What
Perhaps the main bestseller of the decade is a psychological thriller with more unexpected plot twists than even the most demanding reader could wish for.
Plot
On their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne's wife Amy goes missing under suspicious circumstances, leaving him the prime suspect in her possible murder.
Context
Critics have called Flynn's book a "novel of mirrors": nothing can be trusted here and on every page everything turns out to be not what it seems. It seems that the reader opens the book for this reason, so that he is thoroughly taken aback, but not only. Flynn composes, as it were, a fascinating read on the most favorite topic of a great novel - about family. She takes two absolutely glossy main characters, rips off all the covers from them, so what kind of marriage is it, it’s uncomfortable to stand next to them, but at the same time it implies that such an impossible union of unpleasant people is the ideal formula for a strong marriage.
Screen adaptation
Young, successful, beautiful and, most importantly, distinctly Hollywood protagonists are begging to be seen on the screen - it’s as if Flynn is writing a novel about the secret lives of American stars. In the novel, by the way, it is repeatedly emphasized how blonde they are - and it seems that the very choice of Ben Affleck for the main role hints that Fincher was up to something to spite the text. In any case, it will not be difficult for this film adaptation to become better than the original - there is nothing in the text except the plot, and Fincher is known for his ability to do beautiful things.
Tom McCarthy "When I Was Real"
What
An avant-garde novel, delightfully different from all other novels before and after it.
Plot
The main character, waking up in a hospital after an unnamed disaster, receives several million in compensation for damages and paranoid uncertainty about the reality of today - and spends a fortune on recreating the “real” pictures that lie dormant in his mind. It all starts with the construction of an entire house, in which a team of special people recreates the smell of fried liver, the sounds of music from a pianist from above, and cats walking on the roof. But it doesn’t end there - behind the house the scene of a street robbery is recreated, and then something worse.
Context
Tom McCarthy came to literature from contemporary art, and his novel is not about the state of modern society, but rather about the state of modern art. Like an attempt to find out how far the art of actionism can go in its pursuit of reality. That is, what is important here is not only the fantasies of the hero, who suffers from the inability to light a cigarette with the ease of De Niro in “Mean Streets,” but also the fact that a whole army of professionals helps him fulfill any whim: from casting to literally choosing wallpaper. This alienation of the process from the result is reminiscent of cinema - is it worth adding that it was this book that Charlie Kaufman was inspired by when writing “New York, New York”.
Screen adaptation
It is logical that the adaptation of the novel was also undertaken not by a director, but by an artist, and not the last one: video artist Omer Fast became famous precisely for his works that groped the line between art and reality - in “Spielberg’s List” (2003) he interviews the team of the film “Schindler’s List” On the site of a concentration camp built outside Krakow as a movie set, in "Casting" a soldier talking about serving in Iraq turns out to be an actor auditioning for the role of a soldier. The author of the book and the director wrote the script for the film together - and, it seems, understood each other: the movie, where Tom Sturridge, with the help of artistic reconstructions, tries to reach his own forgotten past, Fast describes as the story of an artist devoid of talent.
Laura Hillenbrand "Unbroken"
What
One of the main non-fiction bestsellers of the decade, the 2010 Time magazine book of the year is about a man who survived.
Plot
The incredible biography of Louis Zamperini, a street boy who was raised to be an Olympic runner and sent to the Games in Berlin. Then he became a pilot during World War II, survived a plane crash, drifted on a raft in the ocean for a month - all to be captured by the Japanese.
Context
An incredible and absolutely true story that Laura Hillenbrand found; our time needs heroes and, not finding them in the present, finds them in the recent past.
Screen adaptation
The script for Angelina Jolie's film, which we will see at the end of the year, was written by the Coen brothers, her joint photograph with the main character, taken shortly before his death, went around the Internet, but it may turn out that the desire to make socially responsible films will play a bad joke on her: this It’s easy to kill an already pathetic story with brutal seriousness.
Jeannette Walls "The Glass Castle"
What
A wonderful book about a difficult childhood in a strange family.
Plot
Dad drinks, mom draws pictures, no one works, there is often no food at home and never money, the children don’t go to school, but dad can tell them the best fairy tale in the world, and mom can teach them to play the piano - and everyone is happy.
Context
In fact, “The Glass Castle” is almost the best thing that happened to young adults literature this decade: instead of the fictional suffering of teenagers from dystopias, here is a real complex childhood, where the bohemian life of parents is not always a joy for their four children.
Screen adaptation
The main name of the upcoming film adaptation is already known - this is Jennifer Lawrence, for whom this book will be a chance to finally get out of the swamp of The Hunger Games somewhere closer to the arthouse. With all the love for Lawrence, a lot depends on her in this film adaptation: the whole book is built on very subtle details, and this should turn out well as “Tideland”, and not just another teenage thriller.
Colm Toibin "Brooklyn"
What
Irishman Colm Toibin, one of the most serious modern authors, tragically (for us) not translated into Russian, and his novel, which received the Costa Prize in 2009.
