My Top 5 Favorite Must Read Books

I love the Quote that Oscar Wilde once said

"You can never be overdressed or overeducated."

since we already somewhat went over fashion in my first blog I thought why not give my readers some fun materials to read? after all the more you read the smarter you become.

Did you know that 68% of books sold worldwide are bought by women? I am proudly in that percentage thats for sure.

Today I will be sharing with you my list of favorite books to read that I think you should at least pick one of these books to read for yourself.

So sit down and have a cup of hot tea and snuggle up in a blanket because the holidays are here

and its the perfect season and time to read a good book!

I will start with an author that got me reading in the first place and his name is Louis Sachar, I went through a phase where I wanted to read all of his books after I read Wayside School is Falling Down.

I remember I laughed so hard reading that book when I was in 6th grade and I just thought the man who wrote this has a child-like sense of humor.

I read all of his books that was in my school Library that I wanted more after I was done that I made my mom take me to the public Library so I can get more books written by Louis Sachar and the one book that I kept picking up and reading over and over again which is my 1st book on the list is called

Holes.

Holes was later turned into a movie that star the actor shia labeouf; before it was turned into a movie I read that book about 5 or 6 times in 1 year.

You have heard it said before that "the book is way better than the movie." because in books it goes into more details that gets you lost for days or even weeks.

ask any Harry Potter fans and Twilight fans who actually read the book before the movie came out which one was better and I guarantee that 100% they will always say the book is way better!

Holes is no different, if you seen the movie and enjoyed the adventure and the historical fiction they brought into the movie, you should read Holes they almost did it exactly like the book without leaving anything out except the character that Shia played in the book was fat and then drastically lost weight after Camp Green Lake and you get to know each of the characters more in the books it is a fantastic book to read if you like an adventure and journey.

Quick! Fun Facts #1

I enjoy and love smelling old book pages. Did you know there is a word for that?! the word for that is called "Bibliosmia". Scientists can analyze the chemicals responsible for "old book smell" to determine the age of a book. The process is called "material degradomics". I wish that was my side job as a profession.

The next book on my list is called Welcome To Dead House by: R.L. Stine in his Goosebumps collection.

That book gave me great thrill as a young teenager that also like Louis Sachar I had to read all of the thrilling books written by R.L. Stine and this book stood out to me the most!

It involves children and lets be honest there is nothing more scary and creepy when there is children involved.

"Amanda and Josh think the old house they have just moved into is weird. Spooky. Possibly haunted. And the town of Dark Falls is pretty strange, too. But their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. So Amanda and Josh do. But these new friends are not exactly what their parents had in mind. Because they want to be friends... forever."

just go and pick up this book if you want to enjoy a little bit of suspense this year like a child at a campfire hearing ghost stories, we are still in the chilling dead looking trees weather after all.

Quick! Fun Facts #2

Reading has been proven time and time again to make you happier and more empathetic, to make you smarter, even to deter diseases like Alzheimers in some cases. 

This next good read is actually a manga series that I read when I was in High School and 10 years later I am still re-reading these series once a year EVERY YEAR.

In case you don't know what a Manga is the best way I can describe it is like an anime comic book except you read it backwards from right to left instead of the usual way of reading forward from left to right. (did that make sense?) anyways look it up.

Fruits Basket by: Natsuki Takaya

This Manga will always have a special place in my heart its seriously a great must read Manga series. it made me laugh, it made cry, it made me worried for the characters, it even gave me butterflies. here is a quick description.

"After a family tragedy turns her life upside down. Plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out.....into a tent! Unfortunately for her. She pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan. and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in. The Sohmas have a secret of their own. When embraced by the opposite sex. They turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!"

I have all these complete manga series! <3

The Sohma clan has been waiting for century to see if there is anyone that can break their family curse and they think it might be Tohru!

I know what your thinking, that sounds weird. right? "why would they turn into an animal when they are hugged by the opposite sex? everyone hugs." allow me to explain!

Mangas were originally created in Japan so therefore the writers is writing from their asian culture perspective. Us Westerners we have no problem hugging our family and friends even the opposite sex, in fact its normal because its an expression of how we love our friends and family.

Not in Asia, in fact the opposite sex can't hug each other at all, its basically hands-off culture when it comes to the opposite sex. they look at it as almost a "sexual thing", in other words in our western language it would be known as close to "cuddling" with our boyfriends or girlfriends thats how they view hugging. Its also to show respect and culturally its how they were raised.

