Today, the world we live in is filled with endless distractions, and the traditional art of book reading is being replaced by Netflix, YouTube, Social Media and a million other diversions and concerns of modern life.
However, if you are of a book-reading persuasion, there is nothing quite like losing yourself in a beautiful work of fiction. And sometimes, to your bewilderment, learning about yourself in the pages of a novel written by an author you’ve never met. “How does he or she know me so well?” You wonder.
In today’s blog post, we will explore the 12 best fiction books everyone should read. Wrap your paws around any of these books and I promise you, they will leave a lasting impression on your life.
Hurry now, before social media and streaming services steal our ability to read novels.
1. 1984 by George Orwell
Isn’t it a work of art, isn’t it special even? That a fiction book would be named 1984. What nerve, what confidence or madness to name a book 1984. Still, at least the book is a work of art.
1984 by English Novelist George Orwell, is a dystopian work of fiction that serves as both a warning and a chilling prophesy.
The book offers an insight into totalitarianism. The dangers of complete government control.
George Orwell depicts a surveillance state, where the government watches your every move. And above all explores the question of individual freedom of people living under such a government.
1984 explores themes of individuality, truth, manipulation, and the fragility of human autonomy.
Top 3 Quotes From 1984 by George Orwell
Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood
1984 by George Orwell
But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought
1984 by George Orwell
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—for ever
1984 by George Orwell
Top Books By George Orwell
- 1984
- Animal Farm
- Down and Out in Paris and London
- Homage to Catalonia
2. Moby Dick By Herman Melville
By all rights, everyone should read Moby Dick at least once in their life. Moby Dick should be taught in schools. However, I have to tell you, it is not an easy read, especially at the start.
“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world….”
That’s how the book starts. But if you stick with it and if you are patient. “IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!”
American novelist Herman Melville’s Moby Dick is a sprawling tale of obsession, vengeance, and the mysteries of life coupled with those of the sea. Are you confused yet? Hahaha.
Moby-Dick follows Captain Ahab and his relentless pursuit of a white whale, a whale who had bitten his leg off. A leg on which he now wears a prosthetic made of Whale Bone.
Captain Ahab is the commander of the Pequad, a whaling ship on which our beloved Ishamael is a crew member.
The book explores themes of ambition, the nature of evil, human relationships with each other (not romantic relationships if you are wondering) and the limits of our understanding.
Hurry and read this book, and when you are done… “Call me Ishmael.”
Top Quotes From Moby Dick by Herman Melville
I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing.
Moby Dick
There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody’s expense but his own.
Moby Dick
Think not, is my eleventh commandment; and sleep when you can, is my twelfth
Moby Dick
Consider all this; and then turn to the green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself? For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half-known life. God keep thee! Push not off from that isle, thou canst never return
Moby Dick
Books By Herman Melville
- Moby Dick
- White Jacket (The World In A Man-Of-War)
- Redburn
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill A Mockingbird is a classical fiction novel by Harper Lee that explores racial inequality and injustice in 1930s Alabama.
The novel is written through the eyes of Scout Finch. A strong and intelligent girl raised in the South.
The book explores themes of empathy, compassion, and the consequences of prejudice, through the innocence and curiosity of a child.
Would you stand up for what is right? Even in the face of adversity? If you want the answers to this question and more, read the book.
Top Quotes From Killing A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.
To Kill A Mockingbird
People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for
To Kill A Mockingbird
I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what
To Kill A Mocking Bird
Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience
To Kill A Mockingbird
Best Books by Harper Lee
- To Kill A Mockingbird
- Go set a watchman
4. The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
The Count of Monte Cristo is a book whose beginning will fill you with anger at the injustice the main protagonist suffers, and later on wonderment at the vengeance he extracts.
The book follows Edmond Dantes, a young handsome man whose jealous friends betray and cause him to be arrested and imprisoned on the day of his wedding.
And then to add salt to injury, Edmond Dantes’s father dies out of despondency, and then one of Dante’s supposed friends later comforts his unsuspecting bride, and marries her!
