A journey. An adventure. A source of joy when we root for a character and they actually get to be happy by the time the story ends. A means to find reflections of who we are and say “Yes! I am not alone.” An assured way of knowing more about the world and developing empathy. A companion that we can always turn to for a different perspective, connection, and support. The best teacher who kindly guides, patiently waits for the right conclusion to be reached, and constantly surprises.
These are just a few reasons why people love reading. Books never disappoint, and stories can only enrich us.
What Are My Most Life-Altering Favorite Books?
If you read my story, you’ll see that my love of reading began early. As far as I’m concerned though, books are only memorable if they contribute, at least a little bit, to a better version of you. I remember reading hyped-up novels that won prizes like the National Book Award. But they did nothing for me whereas the ones below did a lot.
I hope you find my favorite books in the whole world as unputdownable as I still do.
1. “Jane Eyre” (Charlotte Brontë)
The first book that will probably always be number one on my list, this novel has it all:
- mystery
- a love story that the word “passionate” doesn’t do justice to
- lessons on resilience, the power of staying true to yourself and not settling for someone who doesn’t get you, and even karma.
As the female protagonist makes choices every step of the way, the author has been deemed a feminist writer.
But I don’t see her as that. I see her as an advocate of the esoteric.
How else could Jane and Rochester’s unearthly connection be explained – their “cord of communion” that would cause bleeding in case it snapped? What about Jane hearing Rochester calling out to her from hundreds of miles away?
Read more about this book in my full “Jane Eyre” review.
Tip
The 2006 BBC adaptation of the novel is hands down the best in terms of conveying what I believe – if my hubris is forgiven – Charlotte Brontë would have wanted.
Favorite Quotes
- "I am not an angel (...) and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself." - "Principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour (…). If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?" - “I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh – it is my spirit that addresses your spirit.”
2. “The Lord of the Rings” (J. R. R. Tolkien)
My second favorite book (series).
Whenever asked who my favorite LOTR character is, I can’t for the life of me provide an answer.
There’s:
- Arwen, who makes an impossible choice that I personally agree with
- Boromir, who redeems himself
- his brother Faramir, who manages to rise above the injustice of not being loved by his own father
- Gandalf, who literally reinvents himself
- the pure-hearted Sam, who couldn’t carry the ring, but carried his friend instead.
And then – Frodo. Is there anyone whose heart didn’t sink when he offered to be the one to take the most evil piece of jewelry of all time to the Mountain of Doom? We all know what toll that took. But he did it anyway.
I guess I have my answer. Frodo is my favorite LOTR character.
Hmm… or is it Aragorn?
Tip
If you’re ever in Oxford, stop by the centrally located “The Eagle and Child,” a soon-to-be reopened pub where Tolkien met fellow writers such as the equally famous C. S. Lewis.
Favorite Quotes
- “I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” - “It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” - “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
3. “David Copperfield” (Charles Dickens)
Forget the over-hyped “Great Expectations.” Expect greater things from this earlier piece of writing.
Out of Dickens’ many books, “David Copperfield” (no, not the famous magician) is the real treasure as it’s more about Dickens’ own life than any other. That is why it’s my third favorite book.
The variety of situations and characters focused on, from the slimy Uriah Heep to the heartless Edward Murdstone to the selfless Agnes, teaches the reader a lot about accepting people’s decisions, growing as a result of adversity, and taking a stand against injustice.
Tip
Watch Hugh Dancy as David Copperfield in the 1999 TV adaptation of the book. He embodies the protagonist to a tee. Plus, Daniel Radcliffe himself plays David Copperfield as a child!
Favorite Quotes
- “A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” - “Whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well.” - “Stop saying ‘I wish’ and start saying ‘I will.’ Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities.”
4. “Sword of Truth” Series (Terry Goodkind)
Really? My fourth favorite book, you might ask? No World War II epic? No Gabriel García Márquez instead? Come on, not even “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
I’m aware of how controversial this set of books is. Gory too.
I can’t help but feel drawn to their philosophy though, which I believe can be reduced to one phrase: follow your heart.
Tip
The TV show loosely based on the first few books – the tragically under-watched “Legend of the Seeker” – is to die for. It tones the violence down and taps into the power of love as the strongest form of magic. Richard’s dedication to Kahlan has made me come back to the show numerous times.
