My Top 10 Favourite Novels

Before I begin, I want to apologise for taking this long to post something in this blog. I started writing this a while back, but never got around to finishing it until now. I can't promise to be more active from now on, but I do know what my next post will be, so hopefully I should be able to get it out sooner rather than later. So, onto my first entry.

As an English Literature graduate, it makes sense for my first post to be a literary one. As such, I have put together a list of my top 10 favourite novels. I have not used the same author more than once, and have tried to choose texts from different time periods in order to give this list some variety. And bear in mind that this is purely opinion; I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who would hate my taste in literature. Also, there is a lot of stuff out there that I have yet to read, so if your favourite novel hasn't made the list, there is a chance I haven't read it yet.

10 – Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter

Carter's post-modern novel focuses on the story of Fevvers; a famous circus acrobat who supposedly hatched from an egg, and as a teenager grew swan-like wings. The novel charts her journey to fame, her adventures through Petersburg and Siberia and her relationship with the American journalist Jack Walser. One of the things that makes Angela Carter's writing unique is her ability to combine the surreal, fairytale elements of her writing with vulgar, crude descriptions and language. This gives the novel a fantasy-like quality while at the same time feeling very human. Additionally, like most post-modernist novels, Nights at the Circus explores the idea of storytelling itself. We are never entirely sure of Fevvers' origins, or how she even exists, and Carter uses these uncertainties to challenge our suspension of disbelief. This novel is enjoyable on many levels, but ultimately, it is just a tonne of fun to read.

9 – Crossing the River by Caryl Phillips

A novel that I only discovered during my final semester of university, Crossing the River charts the story of three Africans during three different points in history. Nash is sent from America to Africa as a missionary, Martha escapes her life as a slave and travels to California in order to find her daughter, while Travis is stationed in England during World War II. The novel uses a range of narrative techniques, alternating between the first and third person, with some parts told through letters or diary entries. A novel that is incredibly varied, one of the only constants being the origins and hardships of the three 'siblings'.

8 – The Moonstone by Wilke Collins

Considered the first English detective novel, The Moonstone is definitely worth a read. When I studied it in my second year, I stayed up until three in the morning to finish it before the lecture, because I didn't want the ending spoiled for me. Told from a series of first-person narrators, it charts the mysterious theft of the Moonstone; an Indian diamond given to Rachel Verinder on her eighteenth birthday, and stolen that very night. Normally I criticise 'whodunit' stories because often the answer is the only thing that keeps me reading. What makes The Moonstone special is that as the mystery starts to unravel, it is not merely the 'who' that is important, but the 'how' and 'why'. The unexpected twists, combined with a varied cast of characters makes this a detective novel worth reading.

7 – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I love Jane Austen, but I will be the first to admit that she is a very formulaic writer. Once you've read one of her works, you can already guess how the rest are going to end. But it's Jane Austen's satire that makes her novels brilliant, and Pride and Prejudice is definitely her strongest work. The novel follows Lizzy Bennet and her sisters, who are encouraged by their mother to find good marriages so they will be settled in life. It charts Lizzy's relationship with Mr Darcy, showing how a bad first impression can blind you to a person's true nature. Much of the humour comes from the witty dialogue exchanges, as well as the narrative's mockery of characters such as Mrs Bennet and Lady Catherine. My favourite passage in this novel will always be Mr Collins' proposal to Lizzy. You have to read it to appreciate it, but trust me, it is hilarious. A fun read both for those who love romantic novels, and those who want a laugh.

6 – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I've never grown tired of this book, no matter how much I studied it at GCSE. If anything, knowing it in so much detail made me enjoy it even more. The novel follows the lives of Scout, Jem and Dill over several years, the assumptions they make about the people around them, ultimately showing how they learn to step into someone else's shoes before judging them. The novel is generally considered to be about racism, and while Tom Robinson's trial is a crucial part of the story, I'd say it's more about prejudice in general. It is a touching novel with some amazing characters, that no amount of studying could hinder.

5 – Animal Farm by George Orwell

Since I decided I would not use the same author twice, I had to make a call between Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four. While Nineteen Eighty-Four is a great novel and definitely worth a read, I would say I prefer Animal Farm. Tales about animals are normally associated with children's literature, and this association makes the novel all the more sinister. The novel centres around the animals of the titular farm, who overthrow their human master and run the farm themselves. Things start out well, but as time goes on, the strong begin to manipulate the weak, resulting in a cruel dystopia disguised a free society. A chilling critique of communism, Animal Farm is a short, but moving read.

4 – A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

One of my favourite things to analyse in a novel is the language, and a strong narrative really pulls me in. A Clockwork Orange delivers exactly this; told from the perspective of the teenage Alex, and narrated using a fictional teenage slang known as nadsat. It follows Alex over three years of his life, charting his rebellious years and society's attempts to rehabilitate him. It raises many questions about free will; should we choose to be bad or be forced to be good? I'm guessing most people are more familiar with the film adaptation that was infamously banned for years, and having read the book I can see why. I think there is something even more disturbing, however, by having the events described to you in an almost innocent sounding voice, rather than seeing them for yourself. The narrative is amazingly crafted, and the language can be picked up surprisingly quickly, so if you do give it a try, don't let it scare you off, and don't use a glossary.

3 – Watership Down by Richard Adams

The only children's novel on the list, Watership Down remains one of my all time favourite novels. I lost count of how many times I have read it, but I love it every time I do. The story centres around the journey made by a group of rabbits, lead by the main character Hazel. Hazel's brother Fiver senses that something terrible will happen to their warren, causing them to leave and build themselves a new home. One of the things I love about Watership Down is how much effort Adams puts into the rabbits' language and culture, from the creation of new words to the tales of El-ahrairah that are dotted throughout the story. The story is strong, with some great characters and clever writing. A childrens' book that I think anyone can enjoy.

2 – The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

My favourite of all the novels written by the Bronte sisters, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is told from the perspective of Gilbert Markham, and charts his relationship with the titular tenant Helen Graham. One thing I really like about this novel is that it allows both Gilbert and Helen to narrate; most novels would only let one character tell the story (except Wuthering Heights, which is, to be honest, a narrative mess). Another thing that makes this novel interesting is that it can almost be seen as a 'corrective' version of her sisters' works, subtly picking at the flaws in Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The lesser-known work of the Bronte sisters, but in my opinion, one of the best.

1 – The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

As I have said before, I love language, and the narrative in this novel is simply amazing. Set in a speculative future, where America is run by religious extremists, it charts the story of the handmaid Offred, whose purpose is to conceive a child for the family who owns her. The narrative is scattered, alternating between her present-day life as a handmaid, and her past. What makes Atwood's narrative stand out is how she allows the reader to become fully immersed in Offred's world with descriptive, sensory imagery, while at the same time reminding us that this is 'just a reconstruction'. The narrative style makes this an amazing read, even though, if you sit and think about the actual events, not much really happens. This novel for me shows exactly what makes literature stand out from other mediums, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I hope that this list has encouraged some of you to pick up some of these novels and possibly try something you wouldn't otherwise read. You have probably noticed that language and narrative crop up a lot in this list; I am a big fan of experimental narrative styles, and playing with the idea of suspension of disbelief. I find it is an area that can only be explored though written work; done right, description is more powerful than visuals. There are some other novels that almost made this list, but were rejected in favour of others, and a few that didn't make it because I already had something by that author. Later down the line I might do a 'runner up' novels list, but for now, I'll leave you with these ten.

As I said when I first created this blog, I encourage responses, so if you have an opinion on any of these novels, feel free to comment, or better yet, post a response; what are your top ten favourite novels and why?