Top Ten Tuesday (5)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

This Tuesday's theme is...

Top Ten Books That Make Me Think

This is hard, because I could think about a gajillion things. And sometimes, I feel like thinking is a dangerous past-time. So, I'm going to mention books that make me think about something--what that is, I'll let you know!

1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I read this book my junior year of high school--so three years ago--and I loved it. I couldn't put the book down during the courthouse scene; it was amazing. This book had me thinking about life in general. What is was like to live back then, and seeing the world through a little girl's eyes. The injustice done to the black man--I haven't read it in three years, so I don't remember everything--was horrible! I remember noticing that the girl, accusing him of hitting her, I think, said it was his left hand, then his right hand. Did anyone in court catch it? No. Times back then were so different yet so similar. And then there's Boo Radley, a social outcast who's so easily accepted by a kid named Scout. I love this book so much, and if you haven't read it--why haven't you?!

2. Origin by Jessica Khoury

Immortality has been a thing since, like, ever. Usually it's with vampires though, which I think are totally rad, awesome, and, on occasion, hot. (See: Edward Cullen, the Salvatore brothers, Michael Glass.) So it was nice and refreshing to read about an immortal that didn't have abnormally pale skin and a thirst for blood. Pia, the immortal in Origin, is simply an enhanced human who won't ever die. And it wasn't done by being bitten or by magic--it was pretty much science. So I had to wonder: can the human species ever create something like a immortal? We've accomplished cloning, and so much more is yet to come. Sure, this would take time, but I can't help wondering if Origin may be a bit of a prediction of the future. As well, I got to thinking about how cool being in the Amazon would be, and how much I want a pet jaguar. (Badly. Very, very badly.)

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

I read this book almost four years ago--eep!--so I'm trying my best to remember everything. I do remember that it was phenomenal and great and that you must read it. I feel like most people see the title and wonder what the heck it means. It's about a young autistic boy who investigates the murder of the neighbor's dog--and it's told from his point of view. To read the thoughts of an autistic boy is compelling and interesting. You see his OCD, or at least that's how I describe it, and it's just something so completely different than the usual voice. It gets me thinking because I wonder how autistic people think, and see our differences and similarities. A great thinker novel.

4. The Doll People by Ann M. Martin

I read this book a gajillion years ago and don't remember much except that a doll is missing and they all come to life. It was brought back into my memory when I saw and purchased the sequel, The Meanest Doll in the World, at Goodwill. This book made me think the same way Toy Story made me think: do toys really come to life at night? If so, how cool and creepy is that? It's not like I'd ever know--they're great at keeping you from knowing. I think this is why I have such a hard time getting rid of my stuffed animals--what if they come to life at night? That means they have feelings, and I can't hurt them! My mom thinks I'm crazy. Well, mother, I may just be right. So hmph.

5. The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

There are several books that make me think like the Morganville Vampires does, but I chose to use this series because it's one of my absolute faves (and because I try to mention it whenever I can). In the series, humans coexist in a town with vampires. The rest of the world doesn't know about it, just the town--Morganville. So I have to wonder: are vampires real? If they are, are they my neighbors? Is the guy I've had a crush on for, like, ever a vampire? Probably not. But you never know. Nobody knows if Bigfoot is real or not; who says vampires aren't? (If you're a vampire and reading this, I think you rock. Please don't fang me or people I like. Thank you.)

6. Stolen by Lucy Christopher

If you haven't read this book, please do. It's amazing and wonderful and I just love it. In Stolen, Gemma is kidnapped by Ty and taken to the Australian outback in the middle of nowhere, where he hopes she'll fall in love with him. Strike 1: Kidnapping her. You'd think he'd be caught, since he stole her from an airport and brought her to Australia. You'd also think she could never fall in love with him. But she doesn't hate him. Is it Stockholm Syndrome? How does something like this happen? It got me thinking, and it'll get you thinking, too--if you read it. (Side note: I'm the kind of person who rooted for the romance between a girl and the guy who stole her. I know. I'm weird.)

7. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

How can this book not get you thinking? Seriously? It's a mixture of The Hunger Games and Lost before they even existed. A bunch of kids--one with "ass-mar"--get stranded on an island and go crazy. Like, seriously crazy. When I read the synopsis four years ago, I didn't think I'd like it. Lord of the Flies certainly wasn't the kind of book I'd pick off the shelf. But I liked it. A lot. It's different and disturbing, yet totally readable. It shows how people can change in dire situations, and it really is something else. Plus, there's the pig head. What is it with pigs? (I'm looking at you, Orwell.)

8. The Luxe series by Anna Godbersen

It's the turn of the century in upper-class Manhattan and I want to live there. And have Henry Schoonmaker. (Oh my gosh, sa-WOON.) This book simply made me think of the year 1900, an era I usually just skimmed past. From what I got from the books, it was a beautiful time, and to be there would be magnificent: the gowns, the parties, the forbidden romances--oh yes, there's some of that. It makes me wonder if life really was like that: an elite socialite stealing kisses with the help; a girl falling for an engaged man, who's fiancee tries to ruin everything...Did stuff like that ever happen? I sure hope so, or else life would've been prim and proper and boring.

9. 1984 by George Orwell

This book is one of the biggest thinkers in existence, hands-down. 1984 is about complete and utter control by the government, and it's absolutely crazy. Everyone's watched over by Big Brother--ah, now you know what book this is--and there are all kinds of rules and ridiculousness and just everything. I can't even put it into words. And there's all the stuff--I can't recall it--that was mentioned in the book that ended up actually happening in real life. 1984 was ahead of its time, and George Orwell was practically predicting the future. Of course, the world isn't really like this. But the question is: could it be? (Big Brother, if you're watching--I'm watching you, too.)

10. The Flappers series by Jillian Larkin

This is the same situation as number eight: I just love the world it's set in. 1920s. Flappers. Romance. Drama. Everything wonderful. I think the whole Flapper era is just stunning, and to be there would be awesome. But just with the pros, not the cons. Again, I wonder how much of this stuff actually happened. Would a white socialite really leave her life and be a flapper and live with a black piano player that she fell in love with? Could a scandalous flapper really give up her ways? Would a friend be that much of a backstabber in the 1920s? I have no idea, but I do know one thing: I love these books.

There you have it--my top ten books that make me think! What about you? What makes YOU think? Tell me in the comments!