Plot
A young Irish woman leaves her home village for America for a better life - and although she already has a difficult time in Brooklyn, everything becomes even more difficult when tragic events in her homeland force her to return home.
Context
Colm Tóibín is one of the few authors capable of writing long, slow, unhurried texts and following his characters with close attention and exceptional sympathy, who have been forgotten by world literature for more than a hundred years. His novel, however, can be read more simply - as a novel about emigrants in reverse, where America becomes a place from which it is necessary to leave.
Screen adaptation
Saoirse Ronan, the apprentice pastry chef from The Grand Budapest Hotel, will play the lead role in the upcoming - very Irish - film adaptation by John Crowley: it seems that the heroine's inability to take life into her own hands will be the main plot here.
Kevin Powers "The Yellow Birds"
What
A novel about returning from war, written by an Iraq war veteran, has become for Americans something like All Quiet on the Western Front in the 21st century.
Plot
Private John Bartle went to Iraq with his school friend Murph. At the beginning of the war, they swear to each other not to die - but the hero returns alone. Surviving is only half the battle: adapting back to peaceful life turns out to be completely impossible.
Context
Kevin Powers' novel filled the empty niche of the Great Novel about Iraq; here, for the first time in literature, all soldiers’ injuries are fully described - both in the fields and after the fields: why they leave, what they experience and how they return.
Screen adaptation
Benedict Cumberbatch, who has been cast in the lead role in David Lowery's upcoming film, says too much about the upcoming film adaptation: he doesn't look much like an Iraqi mercenary, which means that in a text that is half poetry and the other half the call of blood, it has been decided only poetry was left.
Sebastian Barry "Tables of Fate"
What
A century of Irish history in notes from a madhouse.
Plot
A hundred-year-old woman, sitting in a madhouse, keeps a diary in which the tragedy of her own life is inseparable from the tragic history of Ireland - and her attending physician sits around the corner and also keeps a diary, a little simpler. Sooner or later they meet.
Context
The 2008 Costa Prize, the Man Booker Prize shortlist and a host of other awards prove, if not the importance, then the literary excellence of the text, authored by one of the best living Irish writers and playwrights.
Screen adaptation
It’s a rare case when already at the stage of preparation of the film it is clear that it will pay tribute to the original: Jim Sheridan in the directors, in the roles of the patient and her doctor Vanessa Redgrave and Eric Bana - and a whole sea of famous names in flashbacks.
Elizabeth Strout "Olivia Kitteridge"
What
A collection of stories from the life of the American province, in which the main character manages to remain a minor character almost to the end.
Plot
13 stories from a small town in New England, from which the main character gradually emerges - an inconvenient, overbearing, aging high school math teacher. We meet Olivia Kitteridge as a middle-aged woman, and see her off as an old one - in general, this is a story, if not about aging, then about the loneliness that inevitably accompanies it.
Context
2009 Pulitzer Prize - and a whole bunch of other awards: Elizabeth Strout managed not only to find a new hero, but also to complete the more difficult task of telling the story of an inconvenient heroine with empathy.
Screen adaptation
Frances McDormand, who is starring in the HBO miniseries that will be released this fall, is not very suitable for the role of Kitteridge: in the novel we are repeatedly pointed out what a large, physically awkward body she has. By making the heroine miniature, television cut off the novel itself, turning it into a story about what happens to a marriage after children grow up - a line that turns out to be far from the main one in the novel.
Jojo Moyes "Me Before You"
What
A sad story of impossible love that sells very well.
Plot
A girl at a crossroads loses her job and gets a job as a nurse for a smart, handsome man who is completely paralyzed after an accident.
Context
The social rom-com genre, which Jojo Moyes invented with this novel and has been exploiting with might and main since then, is an undoubted success. Here, in general, it’s the same Jane Austen plus the problems of the first world in the 21st century. That is, the poor beautiful girls have nothing to pay for loans, Mr. Darcy also cries, in between there are many details of the hard life of the working class, laughter through tears, but still more tears. It's not essential reading, just a good chick flick, but it proves that literature can be left-wing in a good way without being too smart.
Screen adaptation
Estimated release - August 2015. Sentimental prose of this kind, as a rule, in film adaptations becomes something moderately marginal: it reaches its strong one hundred million (three times the budget), after which everyone tries to forget it as an annoying misunderstanding. Without counting on anything in particular, the studio gave itself the freedom to play a little: it invited Thea Sharrock, known more for her theatrical work, to the director’s chair (this will be her debut in a feature film, but she, as they say, is widely known on Broadway, in particular to her we owe it to Daniel Radcliffe naked with a horse), and Emilia Clarke aka Khaleesi was called to play the main female role. And Sharrock seems determined not to knock tears out of the audience, but to show them the injustice of the British class system.
Miranda July is a one-man band. In addition to filming, a director's project and a collection of short stories that won the prestigious Frank O'Connor Award, July has a debut novel that also deserves attention.