Favorite Quotes
- “Your life is yours and yours alone. Rise up and live it.” - “There is magic in sincere forgiveness. Magic to heal. In forgiveness you grant, but more so in forgiveness you receive.” - “Nothing is ever easy.”
5. “Persuasion” (Jane Austen)
Would you take someone back after they rejected you eight years ago, not because they didn’t love you, but because they were swayed by their family to look elsewhere?
This is the question that another of my favorite books ponders. Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth navigate some stormy waters in the course of this short but, in my opinion, best Austen novel – her final legacy as well since it was published after her death.
Tip
“The Lake House”, a movie that’s far more low-key than the boisterous “Speed”, starring the same couple (Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves), mentions this well-written book in at least one crucial moment. Worth the watch – and you can read more about it in my “Favorite Movies” post.
Favorite Quotes
- “There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison.” - “I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it.” - “How quick come the reasons for approving what we like.”
6. “Shadowhunters” Series (Cassandra Clare)
Is it possible that all myths are true?
This is the premise of the ever-expanding set of YA books written by Clare and friends. No supernatural creature is excluded, so I guess there’s something for everyone: vampires, werewolves, demons, angels (who aren’t exactly the good guys, just like in the TV show “Supernatural”), half-angel, half-human beings and, yes humans too.
There are lots of twists and turns, and psychological insights as well. I learned that:
- excessive humor often hides vulnerability and pain (Does Jace’s name spring to fellow fans’ minds?).
- the bond of friendship – or parabatai – can be stronger than anything else.
- in true Harry Potter fashion, people always have a choice between doing what is easy and what is right.
Tip
Start with “The Mortal Instruments” and then go backward and forward. Trust me, the prequels and sequels can wait.
Favorite Quotes
- “As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.” - “I was brought up to believe I had to be perfect. (…) And then you came along, and you broke everything I believed into pieces (…). You had – so much love, and so much forgiveness, and so much faith. So I started to think that maybe I was worth that faith. That I didn’t have to be perfect; I had to try, and that was good enough. (…) You’ve changed me for the better, and even if you left me, I would still have that.” - “There are a hundred trillion cells in the human body (…). And every single one of the cells of my body loves you. We shed cells, and grow new ones, and my new cells love you more than the old ones, which is why I love you more every day than I did the day before. It’s science. And when I die and they burn my body and I become ashes that mix with the air, and part of the ground and the trees and the stars, everyone who breathes that air or sees the flowers that grow out of the ground or looks up at the stars will remember you and love you, because I love you that much.”
7. “Divergent” Series (Veronica Roth)
To me, this one is about refusing to limit yourself to one thing.
In a dystopian future, there are factions known for only one trait:
- Candor for brutal honesty
- Abnegation for limitless altruism
- Erudite for high intelligence
- Amity for courtesy and kindness
- Dauntless for bravery (or foolhardiness).
Whilst initially choosing to be part of Dauntless and leaving her family behind, Tris knows that she is different. That she doesn’t belong to any particular group. That she is divergent.
This realization, coupled with events that never fail to surprise, will change the world as everyone knows it.
Tip
For those who will be reading this to also improve their English, here is a discussion guide you can use, courtesy of the author herself.
Favorite Quotes
- “Sometimes, the best way to help someone is just to be near them.” - “Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up.” - “It isn’t just brave that she died for me; it is brave that she did it without announcing it, without hesitation, and without appearing to consider another option.”
8. “The Count of Monte Cristo” (Alexandre Dumas)
Based on fact-checkable real events and a book on many people’s reading list, this is generally thought to be both a cautionary tale and the ultimate revenge novel.
Wronged man suffers unimaginable hardship only for the tables to turn and the enemies of the main character to get their comeuppance.
However, that’s like saying that “Crime and Punishment” is only about murder when it doesn’t end there. Neither does Edmond Dantes’ story. And that’s the reason why it’s among my favorite books. I look at it as a valuable lesson in letting go and finding peace even when such a task seems impossible.
Tip
Although it deviates from the novel for the sake of an ending that meets Hollywood criteria, the 2002 screen adaptation starring the late great Richard Harris is impressive. Do check it out.
Favorite Quotes
- “Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. (…) All human wisdom is contained in these two words – Wait and Hope.” - “Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight to conquer it.” - “The friends we have lost do not repose under the ground (...) they are buried deep in our hearts. It has been thus ordained that they may always accompany us.”
