My Top 100 Books

I’ve been reading those ‘top books of all time’ lists and they always stick in Dickens and James Joyce and books that are unreadable and not enjoyable but they are ‘classics’. I think they get in there cause people are ashamed to leave them out. Stuff that.

I’ve compiled my own list of my top 100 books I like to read and re-read. A lot of this is literature, some is definitely not, some is non-fiction, and all are just fine reads that I personally enjoy.

This is my personal list. Everyone will have their own. I’ve not read everything yet, I’m sure there are some excellent books out there unread by me that I might end up putting on this list in the future.

The list is first and some commentary on the list comes next, I did it this way so the list is easy to get through and if you want to read more, go onto the next bit.

Avrils’ Top 100 to-read list (not in order of favorites)

1. Alias Grace – Margaret Attwood
2. The Lovely Bones – Alice Seabold
3. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
4. Memoirs Of A Geisha – Arthur Golden
5. The Wind Up  Bird Chronicle – Haruki Murakami
6. The Remains Of The Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
7. A Room With A View – Em Forster
8. A Town Like Alice – Neville Shute
9. Forever – Judy Blume
10. Milly Molly Mandy Books Joyce Lankester Brisley
11. Mallory Towers Books – Enid Blyton
12. The Queens Favorites – Jean Plaidy
13. The Woman In White – Wilke Collins
14. Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
15. Flowers For Algenon – Daniel Keys
16. Poems – Emily Dickenson
17. Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow – Peter Hoeg
18. Everything Is Illuminated
19. Sophies World -Jostein Gaarder
20. Man’s Search For Meaning – Victor E Frankel
21. Like Water For Chocolate – Laura Esquivil
22. Chocolat – Joanne Harris
23. Cortez On Jupiter – Ernest Hogan
24. Easy Connections – Liz Berry
25. Goodnight, Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian
26. Tales Of The Unexpected – Roald Dahl
27. The Mint – TE Lawrence
28. Daddy Long Legs – Jean Webster
29. Washington Square – Henry James
30. Possession – AS Byatt
31. The Belgariad – David Eddings
32. The Blind Watchmaker – Richard Dawkins
33. The Gap Series – Stephen Donaldson
34. Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk
35. The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat – Oliver Sacks
36. The Witching Hour – Anne Rice
37. A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
38. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas – Hunter S Thompson
39. Dragonwyk – Anya Seton
40. Robinson Crusoe – Daneil Defoe
41. Barchester Towers – Anthony Trollope
42. Enders’ Game – Orson Scott Card
43. Dragonsinger – Anne Mcaffrey
44. A Maggot – John Fowles
45. The Razor’s Edge – Somerset Maughm
46. Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert Pirzig
47. Little House On The Prarie (Series ) – Laura Ingalls Wilder
48. The Narnia Chronicles – CS Lewis
49. Neal Gaimon – American Gods
50. The Mists Of Avalon – Marion Zimmer Bradley
51. The God Makers – Frank Herbert
52. Startide Rising – David Brin
53. Hyperion – Dan Simmonds
54. Snowcrash – Neal Stephenson
55. Lao Tsu – Tao Te Ching
56. The Journey To The West/ Monkey = We Cheneng En
57. The Demolished Man – Alfred Bester
58. Charles Darwin – Voyage Of The Beagle
59. The World Inside –  Robert Silverberg
60. The Picture Of Dorian Grey – Oscar Wilde
61. The Blue Castle – LM Montgomery
62. The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13.1/3 – Sue Townsend
63. Artists In Crime – Ngaio Marsh
64. Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone
65. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
66. Rebecca – Daphne Du Marier
67. The Waste Land (Poem)- TS Eliot
68. Revelation Space – Alistair Reynolds
69. The City And The City – China Meiville
70. Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant – Anne Tyler
71. The Forsythe Saga – John Galsworthy
72. Perfume – Patrick Suskind
73. Orlando – Virginia Woolf
74. Housekeeping – Marilynne Robinson
75. The Gods Themselves – Issac Asimov
76. Ringworld – Larry Niven
77. Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feneyman! – R Feneyman
78. The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides
79. Lady Chatterleys Lover – Dh Lawrence
80. Pride And Prejudice – Jane Austin
81. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkein
82. Stranger In A Strange Land – Robert Heinlen
83. Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
84. They Eyre Affaire – Jasper Fforde
85. The Grand Sophy – Georgette Heyer
86. Brides head Revisited -Eveylyn Waugh
87. The Chamomile Lawn – Mary Wesley
88. The Golden Key Jennifer Roberson and Melanie Rawn
89. At Bertram’s Hotel – Agatha Christie
90. The Plauge – Albert Camus
91. The Goblin Market (Poem) – Christine Rossetti
92. A Man For All seasons – Robert Bolt
93. The Golden Age Trilogy – John C Wright
94. Dorothy Parker Complete Stories
95. Three Bags Full – Leonie Swann
96. Angelique Series – Serganne Golon
97. Edward Gorey – All of it
98. EDIT – I had everything is illuminated twice, so i replace 98 with Fifteen – Beverley Cleary
99. Batavias Graveyard – Mike Dash