“The First Bad Man” is a tragicomic story about the imaginary and real world; about loneliness, opposites and love. At the center of the plot is a sensitive and charismatic heroine, whose emotionality resembles each of us.
The light, sarcastic novel by British writer Zadie Smith won the Orange Prize, one of the main awards in the English-speaking literary world. The main characters of the novel - Professor Belsey and Professor Kips - specialize in the work of Rembrandt, but this is where their similarities end.
Political views, art, the idea of multiculturalism - throughout the entire work, their confrontation only intensifies. Smith masterfully ironizes the university “war” and reveals the absurdity of any belief.
Billy Milligan is a criminal diagnosed with multiple personality, which helped him avoid prison sentence. Daniel Keyes wrote a documentary novel about the amazing characters (like the parodist Steve or little Christine) who filled Milligan's essence. The plot centers on an arrested protagonist juggling the memories of his life.
The sensual narrative of the relationship with the famous drug lord follows the canons of Latin American drama: the plot covers the ups and downs of the energetic Escobar and the story of his romance. The confession of journalist Virginia Vallejo is a kind of excursion into the controversial, vibrant, dangerous era of the formation of the Medellin cartel.
Through the ironic, thoughtful novel by Amor Towles, you can look at Soviet realities from an interesting perspective. The main character, the charming Count Alexander Rostov, is declared an enemy of the people and forced to serve his sentence in the Moscow Metropol Hotel, which he cannot leave under pain of death. Thus begins a new chapter in the history of the country and his own life.
Modern classics
An ironic novel about the hardships of family life. The plot centers on lawyer Abel Breteau and his wife Mariette, who are living through another crisis of coexistence. The eminent French writer explores the “immobility” of marriage, fascinatingly discussing its pitfalls - not just a sentence, but an aphorism.
The legendary novel about one of the most powerful mafiosi in America was published in 1969 and inspired Francis Coppola to create the cult film of the same name. The unhurried narrative about the victories and misadventures of Don Corleone enchants from the first pages: the author masterfully describes both the mechanics of gangster life and the difficult fate of the Godfather himself.
Not everyone knows that almost 50 years later Bradbury published a sequel to the popular story “Dandelion Wine.” In this novel, the main character, Douglas Spaulding, grows up and experiences new, unforgettable stories.
The book, which gave the writer the Booker Prize and inspired Boris Akunin to take on “Coronation,” impresses with the authentic atmosphere of good old England. The story is narrated by the butler Stevens. Selfless service to Lord Darlington, detailed life, dangerous intrigues, devotion and resourcefulness - one cannot help but sympathize with the main character of this novel, the text is so fascinatingly structured.
Fantasy novels
The novel brought its creator the Carnegie Medal - an award for the best children's book of the year. Inspired by the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and his own sense of humor, the English writer creates a large-scale, non-trivial space. The imposing cat here coexists with a clan of rats, and in the dungeons lurks evil that cannot be easily overcome.
One of the most famous novels of the American science fiction writer talks about the thin, barely discernible line between reality and illusion. In the near future, life does not end after death, and some people are able to turn back time. The world is turning into a place where the supernatural is combined with the everyday, and the heroes will have to adapt to it and separate the wheat from the chaff.
The cult novel about Professor Challenger was published in 1912. The story takes place in South America: the main character and his colleagues go on an expedition, during which they discover a world untouched by time.
A complex story about two unusual worlds. Wonderland is something like modern Japan, where evil jabberwogs live and the subconscious can be controlled. The End of the World is a gloomy Nowhere in which there is a City and a Forest, and in libraries they read dreams from the skulls of unicorns. Like other bestsellers, this novel is a masterly combination of the familiar and the abnormal, magic and human power.
The famous novel by the American science fiction writer was published in 1955. The large-scale story tells about the organization “Eternity”, which has subjugated time. They have millions of eras and human lives in their power. Global changes will begin with extraordinary events in the life of Andrew Harlan, a talented Technician who will encroach on the existing world order for the sake of love.
Detective stories
This novel is an artistic experiment by Lars Mitting, author of the bestselling non-fiction novel Norwegian Wood. The atmospheric plot develops according to the laws: the sudden death of parents, short-term memory loss, a return to a mysterious tragedy after many years... In order to dot all the i’s, Edward Hirifjell will have to plunge into his dark past.
A topical, witty book from Booker Prize winner Paul Batey. Shootings, drugs, cops and political strife, broadcast from the point of view of the bully Winston Foshay - all this immerses you in the novel from the first lines and allows you to look at the American elections from a different angle. The author does not skimp on gloomy descriptions and highlights the problems of life in the ghetto.
A large-scale disaster novel about saving the planet from the apocalypse. A solar flare turns into a series of cataclysms that threaten to destroy humanity. Survival instructions are found in ancient writings covering a mysterious crystalline column on the ocean floor. Perhaps 12 thousand years ago people knew something about a distant, ominous future.
