Books you have to read before you die!
Reading is a great way to escape the real world, immerse yourself in a magical fantasy, feed the brain, and also a great thing to do when you need to take time away from social media and technology.
Whatever type of reader you are, a slow reader, an average reader, or a crazy book lover, this shortlist of books of the fantasy genre are some of my own personal favorites and are one’s that everyone has to read at least ONCE in their lives.
1. The Hobbit (1937) / Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954-1955) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Two tales of Hobbits leaving the comforts of their homes in order to save Middle Earth from evil, with the help of many companions including elves, dwarves, men, and wizards. They are both very descriptive with a lot of information, its writing is quite old-fashioned and sometimes hard to understand with introductions of many realms and characters. However, this legendary fantasy is beautifully written and timeless, and you can’t help but be swept into the world and fall in love with it and its characters. Unquestionably some of my favourite books of all time, and if you love the films, it’s definitely worth a read. (Something I do to help me read this series is also listening to the soundtracks of the films, to really set the scene).
2. Harry Potter (1997-2007) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter is a young wizard who was given a scar on his head as a baby, as a symbol of survival from the powerful but evil wizard Voldemort who also killed his parents. When Harry turns 11, he gets accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and alongside his friends, he overcomes many challenges through the years in the quest to defeat Voldemort once and for all. Growing up with both the Harry Potter books and movies has been extremely magical. Still to this day, I can’t get over how much I love and have connected with the characters and the story, and how much it has affected me over the years. These fantasy novels are for all ages and can captivate you immediately. The plot is exciting and gradually darkens as the years go on and the adventure becomes more dangerous, the characters go through loss and many hardships but also happiness, friendship, and victory. Again if you love the films, you’ll love the books!
3. Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen
Set in the late 1700s to early 1800s, this famous Jane Austen novel follows the complicated relationship between the daughter of a country gentleman, Elizabeth Bennet, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner, as they overcome obstacles in order to fall in love and get married. For Elizabeth and her four sisters, the story focuses on the conflict between marrying for love and marrying for economic reasons. They are pressured into finding secure and good marriages since they cannot inherit their father’s estate. While I love the movie made in 2005 with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (which is also a must-see) The novel is just as good. The characters are so dynamic, and it is very passionately and wonderfully written. If you are a romantic, or you love a strong female character you will love this novel!
4. The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) by C.S. Lewis
Another book to film series, these novels are classics! The most popular one out of the seven books is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), which was made into a popular movie in 2005, along with two sequels, Prince Caspian (2008), and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). These novels include the classic elements of a fantasy, magic, talking animals, and easy storytelling that pulls you into the world. I love these books! However, when published, the books weren’t numbered, so it’s undetermined what order the books are written in and fans of the series often have strong opinions over that order. So in chronological order its:
- The Magicians Nephew
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- The Horse and His Boy
- Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
- The Silver Chair
- The Last Battle
5. Alice in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll tells the story of a young girl named Alice, who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world filled with strange creatures and utter nonsense. Disney made the animated adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in 1951 (which is one of my favourite Disney movies) as well as the 2010 live-action version of it, and the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) which was also a book in 1871. Even though considered a children’s book, this one is still a classic that everyone should read no matter your age.