My Top Ten Favorite Books

By Nadia Ranaputri

Image credit: We Rave You

I may talk a lot about film, but books will always be my first love. It was my gateway to literature, and the reason why I wanted to study it. Books were also vital in helping me learn English, and they were the piece of escapism I needed, even to this day. And honestly, I have a lot more favorite books than just the ones on this list. I'll keep it brief though, so I chose ten. I'm sure this list will change from time to time, but for now, here are my top ten favorite books. Let's get started.

 10.  This is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

“Books are letters in bottles, cast into the waves of time, from one person trying to save the world to another.” 

I must admit, I'm not the biggest fan of romances, even when there's a bigger plot surrounding it, but this novel.... I'll make an exception for it. This novel is a romance that takes place in the middle of a time war, where two time-traveling agents from opposing sides communicate through letters and start to develop deeper feelings for one another over the course of their interactions. That plot was enough to get me hooked, but the book itself was a revelation. First of all, the writing style is immaculate, and reading the lyrical style is just as much of an experience as the story itself. Sometimes it feels like a fever dream, then a memoir, and the next, it wraps itself around you like a warm blanket and a cozy fireplace, which is not the description you'd expect from a science-fiction novel, but that's exactly how I feel about it. That being said, it definitely won't cater to everyone. This doesn't read like a typical novel, but more in a form of letters, with poetic and dense writing style, so it's something to keep in mind if you're looking to delve into it. I love it though, it's one of the few romances that doesn't feel cheesy or forced, just very genuine. There is a larger story at the forefront, which is the time war itself, but the romance here also takes center stage, and I find myself truly and utterly invested.

9. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

“If this isn’t hell, the devil is surely taking notes.”

Oh boy, where to begin? The concept of reliving the same day over and over again is not new, especially when recent films like Edge of Tomorrow and Palm Springs incorporated the same plot, but there's always a lot of creativity in the execution of this concept. This is yet another Groundhog Day type of story done right, and in Stuart Turton's novel, it's all about solving a murder mystery. This novel is a lot of fun and keeps you guessing throughout. For me personally, this book felt like it was taking you along with the characters. You're not just sitting on the sidelines waiting for the reveals, you're also involved in solving it. There's also a tad bit of supernatural/science-fiction element to it, which makes the story even more alluring. However, it is a very slow book, it takes a while for things to really unravel, so this won't be for everyone. I, on the other hand, was very immersed in the mystery as well as the slow nature of it, and I even read it for a second time to really soak in every little detail that I missed. If you're looking for a more fast-paced mystery read, this may not be the book for you. But if you like mysteries that take their time, and don't mind overstaying your welcome at the Hardcastle estate, it's an absolute must-read.

8. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

“I would have come for you. And if I couldn't walk, I'd crawl to you, and no matter how broken we were, we'd fight our way out together- knives drawn, pistols blazing.”

There are some cases where the sequel is better than its predecessor. While those cases can certainly pop up in films, it's also present in books. Crooked Kingdom, the sequel to Bardugo's Six of Crows, is one fine example of a sequel that has proven to be far better than its first entry, which is saying a lot because I adored the first book to bits. Six of Crows already worked as a standalone, but Crooked Kingdom takes it to a whole other level. Both books are heavily character driven than plot driven, yet it's in the sequel where the characterization is at its best. There's wild twists and turns, as well as impeccable character development. The Crows are incredibly fleshed out here than they ever were in the first book, and there's so many standout scenes that still linger in my head to this day. I don't know how Leigh Bardugo was able to create such intricate and complex characters, then turns them into some of the best characters I've ever read in a YA fantasy, but she pulled it off beautifully. Even after you've finished the book, you feel as if you've just taken an all-expenses-paid trip to the Ketterdam, and you're left eager to give this world another visit.
 

7.  Vicious by V.E Schwab

“Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human.”

6.  Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else's muse. I am not a muse. I am the somebody. End of fucking story.”

Let me start by saying this: I love Fleetwood Mac, their songs are my jam and I could stay all day listening to them. So when I discovered that Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel was partly inspired by them and the rock bands of that era, I put my ear to the door and listened intently. In other words, it grabbed my full attention. What it ended up being was a roller-coaster ride filled with scandals, romance, and a heavy dose of rock and roll. Similar to This is How You Lose the Time War, Daisy Jones and The Six doesn't follow the usual novel format. Instead, it plays out in transcripts from interviews of the characters. Each member, including the enigma that is Daisy Jones, gets their own perspective, but the interesting thing is that it can play coy and turn the unreliable narrator card against you, so everyone has a different take for each of the events that happen in the book. Furthermore, Reid's writing gives the characters a unique and genuine voice. Daisy Jones feels like a real person, as do the Six, and it's as if you're reading a memoir of an actual band, that's how immersive her writing is. I highly recommend reading it with a Fleetwood Mac playlist.

5.  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.”

  

This was a novel that I picked up due to the immense hype and praise, and I have to say, it definitely lived up to my expectations. Essentially, it's a retelling of Homer's Iliad, but with a twist to it. While Miller is paying homage to the iconic story of the Greek hero, The Song of Achilles is strong enough to stand on its own. Miller's writing is truly something else, it's poetic and charming, it draws you to the story and the characters. The novel is told from the perspective of Patroclus, Achilles' close friend and comrade. Having the story told from the viewpoint of someone who was originally a supporting character provides a whole new insight and perspective on how he sees Achilles. Everything about this book is beautiful, from the story to the writing, and the characters themselves. If you're already familiar with the story of Iliad itself, be prepared for devastation and heartbreak. Even saying that it's emotional and ruinous is an understatement. Imagine someone stabbing you in the back, and while you endure all that pain, that person whispers sweet nothings to distract you from the agony they caused just seconds ago. That is how I would describe reading this book, it's a deadly mix of sweetened tragedy. The fact that this was Madeline Miller's debut novel is even more impressive, I've yet to find a single flaw in it, but I haven't, and I'm sure I'll find very little.