The world is deceptive and illusory: good can turn out to be evil, an angel can be a real fiend of hell. In this novel, the “angel” is portrayed by an atomic monster capable of destroying millions of people in an instant. Only Max Flynn, a super agent in the service of Her Majesty, can stop the disaster. This is a fascinating story about the limits of human capabilities, courage and love.
A cozy Parisian apartment is the meeting place of Madeline Green and Gaspard Coutances, who mistakenly moved into the same apartment. A sociophobic playwright and a former police officer sought solitude and instead discovered the mysterious past of rooms that belonged to a famous artist, and - each other. This is an atmospheric investigative novel in which the search for the criminal is intertwined with the personal stories of the characters.
The cinematic novel immerses the reader in a resort setting in the south of France. The scorching sun, a villa with a swimming pool, two married couples and a strange creature named Kitty French, shocking guests with her immodest and puzzling behavior. In a few days, serenity will turn into anxiety and tension: where did this woman come from and what is each of the characters in the book hiding?
A heartfelt family saga about women with unusual abilities. Molly and her daughter Cassandra can foresee the future, but this gift does not bring them happiness: predictions play a cruel joke on them. This is a novel about fatalism and human faith, love and real miracles.
A touching, multifaceted collection of stories brought the English writer the prestigious Frank O'Connor Prize. Each of these texts celebrates love in all its forms. The author carefully observes how this feeling is born in painful, strange and unusual circumstances.
Life is unpredictable: you never know what little thing will lead to dramatic changes. For Emmy Hamilton, the owner of a bookstore, such a small thing is a chance find - love letters from the Second World War. These texts are a bridge between the mysterious past of the O'Shea sisters and the life of Emmy, who decided to find the key to their story.
This novel opens the saga “The Cazalet Family Chronicles”, created by the English writer. The plot centers on the tragicomic life of an English family, where each of the characters is looking for answers to the main questions. The story begins in 1937, and relationships develop in an alarming, pre-storm atmosphere.
A light, witty book about a marriage experiment: to drive away routine and boredom, ideal spouses Sylvie and Dan surprise each other. At first, the funny game leads to confusion and gives many reasons for jokes, but soon the main characters are truly surprised: it turns out that each of them keeps skeletons in the closet.
A touching, inspiring text about the mysterious Vianne (in the Hollywood film of the same name - Juliette Binoche) and her chocolate shop. Her appearance in a quiet French town is a real event for local residents, which will be followed by other incidents, one more surprising than the other.
The French novel, which has gained stunning popularity all over the world, tells the story of the destinies of three women, each of whom is ready to fight for freedom and happiness. India, Sicily, Canada - charismatic heroines live on different continents and have never met each other, but it is no coincidence that their lives overlap.
Nowadays, reading is not only necessary, but also useful. However, those who like to occupy their time with some fascinating book very often face the fact that they simply do not know which work is really worth the time spent on it. To avoid this problem, you need to know and remember the most interesting books waiting to be read. Anyone who makes such a small list for themselves will not spend a huge amount of their precious time searching for works.
The most interesting books that teenagers should read. Novel "It's Good to Be a Wallflower"
It must be said that in recent years reading has become fashionable, and it’s great. A few years ago, not a single teenager rested while sitting with a book, because his peers might make fun of him. Now the situation is completely different: not reading is a shame! Therefore, many teenagers become interested in literature that interests them. However, very often they cannot choose works that suit them, because many writers write, as they think, “boring”, and such books are very difficult for teenagers to read. In order to avoid such problems, you need to make a list called “The most interesting books that teenagers should read.”
One for all teenagers is “It’s good to be a wallflower.” The plot of this novel is very exciting and interesting, and the work is written in an easy and understandable language for every teenager.
This book is about Charlie, the main character, who once overheard his classmates talking about a guy who has the ability to understand other people's thoughts. The hero was in a depressed state due to the death of Aunt Helen and his best friend, whose name was Michael. Charlie found out the address of the “understanding” guy and began writing letters to him. In them he detailed all his feelings and experiences, but hid his address and name.
"The house in which..."
“The House in Which...” will become no less. This novel is intended for those who are interested in horror, mysticism and fantasy. It is important that the plot of the work does not allow the reader to relax for a second, because with each new sentence read, the teenager becomes acquainted with new actions taking place in the novel.
“The House in Which...” describes the events that unfold in a boarding school for disabled children. The main character, nicknamed the Smoker, experiences them. He was transferred to another group because he quarreled with his own, and it was after this that he witnessed unusual and mystical phenomena occurring in the House.
The list of works for teenagers entitled “The most interesting books worth reading” can include “For boys and girls. A book of tips for surviving at school."
This work will be interesting specifically for those children who study in middle and high school. For those who are still in elementary school, it is better to postpone getting acquainted with the book. It is worth noting that people who graduated from school a long time ago would also be interested in reading this work and remembering their school years.
