Top 5 Tuesday // F to J

“There was no possibility of taking a walk that day”

First line in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

I’m back for another Top 5 Tuesday where we continue with the alphabet where we left of last week. Today I’ll be talking about book starting with the letters F, G, H, I and J. This is all because of Shanah from Bionic Book Worm who came up with this idea to get us talking about some books that don’t normally get attention. Looking at my post from last week, that worked very well because I’d forgotten so many of them.

I’ve read a book beginning with all of today’s letters, so I didn’t need to cheat for this one. Enjoy!

F for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I had no choice! Okay, technically I had other options but none of them were worth talking about. If you don’t know, this is my favorite book of all time (besides Harry Potter of course but they don’t count). I relate so much to Cath because of her social anxiety. The ways she describes her problems have made me realize things about myself and that is something I’m deeply grateful for.

I know this is not a perfect book and therefore it’s not a book I just want everyone to read. However, if you’re an introvert and struggle with social situations, I think this is worth a read. It’s also just a sweet and heartfelt contemporary that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

G for The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This was just fun. The Graveyard Book is Gaiman’s retelling of The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. I’ve only seen the movie versions of The Jungle Book but was still able to identify elements from the story.

It’s a children’s book which makes parts of it very sweet and endearing. However, it also has its more sinister moments that makes it worth reading for adults too. I’m not the biggest fan of Gaiman (don’t kill me), but out the three books I’ve read by him, this is my favorite. So, if you’re into retellings, this is a very good one to pick up.

H for History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

This book broke me. It’s such an inspiring story about grief and how there’s no right way to handle it. Griffin’s first love and ex-boyfriend dies, and Griffin’s world explodes. He always figured that he and Theo would end up together but now Griffin has to imagine an entirely different future for himself while mourning the loss.

This book explores grief and shows how it isn’t rational but often can be utterly destructive. It’s not my favorite Adam Silvera book but it’s still worth a read. However, be prepared to be punched in the gut by its hard-hitting topics.

I for Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Book 1 in The Great Library series. Yes, it’s a book about books which I’ll always be drawn to. However, this Great Library might not be so great after all as it governs the flow of knowledge to the people. Meaning that in this world, knowledge is not free and accessible to everyone. No one is allowed to own a book (the horror, I know).  

I don’t remember too much about the book, but I believe our main character, Jess, is from a family who’s involved with trading books on the black market which is very dangerous. At the beginning of the book, Jess is selected to be some kind of student and learn about the workings of the Great Library so that one day he can work for them.

It’s a very adventurous story with a lot of action all while it teaches you about the consequences of censorship on a grand scale.

J for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Apparently, this is the only book I’ve ever read beginning with J so that was easy to choose. I don’t read very many classics, but I found this quite enjoyable and educational. I mainly find classics interesting for their portrayal of their time period. They just have a different feel to them compared to historical fiction that’s written today.

I really like Jane as a character and she’s just my favorite part of the book. Many of the other characters I didn’t particularly care for. The book also features a character called St. John Rivers. I’m not a violent person but I’ve never wanted to punch a character that much. Just a heads up.

There you go. I hope I peaked your interest for some of these if you haven’t read them already. Nevertheless, they are really fun to make so see you next week for the next 5 letters.

Happy reading,

Line