9. “Steppenwolf” (Hermann Hesse)
No, not the awful, unconvincing CGI villain in the 2017 DC movie, but a character who believes he is half-wolf and initially takes life far too seriously.
This was a dark horse for me and is the best in terms of philosophy. I don’t recommend predicting its storyline like I attempted – and failed. Let it all unfold and enjoy playing the game as expertly set up by the author.
It might just end up on your list of favorite books too.
Tip
In case you get “Moulin Rouge!” vibes from Hermione, which for some reason I did, you might want to read the book that the movie’s based on – another one by Dumas: “The Lady of the Camellias.”
Favorite Quotes
- “As a body everyone is single, as a soul never.” - “Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest.” - “Eternity is a mere moment.”
10. “Little Women” (Louisa May Alcott)
I find this classic piece of fiction endearing, partly because it’s about four sisters, and I have three. Also, we couldn’t be more different from each other, just like Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.
One point to make is that this is a coming-of-age story that might seem superficial and tame but is far from it. The same way “The Little Prince” is not a children’s story as it takes an adult to truly get it.
Because it does touch on the darker side of life, it taught me about the best way to honor someone’s memory when you lose them. It also illustrates loving fiercely versus being loved fiercely and shows how a choice can be made between the two.
Tip
“Mujercitas”, the 1999 Venezuelan telenovela (Yes, I used to watch those. Feel free to judge me.) based on the book, is a hidden gem.
Favorite Quotes
- “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - “There are many Beths in the world, shy and quiet, sitting in corners till needed, and living for others so cheerfully that no one sees the sacrifices till the little cricket on the hearth stops chirping, and the sweet, sunshiny presence vanishes, leaving silence and shadow behind.” - “Now and then, in this workaday world, things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion.”
11. “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” (Susan Cain)
The first non fiction book on my list makes for an interesting read as it comes from a Wall Street lawyer turned successful writer. Thanks to her, introverts everywhere have been reassured that there’s absolutely nothing with them.
As an introvert at heart who loves being around extroverts, I felt empowered to learn that solitude can be a crucial ingredient for creativity and that Charles Darwin, Abraham Lincoln, Dr Seuss, and Steve Wozniak sought it alongside revelation-seekers over centuries.
Action should not be favored over contemplation when both are needed and self-negating decisions should be avoided.
Read this book. It might not have won a Pulitzer prize, but it should’ve.
Tip
Watch Cain’s TED Talk on this topic.
Favorite Quotes
- “Don't think of introversion as something that needs to be cured.” - “Use your natural powers – of persistence, concentration, and insight – to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems, make art, think deeply.” - “Everyone shines, given the right lighting.”
12. “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” (Simon Sinek)
So much more than just another great book on leadership skills.
Its most powerful message, which makes it worth reading, is that there’s no persuading anyone to do anything. Not really. Martin Luther King, Jr. was not joined in his march by 250,000 people because of his rhetoric, but because the protesters were already in alignment with the message of peace, unity, and equality that he spread.
That’s why in business – as in other areas of life – people need to figure out the why of what they’re doing. Those who believe in the same things will then find their idea, product, or service appealing.
Tip
Sinek’s unusually low-tech TED Talk, during which he had microphone issues and only used simple drawings on a flipchart, is nonetheless incredibly successful (63 million views and counting).
Favorite Quotes
- “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.” - “Great leaders are those who trust their gut. They are those who understand the art before the science. They win hearts before minds.” - “Innovation is not born from the dream, innovation is born from the struggle.”
13. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (Daniel Kahneman)
My next favorite book comes from the field of psychology. All of us can fall prey to around 200 cognitive biases (mistakes related to reasoning and memory). The whole list is yet to be compiled.
Confirmation bias, for example, involves looking only at information that already confirms someone’s beliefs.
The backfire effect is when, despite all evidence to the contrary, our brain tells us not to believe what is demonstrably true because it would be traumatic to acknowledge this.
The intimidatingly fancy “availability heuristic” means believing that if something can be remembered, it must be more important than alternative solutions not as readily recalled.
Awareness of these biases has really helped me in my teaching work and personal life. Such a great book to get the right idea about everyone’s wrong ideas.
Tip
The book goes hand in hand with a more digestible, bluntly titled one by David McRaney: “You Are Not So Smart.” He also has a well put together podcast series.
Favorite Quotes
- “The premise of this book is that it is easier to recognize other people’s mistakes than our own.” - “Nothing in life is as important as you think it is.” - “We can be blind to the obvious, and we are also blind to our blindness.”