The best books about life. "Crime and Punishment"
Not only teenagers, but also adults love to read. They are interested in literature written in a more “complex” language. Many adults love to read books that tell about life. After all, it is in such works that you can find yourself, draw some conclusions, change your outlook on life and learn valuable lessons from them. In order not to waste a huge amount of time looking for a good book about life, you need to make a small list for yourself called “The most interesting books about life that are worth reading.”
One of the most famous of the 19th and 20th centuries is “Crime and Punishment” by the great F. M. Dostoevsky. There are probably no people who are not familiar with this work. The novel describes the spiritual drama of a man who decided to commit murder and committed it. “Crime and Punishment” is considered a classic of Russian and world literature. Anyone who wants to read any literature about the life of a little person needs to get acquainted with this work.
"Life and Fate"
The most interesting books worth reading about life will always delight and surprise any reader. Therefore, everyone who wants to read really good literature should make a small list for themselves, with the help of which they can spend their time with pleasure and benefit.
The work “Life and Fate” should be noted, because it is considered one of the best books about life.
Through this novel, the author tried to convey to the reader that there is nothing that can be placed above human values: neither the ideals of the revolution, nor a single system, etc. The writer wanted to show that the life and fate of any person is the greatest value.
"Lust for Life: Vincent Van Gogh"
If you're looking for something worth reading, look no further than Lust for Life: Vincent Van Gogh. You'll probably like it. Every lover of literature about human life will not remain indifferent after reading the book, because it is a real masterpiece.
This work describes the very tragic fate of the great Vincent Van Gogh. The reader will become acquainted with how difficult the artist’s life was; no one understood him. Van Gogh's work was criticized and not accepted by society.
Now your list entitled “The most interesting books that everyone should read” has been expanded. However, it is worth recalling several interesting works about psychology that every reader will enjoy.
List of books about psychology. "People who play games"
If you don’t like science fiction, mysticism, drama, etc., then a list called “The most interesting books worth reading about psychology” will be an excellent assistant in choosing good literature for you.
One of the most popular and best books on psychology is People Who Play Games. It can safely be included in the list called “The most interesting books worth reading.” The work was written by the world famous psychologist Eric Berne, who created transactional analysis, as well as a system of psychological assistance based on it.
The book is dedicated to enabling the reader to get rid of complexes and stereotypes that interfere with him in everyday life. Through this work, the author tried to teach all readers to analyze their communication.
From the very beginning, the psychologist wanted to publish this book as an advanced textbook on psychology, but he managed to write it in a simple and understandable language that could be understood by anyone who expressed a desire to get acquainted with this work.
In order not to doubt the choice of literature that is suitable for you, you need to use the list called “The most interesting books that are worth reading.” Reviews for each product you choose can be easily found. This will help you understand what impressions the reader has after reading a particular book, and that is why you can make the right choice of work.
"Man's Search for Meaning"
Undoubtedly, a masterpiece of literature on psychology that everyone simply needs to read is the book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” A lover of works about psychology should get acquainted with this book, because it contains discussions and answers to some important questions for every person. The book “Man’s Search for Meaning” raises such eternal questions as the meaning of life and death, love and suffering, etc. The author decided to pay great attention to issues related to psychotherapy.
“Psychoanalytic diagnostics: Understanding personality structure in the clinical process”
The best one that absolutely everyone should get acquainted with is “Psychoanalytic Diagnostics: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process.”
The work is one of the best textbooks on psychoanalytic personality diagnostics. However, the scary title has absolutely no effect on the content. This book is written in "plain language". The work will be of interest to absolutely everyone who is interested in psychology and likes to read relevant literature written “simply” and “easy”.
However, many people prefer to read works that are not what they think are “complex.” Many people simply adore the classics and everything connected with them. Therefore, it is necessary to list several works that can be safely included in the list entitled “The most interesting books that are worth reading. A classic that will stay in your heart."
A literary classic that everyone should read. "Faust"
Classics will never go out of fashion, because such works appeal to most people who are fond of reading. In order to easily find such a book, you need to make a small list of the best works that will not leave absolutely anyone indifferent.
Faust is considered one of the most significant works in German literature. It is important that Goethe worked on this book throughout his life. The author completed the work a few days before his death. The writer saw the story of Doctor Faustus for the first time when he was 15 years old, and five years later he decided to begin creating his own interpretation of the popular myth, filling it with philosophical questions that relate to existence.
Despite the fact that Faust is a very interesting work, it is necessary to add to the list of “The most interesting books worth reading.” The list of literary masterpieces will help every reader find what he has been looking for for a long time and read works that are extremely popular.
"War and Peace"
"War and Peace" is the greatest epic novel that shows Russian society during the wars against Napoleon. The novel contains a huge number of parts, as well as chapters with plot completeness. This book contains hundreds of episodes that will not leave the reader indifferent.
