10 FICTIONAL books that will f**k up your reality (and make you smarter).
Posted by Arsene Hodali in Reviews/Interviews
Every once in a while I look around me and wonder why there are so few people who think like me, causing me to go through this whole self-awareness thing which is… overly time consuming. But, something which I always account for my weirdness/smartness (<— gotta love my cockiness) is my love of books… yah, it was said, I LIKE BOOKS. Can’t blame me though, I don’t watch TV, and from what I know I’m not missing out.
Anyways, a few fictional books I read impacted my view of the world a lot more than the others did. Here’s a list of my 10 that did:
FICTION
- Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
You know that whole thought provoking idea of babies in pods, sleep-learning, and how these things will make the future better. Well… watch it go wrong.
- Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell
Think of a city filled with perpetual war, public mind control, the voiding of citizenship, ever-changing history, and torture… and then imagine you lived there right now without knowing (you probably do)… Welcome to Nineteen Eighty-Four (provocative right?).
- Animal Farm
by George Orwell
*Sigh* When power corrupts. “All animal are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
- A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
I never knew quiet how to look at this book. The main character is f**ked up to begin with (single word –> rapist), yet through government f**kery (classical conditioning) he becomes better (?). Who should my anger be directed towards?
- Catch-22
by Joseph Heller
The Catch-22 specifies that a concern for one’s safety during war requires a rational mind, but proving he was rational meant he had to fly the planes, the only way to not fly was to be crazy. If he flew the plans he was crazy and didn’t have to, if he didn’t fly the planes he was rational and had to. *huh?*
- To Kill A Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
“A Mockingbird does nothing but sing sweet beautiful music”… The ending of this made me sooo mad. Mad at the book in general, and mad that society once used to be exactly like this. This is like Romeo and Juliet with a whole lot of racism, told through the eyes of an innocent girl.
- Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Time traveling seems cool, until you take in that there’s still things such as war, your own imprisonment, your own murder… kinda sucks.
- Lord Of The Flies
by William Golding
Societies made by man FAIL… horribly.
- The Catcher In The Rye
by J.D. Salinger
The profanity, sexuality, and teenage angst is what hooked me.
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
by Douglas Adams
One of the best things I ever chose to read (and all the sequels). Douglas Adams will forever be an icon. And remember… DON’T PANIC.
I know, I know I’m missing sooo many other great fictional books (the list is HUGE, leave me alone). I specifically limited it to 10 anyways because I’d like for YOU to comment by listing your TOP 10. I’d rather like to see your favorite books, and whether or not I have/have not read them. Stay tuned for “10 NONFICTIONAL books that will f**k up your reality (and make you smarter)” later on next week btw.
Adding all these books to my list, NOW.
I don’t read too many fictional books, besides plays. I’ve always been into the power, personal development, self-help, power, etc. But there is some good stuff there I’m sure. I never read to Kill a Mockingbird before I had to play the part of Tom Robinson. The scenario in that play kind of reminds me of the movie Rosewood. You seen it?
Never seen Rosewood, just Googled it, seems interesting. I’ll watch it soon. If anything can live up to “To Kill A Mockingbird” then it’s a must watch.
Adding all these books to my list, NOW.
I don’t read too many fictional books, besides plays. I’ve always been into the power, personal development, self-help, power, etc. But there is some good stuff there I’m sure. I never read to Kill a Mockingbird before I had to play the part of Tom Robinson. The scenario in that play kind of reminds me of the movie Rosewood. You seen it?
Never seen Rosewood, just Googled it, seems interesting. I’ll watch it soon. If anything can live up to “To Kill A Mockingbird” then it’s a must watch.