All the while Dantes rots in prison. The injustice of it all! Right? So it comes as no surprise that when Dantes finally escapes from prison, he embarks on an endeavour of vengeance.
The Count of Monte Cristo explores themes of revenge, love, false friendship, and identity among many others.
Top Quotes From The Count Of Monte Cristo
Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. “Do your worst, for I will do mine!” Then the fates will know you as we know you
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Learning does not make one learned: there are those who have knowledge and those who have understanding. The first requires memory and the second philosophy.
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
We are always in a hurry to be happy…; for when we have suffered a long time, we have great difficulty in believing in good fortune
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
I don’t think man was meant to attain happiness so easily. Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it
Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Best Books By Alexander Dumas
- The count of Monte Cristo
- The Three Musketeers
- The Black Tulip
- Twenty years after
- Black: The Story Of A Dog
5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Do you ever feel like you can predict where the world is going? Well, reading this book will definitely have you facing those thoughts and questioning whether unchecked technological advancement is a good thing.
Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World envisions a world where human beings are genetically engineered in artificial wombs and programmed to fit into strict social classes based on labour and intelligence.
Brave New World explores themes of individuality, freedom, and the effects of a technologically advanced society on the people living in it.
Also, think about this, Brave New World was written in 1931 and is now more relevant than ever. Just think about that.
Top Quotes From Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
If one’s different, one’s bound to be lonely
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Books By Aldous Huxley
- Brave New World
- The Doors of Perception
- Island
- Point Counter Point
- The Perennial Philosophy
6. One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a work of fiction that has earned its place in the Literature Hall of Fame.
The book spans seven generations of the Buendía family. The patriarch of the family finds a mythical town where the family lives, mostly isolated from the outside world.
One Hundred Years Of Solitude explores the nature of history, the blurred boundaries of reality and myth, love, loss, and resilience.
And summarising it is one of the hardest things to do in this world. Just so you know.
Top Quotes From One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Then he made one last effort to search in his heart for the place where his affection had rotted away, and he could not find it.
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Lost in the solitude of his immense power, he began to lose direction
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Things have a life of their own,” the gypsy proclaimed with a harsh accent. “It’s simply a matter of waking up their souls
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Intrigued by that enigma, he dug so deeply into her sentiments that in search of interest he found love, because by trying to make her love him he ended up falling in love with her
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
The secret of a good old age is simply an honorable pact with solitude
One Hundred Years Of Solitude
Books By Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- One hundred years of solitude
- Love in the Time of Cholera
- No one writes to the colonel
- Leaf storm
7. The Catcher In The Rye by J.D Salinger
In life, there is perhaps no time as confusing as the time of adolescence, except perhaps the twenties.
Coming of age, discovering passions and having to contend with temptations around your body is no easy thing.
J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye explores the disillusionment and alienation of adolescence through the eyes of its rebellious protagonist Holden Caulfield.
The book uncovers the themes of identity, individual authenticity, and the pressures of conformity as one comes of age.
The anger, the confusion and the uncertainty as one comes of age are in no small way explored in this book.
Top Quotes From The Catcher In The Rye
Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry
The Catcher in the Rye
I am always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though
The Catcher in the Rye
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one
The Catcher in the Rye
I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it
The Catcher in the Rye
All morons hate it when you call them a moron
The Catcher in the Rye
Books By J.D Salinger
- The Catcher In The Rye
- Nine Stories
- A perfect day for banana fish
- The Laughing man
- Franny and Zooey
8. The Lord Of The Rings Series Of Books by J.R.R. Tolkien
To best enjoy and appreciate the Lord of the Rings, read them in this order;
- The Hobbit
- The Fellowship Of The Ring
- The Two Towers
- The Return Of The King
J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy series of books takes you on a grand adventure through Middle-earth, a fantasy world filled with diverse races, including Elves, Goblins, Dragons, Wizards, Orcs, and the ever-resilient Hobbits.