100.Kimono – Liz Dalby

Notes

Alias Grace – Margaret Attwood

It was a toss up as to which of her books to put first. Cats Eye, The Haindmaid’s Tale, The Robber Bride, The Blind Assassin, and Oryx and Crake – all also brilliant. So I just picked one that is outstanding

The Lovely Bones – Alice Seabold

This is a wonderfully written novel. I’ve not seen the movie, don’t intend to.

The Secret History – Donna Tartt

I read another book by her first and hated it (The Little Friend) but this one is glorious. It starts with a group of students who commit a murder and then they have to live with that.  Excellent writing.

Memoirs Of A Geisha – Arthur Golden

You can drink in this book. what an amazing story and so well told

The Wind Up  Bird Chronicle – Haruki Murakami

Again, which murakami to choose? I love almost all of them, except Norweigan Wood, which is his best seller and the only book of his that is not totally inexplicable. I love the weirdness in his books. Another favorite is Dance Dance Dance, and Kafka on the Shore.

The Remains Of The Day – Kazuo Ishiguro

I’m so pleased I’ve not read all his books yet. They are also weird and wonderful. Top marks for everything of his I’ve read.

A Room With A View – Em Forster

Don’t like much else by him but this is great

A Town Like Alice – Neville Shute

This book is nothing like people think it’s going to be. A war story and then a pioneer story set post war in the NT, brilliant stuff.

Forever – Judy Blume

Young adult book. I think every girl in any high school in the 80s learned about the reality of relationships from this book – still a good read. I also like ‘Starring Sally J Freedmon as herself’ – great writing that adults can enjoy

Milly Molly Mandy Books Joyce Lankester Brisley

Short, charming, funny stories. I reread hers a lot. She also wrote a book called ‘The Dawn Shops’ which is one of the best collection of stories for kids I’ve ever had. Manages to be simple but not patronising. You want to go and live with the family and buy sweets at the local shop.

Mallory Towers Books – Enid Blyton

So I have a soft spot for these books. Enid Blyton is often not really enjoyable as an adult (the secret seven and Famous Five are banal and dull) but this series is excellent, I go back and read it at least once a year.

The Queens Favorites – Jean Plaidy

The story of Queen Anne, Sarah Churchill, and Abigail Hill. Pretty historically accurate and very dry to read, the sort of historical fiction I like (not like the total guff that is coming out these days. I do NOT recommend stuff like the Other Boleyn Girl, which is about 80% fantasy and destroys the integrity of the people they are on about)

The Woman In White – Wilke Collins

Victorian melodrama at it’s finest, I like what I’ve read by Wilke. Some Victorian authors are full of shit (Dickens) but some are just brilliant and very accessible.

Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons

There is something very odd about the youth writings of the 1920s – a Bright Young Things novel. And don’t go out to the woodshed, you might see something nasty. This book is a romp the entire way through, and most funny. I just found out there is a sequal, will have to look it up.