4. Circe by Madeline Miller  

“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment’s carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”

 

Yes, you heard that right. Madeline Miller makes another appearance on this list. There's something about Miller's writing that is unlike anything I've read, and I'm fairly certain that there hasn't been any other modern author whose writing has come close to what she can do. Just when I thought that Miller couldn't outdo herself after The Song of Achilles, Circe proved me wrong. Like her debut novel before it, Circe is another Greek retelling, this time with a minor goddess who is well versed in potions and herbs. Though Circe is known for transforming her guests as well as those that reject her or pose as an obstacle in her life into animals, Miller's book delves more into her story and takes more of a sympathetic route towards her character whilst retaining the original characteristics and mythology that made her into who she is. Reading Circe is an experience synonymous with floating on a cloud, or taking the warmest bath you've had in a while. This is a gorgeously written novel that plays like a lyrical prose. It's as if it's written and read by a Greek goddess, perhaps even Circe herself, given the first person point of view. That sounds exaggerated, but how else would I put it? It's just wonderful, I finished this novel in the span of two days, because I was so immersed in the world and the story, that it was near impossible to put down.

3. Lovely War by Julie Berry

“I envy the mortals. It's because they're weak and damaged that they can love.”

 

I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and Julie Berry's novel is one hell of an emotional ride. For someone who tends to stray away from romances, this is the kind of story that I'll admit, brought tears to my eyes. I don't know what it is about romance stories that take place during a historical era, but they tend to pack a lot more punch than the ones from other genres, and this book specifically takes place in World War I. If I were to describe Lovely War in a nutshell: it's the equivalent of falling in love and getting your heart broken at the same time. There's a twist to it though, because the story is narrated by Greek gods and goddesses, watching over fellow mortals as they wage into war. Each of their narrations makes for a very interesting read, especially with their distinct voices, but in the end, it's the mortal characters that struck a chord with me. They're flawed and complex, and they have so much depth, it's as if you really got the chance to not only be acquainted with them, but also to be a part of their journey. And the romance isn't the sole element of the story, there are other aspects that I thought were very well conveyed, particularly with topics such as the treatment of African-American soldiers during the War. It's lovely (pun intended), layered, profound, poignant, and basically every single word in the dictionary in relation to the word amazing.

2. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

“You know the greatest lesson of history? It’s that history is whatever the victors say it is. That’s the lesson. Whoever wins, that’s who decides the history.”

I picked this book up on whim because of the gorgeous cover, but I did not expect the emotional toll it would put on me. This is yet another historical fiction book told in two main perspectives: A blind girl who's forced to flee with her uncle in Paris, and a radio expert who joins the army in Germany. This was one of those books that I deliberately read slowly to really take the time to explore and immerse myself in the story and the characters. I think it would have been obvious by now that I love character-driven books, I tend to gravitate towards stories that focus a lot on character, and this book is one of them. The two main characters especially, are so interesting to read, and just delightful, that I wanted more than anything in the world to spend more time with them as soon as I reached the last page. Having two perspectives also helps to see the war on different sides of the spectrum: from the civilian side to the military side. And just like Lovely War, this book is gut-wrenching yet poignant, it takes your heart in the palm of its hand and crushes it while reassuring you that everything is going to be fine. Doerr really took his time building the characters and the world, it feels almost cinematic, as if you could make an entire Oscar-winning film out of it. His descriptions on how Marie sees the world as a blind person are detailed and sweet, such as how he describes Marie's ability to navigate her way around town by the number of steps and the various turns, all with the assistance of her father. Not going to say anything more, because it's truly a book that you have to experience for yourself. It is a slow book once again, but the buildup is splendid, the payoff is absolutely remarkable, and I cried at least twice reading this book.

1. The Shadow of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

“A story is a letter that the author writes to himself, to tell himself things that he would be unable to discover otherwise.” 

 
And here it is, my favorite book of all-time. Just like The Song of Achilles before it, this was another book that I picked up due to the overwhelming praise and hype. It's clear from there that it lived up to the hype for me. This has all the elements I love in a story: historical setting, noir atmosphere, and intriguing mystery. Most of all, it's a story about a book, something I'm always drawn to. But the book surprised me with just how much it was able to make me care for the characters. And as for the characters themselves....don't even get me started on them, they're just so....memorable. They linger on the back of your mind like a long-lost memory waiting to be discovered again and again. I have a certain weakness for books that are written like a prose, they're simply lyrical and beautiful, this book is no exception. Zafón's writing is rich, it's descriptive. There's a heavy atmospheric tone to it that makes you feel as if you've transported into another world. Even his descriptions of Barcelona, the city that the book takes place in, is so vivid, I could have sworn that I was in Barcelona myself, despite never having been there. It's enchanting, it lures you in, and you may never find the will to leave the world, the narrative, and the characters that Zafón had so meticulously crafted. But again, it is a very slow book, so those who are looking for a quick or fast-paced read, it's best not to pick this one up. For me personally, it was perfect. I flew through this book with a flourish, and once I finished it, I was eager to read it again, perhaps more than any other book I've read. 

There you have it, that's my list. What are some of your favorite books? I would love to know!