5 Books Everyone Should Read

As part of the Over To You theme I'm running this month, I was asked the following by @PoopRainbowMama:

If I told you I had just learned to read, what books would you recommend to me and why?       I love this question, although it's going to be quite a struggle narrowing it down! I'm going to limit myself to five - if I don't set a limit, this post could be about the length of a book! I'm going to stay away from books that are accepted to be books you "should" read and choose ones instead where I absolutely loved the story. The books I feel that would make you fall in love with reading.      1.The Witches by Roald Dahl I love all Roald Dahl books, but I think this one is my favourite. it gets the balance just right about building tension without terrifying kids. I have re-read this as an adult and still enjoyed it. Roald Dahl writes in a way that although the books are aimed at kids, they aren't childish. As per the original question, if someone has just learned to read as an adult, they have missed out on Roald Dahl and I think it's a rite of passage to read him. 2.The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty To me, this is the ultimate horror book. It builds up the tension to a level that is almost unbearable, and keeps it there. This book will haunt you long after reading it. 3.The Pact by Jodi Picoult This is another one that will stay with you long after putting it down, although for very different reasons. Don't let it put you off that this is billed as a love story. It has elements of a powerful love story, but it is so much more than that. It explores the relationships of teenagers and also family ties and friendships. It makes us question how well we ever know anyone and the blurred lines between love and lies. 4.The Clan Of The Cave Bear by Jean M Auel When reading the blurb on this book, it wasn't something I would normally have read, but I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did. If this book doesn't touch you emotionally, then I don't know what would! I found myself caught up in the story to the point where I literally couldn't put it down, and I felt empty when it was done. It's one I regularly re-read and I always seem to find something I had previously missed. And it still draws me in each time. 5.The House That Jack Built by Graham Masterton I don't know what it is about this book that keeps me going back, but it has something. It's predominantly a ghost story, but there's so much more to it than things that go bump in the night. It is a genuinely disturbing story that is very well told. So there you have it, five books I feel everyone should read. Which five books would you recommend? Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :) All book cover images courtesy of Google Books       

Desert Island Favourites - Books

I thought I would finish my Desert Island Favourites mini series with the five books I would take to a desert island, as that's the perfect lead in to June's theme. I feel these books should be things like Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Chaucer, Bronte etc, but I am going to be honest, and tell you the ones I would actually take because I enjoy reading them, not ones I think I should be seen to read.
The books I would take have to be books I can happily read over and over again. So, on that note, the 5 books I would take are:

1. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel. This book is one of my all time favourites. I've read it more times than I can remember and every time I come away with something I had previously missed!
2. Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin. I remember being about 11 when I first read this, and I was truly horrified. I think it was the first adult horror book I ever read, and it certainly got me hooked on the genre.
3. The Pact by Jodi Picoult. This is one of those books that stay with you long after you put it down. I talk a little more about it here: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/j-is-for-jodi-picoult.html
4.The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I know a trilogy is maybe cheating a little, but I love this series and I couldn't take one without the others!
5. The Shining by Stephen King. This is the closest I can come to having a classic on my list, and many people will argue the point of the book being a classic. To me it is and always will be. I love Stephen King and this is a fine example of him doing what he does best.

Which books would you take?

Follow me on Twitter @randommusings29 and feel free to comment :)