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Oh Em Gee, we are here. Twenty Thirteen is finally here.This is that time of the year when everyone is at that point of their life where they check into the self-correctional facility in their minds. It’s a chance to start new chapters, pick up new hobbies, drop old habits, finish books and projects that have abandoned halfway.
Essentially, we are all trying to find ourselves.
Well, I got on the phone to connect with my family this new year and after talking to my younger sister for a few minutes, I inquired.
“How are those my novels?”To which she replied.
“Which books?”
Hien?! These my siblings will give me high blood oh. You may not have gathered that from my blog so far, but I buy a lot o books. I come close to worshiping my books. Hell, I went hungry to buy some of the novels I did. I have a room full of books back home in Limbe which I couldn’t transport to England because of weight constraints. I am suddenly feeling nostalgic about all my favourite books and the places I’ve visited through them. I mean, only through a novel have I been in the middle of conspiracy that involved a sexy Icelandic spy woman and a belligerent one-eyed English Lord. If you are an ardent book lover, you’ll know what i am talking about. I’ve ‘missed’ some characters after completing certain novels. Please tell me I’m not alone here!
Well, these are 10 books which I’ve once read, thoroughly enjoyed and would certainly read them over again. Currently trying to secure copies of some of them on Ebay or Amazon (click titles to open book links) as I’m quite sure they have not been well kept in my absence.
I love every SINGLE Hadley Chase novel. I stumbled upon my first JHC at quite a young age. It was in my mom’s drawers. Intrigued by the cover, (JHC novels are known for their daring and tantalizing scantily-clad cover girls) I was soon deeply engrossed in the book. Maybe, it was my early introduction into such compelling and fast-paced crime stories of murder, blackmail and espionage that made me to find romantic novels quite boring and predictable. Before I knew it, I had gone through every single JHC that my mother owned. At the end my exploits, I drew two conclusions: 1/My mom has good taste in books 2/ James Hadley Chase is on top of his writing game. Whoa! Well Now, My Pretty is just one of the titles off the top of my head. I can’t honestly tell you which is better. just buy a whole collection of them and I promise you’ll be hooked!
I got lost in the Price family drama. The characters are so real I literally cried while reading this. I’d read it again any day. Each chapter opens a different perspective from each character. So by the end of the novel you’ve heard everyone’s side of the story. terry is such a brilliant writer. I went on to read other books from and while I totally loved each one; this one was my baby.
I have read Christine and I have watched the movie. I must say that the movie does the book no justice. The story is basically a love triangle between Arnie, his girlfriend Leigh Cabot and his jealous car Christine. Go figure. Only Stephen King can make such a plot compelling. I fell in love with Arnie a little if I’m being honest. Christine, the car herself, brings mixed emotions. You love her and you hate her at the same time, even through the murderous rampages. King is brilliant storyteller. Pet Sematary and Rose Madder are two other terrific reads from him.
The Gods Are Not To Blame is a brilliantly written novel in which Odewale in a bid to escape his destiny, runs to fulfill it. As the plot developed, I felt like Ola Rotimi had cast his spell on me and I couldn’t drop that book. I took it everywhere: on the bus, the loo (yes I’m one of those people), to lectures…unfortunately the is a bit on the small for me. Before I knew it, I had gone through the book. Luckily, it is also one of those books where every time you read it, you discover something new. So it’s a win win.
Demille hardly disappoints. I discovered one of his books while I was rampaging for detective thrillers at my favourite book shop ‘Books N Things’ back in Buea (Cameroon). You will love John Corey, who is the main character in a series of DeMille books. I laughed out loud and the suspense filled plot had me guessing till the end.
Unarguably one of the best books I’ve read so far only because of it’s simplicity. Even if you hate reading, you’ll love this book.
How many of us have received those emails about a certain Mr X who has left an incredulous inheritance for us? Or emails usually from ‘government officials’ promising millions if we help solve a problem? I know I have, although I always ignore them wondering who out there actually falls for them. This book shows us who sends them, and more importantly who answers them. ‘I Do Not Come to You by Chance’ tells the story of Nigeria’s famous 419 email scams and centres on Kingsley, who believes that his education would open all the doors necessary to get a job in an oil company and provide for his family. Unfortunately, Kingsley is unable to secure a job, loses his fiance and turns to his Uncle Boniface, or Cash Daddy, to work for him in his email scam ‘business’. A must-read in my opinion. Adaobi is a fine writer, I am dying to read her next piece.
I borrowed this off a friend and loved it so much that I never returned it. Ha! So, Sandra Ekuxx, thank you for owning one of the coolest books ever! Although it is meant for a younger audience, I thoroughly enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Yes, I have an open mind towards books. Holes is much wittier though. The shady characters, the plot and how it unfolds make such a terrific read. I’d read this anytime again. Plus, Louis Sachar’s writing is very clever. It took me some time to realise that the main character’s, Stanley Yelnats, surname was his first name spelled backwards. Duh.This is a book worthy of introducing topics such as; troubled kids, bullying, assumptions and misunderstanding.
This list was emotional. What are your absolute favourite reads ever? What are you currently reading? Recommend them to us.
Rate, subscribe, comment and share.
