram in AGES but it is an incredible book. It’s a story about a girl who is kidnapped, and develops Stockholm Syndrome. On top of that, the book is written like a letter to her kidnapper if I remember correctly. This book seriously haunts me to this day, but yeah, I really liked it.
And next we have two books that I remember as “the first books I bought in English”. I also read them in high school, and hold them dear in my heart. I’m talking about One Day by David Nicholls which I don’t think I need to introduce anymore. We follow two best friends over the course of twenty years, as they slowly fall for each other. It was damn beautiful, this book scarred me for life, and long story short I made my family climb Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh just because of it. And the second book is The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen which has a food truck and of course, a cute romance as expected from Sarah Dessen.
Books that got me through college:
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
I picked up this series as I wanted to study fairytale retellings for my Master’s thesis and ended up falling in love with the book series (as expected, because seriously who was I kidding). I just really loved the characters, and I’m still as obsessed with retellings as I used to be.
The Years by Annie Ernaux
This one is actually a book that I studied during my Bachelor’s degree, and it has since then become one of my fabvourite books ever. I ended up picking autobiographies as a research topic in my second year of Master’s, and chose to talk about another of Ernaux’s books. I also got to meet her at the Paris bookfair a couple years ago (and Marissa Meyer as well, now that I think about it !)
And simultaneously, books that got me into blogging:
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
This is the first book I reviewed on here, so of course it deserves a spot on this list! It made me feel a lot of things, and was the final push in me creating this blog. (And before you ask, yes King’s Cage is still sitting on my bookshelves unread, life got in the way unfortunately).
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
As for All the Bright Places, it is one of the first books that I consciously bought because of bookstagram, and because I wanted it to look pretty on my pictures and my bookshelves. And it ended up destroying me when I read it. I completely fell in love with it, but seriously, this book was heartbreaking.
Some classics I love:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
At some point in my reading journey, I binge read all of the Jane Austen books, and also watched most of the movie adaptations. Since I didn’t want to be basic and pick P&P as my favourite (I also really liked Emma if I am being honest) I decided to pick Northanger Abbey, because Catherine was a reader, and because I really liked the Tilney siblings.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
I read an abridged version of this book and was a bit traumatized, but I picked up the original text again for a book report when I was in high school and ended up loving it.
The Kill by Emile Zola
At some point in my life I decided that I should be reading more classics (a decision that is by now long gone) and picked up this one. It is very dramatic which is possibly why I loved it so much, in addition to the fact that I love anything that has to do with late 19th century Paris.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
I read the entire series last year after & while picking up the show on Netflix, and ended up falling in love with those books. I am not sure I would have enjoyed these books as I child, but I am so glad I read them now, and urge you to do so as well if you are looking for a lighthearted, positive book series.
Books that made me feel seen for one reason or another:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I think I read this book at the right time in my life, and I am grateful for it. It felt so good to read about a character who was an introvert, seemd to have anxiety, and was struggling to find her place in college.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
The anxiety rep in this book. Seriously. The way the thought spiraling was described. It made me feel less alone and I am so grateful to this book. (Amso the romance was absolutely adorable and realistic and the frenships, and the family relationships…. Sara Barnard is so good at writing family dynamics seriously, and I am here for it.)
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Moving on with some books I read even more recently. First of all, I was incredibly grateful to read about a character who was bbiromantic and asexual. Second of all, it was actually super nice to see that Alice was looking for a therapist because she needed to talk. Like seriously, that healed me. This book is *chef’s kiss* and I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it yet.
Starling Days by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
Reading about a character who was bisexual and depressed, and just trying her best with life. This was, again, just what I needed. On top of that, Buchanan’s writing is absolutely beautiful. Mina gave me hope about my own future, and made me feel like I could do it. I can be an adult. It’s going to be okay.
A YA book I wish more people would read:
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
The story is set in 1898, NYC, in the middle of the AIDS crisis. We follow three teenagers was they navigate high school and figuring out their sexuality. Reza is an Iranian boy who just moved from Toronto to New York when his mother remarried. He is trying to adjust to his new life, and hasn’t told anyone that he is gay. But things are bound to change when he meets Judy, an aspiring fashion designer who falls for him almost immediately, and her best friend Art who is the only out & proud kid in school. This book has so much power seriously, it’s incredible, and so important. (Full review)
And finally, a book I read recently, and wanted to recommend:
Islands of Mercy by Rose Tremain
Bath, 1865, Jane Adeane is a reknowed nurse, and just got a marriage from a doctor. She rejects him and runs off to London, to stay with her artist aunt. Jane is expecting to live great things. What she wasn’t expecting was to fall in love with Julietta Sims. Through the story, we also follow an eccentric Englishman posing as a rajah in Borneo and simply trying to live his best life there. Anyway, think Jane Austen but make it gay. This book was released quite recently, and I had the greatest tiume reading it.
And that’s it for today! This is possibly the longest post I have ever written on here, thank you so much if you have read this far, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Clemi's Bookish World 