Arsene,
came across your list while stumbling, so congrats on that. The only problem I have with your article is the fact that almost every one of these books is required reading in public high school, at least where I’m from. I was hoping for some more obscure work when I clicked on this but maybe I can offer you a couple suggestions.
the greatest book I’ve ever read, and one that will truly fuck with your head and make you smart, is The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson. It’s an immense mammoth of a book, and I came across it while reading a discussion about Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, but this book is a hidden treasure. buy it, and don’t be discouraged if you are still confused 100 pages in. by the end you will be so amazed you’ll want to read it again once your brain has caught its breath.
try naked lunch and junky by william s. burroughs. Former is a surreal drug induced fantasy that gives social commentary on addictions of all kind, and the latter is a simple narrative with haunting circumstances.
finally, stephen king has written some of the most amazing stories I’ve ever seen. He may seem like one of those hack writers whose books are for the people who don’t want to read but have to ie. on an airplane, but The Stand, Pet Sematary, and the entire Dark Tower series will stay with you forever.
I hope I don’t sound like a pretentious prick. I have read all of these books and they are exceptionally good (especially Catch-22), but I was just a little discouraged by the list and thought maybe I could help with some recommendations. Then again, the only book I recommended that isn’t already in mass circulation is The Illuminatus! Trilogy. O well. Happy readings and happy days.
-Dan
You don’t sound like a prick at all. I actually like that the most of these books are required reading for high school students, at least something good is coming out of English class. I also wanted this post to mainly be about the recommendations left by people in the comments, I think both I and others can learn most from these.
Arsene,
came across your list while stumbling, so congrats on that. The only problem I have with your article is the fact that almost every one of these books is required reading in public high school, at least where I’m from. I was hoping for some more obscure work when I clicked on this but maybe I can offer you a couple suggestions.
the greatest book I’ve ever read, and one that will truly fuck with your head and make you smart, is The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson. It’s an immense mammoth of a book, and I came across it while reading a discussion about Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, but this book is a hidden treasure. buy it, and don’t be discouraged if you are still confused 100 pages in. by the end you will be so amazed you’ll want to read it again once your brain has caught its breath.
try naked lunch and junky by william s. burroughs. Former is a surreal drug induced fantasy that gives social commentary on addictions of all kind, and the latter is a simple narrative with haunting circumstances.
finally, stephen king has written some of the most amazing stories I’ve ever seen. He may seem like one of those hack writers whose books are for the people who don’t want to read but have to ie. on an airplane, but The Stand, Pet Sematary, and the entire Dark Tower series will stay with you forever.
I hope I don’t sound like a pretentious prick. I have read all of these books and they are exceptionally good (especially Catch-22), but I was just a little discouraged by the list and thought maybe I could help with some recommendations. Then again, the only book I recommended that isn’t already in mass circulation is The Illuminatus! Trilogy. O well. Happy readings and happy days.
-Dan
You don’t sound like a prick at all. I actually like that the most of these books are required reading for high school students, at least something good is coming out of English class. I also wanted this post to mainly be about the recommendations left by people in the comments, I think both I and others can learn most from these.
Thank you so much, there aren’t enough posts on this… keep up the good work
Thank you so much, there aren’t enough posts on this… keep up the good work
I would add
Scarlett Thomas – The End of Mr. Y
and
Franz Kafka – The Process
otherwise, great list. I’ve read most of them, but not Catch-22. Think I will have to go to the library.
Happy New Year!
/Marcus
Just googled it. The “Troposphere” sounds interesting. Thanx for the great suggestions. More books to read.
I would add
Scarlett Thomas – The End of Mr. Y
and
Franz Kafka – The Process
otherwise, great list. I’ve read most of them, but not Catch-22. Think I will have to go to the library.
Happy New Year!
/Marcus
Just googled it. The “Troposphere” sounds interesting. Thanx for the great suggestions. More books to read.
seriously, how about something that not everybody has read?
Ugh- Not everyone has actually read these books, especially in the age of the television. I put down the list of my fav books, most are classics, for good reasons.
And I think I mentioned in there somewhere (somewhere) about how it would be great to add to the list with books you have read, that not everyone has read. … Thanx for the positive input though.
seriously, how about something that not everybody has read?
Ugh- Not everyone has actually read these books, especially in the age of the television. I put down the list of my fav books, most are classics, for good reasons.
And I think I mentioned in there somewhere (somewhere) about how it would be great to add to the list with books you have read, that not everyone has read. … Thanx for the positive input though.