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Good Books To Read Now and Anytime

by Laura McBride

books arranged on lighted bookshelves

We read to know we are not alone.

C.S. Lewis

C. S. Lewis knew how to express, in writing, the very essence of the scope of human emotions. And that’s what a good writer does. When you have a good book, you are not alone. The depth and breadth of triumph and tragedy become yours as you turn the pages of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, or the exquisite beauty of redemption becomes visible in the last pages of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. We gather courage from their triumphant journeys, and hope from their poignant emotional responses, both of which are in great demand right now! So, here’s a list of books to inspire you and maybe even challenge your viewpoints.

Fantasy/Sci Fi

I absolutely love a good fantasy book and here’s why you should too. It takes the things which we know and restores the deep significance that has become hidden over time. The function of myth and fantasy is to allow our imagination to rediscover the enchanted reality that the narrow, practical, perspectives of real life won’t allow. We all need a little more enchantment in our lives.

THE NAME OF THE WIND
DARK MATTER
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
IN THE HALL OF THE DRAGON KING

This is the first book in the Dragon King trilogy. If you like this one, the other titles are Warlords of Nin and The Sword and the Flame.

Thrillers

Better known as page turners, these keep you up at night and usually in an uneasy way, but you can’t stop until you know what happens to the protagonist.

THE DRIFTER
RED DRAGON

This is the first book in a four book series by Thomas Harris wherein we are introduced to a fiendish literary serial killer named Hannibal Lecter. The other titles in this series are The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter, and Hannibal Rising.

I AM PILGRIM
ABOVE SUSPICION
LITTLE BEE

Non-Fiction

These are the books that tell stories which are hard to believe and cause us to question ideas and beliefs we may have taken for granted.

HILLBILLY ELEGY
BAD BLOOD
THE DAWN PRAYER
THE GIRL WHO SMILED BEADS
LOVE IS A WILD ASSAULT
RED NOTICE
THE BOYS IN THE BOAT
THE GREAT GAME

Good Old Fashioned Fiction

NEWS OF THE WORLD
SHANTARAM
DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN
ON CHESIL BEACH
THE GREAT BELIEVERS
SAXON TALES: THE LAST KINGDOM

If you like historical fiction and you need a sweeping epic, this is for you. The Saxon Tales series includes 10 books that chronicle Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s journey as a young boy captured by Vikings and then pressed into service as a soldier for the Saxon army under King Alfred’s reign. It is the epic tale of how England was formed to defend herself from Viking invasions.

Classic Literature

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
JANE EYRE
SILAS MARNER
DRACULA
THE POWER AND THE GLORY
MOONFLEET
THE ILLUSTRATED MAN
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
BRIGHTON ROCK

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Copyright © 2018 · Laura McBride

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