Top Five Wednesday | Books That Made You Think

So this week's Top Five Wednesday is the Top Five Books That Made You Think. Just in case anyone is new to this. Top Five Wednesday is an idea created by Lainey, or Gingerreadslainey on youtube. She creates weekly topics for bloggers and youtubers to talk more about different aspects of their favourite books. The group, which lists the monthly topics, can be found here!

I found this week's topic pretty difficult. There are a lot of different books that made me think about so many different things that it was hard to choose.

5) 1984 by George Orwell

I'm sure this will be a book on a lot of people's lists. This book is one that just makes you think about the surveillance of society as a whole, and the control that a government could have without you even realising it. What I always find even more incredible about this book is the time when it was written; Orwell seemed to predict so much about the future (okay, not the totalitarian government who can control and listen to our thoughts), like the technology and surveillance that the government have over our lives. It depicts a terrifying view of what our futures could turn into, without us even realising and it always make me think about the control a society can have.




4) Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi

Now this is a book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone who didn't like True Crime books, or crime novels in general. Personally I thought it was a fascinating and interesting book about the infamous Manson Murders which occurred in the 1960s. It gives a terrifying view of how Charles Manson manipulated and brainwashed people into committing murder, and very nearly getting away with it. It's certainly a book that makes you think. I had to put it down so many times and just take in what I'd read because it was so unbelievable yet interesting.



3) Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
Now this is a strange one, and I don't think many people have read it. I first read it when I was about 11 I think and it's always stuck with me in a kind of haunting way. I suppose, now that I think back, it's like a modern day The Island of Dr. Moreau. It's about three teenagers who survive a plane crash and get trapped on an island. But then one of them disappears and they discover something incredibly sinister on the island. It was such a chilling yet fascinating book and it's stayed with me ever since.




2) We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Now this book. This book is absolutely incredible. I'm not sure I can even explain how much this book affected me. I had to study this book for university and I had been recommended it previously. This is probably the best book I ever studied. I don't want to describe the plot too much as it would spoil the book but I will say that it should probably only be read by mature readers as it contains heavy violence and mature topics.

It debates the main question of nature v. nurture and it follows the story of a child who does something atrocious. It explored so many themes associated with violence in America and it was incredibly powerful. I was stunned by the writing in this book and the psychological questions it raised. This book stuck to me so much and I couldn't think about anything else for days.

1) The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
This is one of the books I ended up writing my dissertation on. This book is trilogy of postmodern detective fiction and explores the notion of the self disappearing in modern(postmodern) society. It's such an interesting concept and it made me think so much about the fast pace of modern life and the anonymity of living in a city in today's world.

However, you don't need to have studied English Literature to enjoy this book. These three short tales are so enthralling and interesting they just keep you reading. I love detective fiction and this trilogy takes that genre to the next level and higher.