My Top 10 Favourite Books of All Time

TL;DR

A book enthusiast shares her top 10 all-time favorite books, including classics, fantasy, and ancient literature.

Transcript

yes you read the title right I am here to answer that question we all dread to answer and that is what are my favorite books and actually when it came down to picking the books for this video I realized that it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be there aren't actually that many books that I read long enough ago to know that they will stay ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ The author's favorite books span various genres, including classics, science fiction, literary retellings, fantasy, and ancient literature.
• 🖐️ Adaptations, such as television shows and films, play a role in introducing the author to some of her favorite books.
• 🧑‍🏭 Personal connection and emotional impact are important factors in determining favorite books.
• 🥰 The author values comfort, humor, world-building, and complex characters in the books she loves.
• 🥰 Ancient Greek literature, especially myth and novels, holds a special place in the author's heart and influenced her academic pursuits.
• 🥺 The author appreciates books that inspire and have a lasting impact, leading her to study certain subjects or influencing her reading preferences.
• 🐲 Dragons and mythology are recurring themes in the author's favorite books.
• 📖 The author is open to her list of favorite books changing over time but is confident in her current choices.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the author first discover her favorite book series, Sherlock Holmes?

The author first discovered the Sherlock Holmes series through the Jeremy Brett television adaptation, which she watched with a family friend. This led her to read and fall in love with the novels.

Q: Why does the author recommend "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"?

The author recommends "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for its humor, fantastic characters, and clever world-building. She became a fan after watching the film adaptation and subsequently exploring other formats, such as the radio show and the books.

Q: Why is Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad" a favorite book?

"The Penelopiad" is a favorite book because it is a literary retelling of Homer's Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope. The author praises Margaret Atwood's writing and the incorporation of different genres of Greek literature in the story.

Q: How does the author feel about Terry Pratchett's "Going Postal"?

The author loves "Going Postal" for its humor, memorable characters, and magical elements. She describes it as fantastic, hilarious, and full of wonder.

Q: What are some themes explored in Kate Tempest's "Hold Your Own"?

"Hold Your Own" explores themes such as gender, sexuality, aging, and the modern human experience. The author finds the collection of poetry beautiful, emotionally impactful, and inspiring.

Q: How did the author become interested in ancient Greek literature?

The author's interest in ancient Greek literature was sparked by reading Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad" at a young age. It led her to study Classics at university and discover other ancient Greek texts, such as "Jason and the Golden Fleece," "Daphnis and Chloe," and "Lucius and Cephalus."

Q: Why does the author love Christopher Paolini's "Eragon"?

"Eragon" is a favorite book for the author because it introduced her to the world of dragons and fantasy. She appreciates the intricate world-building, complex characters, and the sense of adventure in the Inheritance Cycle.

Q: What is special about Robin Hobb's Rain Wild Chronicles?

The Rain Wild Chronicles, specifically "The Dragon Keeper," is a favorite series for the author because of its richly developed fantasy world and the journey of dragons and their keepers. She praises Robin Hobb's writing and characters.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The author shares her love for the entire Sherlock Holmes series, which she discovered through the Jeremy Brett television adaptation. She praises the comforting tone and narrative style of the stories.

• The author recommends "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, a comic science fiction book that she was initially introduced to through the film adaptation.

• Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad," a literary retelling of Homer's Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope, is highlighted as a favorite book that led the author to study Classics.

• Terry Pratchett's "Going Postal," part of the Discworld series, is praised for its humor, fantastic characters, and clever world-building.

• The author shares her love for ancient Greek literature, including the epic poem "Jason and the Golden Fleece" by Apollonius of Rhodes, and the ancient Greek novels "Daphnis and Chloe" by Longus and "Lucius and Cephalus" by Achilles Tatius.

• "Hold Your Own" by Kate Tempest, a collection of poetry inspired by Greek myth, is described as a beautifully written exploration of themes such as gender, sexuality, and aging.

• Christopher Paolini's "Eragon" kickstarted the author's love for dragons and fantasy. She praises the intricate world-building and complex characters in the Inheritance Cycle.

• Robin Hobb's Rain Wild Chronicles, specifically "The Dragon Keeper," is mentioned as a favorite series that follows the journey of dragons and their keepers in a richly developed fantasy world.

• The author briefly mentions "Italian Folktales" by Italo Calvino, a collection she devoured as a child and considers a memorable reading experience.