Flowers For Algenon – Daniel Keys

Oh man what a great book. I was put off reading it as everyone in the year below me did it for school and they all whined about it, but they were wrong. It’s awesome.

Poems – Emily Dickenson

Quick ditties that cover just about everything

Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow – Peter Hoeg

If  you want a thriller that spanks on Dan Browne. Enjoyable.

Sophies World -Jostein Gaarder

The ABC of philosophy but in a novel form. How cool is that. He (or she!?) also did a book about cards, which I liked too.

Man’s Search For Meaning – Victor E Frankel

Read it. Short and sweet and moving and meaningful.

Like Water For Chocolate – Laura Esquivil

Those whacky Mexicans. If you’re a foodie you will like it

Chocolat – Joanne Harris

Just a darn good read. however, too sweet now that i dont eat chocolate any more!

The Australian Womans Weekly Cookbook 1979

Probably my most opened book. Based on most of the ingredients one actually HAS. Most people swear by ‘Cookery the Australian Way’ but nope, this rocks it.

Cortez On Jupiter – Ernest Hogan

This might actually be my favorite book of all time. It appeals on so many levels. The story of an insane space artist who goes  even insaner.

Easy Connections – Liz Berry

Young adults book. Hrm. About an artist, again. I see a theme.

Goodnight, Mr Tom – Michelle Magorian

I cry, literally, every time I read this book. Story of an evacuee sent from London during the war, and where he ends up

Tales Of The Unexpected – Roald Dahl

Macabre and brilliant

The Mint – TE Lawrence

Lawrence of Arabia wrote this autobiographical account when he joined the airforce after WWI. Havn’t read it in years. But I read it a few times and loved it

Daddy Long Legs – Jean Webster

Don’t be fooled by the Fred Astaire movie which was based on it. Funny, charming, sweet, clever book

Washington Square – Henry James

DO NOT READ THE GOLDEN BOWL. But this one is good. Bittersweet, the way I really like a novel to be

Possession – AS Byatt

Set in two time periods, both stories are awesome.

The Belgariad – David Eddings

This is what I read when I’m sick. I don’t like fantasy but this one is just…rollicking. And amusing.

The Blind Watchmaker – Richard Dawkins

The man needs to lighten up on the atheist stuff. Yes, I agree with it, but shut up for goodness sake and go and do your biology. I don’t think his selfish-gene thing is the whole answer either – but this is a great read that goes into the mechanics of evolution which a lot of people should read, it puts things into context in plain English. Good read.

The Gap Series – Stephen Donaldson

Wasn’t sure whether to put this series or the Mirror of her Dreams series in. both awesome. Both traumatic and hard to read in places. I don’t recommend the White Gold books unless you really want to be depressed. He’s a great writer.

A wonderful life – Stephen J gould

Another biologist. This book has mostly been superseded but it’s a great read despite that.

Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk

Great book! A bit different from the movie

The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat – Oliver Sacks

Enjoyable read, he brings things to life

The Witching Hour – Anne Rice

Not a big fan of her other stuff but this book is evocative and brilliant and mysterious

A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess

Good iconic read

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas – Hunter S Thompson

Oh man, his stuff is awesome. He’s a funny man

Dragonwyk – Anya Seton

She’s done a few really good books, she does historical fiction. This is a coming of age story set against some pretty interesting times

Robinson Crusoe – Daneil Defoe

I was surprised how good this was, I thought ‘oh yeah why bother everyone knows the story’. AD Hope has done a poem based on the Man Friday story too which is then worth a read when you’re done with this book

Barchester Towers – Anthony Trollope

Fine read. Joanne Trollope (great granddaughter) is also a writer who does village epics, I enjoy some of hers too but it’s super girly. All about feelings. Ew.

Enders’ Game – Orson Scott Card

I hesitate to recommend something by someone who is personally repugnant to me but this is a fucking awesome book.

