Top 10 Favourite Books Ever- as of right now

Alright, so to get to know me as a reader, I supposed I should start with my To 10. Disclaimer: this does change constantly. But, there are some that have been on there for a loooong time. I won't go in any particular order, but I hope something on this list speaks to you. Maybe you decide to pick up a book long on your radar, or one you've never heard of. Either way, Happy Reading.

Also, if you're in the Zurich area, please stop by the English book store Pile of Books to have a chat with me about these or any other books. Or life. Or whatever.

1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson: This has been my favorite book for the last 5 years or so. I started the Netflix show having never heard of Shirley Jackson (cue indignant gasp) and when I saw her name in the credits I knew I had to read her. So I did. I read almost everything she's ever written, and then I wrote my Master's thesis on her. If you come into Pile of Books and ask for a recommendation, you will leave with a copy of this book. Available in the shop

2. It by Stephen King: Yes. I don't even want to hear it. This book is a masterpiece in just not horror, but literary fiction. It deals with themes such as trauma, abuse, love, friendship, fear, racism, misogyny, homophobia and what it means to be a child so well and in such a beautiful way. I think a lot of people miss the point of this book, which is a shame, or shy away from it because it's so long. Also a shame. Read it. Or, the audiobook version is chef's kiss. Available in the shop

3. 1984 by George Orwell: I read this book in high school and it changed my life. I went to see a play adaptation of it in a local theater in Culver City, CA and it gave me my first panic attack (kudos to the entire production- also life changing). This book terrifies me to this day. I made a case in Uni that it could be read as a gothic novel and you've read it, I think you can agree. If you haven't read it, what are you doing right now? Pick it up. (I'm getting very bossy in this blog). Available in the shop

4. The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay: I only discovered Tremblay in the last year or so, but I will read anything this man writes. And I'm working on it. Not of all his books are a smash hit, to be honest, but this one, to me, is the perfect novel. He is the master of tension and unease and when I finished this, I had to lie down on the floor and stare at the ceiling to the point where my husband asked me if I was ok. If you ask for a horror recommendation at the shop, I will throw this at you. Available in the shop

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   by Lewis Carroll: Loved this book as a child, love it even more as an adult. I have countless editions of this at home and about 4 tattoos from it, with plans to get more. I don't think I need to say a lot about this, except if you've only seen the movie, it's not the same. Available in the shop

6. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: Probably her most famous novel, it is also the one that got me into thrillers/mystery. I think, as most people do, that Christie is the standard by which I hold all contemporary murder mysteries. I read this when I was quite young and I remember the ending gave me goosebumps. Thinking of doing this for a book club actually... how fun would that be? Available in the shop

7. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix: Another staple of mine that I recommend to people quite often. I even had one customer email me to tell me that it got her out of a reading slump. I mean, what a compliment for the book. It's campy, it's funny, it's got vampires and petty southern women who drink too much and have a book club. What more could you ask for? Available in the shop

8. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster: This is the ultimate comfort read to me. I must have read this 20x as a kid. And I would still recommend it to adults, because it is hysterical and witty and ingenius. We have ordered it for the shop and are waiting for it to arrive.

9. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins: This is another thick book, but totally worth it. A classic gothic novel from Victorian era England, this is not to be missed if you love spooky, foggy streets at night. Available in the shop

10. The Girl from Rawblood by Catriona Ward: Another one of my all time favorite authors, Ward can do no wrong. I will say this particular book of hers is not for everyone. I'm aware. It's a weird book and it's not the easiest to read, but I think it's totally worth it and one of the beautifully written books I've ever read. She's the queen of modern gothic. Please read anything by her. Anything. Available in the shop