The Best of 2010: Part 2 - Books

Continuing with "the best of 2010"... part 1 of which was The Best Movies of 2010, part 2 is, the best books that I read in 2010. Mind you, I didn't read too many, probably around 14 or 15, but because I hadn't read more than two the previous year, this is a big deal.

Oh, and Happy New Year!

I rediscovered my passion for books this year, by discovering the website flipkart.com. Almost every book I read the last year was ordered off this website. And again, as it was with the movies, rarely if any book on this list was released in 2010...actually, none of them...but anyway, I read these last year.

So here goes...

5. THE GODS THEMSELVES - ISAAC ASIMOV
Bantam Books
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain...'
Perhaps not for everyone, this science fiction novel had been on my reading list for quite sometime, and when I finally got around to reading this a few months ago, it was certainly worth the wait. Isaac Asimov, the author of the 'I, Robot' collection of short stories is a famous name in sci-fi.
A very intriguing piece of fiction, if you're interested in sci fi, or not. Do try and read it.













4. SURVIVOR - CHUCK PALAHNIUK
Vintage Books
The novel which starts with page number 289 and ends with page number 1. In typical Palahniuk style, the author of 'Fight Club' manages to pull off another bizzare story in a highly gripping, and engaging fashion. Palahniuk, a cult figure, has made quite a name for himself with highly satirical and very dark commentaries on modern life with books such as this one, 'Fight Club', 'Choke' and 'Invisible Monsters' (which I also recently read). Survivor is certainly one of his best works.











3. THE GODFATHER - MARIO PUZO
Random House
Perhaps I have been very late in reading this classic, but my mother forbade me from reading it when I once asked her, some eight years ago. But I finally got around to reading it last year, and although I'd seen the movie, more than once, the book is another experience.


Michael Corleone, and Don Vito, brought to life by Al Pacino and Marlon Brando, have, if possible, even more class in this novel than in the movies.










2. AMERICAN PSYCHO - BRET EASTON ELLIS
Picador
Probably one of the most disturbing books I have ever read in my entire life, American Psycho, based on which a movie of the same name, starring Christian Bale was made, is clearly a modern masterpiece. Bret Easton Ellis is a genius. His extremely violent and graphic, third piece of fiction is a bestseller.
Not at all for everyone, American Psycho is graphic, it is sick, it is disgusting, it is vulgar, it is...brilliant!

The only reason I wouldn't rate this as the best book I read this year honestly, is because, well, the best book I read this year has been on my reading list for the last seven years.








1. THE SILMARILLION - J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Harper Collins
What can I possibly say about this...I dare not even call it a novel...this...mythology. What can I possibly say about this work of genius, that can do it even the slightest bit of justice. I have wanted, well...yearned to read this book for the last seven years, ever since I read the 'The Lord of the Rings'. I have searched through entire libraries for this, but somehow I always found it already issued, or later on...missing. But last year, when I was going through the catalogue on flipkart.com, this was the first book that was on my shopping cart.
A fantasy novel, a creation myth...call it what you will, 'The Silmarillion' is, in many ways even better than 'The Lord of the Rings', if that is indeed possible. From the beginning of the 'world' to the beginning of 'The War of the Ring', 'The Silmarillion' satisfies all that a Tolkien fan could ever dream of.
Probably the most nerdy choice possible for the number one book I read last year, but 'The Silmarillion' is...by far.


Every single book that I've mentioned in this post is amazing...definitely worth reading. And more on my reading list now are 'Island' and 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley, Dennis Lehane's 'Shutter Island', and Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'.

Any other books, you think I should consider reading, please do drop the title in the comments, I'd rather appreciate it.

Have a good start to the year.

"My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone, in fact I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape, but even after admitting this there is no catharsis, my punishment continues to elude me and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself; no new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing."
-Patrick Bateman