Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. I thought this would be a fun way to share a condensed version of potential rambles and thoughts that I have.
This Week’s Theme:
Top Ten Unique Books
I Haven’t Read
Initial Thoughts:
Unique books are quite the dime a dozen. While it could encompass profound or poorly written novels, uniqueness is really all about perspective. But instead of focusing on unique books which I’ve read and can knock heads with you about, I think I’ll throw out some books that are unique to me that I haven’t (and will eventually in the long haul) read. In this sense, I’m regarding uniqueness based on face-value from the synopsis/cover alone (for the most part anyways) and hope to share some of my initial thoughts on potentially unique reads. Sharing is caring, right?
1. Rick Yancey – The Infinite Seas
Hook: How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.
First off: cover, you so pretty.
I generally liked the first installment (The 5th Wave) and am eagerly waiting for the follow-up. What I appreciated the most about the narrative in particular was its multifaceted storytelling through multiple perspectives (count em: four) to the point where I actually tangibly cared (well…maybe save for one of them) for each outcome.
2. Patrick Ness – The Knife of Never Letting Go
Hook: Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee — whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not — stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden — a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.
So I keep saying I’ll read this and yet I haven’t gotten to it – I’m clearly sucking at this reading thing. Otherwise, this trilogy sounds so rad and my kind of craziness.
3. David Levithan – Everyday
Hook: Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
I haven’t read anything by this man as I’m not much of a contemporary buff (though, I’m trying to dabble more in it) but I feel like I’d appreciate the considerations this touches base with.
4. Tom Rob Smith – The Farm
Hook: Until the moment he received a frantic call from his father, Daniel believed his parents were headed into a peaceful, well-deserved retirement. But with that phone call, everything changes. Your mother’s not well, his father tells him. She’s been imagining things–terrible, terrible things. She’s had a psychotic breakdown, and has been committed to a mental hospital.
Then, he hears from his mother: I’m sure your father has spoken to you. Everything that man has told you is a lie. I’m not mad. I don’t need a doctor. I need the police. I’m about to board a flight to London. Meet me at Heathrow.
When you grow up and have to pick your favourite parent: the choice is sometimes easy – who’s letting me have treats? Who’s giving me petty cash? Who do I feel loves me more? As an adult, the questions are still the same but growth and experience amplify the perspective to engage more than just the tangible. And being caught in between is quite the fickle situation.
5. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Hook: Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, fifteen-year-old Christopher is autistic and everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened.
Assuming it’s done with justice, I feel as though the perspective is one that’s quite different (a good different) that I’d appreciate the nuances of realistic fiction tied into mystery and humour. I can already feel the feels…
6. Christos Tsiolkas – The Slap
Hook: At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own.
So I’ve only read Barracuda by Tsiolkas; a story which made me hate the MC 99% of the time but I still ended up rooting for him in the end sort of at least. This story though, I feel like…well, I actually don’t know how I feel about it from face value. It seems like it has the workings of being an unflinching, controversial read but it also has quite the bombardment of mixed reviews.
7. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
Hook: The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child “unwound,” whereby all of the child’s organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn’t technically end.
Wtf is right. Certainly a different take on the often grueling sci-fi: dystopia that I can roll with.
8. Tabitha Suzuma – Forbidden
Hook: She is pretty and talented – sweet sixteen and never been kissed. He is seventeen; gorgeous and on the brink of a bright future. And now they have fallen in love. But… they are brother and sister.
I think after I/you get past that initial hurdle, it can be quite the read. I don’t really know much else to say because it’s one of those potentially controversial topics (well, to the public eye I guess it is…) but to each their own, right?
9. GRRM – A Game of Thrones
Hook: Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must … and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.
I’m very close to bandwagon jumping on this shit after my networking feeds have blown up this past weekend. Though, I probably won’t read the book (sorry) and favour the televised version instead…I mean, I didn’t even know it was only 31 episodes. That’s so eaaassssy to catch up with. But props to GRRM for the source material.
10. AdriAnne Strickland – Wordless
Hook: In Eden City, a member of the illiterate wordless class would never even dream of meeting one of the all-powerful Words who run the independent, peacekeeping city-state…much of less of running away with one. So when a drop-dead gorgeous girl literally falls in his lap during his routine trash run, seventeen-year-old Tavin Barnes isn’t sure if it’s the luckiest day of his life, or the beginning of the worst. Because Khaya is also the Word of Life, meaning she could either heal a wound or command an ivy bush to devour a city block. And yet, she needs Tavin’s help.
If this premise is of any indication and similarity to Max Barry’s Lexicon, then sign me up. Considering that it adds elements of fantasy as well, well shit, that’s like next level unique super power action going on. And I am quite the superhero-style buff.
Afterthoughts:
Yeeeep. The above is a list of many unique books that I had to select from. And by all means, if there’s anything you think I should read, do let me know! Otherwise, if you can vouch/flame any of these choices on my TBR then I’m all ears. I think I’m all about controversy and generating discussions out of them…because that’s what I do.
Cheers,
Joey
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
I’m really intrigued to read Forbidden as well- all the reviews I’ve read say that the book is truly amazingly written.
LikeLike
I know! It sounds like an unflinching read. I do hope you enjoy it when you get a chance.