Keep up on Instagram @artbecomesyou
adobi tricia nwaubanibook clubbookschristineefuruflora nwapahaindmaids taleholesiris johansenjames hadley chaselouis sacharmakus zusakmargaret atwoodnelson demilleno orchids for miss blandishnovelsola rotimiplum islandstaystehen kingthe gods are not to blamewell now my pretty
1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
2. Efuru by Flora Nwapa
3. Well Now, My Pretty by James Hadley Chase
I love every SINGLE Hadley Chase novel. I stumbled upon my first JHC at quite a young age. It was in my mom’s drawers. Intrigued by the cover, (JHC novels are known for their daring and tantalizing scantily-clad cover girls) I was soon deeply engrossed in the book. Maybe, it was my early introduction into such compelling and fast-paced crime stories of murder, blackmail and espionage that made me to find romantic novels quite boring and predictable. Before I knew it, I had gone through every single JHC that my mother owned. At the end my exploits, I drew two conclusions: 1/My mom has good taste in books 2/ James Hadley Chase is on top of his writing game. Whoa! Well Now, My Pretty is just one of the titles off the top of my head. I can’t honestly tell you which is better. just buy a whole collection of them and I promise you’ll be hooked!
4. A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry McMillan
I got lost in the Price family drama. The characters are so real I literally cried while reading this. I’d read it again any day. Each chapter opens a different perspective from each character. So by the end of the novel you’ve heard everyone’s side of the story. terry is such a brilliant writer. I went on to read other books from and while I totally loved each one; this one was my baby.
5. Christine by Stephen King
I have read Christine and I have watched the movie. I must say that the movie does the book no justice. The story is basically a love triangle between Arnie, his girlfriend Leigh Cabot and his jealous car Christine. Go figure. Only Stephen King can make such a plot compelling. I fell in love with Arnie a little if I’m being honest. Christine, the car herself, brings mixed emotions. You love her and you hate her at the same time, even through the murderous rampages. King is brilliant storyteller. Pet Sematary and Rose Madder are two other terrific reads from him.
6. The Gods Are Not To Blame by Ola Rotimi
The Gods Are Not To Blame is a brilliantly written novel in which Odewale in a bid to escape his destiny, runs to fulfill it. As the plot developed, I felt like Ola Rotimi had cast his spell on me and I couldn’t drop that book. I took it everywhere: on the bus, the loo (yes I’m one of those people), to lectures…unfortunately the is a bit on the small for me. Before I knew it, I had gone through the book. Luckily, it is also one of those books where every time you read it, you discover something new. So it’s a win win.
7. Plum Island by Nelson DemMille
Demille hardly disappoints. I discovered one of his books while I was rampaging for detective thrillers at my favourite book shop ‘Books N Things’ back in Buea (Cameroon). You will love John Corey, who is the main character in a series of DeMille books. I laughed out loud and the suspense filled plot had me guessing till the end.
8. I Do Not Come To You By Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
Unarguably one of the best books I’ve read so far only because of it’s simplicity. Even if you hate reading, you’ll love this book.
How many of us have received those emails about a certain Mr X who has left an incredulous inheritance for us? Or emails usually from ‘government officials’ promising millions if we help solve a problem? I know I have, although I always ignore them wondering who out there actually falls for them. This book shows us who sends them, and more importantly who answers them. ‘I Do Not Come to You by Chance’ tells the story of Nigeria’s famous 419 email scams and centres on Kingsley, who believes that his education would open all the doors necessary to get a job in an oil company and provide for his family. Unfortunately, Kingsley is unable to secure a job, loses his fiance and turns to his Uncle Boniface, or Cash Daddy, to work for him in his email scam ‘business’. A must-read in my opinion. Adaobi is a fine writer, I am dying to read her next piece.
9. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
10. Holes by Louis Sachar
I borrowed this off a friend and loved it so much that I never returned it. Ha! So, Sandra Ekuxx, thank you for owning one of the coolest books ever! Although it is meant for a younger audience, I thoroughly enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Yes, I have an open mind towards books. Holes is much wittier though. The shady characters, the plot and how it unfolds make such a terrific read. I’d read this anytime again. Plus, Louis Sachar’s writing is very clever. It took me some time to realise that the main character’s, Stanley Yelnats, surname was his first name spelled backwards. Duh.This is a book worthy of introducing topics such as; troubled kids, bullying, assumptions and misunderstanding.
This list was emotional. What are your absolute favourite reads ever? What are you currently reading? Recommend them to us.
Rate, subscribe, comment and share.
Keep up on Instagram @artbecomesyou
adobi tricia nwaubanibook clubbookschristineefuruflora nwapahaindmaids taleholesiris johansenjames hadley chaselouis sacharmakus zusakmargaret atwoodnelson demilleno orchids for miss blandishnovelsola rotimiplum islandstaystehen kingthe gods are not to blamewell now my pretty
InDemand
January 3, 2013You had me at ‘The book Thief’. …definitely one of my favourite reads of all time.
Kenya Stanton
January 16, 2013Why is it that the first 4 amazing books came out all in 2010, and THIS 5th book is taking so goddamn long!? >:( I swear this book taking over 2 years to write better be worth it.
MsAidyl
January 16, 2013haha, it was well worth it.trust me.
jayajade
January 18, 2013your list looks good… definitely going to try some of the titles….
MsAidyl
January 18, 2013you won’t regret it. Esp Handmaid’s Tale & Book Thief:)
thegreatzambini
January 23, 2013I love vintage children`s books, so I`ll definitely look in Efuru. Can`t say I`m a fan of holes, myself, but I`ve often found that the books I love are rarely loved by others, and the books I dislike tend to end up being best sellers.
J.D. Gallagher
January 26, 2013I love the Book Thief. What a beautiful book. Christine is one of my favorites too but I have read almost everything by Stephen King so I am probably biased.
MsAidyl
January 28, 2013Tell me about it! The Book Thief is a gem. I hate to finish it. almost like i’ll miss the characters.