Throughout, the book uncovers an epic battle between good and evil and explores themes of heroism, courage, friendship, death, immortality and the universal fight between good and evil.
Top Quotes From Lord Of The Rings
Even the smallest person can change the course of the future
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
The Road goes ever on and on
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say
It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
Books By J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Hobbit
- The Lord Of The Rings
- The Silmarillion
- Beren And Luthien
9. The Harry Potter Series By J.K Rowling
There is a reason J.K. Rowling is the richest author in the world. Don’t you think?
Do you think that enough people around the world would buy an author’s book and make her that rich if she didn’t do a good job?
What started as a book meant for children and possibly young adults grew into one of the best literary works of all time.
The Harry Potter series of novels follows the life of Harry Potter, a wizard and his ever-growing conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard bent on world domination and the pursuit of immortality.
Harry Potter explores themes of love, good and evil, power, and according to J.K Rowling death.
No one should forgo reading Harry Potter, it’s that serious. This is a book series you HAVE to read!
The reading order for the Harry Potter books is:
- Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
- Harry Potter And The Prisoner From Azkaban
- Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
- Harry Potter And The Order Of Phoenix
- Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
Top Quotes From The Harry Potter Series
There are all kinds of courage,’ said Dumbledore, smiling. ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends
J.K Rowling in Harry Potter
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
J.K Rowling in Harry Potter
Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.
J.K Rowling in Harry Potter
Ah, music,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic beyond all we do here
J.K Rowling in Harry Potter
The wand chooses the wizard
J.K Rowling
Books by J.K Rowling
- Harry Potter Series
- Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
- The Ink Black Heart
- The Cuckoo’s Calling
- The Ickabog
10. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Nothing is more frustrating and if successful more fulfilling than the pursuit of a dream, right?
We all have dreams we pursue, I do, and I know you do too. And those dreams are the subjects of our nightmares, both day and night. Not knowing if we will achieve them or not. Tough man.
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist tells the story of Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd who embarks on a journey to the Pyramids of Egypt because he dreamt, several times, that he would find treasure there.
The book explores themes of destiny, ambition, the pursuit of dreams, and the importance of listening to your heart.
Top Quotes From The Alchemist
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it
The Alchemist
It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting
The Alchemist
The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times
The Alchemist
Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own
The Alchemist
Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity
The Alchemist
Books By Paulo Coelho
- The Alchemist
- Eleven Minutes
- The Pilgrimage
- Adultery
- Aleph
11. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I’m sure you’ve heard references to Frankenstein’s monster even if you haven’t read the book.
Note Frankenstein is not the monster but the creator of the monster.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a creature in an experiment.
The book explores the consequences of playing god and the ethical implications of scientific advancement and explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the nature of humanity.
Top Quotes From Frankenstein By Mary Shelley
Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
How mutable are our feelings, and how strange is that clinging love we have of life even in the excess of misery
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein
Books By Mary Shelley
- Frankenstein
- Mathilda
- The Last Man
- The Mortal Immortal
- Valperga
12. Before The Games by Dennis Ohuru
Before The Games is a fiction book by yours truly. Yes, you read that right, my book makes it into this list because why should it not?
It is a great piece of literary excellence, I wrote it, so I should know, right?
In writing it I told myself, write a book you would like to read. A book that has all the things you miss in all the other already fantastic books you have read. And that’s what I did.
Before The Games by Dennis Ohuru tells the story of five different societies united by the games, an event of humongous importance in which they compete against one another.
However, beneath the peaceful semblance of unity, is an underlying current of war. The book explores themes of slavery, politics, hunger, war and relationships.
Summary
Books, especially fiction books have the ability to transport us. To transport us and teach us about many things, but mostly teach us about ourselves.
This list of the 12 eye-opening fiction books everyone should read offers a diverse range of fiction stories, each with its own unique insights and lessons. If you can, read them all.
They will challenge your assumptions, make you question the status quo and broaden your outlook on life.
So, whether you’re seeking to expand your literary horizons or engage in profound thinking about life, these books are a must-read. Thanks for reading.
