BOOKS & MORE BOOKS! A GREAT MUST - READ LIST FROM GUEST BLOGGER STACEY

 Our guest blogger today is young and lovely Stacey Marone. Get to know more about her reading the bio note below this post and following her on twitter. Stacey has prepared a 30 must- read list full of interesting titles and reading tips. What title would you absolute add to her list? How many of these books have you read? Contribute your titles in the comment section,  it would be great to hear from you.  Happy reading, everyone!

     The 30 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lives

Books are a luxury that can be enjoyed at every stage of your life, and nothing is more enjoyable nor enlightening than  to sit down with a book that gets you thinking, pulls the heartstrings and takes you to a new place. Below is an overview of 30 books that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime - in no particular order.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

It is not enough to simply see the movie. The book is a mixture of humanity and humour and there is a reason why it is one of the most loved and discussed books of our time.

2. A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson

So much more than a science book, Bill Bryson attempts to make sense of the universe and the meaning of the planet. A must read for anyone even remotely interested in what is out there.

3. Maus: A Survivor’s Tale - Art Spiegelman

A clever take on the usual holocaust novels, Maus is a graphic novel (comic) that tells a story of survival in the war by using cats and mice to represent Nazi's and Jews.

4. The Road - Cormac McCarthy

Before it was a blockbuster movie, The Road was a much loved bestselling book. A post-apocalyptic tale of survival centred around a father and son.

5. How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

If you never expected a self-help book to make it onto the list of must reads, then you need to pick up "How to Win Friends and Influence People". It does as the title promises, and the fact that it has been around since 1937 shows just how powerful it is. 

6. Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

The classics are classics for a reason, and see for yourself why Anne of Green Gables has been loved since it was first published in 1908. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the story of an orphaned girl who was accidently sent to a foster home.

7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K Rowling

Chances are there wouldn't be an adult or child who has not at least heard about the wizard Harry and his adventures at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once you read the Sorcerer's Stone, you’ll be hooked and will need to read the other 6 books in the series.

8. The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien

One book got transformed into three of the greatest movies ever made, and if you have not read the book then you are truly missing out. A mesmerizing story about good vs evil … with hobbits and goblins!

9. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas – John Boyne

A book written about the holocaust from the eyes of the son of a German Soldier. A completely different perspective that will make you really think and reflect. 

10. Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

This satirical novel often cited as being the one of the greatest literary works of the 20^th century. It is set in World War II and basically paints fun at war in an extremely witty way.

11. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Possibly one of the worst book covers hides possibly one of the cleverest books. You’ve seen the movie, now get so much more from the book.

12. Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes

A book that will make you laugh, cry and question humanity all within the space of a pew pages. An intellectually challenged, yet happy, man becomes a genius and realize that intelligence is not all it’s cracked up be.

13. The Diary Of A Young Girl - Anne Frank

For a chilling and touching tale of life in hiding in World War II, read the diary of a young girl who was actually there.

14. The Green Mile - Stephen King

Originally penned by Stephen King as a 6-part miniseries, you can now read it all as a single serial novel. A touching story about an innocent black man on death row, and the magic of humanity.

15. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

Another must-read set in World War II is about a young orphan who finds inner peace in books and words – all while hiding an illegal Jew in her foster family’s basement.

16. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

It is impressive that a book written in the mid 1800’s can be so relevant a popular today. It follows the lives of four sisters as they become women. 

17. The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein

A children’s picture book that is as popular and loved by adults is really something special. It is a story of the relationship of a boy and a tree with the boy representing humankind and the tree representing Mother Nature.

18. The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Not for the faint hearted, this book is somewhat controversial and covers sensitive topics such as innocence, loss, identity and belonging.

19. Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White

Another children’s book which is equally loved by adults – Charlotte’s web is about the relationship between a spider and a pig.

20. The Power of One – Bryce Courtenay

The best-known novel by Australia’s own Bryce Courtenay. A story about an English boy in South Africa who wants to change the world.

21. Lord of the Flies by - William Golding

A very well-known story about a group of boys stuck on an inhabited island. A Simpsons episode was actually centered around the storyline. 

22. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

A beautiful novel that questions boundaries – an unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and a servant’s son.

23. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

A novel about friendship between two grown men that will pull the heartstrings – set in the Depression.

24. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Most people would have studied the play in school, but who has actually sat down and read it properly?

25. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A not so pretty story about American history – focuses on colored women and their fight for equality and fairness.

26. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

They say that Lewis Carroll was high on drugs when he wrote Alice in Wonderland. It could be true, but it doesn’t matter as he managed to write one of the most memorable stories ever told.

27. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

One of the more controversial novels around, Lolita is about the forbidden fantasies of a grown man and his young stepdaughter.

28. The Help - Kathryn Stockett

A tale about slavery in the 1960’s America as told by three women – two maids and a daughter of a wealthy farmer.

29. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

The first of 5 books by author Douglas Adams, it is a parody of every sci-fi ever made. With hapless heroes and angry aliens, what’s not to love?

30. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

Every child needs to watch the Mickey Mouse version of A Christmas Carol, and every adult needs to read the book.

Stacey Marone is a contributor for Scholaradvisor coursework Writing, helping students handle schoolwork successfully and always happy to come to their assistance. She has vast experience in academic writing and is a skilled and patient researcher, ensuring the work delivered is flawless every time. You can follow her on Twitter.