Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week we’ll be listing the Top Ten Most Unique Books I’ve Read.
Top Ten Most Unique Books I’ve Read:
1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Stoppard takes two minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and tells the tragedy from their rather clueless perspective. The result is a hilariously charming play that is both ridiculous and telling.
“Rosencrantz: I don’t believe in it anyway.
Guildenstern: What?
Rosencrantz: England.
Guildenstern: Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?”
2. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Carroll’s classic is filled with unique sights from the vanishing Cheshire Cat to the pugnacious Queen of Hearts forever screaming, “Off with his head!”
“It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.”
3. Anthem by Ayn Rand
A frightening world where individuality no longer exists. The word “I” is not used until the second to last chapter though the book is told in first person.
4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
I’ve never read anything so real and honest and innocent as Anne Frank’s diary.
“It’s an odd idea for someone like me to keep a diary; not only because I have never done so before, but because it seems to me that neither I – nor for that matter anyone else – will be interested in the unbosomings of a thirteen-year-old school girl.”
5. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
The concept is original, and this coupled with the Ness’s use of phonetic spelling to represent young Todd Hewitt’s perspective makes it one of the most unique books I’ve ever read.
“The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don’t got nothing much to say.
About anything.
“Need a poo, Todd.”
“Shutup, Manchee.”
“Poo. Poo, Todd.”
“I said shut it.”
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
I remember when I first came across this book. I was all guarded hope. Could it be? Could one of my favorite books be united with my love for zombies? The answer is an emphatic yes. But if you take your Jane Austen too seriously then it probably isn’t for you as I’ve come across many enthusiasts that scoff at the idea. I, however, find it rather amusing.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
7. Pretty Monsters: Stories by Kelly Link
An unusual collection of short-stories from a boy digging up the grave of his dead girlfriend to retrieve poetry to a girl hiding a ghost in her pocket. The stories are a bit confusing, but I cannot deny the originality. You can read my review here.
8. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I love fairytale retellings, but a retelling of Cinderella with cyborgs? A wonderful combination!
9. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Female assassins working out of a convent, serving the god of Death. Need I say more?
10. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Told from Death’s perspective, The Book Thief is one of the most touching and unique books I’ve ever read.
“A small but noteworthy note. I’ve seen so many young men over the years who think they’re running at other young men. They are not. They are running at me.”
What’s on your Top Ten Most Unique Books I’ve Read list?
GREAT list! The Book Thief is such a wonderful read, isn’t it? I was a sobbing mess by the end!
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Yes! Masterful, really.
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I didn’t think of Anthem, but that story was unique and struck a chord with me!
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I read it back in high school and just can’t seem to forget it.
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Great list, so many works on here that I’ve been meaning to read (such as the Knife of Never Letting Go and the Book Thief)
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Girl, you need to read both immediately!
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So many brilliant classics, love that readers still find them incredibly charming and unique even today. I’ve seen Cinder included on so many lists today, but it’s one of the few books that everyone seemed to love that I just couldn’t get into. I’ll definitely try again though to see what all the hype is about.
Fabulous list, going to check a few of these out.
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I think Cinder’s sequel Scarlet is actually better than the first book in the series.
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Great list! Alice in Wonderland is one of my all-time favourite books 🙂 I definitely need to check some of the other titles
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Alice in Wonerland is definitely timeless.
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I found the names Rand chose to use in Anthem to be pretty striking to say the least. And goodness, I need to get around to Ness’ Chaos Walking trilogy if that’s the kind of dialogue that’s in the series!
Cheers,
joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts
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Well, by golly, you need to read it now.
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Great list! Love Alice in Wonderland, The Book Thief, The Knife of Never Letting Go, and pretty much all of these.I haven’t read Pretty Monsters: Stories but it sounds intriguing. I might have to check that out. 😀
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I’ve just added Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead to my to-be-read list on Goodreads – it sounds hilarious. Also, on an unrelated note, I love the design of your blog. It’s absolutely beautiful!
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You’re too kind. Thank you.
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I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve only read one of these! I did read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and it was definitely up there on the unique scale Can’t believe I forgot about. Great list! That little snippet of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern just moved it up on my TBR.
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Grave Mercy is a great book; can’t believe that I forgot about that one. Who knew Death was so popular between The Book Thief and Grave Mercy?
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I loved Alice In Wonderland–such a creative, wonderful read. I haven’t read some of the books on your list, so I definitely have some more TBR books to put on my list. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by my blog on TTT. You were right, we do have a few books in common and you list Anthem by Ayn Rand. You don’t see it often on any lists and I loved that book when I read it.
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Terrific list! I loved Cinderella as a cyborg, too.
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Great list. I need to read the book thief and cinder! Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
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