A list of notable (according to me) Literature

Written by: Mark Simmons

It is often a challenging experience to try and comprise a top ten list, of anything, let alone a list of books. The first question will always be how can I get it down to just 10? But I have done my best to whittle down my own extensive list. However, the order they are listed below does not represent a top ten as such, more a list of ten books that have influenced me in some way.

Christine by Stephen King

This was one of the first adult books I ever read. Roald Dahl had been the staple of my literacy diet before then. It is the awkwardness of adolescence that King writes about so well in this book. I believe I was an adolescent when I read it so perhaps that’s why it sticks with me. That and the fear of being run over.

The Rats by James Herbert

This was my first dip into the mind of James Herbert, but by no means was it the last. The details he creates for each character, be they important to the plot or not, is one of my favourite aspects of this book. And a factor that I love about all of his work for that matter. But it was one particular chapter set in the London Underground that gained my admiration for The Rats.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

It is the absolute loneliness of the protagonist’s predicament that is so captivating about this story. Coupled with their inner fight as to whether they should carry on through the endless days of solitude, or just end it all. But mostly it’s the impending inevitability of their situation as they try to survive from one day to the next.

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

The pain and misery of childhood bullying is captured brilliantly by Lindqvist. It brought back a number of memories from my own time in school, mostly the bad ones, but it also is a story about friendship. The joy that a new friendship can bring you and you help overcome the unhappiness of the bullies.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Prose. This is what is so enchanting about this book. The way that Tartt uses the English language in her literature is a thing of wonder, and the story she tells whilst weaving such wonderful sentences matches her prose. This book is a must for all fans of the written word.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

What I admire most about Stoker’s masterpiece is that the entire story is told through a series of letters various characters send to one another. Maintaining a gripping and enthralling story in this format is why this piece of work is so widely revered. And why it has been adapted and retold numerous times.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Hollywood has done Mary Shelley’s work nothing but injustice with its many depictions of The Monster. For it is The Monster that is in an odd way the antagonist of the piece. Rather than Doctor Frankenstein, whose blind pursuit of science and his inability to control what he has created drive the plot. A must for all horror fans.

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

It is the out and out adventure of the piece that captured my heart. A joyful tale that takes you through a colourful world, filled with memorable characters, and entertaining set pieces. Fans of adventure and Science Fiction will not be able to put it down.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

The influence that one person can have over a whole group of people is the theme of this tale. Be it the authoritarian or the anarchist that is holding court both have their say. Whether said influence is a hindrance or a benefit to the group is the books burning question and its conflict.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Melville’s best known piece of work must be approached with the mind-set that you are going on a very long voyage at sea. Once you have this under consideration, and you have prepared yourself accordingly, your journey through 19th century Whaling will be worth every turn of the page.

All of the above have help cement my love of literature and given me inspiration for my own writing endeavours. These ten fine pieces of work, along with many others, have assisted me to craft my own path as a published author. May there be a thousand more books out there that I have not yet read.

Feel free to have a look at my work (here’s my official Amazon page) and see whether these 10 books shine through in my words.

M.