Tuesday 11 December 2012

The Battle of the Books


It’s that time of year again! It’s time for my annual review of my top 5 books, movies, and albums. This year I read an awful lot of books, so it was pretty difficult to pick just five favourites because so many of them were amazing. But I managed to get the long list down to just 5 books, so if you want to see what other books I loved this year just go and check out my Goodreads account (which is linked in the right panel for your convenience)! So without further ado, here are my top 5 of 2012!

 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book has a little bit of everything: love, battle, family drama, magic, and the mystery of a fantastic circus to tie it all together. It’s hard not to become instantly enchanted when surrounded by the black and white circus tents and the strange characters who populate them, so be prepared to lose a few days to reading this book! For a breakout novel, Morgenstern did a smash-up job and I can’t wait to read her next publication.

Savage Beauty by Andrew Bolton
You’ll be drawn in by the holographic cover art that seamlessly contorts the portrait of the legendary Alexander McQueen into his favourite skull motif, but you’ll stay for the glorious fashion show that romps through the pages of this coffee table book. Readers are taken on a journey through McQueen’s fashion legacy, from his early pieces to the creations that made up his final show and which cemented his place as one of the greatest fashion designers of our age.

I normally can’t stand biography, but I was strangely absorbed with Richards’ telling of his childhood in England and his rise to fame as the leader of the infamous Rolling Stones. Richards’ story is one filled with action, romance, fame, music, and a surprising amount of humility. Even after all the drama, his words ring true and the man behind the stage persona shines through to reveal a man who is happily married, loves dogs, and spends lots of time in his home library.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
This was definitely one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, but it’s one that is not to be missed. The dual protagonist and his strange delusions are entertaining and frightening as he reveals the travesty of what the world has become. If you want your mind blown (figuratively, though I’m sure that Tyler Durden would try to make it physical) then take a wander through the strange world of the fight club.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis des Bernieres
The stage is set on a Greek island, as the Second World War begins and Italy invades their neighbouring country, but action of war is the least reason to pick up this novel. Even within the horrors of war, the enemy is not always who it seems, and on an island it is difficult for two opposing sides to stay separated. Unique characters populate the pages of this stunning novel, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat to see what happens to each of them as the war carries on. 

Images taken from Amazon.ca

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