Dragonsinger – Anne Mcaffrey

Her first 5 books set in Pern are worth rereading. I also like Killashandra. She kind of rote wrote later on and lost the plot a bit, but these were good

A Maggot – John Fowles

Again, which to pick of his. The Magus. The French Lieutenants’ Woman. The Collector. Probably four of the best books on my shelves. I recommend A Maggot because it’s science fiction hiding as historical fiction and it took me two goes to understand even slightly what was going on.

The Razor’s Edge – Somerset Maugham

He might be my favorite author just in his style of writing, but not his actual novels. All very bitter and sad, usually

Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert Pirzig

You will enjoy the ‘quality’ of this book…heheheh

Little House On The Prarie (Series ) – Laura Ingalls Wilder

DO NOT BE fooled by the TV series which were naff. The books are so far removed from them other than the names. What glorious books.

The Narnia Chronicles – CS Lewis

I’ve gotten more and more fond of The Horse and His Boy as time has gone on.  A bit goddy. But still readable.

Neal Gaimon – American Gods

I am not a fan of NG the same way others are. I find much of his stuff totally wanky and ‘gothic’. This book is utterly wonderful though. Surreal and clever and amusing and epic.

The Mists Of Avalon – Marion Zimmer Bradley

The authurian ledgends told by the women in the story. Leaving out most of the boring war bits. How good is that.

The God Makers – Frank Herbert

Ok I didn’t put down Dune, which I also love, cause I like this book more. I would recommend almost all his books (ALMOST) . the Dosadi Experiment I love too.

Startide Rising – David Brin

You can’t put it down once you get to the final epic scene! Dolphins, space ships, and evolution. Oh yeahg.

Hyperion Series- Dan Simmonds

These books got me into reading John Keats poetry.

Snowcrash – Neal Stephenson

Which Neal to put here. They all rock. Cryptonomicon and the Confusion books…his writing is like rich deep chocolate – you enjoy every bite

Lao Tsu – Tao Te Ching

For some thought and thinking.

The Journey To The West/ Monkey = We Cheneng En

Born from an egg on a mountain top indeed! Great read

The Demolished Man – Alfred Bester

JMS ripped off the telepath stuff for Babylon 5 but named his main telepath in homage to the writer. Amazing book.

Charles Darwin – Voyage Of The Beagle

I prefer this to origin of the species – it shows his joy in being a naturalist. But my goodness he did NOT like Australia!  His book on reefs and attols is a surprisingly good read

The World Inside –  Robert Silverberg

Fine SF. I like all Silverberg but I think this is him at his peak

The Picture Of Dorian Grey – Oscar Wilde

Oh my what an awesome book. Very very clever writing. read his plays and stories too.

The Blue Castle – LM Montgomery

My favourite of hers. She also did the Anne of Green Gables and the Emily of New Moon books, which are ALSO awesome, but the blue castle is the best. A Tangled Web is also good as a stand alone book of hers.

The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13.1/3 – Sue Townsend

I can’t believe not everyone has read this. Funny funny and tragic.

Artists In Crime – Ngaio Marsh

For a bit of light crime reading from the mid of last century (and a bit on each side). The detection work is not about forensics (laughable now when you read it) but the people are always very human and the stories are great. I have all her books.

Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone – JK Rowling

I love the entire series. She has got it right

Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

How can people not have read this. I’m on Team Jane.

Rebecca – Daphne Du Marier

Her other novel I love is Frenchmans’ Creek. I was torn as to what to put here. Rebecca I have read again and again. The movie does it justice.

The Waste Land (Poem)- TS Eliot

Incomprehensible but emotional.

Revelation Space – Alistair Reynolds

There are three books in this arc that don’t really stand alone. I read them out of order. It was very confusing. Haven’t liked his later stuff much but his earlier space books are all pretty fine.

The City And The City – China Meiville

Which China book to put down as the recommended one! Kracken, Perdido St Station and Embassytown…fine SF. So hard to read, so rewarding to read. my favorite author at the moment. Come on dude. write more.

Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant – Anne Tyler

Did this in year 12 and now a massive fan. I love also The Accidental Tourist, Yesterday when we were grownups. And another one which I can’t remember. With Cordelia Grinstead. Her books tend to be coming of age novels but for 50+ age group.

The Forsythe Saga – John Galsworthy

Irene is one of the most intriguing characters written

Perfume – Patrick Suskind

READ IT. What a nasty, brutal, glorious book.

Orlando – Virginia Woolf

Very clever writing. The fly on the sugar cube!

Housekeeping – Marilynne Robinson

I was not sure whether to put this or Gideon up as my best pick. I went for this. She writes poetically.

The Gods Themselves – Issac Asimov

I like a good Asimov, this is one. Also, The End to Eternity, is another favorite

Ringworld – Larry Niven

I think I’m over Niven now as my favourite author, but I still enjoy dipping into this, and ringworld Engineers

Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feneyman! – R Feneyman

He is a brilliant man. Autobiographical

The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides

Not a happy read but a really well written book

Lady Chatterleys Lover – Dh Lawrence

Coming of age book, pretty graphic but not pornographic

Pride And Prejudice – Jane Austin

What a darn fine read

The Hobbit – JRR Tolkein

I don’t actually like the Lord of the Rings. I find it tedious. There is a party, then there are some hobbits who hang out with ents and then the shire is scouged. Takes a few hours to read if you only read those bits. But the hobbit is brilliant.

Stranger In A Strange Land – Robert Heinlen

Yes I went there. I like the fast talk in his books but not the misogynistic attitude to women.

Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

I was shocked, this book was awesome. It was made into a Julia Robers film, which I will never see. It’s a really good book, says a lot about growing up and becoming yourself.

They Eyre Affaire – Jasper Fforde

I love love love his Tuesday Next series. Sort of fantasy set in an alternate future and the book world. If you like to read classic literature these books will be a total delight

The Grand Sophy – Georgette Heyer

I’ve never seen farce done as well as this book. I love her books. Probably the only ‘romance’ I read – comedy of manners set during regency is why I read them

Brideshead Revisited -Eveylyn Waugh

The mini series is a very close adaptation of this and compliments it so well.

The Chamomile Lawn – Mary Wesley

One of my favourite books (also mini series), the story of a bunch of people during war time and then later in the 80s.

The Golden Key Jennifer Roberson and Melanie Rawn

One of the few fantasy books I would recommend. I can’t read it any more cause of the association of who gave it to me but it’s a great read.

At Bertram’s Hotel – Agatha Christie

I’m fond of good old Agatha, this is my favourite, for the descriptions of the food, if nothing else.

The Plauge – Albert Camus

Not a happy read (it’s a metaphor for the Nazi occupation) but a good one

The Goblin Market (Poem) – Christine Rossetti

Easy to read poem. Worth it

The Golden Age Trilogy – John C Wright

Good original SF, I was blown away by this

Dorothy Parker Complete Stories

She’s brilliant.

Three Bags Full – Leonie Swann

A bunch of sheep have their shepherd murdered and decide to solve the crime. Ever read a book from the POV of sheep before?

Angelique Series – Serganne Golon

Oh Angelique, so much happens to you. Best historical fiction romance war royal saga I’ve ever met, half way through it becomes the story of a pioneer to French Canada. Good stuff. I wish they’d finish the series in English

Edward Gorey – All of it

Poems. Illustrations. Awesome

Fifteen – Beverley Cleary

She also wrote the Ramona books, which are the POV of a hyperactive imaginative child who totally misses things all the time. excellent books. I love 15, it’s a teen romance in the 60s and it is saved from being soppy by being brilliantly written. Jane’s attempt to translate Julius Ceaser into modern english is one of the best moments.

Batavias Graveyard – Mike Dash

The really horrifying real life story of australia’s first European contact. It is real but that last chapter is true and utter farce. What a read. Not a happy read

Kimono – Liz Dalby

A book about the history of the kimono.