10 Books You Should Read at Least Once
Although they’re so good it won’t hurt to read them a dozen times
Volumes have been written on the wonder, importance, and innumerable benefits of books in general, so there’s really no need to elaborate on that here.
However, there are quite a few gems lying hidden in the rich realm of the written word, that everyone should get a hold of at least once in a lifetime.
Each of these has made a significant impact and left a trace in its own way and sphere, as each opens up an entirely new perspective to life and all the crucial questions that have been tormenting humanity since the dawn of time.
It goes without saying that this list is far from final and complete. Think of it as a mere guide, and these books as landmarks on the epic journey you are yet to undertake.
Some obvious choices have also been omitted, such as Orwell’s 1984 for example, as it’s a book most are well familiar with. And the aim of this list is to give you a friendly nudge towards a path that’s not-as-expected, rather than sing praises that have already been heard many times before.
1. The Master and Margarita — Mikhail Bulgakov
Manuscripts don’t burn — Pукописи не горят
Written in Soviet Russia, during Stalin’s regime, this novel was banned for quite some time and was published only after the author’s death.
An excellent satire of Soviet society, an immortal love story, a fantasy involving talking cats, devils incarnate, and satanic orgies, interwoven with a story about a very human struggle against injustice and hate told through the extraordinary relationship formed between Jesus Christ and Pontius Pilat — this book really has it all.
It’s funny, touching, exciting, and ludicrous at the same time, so to say it’s well worth the time invested in its reading would be a gross understatement. Make sure to get your hands on it ASAP.
Fun fact: the portrayal of the devil, as well as the female protagonist’s name are based on Goethe’s Faustus.
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel García Márquez
…Because races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth.
A paradigm of magic realism Latin America is famous for, One Hundred Years of Solitude is an epic tale woven through several generations of the Buendía family, all taking place in an imaginary town of Macondo.
Themes of incest, elitism, and solitude permeate the entire plotline, which is beautifully composed and interspersed with memorable characters who stick with you for a long time after reading.
In a way, this novel is also a symbolic history of Latin America as a whole — its colonial past, the horror of civil wars, and the constant intrusion of powerful countries on the sovereignty of Latin American states.
3. Waiting for the Barbarians — John M. Coetzee
Where civilization entailed the corruption of barbarian virtues and the creation of dependent people, I decided, I was opposed to civilization.
A book that magnificently elaborates on a dichotomy of “us” vs. “them” that’s been exploited by many men in power ever since the beginning of civilization as we know it, Waiting for the Barbarians has already earned a status of a modern classic.
Set in an unnamed settlement of “The Empire” that could be placed anywhere and anytime in the course of human history, this book tells an unsettling tale of cruelty, evil, and oppression in the guise of a legitimate government that serves its citizens and protects them from harm.
Under the excuse of barbarians lurking just over the borders, waiting for the right moment to rape, pillage and mindlessly destroy the civilized way of life, the corrupt army and government officials of The Empire commit unspeakable atrocities on both barbarians and their own citizens alike.
A quiet, yet immovable determination to make a difference and stand up for truth and justice, unexpectedly awakens in a lazy and disinterested city magistrate and sets him on a course that will change his destiny as well as the fate of a barbarian girl who’s been crippled and blinded by the torturers of The Empire.
A powerful cry against colonialism and every other tyranny, Waiting for the Barbarians is a must-have addition to your personal library.
4. Migrations — Miloš Crnjanski
There is no death. There are only migrations.
Migrations is an epic novel about hope — the hope of an entire people and individuals alike, that there is a greener grass somewhere beyond the dreary and miserable everyday life and its many degradations.
Set in 18th century Serbia, it’s an intricate tale of two brothers, as well as of an entire people, searching for a new life away from war, death, and Ottoman reign of terror in the nearby Austrian Empire.
What sets this book apart from its contemporaries that deal with similar subjects is the particular style of the author. Crnjanski was at first famous for his poems before he began writing novels and plays.
As a result, his first works had a characteristic stamp of lyricism, the words and sentences flowing like liquid silver, dripping into your mind, entrancing you and making you feel all the more poignantly the utter despair, sorrow and disappointment that pervade all the characters as they incessantly search for meaning — all in vain.
5. The Brothers Karamazov — Fyodor Dostoyevski
A beast can never be as cruel as a human being, so artistically, so picturesquely cruel.
Known as a master of the human soul and psychology, Dostoyevski shines perhaps at his brightest in this novel.
The Brothers Karamazov is a story of many things — sin, debauchery, crime, hate, despair, and the countless horrors of humanity, but also that of redemption, love, passion, faith, and hope that a better world is indeed achievable.
The poem of the Grand Inquisitor contained within the book alone makes it well worth reading, as it poses the age-old question — given the staggering amount of evil in the world, can there really be even a remote possibility of the existence of a benevolent and omnipotent God?
To find out the answer — if there is indeed one that can be satisfactory — do read this masterpiece.