LikeLike
Forbidden is incredibly well written. I also enjoyed The Knife Of Never Letting Go so I’d recommend those! Great list and reasoning as always!
LikeLike
Thanks Chrissi! Always glad to hear the Chrissi stamp of approval.
LikeLike
Ooh great list! I really want to read Forbidden soon, I’ve had my eye on it for a while.
LikeLike
Truthfully, I didn’t even know Forbidden existed until I heard about Suzuma’s Hurt; which I actually wanted to read first. But either-way, they both sound pretty promising!
LikeLike
Good take on the post – there’s a few there on my TBR, and a few I’ve just added, so thanks for the inspiration. I just went and binged purchased the GOT series today – all 7 books for £20 odd quid, now all I need to do is buy copious amounts of time to read allll the books!
R x
LikeLike
Anytime yo. I wish you good luck on the GOT endeavour, you can read it for the both of us because I highly doubt I’ll dabble with that behemoth.
LikeLike
Well, okay, EVERYONE seems to be a fan of A Game of Thrones these days… but with good reason! The show is great, the books are great, but they’re two different animals, so I say read them! The Farm sounds crazy, and so does The Slap. I’ve been wanting to read the Patrick Ness book, and I’m really looking forward to The Infinite Sea (and hadn’t seen the cover yet, so thanks for that!). Great list, and I like your comments!
LikeLike
Haha, I’ll definitely take your opinion into consideration (with priority likely on the television show). I do hope you get to enjoy Ness’ books if you haven’t already read anything by him. I’m SO excited to read The Infinite Sea — I’m really hoping for a Ringer POV!
LikeLike
I really like how you took the theme and spun it. That was a great idea!
As I said on my blog, please read The Curious Incident! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Lots of feels.
I started The Knife of Never Letting Go a few months ago but didn’t finish. I don’t know if it just wasn’t what I wanted to read right then or what. I definitely need to try again.
LikeLike
My niche TTT market of always trying to reinvent/adapt each weeks theme has certainly paid off if you enjoyed it! Ughhhh, feels are definitely an incentive but I’ll add it to the top of my TBR in hopes that as I slowly dent my pile, it’ll eventually be read! Maybe the novel/series just wasn’t for you — adding to the fact that they’re like 500 pages a pop. Pretty lengthy endeavour to tackle!
LikeLike
Definitely enjoyed it!
Let me know what you think when you get to it.
The length is not at all an issue. I read books much longer. Sometimes I start a book that is just not what I want/need to read at that moment so I put it aside. It’s right up my alley in terms of the types of books I enjoy, so I just need to try again, I think.
LikeLike
LOL Maybe it’s just me then, I will literally bash my head in if it’s longer than a certain number of pages and it’s a super slow read (but I can’t imagine Knife fitting that category — though I could be wrong?!)
LikeLike
Yeah, I read books that are over 1000 pages at least once every four months or so. I like getting involved with a good book once in a while. 🙂
Knife wasn’t a slow read; it’s just, well… different. Haha. I just wasn’t in the mood for it then.
LikeLike
I’ve read the Curious Incident and it’s a good book and definitely quite unique.
I’ve also read Game of Thrones and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these. Strangely – the people who I recommended this to (who don’t like fantasy and so were difficult to convince) have since raced ahead of me and read all the books leaving me very much behind!
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
That always definitely seems to be the case with naysayers to a particular genre of book. But all it takes is that one novel/series and they’ll be heading to the races!
LikeLike
So many good picks here! I love the Knife of Never Letting Go, it’s such a good take on dystopians. And I’m looking forward to reading Forbidden too, it’s such an interesting topic.
LikeLike
I agree — Knife of Never Letting Go is definitely going to breathe some fresh air into my repository dystopian fiction! Forbidden sounds like a great discussion book considering what it dabbles in. Hope you do get to enjoy it when you get around to it!
LikeLike
Interesting take on the topic this week. Patrick Ness’s series is among my favorites and I’ll go to the matresses with anyone who says otherwise. But everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if that opinion is formed under false pretenses and twisted logic. I’m only a little serious.
LikeLike
I’m glad I don’t fall under that category. I would feel so blessed to even get a chance to read him write about the about the nutritional content and ingredients of a cereal box.
LikeLike
I recently finished the audiobook of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time… I’ll have a review up in a few weeks, but if you suddenly decide you want to delve into it, DEFINITELY consider the audiobook. The narrator was amazing and I feel like I got even more out of the book that way. But yes, it’s definitely a unique book I think.
LikeLike
Good to know! I’ve been wanting to delve into more audiobooks despite being real bad at listening to them. So I’ll definitely consider it — thanks!
LikeLike
Great list 🙂 Forbidden made my list too, such a unique book and I really ended up loving that one. I read Every Day and while it is unique, I didn’t enjoy that one at all. My TTT.
LikeLike
Great to hear that you found those books unique too! Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I’ve had The Knife of Never Letting Go on my to-read list for a long time as well, I should try to get around to that. It’s been awhile since I’ve read the Curious Incident of the Dog in the NIghttime, but I really liked it and it’s definitely a unique read. Great list 🙂
LikeLike
Glad to hear that you found Curious Incident to be unique! It’s definitely a different perspective that I haven’t dabbled too much (if at all) into.
LikeLike