"One Hundred Years of Solitude"
No less stunning is the work “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” It is worth saying that reading this novel will cause a storm of emotions in every reader, and will also leave the best impressions. Therefore, if you want to read a real masterpiece of literature, choose the novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”
Now you can safely name the most interesting books that are worth reading. A list of these works will always help in difficult times when you want to read some good literature. Books are your best friends who will help you escape from depression, as well as learn a lot of new things, and also spend your free time profitably. Therefore, you should not spend a lot of time searching for really good books that are worth your time, because the list of the most interesting works will always help you quickly choose a book, and it will definitely become your favorite.
No matter how unusual it may sound, in the modern world of various gadgets, applications and IT technologies, our youth still read books, many modern authors with a new style and approach to writing books speak about this.
What kind of books are these, or rather, stories that excite the modern reader?
Let's find out what they are - the most interesting modern books. Although it will not be easy to make a choice among the huge amount of interesting literature, we will still try to do it.
E.L. James - Fifty Shades of Gray
Well, how can we remember the most sensational and scandalous book under the intriguing title “Fifty Shades of Gray”? This half-romantic and half-erotic story of the touching and hot relationship between a journalist and a successful businessman created a real sensation, and also had the effect of an exploding bomb.
For the first time in many years, someone dared to write not only about sex, but also about the capabilities and desires of a person during times of lust and passion.
What a fitting title for this love story, as this is the problem with the modern world. Yes, yes, the Internet is a destructive web; it gives as many opportunities as it takes away. People get to know each other, meet and communicate in the virtual world, forgetting about real emotions and experiences. And when, having met in the real world, they are not suitable for each other, they cannot understand what is the matter and why virtual love and sympathy are so different from the real world, because everything was perfect on social networks...
George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire. Game of Thrones"
We couldn’t ignore the most discussed and popular novel of the 21st century. A whole series of fantasy novels captivated the minds of young people and made an entire generation fans of this trilogy. The plot of the book unfolds around the fictional continent of Westeros and its mysterious, and I would even say, slightly mystical inhabitants. A mysterious saga about the life of seven kingdoms, where love reigns, hate reigns and the war for the Iron Throne never stops. Here, as is customary in science fiction novels, there are dragons, magicians and fearless warriors. If you are no longer a child, but still love fairy tales, then this series of books about the Magic Kingdom is just for you.
Markus Zusak - "The Book Thief"
A very touching story about a girl who was adopted as an adult. The plot takes place during the Second World War in a small German town, where everyone is afraid of death and repression. But a strong girl named Liesel finds strength and a great desire to comprehend science and read books that are interesting and beyond her age. Although she gets them in a not very honest and humane way, and simply put, she steals from the library of a person respected by everyone, but the end justifies all the means, doesn’t it? This book is a must read for everyone, it's easy to read and the plot is amazing.
John Green - "The Fault in Our Stars"
Love is the most important and primary feeling in our lives and throughout the world. At the same time, a very romantic and sad love story between two terminally ill people. Hazel Grace and August Waters meet at a cancer support group and fall in love. They know that imminent death will separate them, but they are happy that before leaving they experienced tender feelings and found happiness. An unusual love story, where pain is intertwined with tenderness and happiness, and which is a must read.
Pavel Sanaev “Bury me behind the baseboard”
A touching and very life story about how love turns into hatred and tyranny. The story is autobiographical, it is told by a little boy who was abandoned by his own mother, leaving him in the care of his grandparents. And they, in turn, are not too happy about this prospect, but are ready to fulfill this duty of conscience without unnecessary feelings and emotions. The strict grandmother is confident that she will raise the boy to be an obedient and emotionless robot. Only Sasha Savelyev doesn’t think so and has his own opinion on everything... Yes, you wouldn’t dream of such a childhood... This story is on the list of books that are definitely worth reading.
Bernhard Schlink - "The Reader"
Each of us has our own secrets and mysteries. The book “The Reader” is a rather complex psychological story of love, passion, hopelessness and betrayal.
A fifteen-year-old boy and a fully grown woman start an affair, they are united by an interest in books, and an educated guy reads important and interesting, in his opinion, books to his illiterate lover.
Stormy passion and unusual relationships end as unexpectedly as they begin. But fate is preparing another meeting for the former lovers, only the circumstances will not be too pleasant for them. For those who have not read this popular story, we highly recommend reading it, because this is one of the books that will make you think and touch every note of your soul.
Mitchell David - "Cloud Atlas"
The novel is on the verge of fantasy - that's what critics dubbed it. The plot tells about six different people from different time periods, namely the past, future and present, but as it turns out later, they have one soul, it is simply subject to reincarnation and wanders, visiting first one body, then another. Everything is very confusing and the storylines are very intertwined, although the meaning and morality are still present here. But what they are is up to you to decide. But to do this, you first need to read the book from beginning to end.
Moyes, Jojo - "Me Before You"
We all have our own past, and throughout our lives we all meet the right and important person for us, who will once and for all change it beyond recognition.
This touching novel is about exactly that. Already in the first weeks of sales, more than half a million copies were sold, and the book itself entered the top bestsellers according to the New York Times. And this turn of events is not at all surprising, because we all love love stories that end with a happy ending.