6. Invisible Man — Ralph Ellison
Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
A staple point if you want to truly understand the racial tensions, and what it was like being an African-American in the USA in between the two world wars.
Truth be told, the problems Ellison masterfully describes as something the African-American community had to face daily, were not exclusive only to that given era — they are something we sadly witness even today.
This ultimate tale of the underdog who becomes aware of his unfortunate position in life and grows determined to create his own rules and live by them instead of conforming to injustice and violence is no easy read. It will make you angry, frustrated, at times even livid.
But it is entirely worth the trouble, as it gives invaluable insight into American culture, the great racial divide, and the infuriating bigotry of narrow-minded people that can be found on either side of the rift.
7. Narcissus and Goldmund — Hermann Hesse
We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement.
One of the less known works of the German-Swiss author whose popularity in Western countries culminated during the hippie era, Narcissus and Goldmund is perhaps the warmest, most feel-good Hesse’s novel.
This book is a magnificent ode to life, abundant with memorable passages told in a rather simple, absolutely unassuming way.
It cleverly sets the stage for posing some eternal dilemmas, such as the following:
- Is there a way of life that one should by default strive for if they wish to live their lives out the best possible way?
- Is there one sole path that leads to truth or are there many different roads that might be taken in the pursuit of rightness?
- Which, if any, of two polar opposites — an active vs. a contemplative life — can be said to be better and more praise-worthy?
The text is interspersed with Jungian symbolism and archetypal structures, which are perfectly reflected in the ever-present dichotomy of the male vs. female principle, the conscious vs. the unconscious mind, logic vs. nature, all coming together in a wondrous composition that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
8. Jane Eyre — Charlotte Bronte
I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.
A love novel with a twist, that raised quite a few eyebrows at the time of its publishing, Jane Eyre is even today still vastly different than other works pertaining to the genre.
The eponymous heroine is nowhere near what you’d expect — she’s neither exceptionally beautiful nor delicate and is well aware of herself, her strengths, and weaknesses.
Jane is a young woman endowed with a beautiful mind, strong-willed, independent and passionate, which makes her one of the most memorable female characters in literature.
Her male counterpart, Mr. Rochester, is also a far cry from what is commonly seen in love novels, as he’s no prince charming, not by a long shot.
The fiery passion of the two unlikely protagonists and the turbulent romance that ensues is surely a salacious little treat for all who fancy dabbling in the English Gothic novel, in all of its dark and mysterious glory.
9. Lolita — Vladimir Nabokov
“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins”.
Talk about an opening fit to instantly suck you in the amazing, mellifluous, and utterly enchanting whirlpool this novel is.
One of the most controversial books of all time, Lolita continues to bewitch readers with its all but innocent charm, which is so overwhelming, you often find yourself questioning your own moral compass.
At moments, it is uncomfortably easy to commiserate with “poor” Humbert Humbert, desperately in love with a cheeky little nymphet, and it’s a trap you slide into without even noticing it.
Apart from its dubious plot, what makes this book doubly astonishing and captivating is Nabokov’s writing style. His fondness for witty wordplay and rich metaphors, as well as the use of words you’ve probably never heard of before — and the chances are you never will again unless you take up some of his other books — will make you disbelieve he was, in fact, not a native English speaker.
10. How to Quiet a Vampire — Borislav Pekić
Tomorrow is what makes me human; yesterday is what makes me a corpse. The mistake was reviving something I should have taken long ago and buried forever. Our problem is not how to revive, but how to quiet our vampires. THE PAST IS A VAMPIRE AND THE REAL QUESTION IS HOW TO QUIET IT FOREVER.
How to Quiet a Vampire does not deal with vampire-slayers, contrary to what the title might imply.
The vampire in question is a far more personal one, as this nothing short of brilliant book follows through the desperate attempts of a man to kill and quiet his own guilty conscience and the past he shrinks from facing.
This book boldly delves to the darkest depths of human intellect, artfully describing the complete moral downfall of Professor Konrad Rutkowski, a former SS and Gestapo officer — and his futile attempts to justify and rationalize it.
The vampire, however, stubbornly refuses to remain dead and silent, haunting Rutkowski, and driving him mad as all of his intellectual excuses and philosophical apologetics fail miserably in protecting him from the sin he had committed years ago.
It’s worth mentioning that this book is not exactly a breeze, not only because of its rich, complex and excellently structured plot, with copious logical and intellectual conundrums, ethical dilemmas and characters that will haunt you long after having finished reading, but also because of its strong philosophical overtones. As each chapter is titled after a “masterpiece of human thought from a different epoch”, this is not entirely unexpected.
So, should you decide to wrestle with this intellectual giant, be prepared for a headache, as you’ll face the most sordid pits of humanity, paired hand in hand with first-class logic and philosophy. But in the end, you’ll be happy you’ve taken the trouble to finish it, I guarantee it.
