Reading can be a pain. Not because you don’t enjoy it or because there is no good books; but because it’s damn near impossible to find that “right book” the one that will have you thinking about it for years to come. Books that grip our hearts in such a way are hard to come by.
So here are 4 books we know you and your bookshelf will love:
White Fang by Jack London
This is a story you will need to read over and over again. Not because it is difficult, but rather because you will simply not want to forget this tale of courage and love. Following White Fang, a half dog half wolf raised in the wilds of North America by his mother, the Reader will be sucked in as the young wolf grows, dealing with Wild animals, Native Americans, Illegal Dog fights and more. The question is; “Will White Fang ever find the loving master he deserves?”
This is not a simple book recommendation. This means GO GET THIS BOOK. It is a must read and will easily become one of your favourites. Whether it is the gripping tale, eloquently described imagery or the masterful creation of a world that both displays the best and worst of human and animal nature alike, this book will rope you in and become the best lesson you have ever been taught. Jack London proves as a master of his art with this wonderful novel originally published in 1906.
Recommended for all ages.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick surprises the world with this craft of deep emotion, through his evocative writing and the sheer beauty of his illustrations. ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ is a tale told in part through illustration and in part through written word.
It is best described as “a book you could read in a day but will spend a week on”. Following the story of young Hugo, an orphan left to his Uncle to live in the walls of a busy Paris train station as a “clock keeper”, Selznick takes the reader on a journey as Hugo makes a discovery that will forever change his life and the life of a very mysterious man.
First published in 2007, ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ is an absolutely wonderful read. Suitable for anyone with a passion for good stories or simply some time to kill, this book has something for everyone.
Recommended for all ages.
The Cirque Du Freak Series by Darren Shan
There is far too much to be said about this book series; it will be near impossible to describe in a short article, but we’re going to give it a shot. Darren Shan’s ‘Cirque Du Freak’ series is simply put: incredible.
Revolving around a young man named Darren who is dragged to a freak show by his best friend, Steve; the story takes a turn for the worse when Steve antagonises the vampire Crepsley who he recognised at the show and is bitten by the his extremely venomous spider, Madam Octa.
Darren makes a deal with the vampire to spare his best friend’s life if he pledges his own to the Crepsley and is turned into a half vampire. From that point forwards, the series goes on to pull the reader into an INSANE story of love, death, hate, war, friendship, peril and meticulous lore.
Split between 12 parts with each book containing 4 parts of the story, ‘Cirque Du Freak’ will chew you up like never before and spit you out, leaving a craving for more, more, MORE! This series is an absolute must read for anyone who has been looking for that new series to really get sucked into (vampire pun intended).
Recommended for ages 14+
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Going back to another classic, this time written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886, we recommend everyone read the immensely famous Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to discover the true meaning of the evil that lies within us.
Following the tale of London lawyer Gabriel John Utterson, the audience is intrigued as he is by the strange, enigmatic case that is Dr Jekyll and his murderous alter-ego, Mr Hyde. When a series of crimes take place in London’s streets and a severely ugly man is the prime suspect, Utterson must get to the root of the issue before it consumes his old friend entirely.
Through his gripping use of powerful imagery, Stevenson has entranced audiences all over the world for over a century, even having the saying “Jekyll and Hyde” become common in day to day language as a result of this unique tale of true goodness and evil.
With complex characters and dark, gritty setting that only the classics seem capable of tapping into, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde will make any reader’s shelf complete.
Recommended for ages 14+
Good books can be hard to find, but hopefully with this list, you will be all set for a long time to come. Check out The Book Depository for cheap copies of all the books listed and keep reading!