Khaled Hosseini - The Kite Runner
The story is about the friendship that two eastern boys Amir and Hasan carried through their entire lives, despite all the differences and social inconsistency, because they are from different social strata and classes. Life has scattered them to different places and forced them to be on opposite sides of the barricades, but despite this they are faithful to their conscience and friendship.
A very moralizing and life story, which came from the pen of a talented writer, showed the whole world how to value friendship, and no matter what, not turn into blood enemies and take care of friendly relations with all your might.
Sebastian Barry "Tables of Fate"
An interesting story about how a poor old woman, who has already turned a hundred years old, living her old age in a mental hospital, keeps her own diary, where she writes down difficult and sad memories associated with her fate and the country in which she was born.
Ray Bradbury - "Dandelion Wine"
An ordinary life story that takes place in a small town. Every summer, two boys come to the village to visit their beloved grandfather and help the old man collect dandelions for his drink according to his own recipe. This interesting wine contains their family history, traditions and memories, as well as all-consuming love, friendship, quarrels and tragedies.
Colm Toibin - "Brooklyn"
The best novel of the year about a young girl and a real wanderer who returns to her native land after so many years of wandering and searching for herself. Life forces her to leave her native Ireland and settle in New York's Brooklyn. Maybe this is for the better, because the chance of finding love here is much higher.
Homesickness makes her thoughts constantly return to her native land, and when Eilis gets used to a foreign city and becomes her own in it, life circumstances return her to Ireland.
What is this? Joke or simple irony of fate? What will happen next and what trials does fate have in store for her? To find out the whole truth you need to read the most interesting novel of 2017.
Gillian Flynn - "Gone Girl"
The detective of the decade will tell us how you can live with a person for five years and not know him at all. A married and, at first glance, happy couple is preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary, but in an instant everything changes.
The thing is that the main character disappears without a trace, leaving a lot of bad evidence pointing to her death and even more questions. But we will find out the answers to them only when we read this most interesting book.
Gregory David Roberts - "Shantaram"
The story of an Australian guy who chose the wrong path in life and ended up in prison. By chance, he manages to escape, and to get out of sight, he goes to Bombay. In India, a guy named Lindsay does not reform and again becomes a swindler and a deceiver. The moral of this novel is “people don’t change.” This is such a strange life story, but we will not reveal all the secrets and will give you a chance to read this book yourself.
Bernard Werber - "Empire of Angels"
We all ask ourselves the question: “Is there life after death and what awaits us beyond that?” A story that touches on this topic and gives us a chance to reflect and understand what evil and good are, why we were given life and how to use it correctly.
The main character of a science fiction novel named Michel Panson goes to heaven after death (that's lucky), and becomes a Guardian Angel and receives three wards.
It turns out that it’s not so easy to watch worldly life and be on the other side of the screen, and his new profession is not an easy one. This is the author’s imagination that brought him and his novel worldwide fame. The topic is simply very interesting and in demand. After all, we are not eternal...
Whether the weather is good or bad, there is no nicer and more interesting activity than sitting on a cozy sofa, surrounded by pillows, with a cup of hot tea at hand and, most importantly, a fascinating book before your eyes. We all love a good story, an epic story, a sob story, a story that will pull us into the whirlpool of its events, fascinate us with ornate phrases and make us forget about the real world, real people and real problems for an hour or two, or even for the whole day.
Books give us the chance to experience unprecedented adventures with a wide variety of characters, to experience feelings previously inaccessible to us, to visit unprecedented and sometimes non-existent lands. One book can last you a day or a week, depending on how fast you read it. However, it nevertheless takes a lot of time, and this hobby requires a lot of money. Therefore, every really good book is worth its weight in gold, because it more than pays for all costs, while mediocre or obviously weak literature only spoils the mood and makes you regret the time and money spent on it. We bring you the most interesting books to read that can be purchased on the shelves of our local stores.
Planet Water, Boris Akunin
It's impossible to miss with Akunin. All his books, whether novels or historical essays, captivate you from the very first minutes with their smooth narrative language and fascinating plot. “Planet Water” continues the series of detective novels about the beloved character Erast Fandorin, who during his eventful life managed to uncover many crimes and conspiracies, as well as visit various parts of the planet, including mysterious Japan, where he learned the art of ninjutsu and found a faithful Masu's friend and assistant. However, the funny valet does not play a big role in this book. It consists of three stories, three new adventures of Erast with the corresponding subtitle “The Adventures of Erast Fandorin in the 20th Century.”
Paper Towns, John Green
The author of the piercingly tragic novel “The Fault in Our Stars,” John Green, has already managed to win a whole army of fans. So it's no surprise that Paper Towns was an immediate best-seller and flew off the shelves at record speed. The book tells the story of teenager Q Jacobsen and his mysterious neighbor, Margot Spiegelman, for whom he has had feelings for many years. When one day Margot invites him to take part in a punitive operation against her offenders, Q immediately agrees. But after this enterprise, Margot suddenly disappears, leaving behind only a trail of notes and subtle hints. Like all the most interesting books, “Paper Towns” received a film adaptation, in which the leading role was played by the famous supermodel Cara Delevingne.
