30 Books to Read Before You Die (Pt. 8)

As we get on in this list, I hope I have at least suggested you one new thing to read that you wouldn't have if not for these lists here! If you've been following, you would've read the following seven parts by now (and if you haven't then click the links!)...

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7

And now, for Part 8!

As I have already said in the other lists, I like to read a mixture of old and new literature in order to keep things interesting. Everything from literary criticism to true crime interests me, and if there's something you know of that's really good, but you haven't seen on the lists then feel free to suggest it to me. My social media handles are in my bio.

I want to make it perfectly clear, because I do get asked, and yes, every single book on these lists I have already read (or else they wouldn't be on the lists because that would be cheating—I would feel horrible if someone did that to me so I won't do it to you). I always try and test the books before offering them on a list, on which they will serve as great pieces of literature everyone needs in their lives.

As before then, my favourite books will be marked with a (*), and intermittently I will discuss some that have an interesting explanation or anecdote in their background. To be honest, the only reason I don't explain every book is because, let's face it, I'd go on and on forever. I wanted to keep the list manageable for you to read and flick through, but also give you enough information about why I love specific books on this list. So, without further introduction, let's get on with it!

These are numbers 211-240

211-220

211. The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac*

212. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

213. Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu

214. Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges

215. Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos*

216. The Souls of Black Folk by W. Du Bois

217. Three Lives by Gertrude Stein

218. 'Wide Sargasso Sea' by Jean Rhys

This is another one of those that my teacher told me to read at school because I was literally reading Jane Eyre in her class one day. To be honest, you would only understand why I just said that if you'd read both books, so let's give you a hint: Wide Sargasso Sea is an imagined prequel to Jane Eyre, which, at first, I really didn't like, because it was written in a way I couldn't fully understand. Wide Sargasso Sea is written in a Creole dialect, and is far different to the language in Jane Eyre as you can imagine. But, over the years, and given a few re-reads to try and get my head around it, I found it to be the exact opposite in approach to Jane Eyre—which I recently realised was the entire point of the book. Yes, it took me three years to realise that, and what's your point? At least I got there in the end.

219. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

220. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

221-230

221. The Godfather by Mario Puzo

222. 'A Confederacy of Dunces' by John Kennedy Toole

Interesting fact about this book? My sixth form English Teacher was surprised when I said I wanted to study this book (I didn't actually end up studying it because I think I chose Philippa Gregory instead!), because it was actually his favourite book ever. To be honest, I've met a lot of people who say this is their favourite book which is nice, because I think that would've made John Kennedy Toole not want to commit suicide if he was alive today. Every time I read that book I can't really forget about how bad his mental state must have been to kill himself after writing such a great novel. It upsets me.

223. Misery by Stephen King*

224. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

225. Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerey

226. The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

227. Schindler's List (Ark) by Thomas Keneally

228. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

229. Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard*

230, The Princess Bride by William Goldman

231-240

231. Carrie by Stephen King

232. Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi*

233. A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick

234. The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

235. The Other by Thomas Tryon*

236. Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

237. A River Runs Through It by Norman McLean

238. High Rise by JG Ballard

239. 'Suffer the Children' by John Saul

I want to talk to you about the time I read this book because I remember it very well. It was around ten years ago in my hometown's local market. There used to be some booksellers who used to sell used books for £1 or £2 each. I saw this book, all tattered and torn already—at said booksellers' stall. The reason I picked it up was because back then (well, I still do it but less often!) I did this thing where I would read one random book I'd never heard of, by an author I'd never heard of every week. (This was also how I discovered books like the fantasy novel, The Paper Magician, and the terrifying, The Girl Next Door). Needless to say, I took it right home and began reading it. I thoroughly remember it scaring the living daylights out of me, I didn't sleep for a few days afterwards. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves atmosphere, because there is a hell of a lot of atmosphere in this novel. Though I may not be as scared of it anymore, I still have my copy, and I still flick through it every now and again, some of the descriptions, though they may be brief, are highly effective for creating great atmosphere.

240. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.