Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Books I Need In The Event of an Apocalypse

This is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They feature a different top ten list every week. This week's topic was a freebie. I chose to do one on books I would need in the event of an apocalypse.

Here's the thing: one of my favorite genres is dystopian literature. You can't possibly read as many post-apocalyptic books as I have without giving serious thought to ways you would handle it. I have 95% of my books on my Kindle. But in the event of an apocalypse, my battery would only last me so long. And once my Kindle died, I would still want lots of reading material. And these books would need to be ones that I wouldn't mind reading over and over and over . . . 

I may have given this a little too much though, but here are the ones I would like with me. The only problem is making sure I have a bag big enough for all these books plus any survival supplies I might need.


1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Yes, it's heartbreaking. But it's also a beautiful piece of literature that I would want to hold onto forever.

2. Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein - I have no second thoughts about including this one on my list. It is funny and will let me keep in touch with my inner child while running for my life.

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - One of my favorite classics. I could read this one over and over.

4. Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan - This is one of my favorite books from this year. It is unbelievably beautiful and so hopeful. I will need that with zombies chasing after me.

5. Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - I adore this book! For those of you who have read it, I don't think I need to elaborate on this one.


6. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - The original dystopian novel. Very creepy and yes, I would love to read this one over and over again. 

7. Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins - Yeah, yeah I know this is cheating because this one is actually three books. But it is my favorite dystopian series ever. And maybe I could pick up some survival tips from Katniss.

8. Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane - This one is purely for sentimental reasons. My husband and I met through eharmony and were communicating for months before we actually went on a date (NINE years ago!!). He knew I was a big reader, so he bought a book for me as a gift for our first date. He even put a little note in it for me to find while I was reading it! I remember that I really enjoyed this book, but I do think it may be time for a reread. There is no way I would ever leave this one behind.

9. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - A great love story that is freaking hilarious and just makes me smile the entire time I am reading it. I will need all the smiles I can get in case of an apocalypse. 

10. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell - My favorite Rowell book (so far). I find this one incredibly sweet. Sweet is good when dealing with life and death.


Bonus: The Blue Day Book: A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up by Bradley Trevor Greive
This one is also for sentimental reasons. I grew up in Georgia, but went to college in upstate New York. At one point, I wasn't having a good time there. There were lots of reasons: being homesick, adjusting to a new city, etc., etc. So a friend of mine from back home bought this book for me as a gift when I was feeling particularly sad. It is so adorable! It is less than 100 pages and has lots of pictures of cute animals with self-help advice splattered throughout. The advice wasn't necessarily as helpful as the pictures of the cute animals. And when I am running for my life, I assume that I will need a lot of cheering up.

The only issue is that most of the books on this list are ones that I own in ebook form. I desperately need to get the physical copies of these as well . . . just in case!


What books would you want with you in the event of an apocalypse?

36 comments :

  1. Oh The Blue Day Book - I adore those cute images. Like you, it helped me smile on some tough days at Uni. Great choice of topic! I'm actually reading The Handmaid's Tale right now... for the first time! Can't believe I haven't read it before!

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    1. Rhoda, oh I hope you enjoy The Handmaid's Tale. I read it for the first time last year and I was shocked it took me so long to read it too. I loved it so much!

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  2. So many good choices. I love that you have Where the Sidewalk Ends on here. That is my favorite book from my childhood. Also, The Blue Day book was one a friend gave me when I was in college and having a hard time with some things!!! It is very cute. Wonderful list!!

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    1. Thanks so much Grace! I recently bought a hardback anniversary edition of Where the Sidewalk Ends. I had so much fun rereading it. It took me right back to my childhood.

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  3. As someone from Upstate New York I totally know what you mean by needing a book to cheer you up, especially during those winters! Ick!

    Great list and topic! Now you have me thinking which books I would save and bring around with me!

    My TTT- http://www.amandasnoseinabook.com/2015/09/15/top-10-unfinished-series/

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    1. Thanks Amanda! Yeah, the winters in upstate New York were crazy cold. But I actually like the cold. Ha

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  4. Hi! I've not read Stupid and Contagious, but it looks good just from the cover (I do judge books by their covers, haha). Great idea for this week. I love Where the Sidewalk Ends. My TTT

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    1. LH27, it's a really cute book! I have a tendency to judge books by their cover also. :)

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  5. What a lovely story behind Stupid and Contagious. I like a lot of the books on your list. For me, I would have to say Dracula as it's the only book I re-read regularly and, at the risk of sounding like I'm auditioning for Desert Island Discs, The Collected Works of Shakespeare just in case the world ends up like in Station Eleven.

