My Top Ten Books (and why I read them over and over again!)

A while ago I published my list of top ten films, and after a conversation with a friend thought it would be fun to tell you about my top picks for books. This was harder than I thought. Quite a few started out on my list but were discarded when I remembered something else.

Pretty much all the criteria for an outstanding film applies to my choice of books too. I want to escape, enter magical and fantastic places, see good triumph over evil, and experience a HEA.

So here are my book choices, in no particular order.

1. Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett.

Let’s face it, all Terry’s books are brilliant, but the reason I picked this as my favourite is that it was the first one I ever read, and I always wanted to be Nanny Ogg. I always think of her when I am having a cocktail in foreign parts. Full of pithy wisdom and laugh-out-loud humour, Ican honestly say I have never read a Pratchett book that I didn't like. If you have never tried him before, this is a great place to start.

2. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin.

My mum bought this trilogy for me one Christmas when I was a child, and I was instantly hooked by the fantasy genre. In fact, I would pick reading this as a pivotal moment in my life.

A young boy nicknamed Sparrowhawk discovers he can command great power. However, in his arrogance, he lets loose a terrible shadow into the world. After fleeing from it, he finally realises that in order to be free, the hunted must become the hunter.

In truth, my absolute favourite would be the Tombs of Atuan, but you really should start with this one.

3. The Time Master trilogy by Louise Cooper.

Okay, maybe this is technically three books, but it’s my list, so I can have a trilogy in here if I want. If anyone asked me, I would put Louise Cooper as my favourite author. These books, and the subsequent Chaos Gate trilogy, are my all-time favourites and would in fact be No 1 on a proper list.

The seven gods of Order have ruled for millennia, but the emissaries of chaos sense complacency and are starting to exert their influence. Can Tarod resist their siren call?

Please note, because I found him first, Tarod is MINE!

4. Magic Kingdom for Sale – Sold! by Terry Brooks.

Depressed lawyer Ben Holiday buys a magic kingdom for $1million and travels to a world which is run down and in desperate need of a king to rule it. But when faced with probable death when the Iron Mark challenges him to a duel, will he stay, or will he go?

I loved all the books in this series, and just wish Terry had written more. His original Shannara series was also an early read for me, and I would recommend them, too

5. A Rose in Winter by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.

Okay, I have to admit to having a guilty pleasure. I read romances. I know this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I felt I had to represent this genre in my list.

I loved Erienne’s story. Sold by her father to the reclusive Lord Saxton, who was scarred by a dreadful fire, she is also pursued by his rakish cousin, Christopher. This is a historical romance with a “Beauty and the Beast” flavour. I have read hundreds of romances over the years, but this is a favourite that I return to time and again.

6. Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr.

When Marianne is ill in bed, she is given a pencil to sketch with. That night, she dreams of being in her drawing. When she draws a young boy in the window of a house, the two become friends and play together. Until they have an argument. In a fit of temper, Marianne scribbles across the windows and surrounds the house with rocks, all of which have one eye. Can she help her friend escape as the rocks close in on the house?

This book really fired my imagination, and the growing threat of the rocks moving closer and closer had me spellbound. When my grandmother let me have a stubby pencil I found in a jar of odds and ends, I was convinced that I could draw my dreams too. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I wished, I could never get it to work.

7. Waylander by David Gemmell.

Again, I could have chosen any of David’s books, but I always loved Waylander the most. (Plus, the second book is autographed by the author himself after I saw him doing a talk at Waterstones one evening.) Gemmell often writes about tortured heroes, and this is no exception. It is also a redemption story about an assassin for hire. A true heroic fantasy.

8. This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti.

Despite being fiction, this book did more to spur me to pray than any devotional treatise ever could. As men and women live their lives on earth, there is a battle in the heavenlies between angels and demons, the outcome of which can be won or lost by the faithful prayers of believers in the small town of Ashton. It is incredibly intense at times, but the struggle between good and evil is wonderfully portrayed. His second book, Piercing the Darkness is also excellent.

9. The Belgariad by David Eddings.

I know, I know. Technically, this is five books, but you can’t pick just one. I fell in love with these characters, especially Silk, and thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age journey to fulfil a prophecy that will decide the fate of the universe.

Unfortunately, David’s later books all seemed to be poor shadows of this series, and I have to admit I threw down his Younger Gods in disgust. You won’t regret reading this series, though!

10. The Bible.

You could argue that this is 66 books, not one, but as I said before, my list, my rules! I make no apologies for having this on my list. By far the most influential, encouraging, challenging, comforting, enlightening and hopeful book you could ever read. The Bible contains everything a person seeking answers needs to know. Having read it from cover to cover several times, I can tell you (spoilers!) that good does triumph over evil, and there is a happy-ever-after waiting for you, if you want it. If you really want me to pin it down to just one book, then I recommend you start with the gospel of John.

So, there you are! My top ten choices. There are plenty of others that didn’t make the cut, but it’s a tough choice to pick just ten (or so.)

What about you? Let me know what would be on your list, and if you have any other favourites, especially from these authors.