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of wanderings, Haruki Murakami.
Haruki Murakami is without a doubt one of the top 100 authors you need to read at least once in your life. Like most Japanese writers, Murakami gives his books a special philosophical atmosphere, full of thoughts and inner experiences of the hero, whose thoughts you simply cannot tear yourself away from. Every word is a revelation, every event has its own meaning, every detail adds additional meaning to the story. Tsukuru Tazaki is a colorless man whose life one day took a sharp turn and quickly went downhill when all his friends turned their backs on him for no reason. Many years later, the already adult Tsukuru decides to find out exactly when and what exactly went wrong in his life, going first to Nagoya, and later even to distant Finland.
The Martian, Andy Weir
You know you've stumbled upon a worthwhile book when you're greeted with quotes like "Duct tape works anywhere and everywhere. Duct tape is a gift from the gods and should be worshiped" and "It's not as bad as it seems. I mean, I'm still screwed . Just not that deep." And there are plenty of such pearls in the book. Andy Weir's sci-fi book, which won a film adaptation, does not try to amaze the reader with beautiful speech patterns or cheap action; it takes a completely different course. Mark Watney was left on Mars during the evacuation, presumed dead. Waking up completely alone and without contact with Earth, Mark had no choice but to try to survive on an alien planet, using all the available means in his arsenal.
Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts
Published in Russian in 2010, Shantaram takes pride of place in the list of the top 100 best books of all time. The plot tells the story of an Australian who escaped from prison, a former drug addict and robber. With the help of a false passport and the name Lindsay Ford, he ends up in Bombay, where he begins a completely new life, full of adventures, misadventures and all sorts of difficulties. In the book, the experiences of the main character himself, his thoughts, wise sayings of his friends and, of course, descriptions of an exotic country and its inhabitants are intertwined in an amazing mix. On February 5, the sequel to the book with the intriguing title “Shadow of the Mountain” comes out.
After you, Jojo Moyes
"After You" is a continuation of the novel "Me Before You", telling about the further life of the main character, Lou Clark, after the death of her loved one. Trying to forget about him and open a new page in her life, Lou returns home and finds sympathy and understanding in a psychological support group among the same people who share with her the severity of her situation and her deep experiences. Thanks to them, Lou meets emergency physician Sam Fielding and a mutual understanding arises between them. But despite the sympathy that Lou feels for her new acquaintance, she is still not sure that she can move on and fall in love again. According to the author himself, “After You” is an unplanned book, but Lou’s fate simply did not leave her alone, as, quite likely, many fans of the first book.
The Mysterious Case of Billy Milligan, Daniel Keyes
A master of the psychological novel, author of the late 20th century masterpiece Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes continues to explore the mysteries of the human mind. Based on the story of a very real man, Billy Milligan, who suffered from multiple personality disorder, Keyes created a truly amazing and goosebump-inducing novel about the horror of sharing your body with another consciousness and losing months, even years of your life in oblivion, while someone else, standing at the helm, commits completely unthinkable acts. The main character, like his real-life prototype, was accused of crimes that he did not commit. And until he was arrested, no one even suspected what kind of chaos and what kind of struggle for a place in the sun was going on in Billy Milligan’s head.
The Year We Met, Cecilia Ahern
The queen of sentimental romance, Cecilia Ahern, once again delights her fans with not only a touching love story, but also food for thought. Jessmine, the main character, had everything her heart could desire - a great job, friends and family. But all this changed overnight when she was suddenly fired and left without work for a whole year. However, the girl does not lose heart and takes on all sorts of small chores around the house, takes care of the garden, makes new acquaintances and builds relationships. Jesmine's adventures give you the opportunity to look at your own life from a different angle and learn something new about yourself that you had never suspected before.
All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr
Reading about war is not easy, writing about war is even more difficult. However, Anthony Doerr took on this task without fear and, after many years of reflection, brought to light The Light We Invisible, which immediately became a bestseller and was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. The plot follows the lives of two completely different characters, a shy German boy and a blind French girl, who, despite the war raging around them, fight for survival and for the right to grow and be happy, while trying to maintain their humanity and not lose loved ones.
The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
A gripping detective thriller by former journalist Paula Hawkins, it immediately gained great popularity upon release and held a leading position on The New York Times bestseller list for 14 weeks. Rachel often watches from the train window one seemingly painfully perfect family, husband and wife, whom she named Jess and Jason. But one day the beautiful picture is shattered when Rachel notices something shocking while driving by, after which Jess disappears. Rachel is confident she can find out what happened to Jess, but isn't sure if she should interfere in someone else's life.
We hasten to remind you that these are not all the interesting books to read that you can purchase. These are just a few suggestions based on the best seller lists at local stores. Don’t be afraid to experiment and perhaps, unexpectedly for yourself, you will greatly expand your horizons and learn something new about yourself.