14. “A Monster Calls” (Patrick Ness)
Imagine the prospect of loss so great that you can’t bring yourself to face it. All your years of adulthood have not prepared you for it.
Now imagine confronting this as a child, which is what Ness’ story deals with.
As Conor, the main character, is starting to go down this rabbit hole, he’s taken on a journey of healing by an ancestral force of nature that asks for something the boy can’t originally fathom giving. And yet this is key to him moving on.
This is unmissable fiction. Difficult to re-read but a shame not to read at least once. It’s also a shame I included the novel toward the bottom of my favorite books list, but I had to prioritize something.
Tip
Don’t miss out on the film adaptation either. Liam Neeson goes from “I will find you and I will kill you” (“Taken”) to an equally scary mythical tree creature. Still, he (it?) proves to be exactly what Conor needs.
Favorite Quotes
- “There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.” - “Don't think you haven't lived long enough to have a story to tell.” - “If you speak the truth (...), you will be able to face whatever comes.”
15. The “All Souls” Trilogy (Deborah Harkness)
The last item on the list of my favorite books has been called the non-YA “Twilight” with magic.
The first novel in the trilogy is my favorite. The characters, who come from completely different worlds, find more common ground than anyone might think. Then they get dangerously close given that, in theory, a love story between a witch and a vampire is forbidden and would result in outright war.
Does this stop enchantress / historian Diana and immortal geneticist Matthew? You’ll have to read and find out.
The author is a scholar, therefore expect writing that is quite academic. This doesn’t mean you’re not bound to fall under its spell.
Tip
After visiting Tolkien’s pub mentioned above, go to the Bodleian Library, also located in Oxford. It’s where some of the filming for the 2018-2022 TV show was done. Awe-inspiring.
Favorite Quotes
- “From birth I have searched for you. (...) Since finding you I have been able to hold you in my arms, have heard your heart beat against mine. It would have been a terrible thing to die without knowing what it feels like to truly love.” - “Happiness is always louder than sadness.” - "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.”
How Can Having Favorite Books Benefit Language Learners?
If you’re someone who’s trying to improve their English, either for yourself or to boost your exam score, it’s reading in general that is of benefit.
Extensive reading (reading large amounts of text for pleasure, without doing any tasks) has been proven to help with both reading fluency and vocabulary acquisition. This happens almost effortlessly, especially if you do it before bed.
And writing down the meaning of unknown words will speed up your progress.
The Steps to Reading an Authentic Classic Novel as a Language Learner
Start with simplified versions of famous books.
They are called graded readers and are divided by level. Penguin, Oxford University Press, Macmillan and Express Publishing graded readers are just a few examples.
Read 1 book a week for about 3 months.
Then, depending on your initial language level, you should be ready to tackle the unabridged version of a classic novel.
Conclusion
There you have it: an eclectic mix of books that I’ve found illuminating. I’d be poorer had I not read them and learned from the characters in them.
If you want more, check out my “5 Unforgettable Scary Short Stories (And My Own)” post.
No matter your favorite genre, favorite books, and favorite authors, what is important is how you feel about them and perhaps whether they help you help others too.
Happy reading.
FAQs
1. What are good favorite books to have?
Books speak to individuals in different ways.
For some, “To Kill A Mockingbird” is one of the greatest books ever because of its theme of justice that they strongly believe in.
Others might go for the “Harry Potter” series, despite how unbearably dark it gets. (Spoiler alert: Am I the only one to think Sirius Black’s death was completely unnecessary?)
“Pride and Prejudice” is on others’ favorite books list due to its lightheartedness.
A good question to ask is, “What does my choice of favorite book say about me?”
2. What are 10 must read books?
I’d say you can’t go wrong with the classics. You never know which might turn into your next favorite book.
Try:
- George Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm”
- C. S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”
- Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451”
- Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”
- Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina”
- Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind”
- Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose”
- Jane Austen’s “Emma.”
By all means, “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (Gabriel García Márquez) too!
About Rebeca Duriga
Well-versed teacher, passionate writer with Googleable work, Udemy instructor, and someone who can’t resist a good story. I’m here to infuse joy into your learning journey, be it improving English, tackling IELTS, overcoming limiting beliefs, or conquering uni assignments with a sprinkle of AI support. Need motivation and inspiration as a student, adult learner, wordsmith in the making? Look no further.
