FBFF: A Novel Idea

November is more than just my favorite month of fall. (In fact, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite month of the year!) This month is also designated as National Novel Writing Month. I'm super excited about today's FBFF prompt, which is to simply list our favorite books.

My Top 5 Favorite Books of All Time:

(a.k.a. books that I've read too many times to count)

1) The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. I read this novel for the first time when I was a senior in high school. Even though its corresponding film did win the Academy Award for Best Picture, I didn't even watch it until I had read the book three or four times. Yes, I loved the book that much. It is a gripping tale of nations, war, and how love transcends time and place.
2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Do I even need to explain why this book is on my list? After all, I did base my blogger persona on Elizabeth Bennet. Also, I'm sure that every girl who reads this novel ends up wanting to find her own Mr. Darcy. :)

3) The Awakening by Kate Chopin. I read this novel once in high school and twice during my sophomore and junior years in college. I thoroughly enjoyed it each time. The Awakening tells a haunting story about one woman's struggle to be independent and find the courage to embrace her identity. Reading this novel always makes me realize how lucky I am to have more freedom in this modern age.

4) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This is another novel that I've had to read at least three times during my high school and college years. Fitzgerald tells a story about the decline of the American dream and the inability to recreate an idealized past. Definitely read this and then watch the 1974 film - not because it's a particularly good movie, but just because a young Robert Redford is pretty easy on the eyes. :) 

5) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read this book when I was 14 or 15 and I must say, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Told from the perspective of a little girl, the story is both innocent and humorous and profound and critical of a racist society. This novel is so endearing to me that someday, I want to name my dog Atticus.

Honorable Mentions:

(because I just couldn't limit myself to five)

1) Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. This novel is probably the darkest romantic tale I have ever read. Emily Bronte tells the story of hierarchies and social classes, and how an all-consuming, unchanging love ultimately destroys everything.

2) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Yes, this novel is incredibly long, but I remember being fascinated with the story when I was seventeen. As the title suggests, this novel tells the story of crime and punishment, but also redemption.

3) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. From a future English teacher's perspective, this novel is a symbolism goldmine. What I love most about this novel though is its message about identity and society, particularly for women.

4) The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Admittedly, I watched the film before I read the book...but I ended up liking both equally. This novel is a modern tragic romance that revolves around love, loss, free will, and the pain of waiting.

5) The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. Yes, I know that the Twilight Series isn't really seen as Literature (with a capital L) by most of my fellow English majors. Still, I have no shame in admitting that I enjoyed these books and characters. (By the way, I am Team Edward all the way!)

So is it weird that almost all of my favorite books are the ones I read in high school? Haha. Either way, I definitely enjoyed putting this list together. So now let's discuss...What's on your bookshelf?