2. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Well I can't have a list without an Agatha Christie book and when it comes to unique reads this one is pretty high up the list. This was the book that made her famous and there was a lot of controversy surrounding it. Lots of critics claimed she "cheated" which she rather forcefully denied and made a pretty good defense argument. Regardless it's a fun read.
3. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins- This was a fascinating read and I was surprised with how clearly it discussed domestic violence which wasn't something really talked about when this was published in 1859.
5. Moonraker by Ian Fleming - This is the 3rd James Bond bood and while the mystery itself isn't all that unique (though it is very good) the part where James Bond is sitting in his office thinking about his budget and vacation days is pretty amazing.
6. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell - I think I was in late high school maybe early college when I discovered the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell and I feel instantly in love with them. Kay is so human and tough and the mysteries were amazing and so dark. I couldn't get enough of them - that is until Kay went completely off the rails and it became a giant trainwreck with occasional murders but I do remember just how much I loved Postmortem. I can remember just about everything about that book and it's probably been almost 20 years since I read it. It's not one to think about too close to bedtime though.
8. Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud - I don't remember where I came across the series though I'm thinking it was a random library grab based off the really awesome cover. The premise is so amazing and I love the change in child/adult dynamics. One thing I really loved about this book was that the main characters are a boy and a girl and that they're so equal. They both have their weaknesses and strengths and they both make mistakes. So often one gender is portrayed as weaker or just a side character and it was fun to see a book that really embraced the characters for who they were.
9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - I think this was the first book I read that could qualify as science fiction and I loved it. Adams' sense of humor and how he writes his dialogue never fails to absolutely crack me up and I loved the levels of bureaucracy in this book.
10. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson - I see this book listed in horror lists from time to time and I really wish it wasn't because I think if you're looking for horror this is going to disappoint you. However, if you're looking for incredibly eerie and seriously creepy this is the book for you. Jackson is a master of atmosphere and this creepy twisted tale is one of her best. And it has a line that jumps into my head at times that I really don't want to think about it - "No one can hear you if you scream in the dark."
What books were unique reads for you?
I read Gone Girl around that same time - it was buzzy but no movie in the works. I loved it and it totally got me!!
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean on what exactly a unique book is. I had to change the topic a bit. I definitely agree that The Graveyard Book and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as being unique reading experiences. I haven't read any of the others.
ReplyDeleteI started reading the Kay Scarpetta books when the technology was so out of date, I really liked reading them for that. But yeah, the series really went off the rails and I soon gave up.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time ever, I wanted to disagree with you! I didn't like The Woman in white.... But then I realized that it's not about liking a book, but is it unique? Yes it is!
ReplyDeleteA couple of these I have read and the rest or on my TBR list. No shit hey. Still haven't read The haunting of hill house!!! But it is on my kindle, so it is making progress.
I didn't do a TTT on unique books, but on unique characters. Have a look! http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2017/04/top-ten-most-unique-characters.html
I've never read Gaiman so there is that waiting for me to do. :) Gone Girl just sounds so deliciously twisty, but I read the first few pages once and it seemed kinda slow. I probably need to stick with it. And Moonraker- I'm getting the impression the books are pretty different from the show. I should really try Ian Fleming's books.
ReplyDeleteNice list.
ReplyDeleteI remember my son read The Westing Game in elementary, but I don't recall reading it.
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
Nice list! Gone Girl is the only one I've read, I'll have to check some of these out!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT:
https://bookmarkedbliss.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/1200/
I think I actually have a Cornwell on my shelves somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI like your take this week! I agree - Gone Girl was the first book filled with all those twists and turns that I had read. And now I've read a ton since, they are so much fun! I need to read this Agatha Christie. I haven't read her in many years and I want to again. She is the queen! As for Patricia Cornwell, I feel the same. I loved the series and then I just started to dislike ALL the characters. I finally gave up. I'd like to read The Screaming Staircase, the cover looks like a fun book. (I bought it for my son at a book fair last year. :) ) Great list!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess Hitchhiker's Guide would qualify. I didn't think of that for my list, or it could have been the one where we overlapped. Intriguing choices.
ReplyDeleteThe Graveyard Book and The Haunting of Hill House are two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteMy ttt
http://hauntedgravebooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/top-ten-tuesday-ten-of-most-unique.html
9 an 10...oh yes, and like you I was surprised with the Women in Black.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the books that made your list. I really need to get to Gone Girl soon.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Yes, The Westing Game! Love it.
ReplyDeleteMy kids read The Westing Game but I didn't. The unique book I remember reading when I was young was Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther. It's a memoir written by a father about his son who died from a brain tumor. That's why it was a unique read for me. At that age I'd never read such an emotional story.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Gone Girl. I don't think I've read a book quite like that one. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI really, really, really, want to read The Graveyard Book! It never goes in ebook sale, though. I have about five or six Gaiman ebooks I have picked up on special, but I think the publisher knows people will plunk fiwn full price for this one. Ha ha. I think I will start looking for it on Book Outlet because I probably will want the hard cover anyway.
ReplyDeleteI am reading a pretty unique book right now, Sophie Someone. Most of the book is written in her "special language" and it has been quite interesting, but I love it.
I thought I would tell you, I'm doing my natural egg dying right now for my 52 Pins post. Beet juice works brilliantly. The jury is still out on the spinach and onion skins. :)
I love this Top Ten subject and you have produced a fabulous list! I don't know them all - but those I do I'd completely agree are marvellously unique. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of my altime favourite reads:).
ReplyDeleteOh, The Westing Game! That book is awesome. Robin had the audiobook and listened to it a bunch of times, so I ended up listening, too. It definitely has a lot of twists! And The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is another good choice for "unique" books. I don't think anyone had pulled that particular surprise ending before Christie did. (She was awfully good at unexpected endings. I mean, they're famous now, so they're not really unexpected anymore, but at the time, they were groundbreaking.)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Gone Girl (well the second half anyway, the first half was a little slow).
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/top-ten-tuesday-102/
these are excellent choices - and several I still need to read! My TTT
ReplyDeleteYours is the second list I've seen The Graveyard Book on which has me looking forward to it even more. My friend convinced me to buy it and I have shamefully not read any Gaiman before so that needs to be fixed. I didn't realise he'd written for Doctor Who (I need to check out which episodes because I gave up on the Moffat era because I was just such a fan of Davies' writing style) but that's pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes! All of these do sound very unique, I agree. I haven't read all of them--only a couple you mention, but many are on my wish list.
ReplyDelete