TTT (26) - Top Ten Books That Surprised Me

Books that surprised me, is this week's great topic chosen by Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Read up on the rules here and join in on the Top Ten Tuesday fun.

I'm going to choose books that made me gasp at some point. Perhaps because of a twist, or because of a loss or simply because they took a turn I did not expect.

Usually in those moments my gf is sitting on the sofa, suddenly confronted with a NOOOO! and for a moment she wonders whether or not I'm okay before spotting the book in my hands. She then proceeds to ask what's up, but it's usually far too complicated to explain and hello? I'm obviously reading a good book, let me continue!

I've chosen three Fantasy/Sci-Fi books. Three Thriller/Suspense books. And three literary books. The links lead to my reviews.

Fantasy first.We got Golden Son by Pierce Brown, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and Wool by Hugh Howey.
  
Golden Son is the second book in the Red Rising trilogy and the one that elevated the series from Hunger Games in space to a simply mind-blowing three books.

The Fifth Season is the first book in a trilogy. It's an amazing series. Post-apocalyptic in a way. In this world some people are Orogenes, who can control seismic activity and hence move mountains, create earthquakes or even still earthquakes. Because humans fear the unknown the Orogenes are feared and often killed or trained and treated as slaves. It's extremely well written and told from the point of view of three amazing female characters. To say more would be to spoil the story.

Wool...well, Wool is an amazing post-apocalyptic tale, the first book in the Silo trilogy. Originally told in smaller instalments, but then brought together in this Omnibus. People live underground in silos, because above ground has been made uninhabitable.

Let's move on to Thrillers. We got I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh, He Said / She Said by Erin Kelly and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty.
  

I Let You Go, a mother lets go of her son for just a moment and seconds later he's dead, run over in a hit and run. To say more would spoil everything and all three books are best experienced blind.

He Said / She Said is about a couple hiding from the past and the plot truly surprised me. Both books have a slow start but turn into an amazing read once everything unfolds.

Big Little Lies, do I even have to introduce this one? Amazing story, so fast paced and addictive that you won't be able to put it down.

And finally, the literary stuff. I chose Atonement by Ian McEwan, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.
   
Atonement is a book filled with amazing prose. A misunderstanding, a teenager with an over-active imagination, repercussions and atonement. Very touching, and a punch to the gut. It's set around World War II.

Fingersmith had a twist so mind-blowing I think I threw the book across the room. And you know what's funny? I read it when I was quite young and a few years ago I realised I loved this novel, but for the life of me could not remember the twist??? I got to read the book for the first time a second time! And, yes, threw it across the room again! This one is set in Victorian London.

We Need To Talk About Kevin. Did the lack of motherly love create a monster or was the child born without empathy, and hence the mother was incapable to build a relationship with her son? After killing several of his classmates, Kevin is now in prison, and his mother is working through her trauma in a series of letters to her estranged husband. I devoured this book and the film and years later it still makes me want to cry.

What about you? What books surprised you? Let me know in the comments.