Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish

Top Ten Books that Make you Think

 

1.  The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis: Although I don't agree with much of the theology in Lewis' Narnia series, I still adore these books. The Last Battle in particular made me think a lot about the nature of religion, and how we can find commonality in different faiths.

2. The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay (Book 1 of the Fionavar Tapestry): This is one of my favorite book series and authors of all time.  Kay's writing is magical. This volume of the series features a very difficult and poignant scene where a character faces his darkest fears and truths about himself, sacrifices himself and is reborn. Kay manages to make you weep for a character you only met a hundred pages or so before, and also take a look at your own selfishness and insecurities.

3. Watership Down by Richard Adams: A seemingly simple story about rabbits that I read as a child. It has stuck with me all this time because of its powerful message of friendship, courage and perseverance in pursuit of a better life. 

4. Grendel by John Gardner: Told from the perspective of Grendel the terrifying monster from the epic Beowulf, this book makes you think about the nature of evil and what life events go into making a monster.

5. The Innkeeper's Song by Peter S. Beagle: I read this long ago and don't remember all the details but the story did make me think about how people can give up everything in pursuit of something they thought they wanted, only to find it and realize it wasn't as great as they thought all along. Especially if that something is love.

6. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers: This semi-autobiographical novel made me think about the fragility of life and at the very same moment the resiliency of life. You can be broken and be at your best place in life at the very same time.

7. 1984 by George Orwell: I know, its cliche, but no one does thought-provoking post-apocalyptic stories like Orwell. 1984 is genius, and will leave you thinking about how our own world is close to Big Brother already.