Top 5 Books

These authors are really good at their jobs.

Before we begin, I thought I should define to you what I consider a brilliant book which earns all five stars:

1. It is unputdownable - yes you're busy, yes you have things to do and yes you really need to sleep now, but just one more chapter! Good books don't let you leave them and maintain interest throughout. They make you feel all the emotions from feeling a bit fuzzy inside to being on the verge of tears. Good books make you feel something.

2. Brilliant writing - good books have great authors who excel at their job. I enjoy rich writing which is packed with detail and brings me to awe at the author's talent. I like books with a variety of writing styles like multiple perspectives, text messages, newspaper extracts or email chains. It creates texture and makes reading more interesting.

3. It's re-readable - some books you don't re-read. You already know the plot, so what's the point? As I said, good books don't let you leave them. They're clingy and have separation issues.  You come back to them time and time again to savour the plots and characters within them. With that here are my top 5 books:

Spud

John van der Ruit

John ‘Spud’ Milton embarks on his first year at an elite all-boys private school, however his first year is anything but smooth. ‘Spud’ is an action-packed novel filled with strange characters (Gecko, Rambo, Mad Dog and to name a few), illegal midnight swimming and ghost-hunting, set amongst the backdrop of South Africa during the apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela. This hilarious, coming of age novel promises an exhilarating read, all whilst grappling with huge topics such as love, grief and friendship. It’s a book which can both bring you to tears and make you laugh out loud. I consider this my comfort book.

The Song Of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Set in Greece in the age of heroes Achilles, son of the sea goddess Thetis and King Peleus, befriends Patroclus, exiled and shamed prince. Soon their friendship blossoms into a romance, and when Achilles goes to war in Troy to fulfil his destiny, Patroclus follows him. This book was both heart-breaking and warming, a gorgeous romance set amongst the backdrop of war. Miller's writing is intricate and rich with beautiful imagery. When I finished it I wanted to re-read the book and analyse every metaphor and simile.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to reveal the truth of her glamorous and scandalous life as a Hollywood actress in the 1950s to 1980s, choosing the relatively unknown reporter, Monique Grant, to write her story. On the way it becomes clear that their lives intersect in tragic and irreversible ways. ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ is rich with drama exploring ruthless ambition, forbidden love, fake relationships and lavender marriages. It’s amazing how much can occur under the spotlight.

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

It’s the early 1960s and chemist Elizabeth Zott has just been forced to resign from her all-male team at the Hastings Research Institute, leading her to reluctantly sign on as the host of the newest cooking show: ‘Supper at Six’. Her scientific and rational commentary proves a revolutionary approach to cooking, grabbing the attention of the nation and encouraging women across the country to challenge the status quo. This is a feminist novel exploring the role of women in a male dominated society, and is rich with simply iconic scenes, creating an inspiring piece of literature. The narrative is gripping and allows the reader to delve into the mindset of every character through the free indirect style narration. This book strengthened my inner feminist.

A Good Girls' Guide To Murder

Holly Jackson

This one is a classic. ‘A Good Girls’ Guide To Murder’ follows A* student Pip Fitz - Amobi as she re-opens the case of the murder of Andie Bell, unearthing secrets behind the school’s most popular girl, and proving Sal Singh may not have been the person behind her death. This book is gripping, tense and exciting, one of those books that, despite knowing the plot, you can still enjoy re-reading. Holly Jackson is brilliant at creating intense scenes, as seen in other books in the trilogy and her recent release ‘Five Survive’. As a reader you need to purposefully slow down in order to savour the quality of her writing, and to prevent yourself from missing key details.