If you don't believe me check out any asian dramas. before the anticipation of a kiss scene there first has to come....a hug!

where the man gives the woman a hug from behind or the woman gives the man a hug first either way the romance music plays louder than ever in the background, and everything goes in slow motion and just like the first kissing scene that will happen later in the drama their eyes will widen in surprise! like "He/She is touching me!"

its kinda like almost a scandal if they were caught hugging in public. its a big deal and also very romantic because to us westerners its kinda cute and innocent for us, but in Asia that is not being innocent at all.

you can laugh it is kinda silly but that is the beauty of cultures! so when you read this manga called Fruits Basket you are reading it from the asian cultures point of view, there is no way they could get caught because boys and girls can't hug each other in the first place unless its by an accident the secret is discovered.

and also its hilarious when you see them freak out when they accidentally come into an embrace that they didn't mean to. check it out online if you must or buy the series its an amazing manga series.

Quick Fun Facts #3

Dr Seuss invented the word 'nerd', using it in his 1950 book 'If I Ran the Zoo.' 

The 4th book I'm about to introduce to you gave me a pleasant surprise and outlook on my life, I am 30 years old and I recently got my B.A. Degree in Biblical and Theology Studies and this next book is a christian fiction book that added some creative theology to it. I mean it seriously opened my eyes into a whole new perspective that I didn't even know could possibly exist.

It is called DEMON: A Memoir by: Tosca Lee

This book seriously blew my mind away all I can say is from one theologian to another; Well Done Tosca Lee! and such creativeness too!

This book tells a story of a fallen angel who appears in any human or living form to approach a certain man to write his book, his memoir; he begins telling what it was like being an angel in Heaven when God created it and what was Lucifer like and how beautiful he was and how he was Gods favorite.

so naturally when Lucifer wanted everyone to worship him, the angles didn't think anything of it, they assumed he was like a prince to the almighty king and so they bowed to him in respect thinking it was the right thing to do, innocently not knowing what they committed was the biggest sin of all and was cast down to hell and became the fallen angels.

how the angels asked and begged God for forgiveness but it was too late there was no second chance and they were eternally damned.

what made the Devil and the demons shocked was when God created the earth and mankind and how he loved them knowing they were made out of dirt and they were fragile, nothing special about humans at all.

so the devil and the demons wanted to show God that humans are more messed up than the fallen angels.

yet God gave them a chance over and over.

The Devil and demons did everything they could to make the humans mess up and to show that they have more evil in their hearts, the humans caused the war, rape, worshipping other gods, murder, every disgusting thing you can think of, the humans did and yet God still showed mercy and right when they think they won, God became man to join them in human form.

The Demons and The Devil could not wrap their head as to why God would become like these useless "Dirt" of creation and when Jesus died and rose to victory to claim the humans as His own child, to claim that they are the ones He loved.

brings the demons and the devil more rage and hate to the humans. Basically they are jealous of us. And who would blame them?!

when I was reading the perspective of the fallen angel of how they only committed one crime, just one. they were damned eternally. and yet us Humans we mess up over and over, and we are full of brokenness that the Creator of the universe continued to just love us through our mess and brokenness and is always giving us another chance.

it seriously left me in awe of who my God is.

Quick! Fun Facts #4

reading is the greatest hobby there is. It allows you to escape into other lives, worlds, and galaxies, but it also allows you to learn new ideas, facts, and ways of interpreting and understanding the world around you. Not to mention it allows you to touch, smell, hold, rub your face on the beautiful, fragrant capsules of wonder known as books. 

FINALLY

The last book that is definitely a must read and yes I saved the best for last. just like I have to read Fruits Basket at least once a year this too I read once every year, in fact I am reading it right now before the year is over. it is called

Redeeming Love by: Francine Rivers

this book is also a christian fiction novel. I'm gonna be honest with you reading christian fiction novels is really not my thing because they are usually cheesy and also very unrealistic as in "oh just accept Jesus and your life will be okay and work itself out."

No! I want the ugly truth and creativity, not laziness. and this book did not fail me! it is seriously one of the best books I have ever read in my existence thus far. It will capture your attention just by the very first sentence and page alone; it is seriously a page turner.

This book got me feeling all kinds of emotions that I didn't think a book could bring out of me.

it made scared, it made my stomach drop, it made me feel hope, it wooed me, it pissed me off, it made me cry from being heartbroken where I had to put the book down, it made me fall in love, it made me hopeful for true love, it gave me anxiety, it made me feel disgusted and want justice, and then it made me cry beautiful tears of rejoicing with victory that I didn't think I could handle the overwhelming of a more beautiful book.

so I will tell you what this book is about and I quote.

"Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obey's God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly, day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation, until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw.

But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husband's pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does...the One who will never let her go."

Me every time I read this book.

doesn't that make you want to read this book? seriously it is the best and I read it every year and it still surprises me and makes me cry every time I read it.

Hope you enjoy this blog and I hope it gave you some insight for other books to read and appreciate it in itself.

Happy Reading!

Tell me which one of these books that I mention have you curious to check out and read for yourself? I would love to hear from you!