Is your new year’s resolution to read more or you are a novice, and you can’t decide where to start, don’t worry I have got your back. I started reading novels when I was 11 years old. My first novel was “The Invisible Man By H.G Wells”. I was so fascinated by the story that I started reading more and more and now I have read hundreds of novels and I am still going strong. Reading is a great habit, it gives you a new perspective of the world, fresh point of view and it nudges your imagination into action.

So below are the ten novels you can start reading if you are a novice and want to develop a taste for good fiction. Now they are not in any specific order and a few of them are a bit complex but I would leave that up to you to decide.

1.The Invisible Man – H.G Wells

You should begin where I did, with this sci-fi masterpiece by H.G Wells. This book was published in 1897, which might come as a shock as Wells science in this novel is very detailed and believable. As the titular name suggests it follows the story of a scientist Griffin who becomes invisible. What follows is one of the best Horror fiction story ever written as we follow the chaos of random violence perpetrated by Griffin.

2.David Copperfield – Charles Dickens

This novel follows the life of the titular character as he grows to depict his numerous adventures and friends and enemies he makes along the way. If you love coming of age stories, this one is the masterpiece. Set In the bleak and poor background of London usually portrayed in Dickens’s book, you will find yourself rooting for this orphan kid as he overcomes poverty, betrayal, heartbreak, and grief.

3.Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

One of the most adapted and iconic romantic novels of all time, this classic novel by Jane Austin is the essence of all the romance novels. We follow the love story of intelligent, headstrong and opinionated Elizabeth Bennet and the handsome, elusive and extremely prideful Mr. Darcy. The two couldn’t be possibly different enough but love slowly blossoms between them and it’s just as interesting to read about the supporting characters who have their own interesting storylines.

4. The Andromeda Strain – Michael Crichton

What would happen if an alien virus infects the earth? This techno-thriller by the great Michael Crichton ponders just that. When a satellite crashes to earth, it brings along with it a virus that either kills everyone in the town in vicinity of the crash or makes people commit suicide; leaving only two survivors, a sick geriatric and a toddler. Follow the intrigue behind the virus as humans scramble to prevent an epidemic that might wipe out humanity, facing tough decisions and moral dilemmas.

5.Piccadilly Jim – P.G Woodhouse

If you thought written word could not make you laugh out so hard your stomach hurts, think again. This goofball comedy of errors will take you on a rollercoaster ride of mistaken identities, snarky remarks, and absolutely hilarious characters you are going to remember for ages. We follow the misadventures of the charismatic James “Jimmy” Crocker who gets embroiled with imposters, crooks, detectives and pesky relatives all for a girl.

6. The Time Machine – H.G Wells

Yet another masterpiece by H.G Wells in the list, this sci-fi novel is simply to damn interesting to read, and who doesn’t love a bit of time travel. You know all those time travel shows and movies, well it all started here with this novella. The Victorian Scientist whom we only know as the “Time Traveller” travels to A.D 802,701 in the future where he meets the small, peaceful childlike evolved form of humans Eloi and the cannibalistic dark loving Morlocks. It draws many parallels to our current society and the Darwinian idea of evolution, all in all, an extremely interesting read.

7. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Pip is a young boy who on his way home encounters an escaped convict and tries to help him escape, this act would change his life. He also falls in love with Estella a girl who lives in a dilapidated manor with her jilted and bitter, adoptive mother Miss Havisham. He pursues Estella with all his heart but it seems nurture has triumphed and she has become just as cold-hearted. This is a story of love and heartbreak; Friends and Betrayal; and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. And it has got some great plot twists near the end, so you are going to love this novel.

8. Dracula -Bram Stoker

You have met your super-sexy glowing in light vampire, the vicious blood-sucking ones who kill mercilessly and the one who kills other vampires. Vampires have been portrayed hundreds of times in various movies, shows, and novels but vampires were given their fame by the classic gothic horror “Dracula By Bram Stoker“. Follow the classic story of Dracula who imprisons our everyman solicitor Jonathan Harker as he plans to spread his vampiric curse and his arch-nemesis Abraham Van Helsing who rushes to stop him. Underneath all this is a love story of Jonathan and his fiance Mina who is the first victim of Dracula. This is one read you shouldn’t miss.

9. Collection of Stories by Agatha Christie

If you are a crime and mystery junkie, then you should absolutely read novels by the Queen of Mystery, Agatha Christie. She is the best-sold novelist of all time, having sold more than 2 billion copies of her mystery novels. If that doesn’t tell you how good her stories are I would recommend you start with “And Then There Were None”, “The Mysterious affair at style” and my personal favorite “Murder on the Orient Express”.

10. Harry Potter – J.K Rowling

I don’t think I need to write anything about this particular series of novels. Harry Potter has been and always will have a special place in my heart. Now I know you have seen the movies so you don’t need to read the seven books; Wrong. If you thought you knew the world of wizardry by just watching the movies wait till you delve into the meticulously detailed streets of Diagon alley or the backstories of Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and the infamous Voldemort. Believe me, if you haven’t read the Potter books you would not want to miss this, I promise you by the end of it you will be forcing your children and grandchildren to read it.

P.S: I have secretly undertaken the initiative to turn everyone into a Potterhead so I have got ulterior motives.

There are still many more novels that you can start with but I recommend these and once you are done with these get back to me and I will unleash the next reading list, till then a very happy new 2020 everyone!!!

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