So, I suppose Shanah’s Top 5 this week is meant to highlight books that I love that I don’t feel like I talk about often enough. Obviously, I can’t put Ready Player One on this list, but I’ll give it my best shot!
The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein
This is one my favorite books ever, but it just doesn’t seem to come up too often. The entire story is told from the perspective of the family dog! And yes, it’s just a hilarious and heart-warming as that makes it sound.
Wool
by Hugh Howey
This is a book I found kind of randomly. Originally, it was kind of serial made of 4 or 5 parts. Part 1 was free and after I read it, I absolutely had to read the rest. This was one of those books that helped me destroy a reading slump.
Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson
To be fair, I just finished this book in December, so I haven’t had much opportunity to talk about it, but I have a feeling a will!
On Writing
by Stephen King
I mainly talk about reading here, and even though this is a book, it’s a book about writing, so it doesn’t get a lot of attention. But it is easily one of the best books on the craft of writing that I’ve ever read. (It also has an interesting biographical look at King’s career.)
Choke
by Chuck Palahniuk
This book inspired me to write one of my own. Before reading it, I didn’t realize a book could have such a raw and deeply personal voice (I was extremely naive and not very well read at the time.)
Great list! I have heard loads about On Writing.
Honestly, it would even be a good read for non-writers, cause the first half reads like a auto-biography.
Then I have to read it! 🙂
I own the Wool series and haven’t picked it up yet! This makes me want to read it soon!
I loved it. There are two other “books” that followed it making up the Silo Series. I haven’t read anything past Wool, but I want to finish it.
I own them all! 😊
Look at you go!
Can you believe I still haven’t read Choke even though it feels like ages ago that you recommended it to me. That is happening this year since I loved Fight Club!
With how many books there are in the world, I can totally believe you haven’t gotten to it yet. But honestly, too many good books is better than not enough!
The Art of Racing in the Rain is still on my wish list. I need to get to that soon! And I’ve never read a Chuck Palahniuk book….. that also needs to happen! Great list!
Thanks again for participating 🙂
Chuck is a great read. Pushes a lot of people outside of their comfort zone, but not entirely in a bad way.
I like being pushed out of my comfort zone! Which one of his books would you suggest to read first?
A lot of people would say Fight Club, but I have mixed emotions. I had been watching the move (as one of my FAVOURITE movies) for something like 10 years before picking up the book. In this one case, for me alone, the book was not better.
I haven’t read everything of his, but Choke is my fav, so that’d be my recommend. Diary is also really good. Snuff has the strangest premise out of the ones I’ve read so far!
Thanks for the recommendations. I haven’t watched Fight Club so the book wouldn’t be spoiled 🙂
Oh I love The Art of Racing in the Rain so much! I am due for a re-read. The Sanderson and Howey books are on my TBR list.
Keep your tissues handy!
I stumbled onto Wool the same way you did, because the first part was free. It was FANTASTIC! I read part 2 and liked it too, though not quite as much as the first one. I never continued reading. I should have added this to series I want to complete this year.
I’d like to complete it this year, too. Not sure that’s going to happen, though…
I need to read something by Stephen King. The Shining has been on my tbr for a very long time.
The Dark Tower series is very good. As well as his less supernatural books like Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile. Been heard all kinds of good things about the Bill Hodges trilogy, too.
Ooh I really want to read Steelheart, great list, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Oh God yes Joe! I loved The Art of Racing in the Rain and you just reminded me how much I loved it! I though writing from the dog’s POV was very smart and we had bouts of wisdom through the dog’s eyes. I really loved it so good choice!
I just can’t believe how perfectly Stein was able to write from a dog’s perspective. There were so many times where I had to say, “Yeah, that’s probably how a dog would see it!”
Yes exactly! I don’t know how he did it. The same can be said when an author can write from the other gender’s perspective. Truly write I mean. Or write from a kid’s POV. I know we’ve all been kids at some point but I forgot so many thigs already.
Agreed. I have a 9-year-old son. I was a 9-year-old boy once, but half the time I can’t imagine what he’s thinking!
Is Stephen King’s book on writing good? I’ve seen it around and have thought about reading it but am unsure. I love to write myself so I’m always on the lookout for good writing books
It’s one of the best writing books I’ve ever read!
I guess I’ll have to get onto it then, I need all the help I can get haha
Another really good one is ‘Self-Editing For Fiction Writers’ by Dave King and Renni Browne
Thanks! I love anything that’ll help me improve
Choke sounds awesome!
Someone bought me The Art of Racing In The Rain for Christmas so I’ll definitely get round to reading that at some point this year 😀
Such a great read. I think I need to re-read soon!