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    1. Emma, oh Shakespeare is a good idea! I loved Station Eleven and I love how they kept so many things from before everything collapsed. That is a great idea to keep a record of some of the greatest works.

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  6. I actually haven't read any of these books! That's so embarrassing since some of these books are super popular! I'll have to read them before the apocalypse!

    My TTT

    Lizzie @ Big Books and Grande Lattes

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    1. Oh Lizzie, that is so sad! Yes, yes you must read them before the unthinkable happens! :)

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  7. Baaahaha I love your topic idea this week!!!! Freebie weeks are my fave - I love seeing what everyone comes up with! :) And I totally agree with The Hunger Games and Eleanor & Park. :)

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I know, I love the creativity of everyone's freebie topics. This is one I think about a LOT. :)

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  8. Great choices! The Hunger Games is definitely a favorite of mine! :P And I swear ONE DAY I will read Princess Bride!

    Here are my Top Ten!

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    1. Thanks Tracy! I JUST read The Princess Bride this year so don't feel too bad. It is one of my favorite movies, so I can't believe I hadn't read it until now!

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  9. Fun list! I love The Princess Bride. I think I'd have to have Harry Potter with me.

    http://hiddenstaircase.net/2015/09/15/ttt-ten-books-set-in-sunny-california/

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    1. Thanks so much hiddenstaircase! I have actually never read Harry Potter, which is crazy. But I am not surprised you would want that one. I have a feeling many people would. :)

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  10. LOL LOL what a great topic! Love your Shel Silverstein pick - I can still remember parts of some of the poems from that book :) My TTT

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    1. Thanks so much Carrie! This year, I purchased a hardcover anniversary edition of Where the Sidewalk Ends. I had so much fun rereading it. It took me right back to my childhood.

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  11. I love this topic—it's amazing! I'd definitely need The Book Thief and Jane Eyre with me. If it was at all possible I would have The Princess Bride movie with me at all times, apocalypse or not.

    My list

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    1. Thanks Ely! Oh yes, you are right about that. I love that movie so freaking much. It would be a good idea to hold on to it for posterity purposes. And of course, you never know when you my stumble upon some electricity and a DVD player. :)

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  12. Terrific list! I wouldn't say no to any of these in case of apocalypse! The only one I don't know is Stupid and Contagious. What a sweet story about you and your husband! Love your topic.

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    1. Thanks so much bookshelffantasies! Stupid and Contagious was a sweet book. Because of the history, there is no way I could leave that one behind. :)

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  13. I'm reading Princess Bride now, lol :) Laughing my head off every night. Most of your list is my list too - go figure! :P

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    1. Ha, thanks Ramona! I absolutely love The Princess Bride. It made me so happy just to read it. I am glad you are enjoying it.

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  14. Nice list of books/theme for this week's TTT post. I have The Handmaid's Tale on my list this week too!!

    I chose to focus on banned books as Banned Books Week is coming up later this month!! Here's a link to my TTT post for the week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/top-ten-tuesday-my-list-of-favorite.html

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    1. Thanks so much Captivated Reader! That sounds like a great topic. I love focusing on banned books. :)

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  15. Love the Book Thief! The Hunger Games Trilogy is awesome too.
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/top-ten-tuesday-22/

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    1. Oh yes, The Book Thief is one of my favorite books of all time!

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  16. Yes, The Princess Bride is so hilarious! I agree, I'd want that with me in an apocalypse because it would provide much needed laughter and never get old. Here's my TTT :-)

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    1. Kristen, you are so right. When I was reading that book, it just made me smile the entire time I was reading it. I would need laughter i the event of an apocalypse for sure.

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  17. When I saw The Hunger Games, I knew we'd be okay in the event of the apocalypse. This would be useless for me, because I would just bring... 10 editions of The Hunger Games ;)
    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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    1. Ha. Ten editions?? Shannon, you will need a huge bag for those! But that is really all you need in the event of an apocalypse, right?

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