My favorites: Dystopian novels
Calling All dystopian lovers!
April 19th, 2020
.Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing as well as they can during the midst of the ongoing pandemic, and my biggest hope is that there are brighter days ahead. I've recently started organizing a LOT, probably due to quarantine boredom. While organizing my bookshelves, I realized that I have so many favorites, from so many genres. So, I wanted to take some time to share some of my favorite books, in my favorite genres, with you all!
One of the genres I've been a fan of since middle school is dystopian. I've found that as I get older, the genre grows with me. There are novels within this genre that are truly prophetic and enduring, as well as generally interesting plot-wise. The genre has allowed me to still love my middle and high school favorites, while also learning to love more mature stories. So, without further ado, here are the top dystopian novels, straight from Hanna's Bookshelf.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood: This is actually one of my favorite novels of all time, it's that amazing, in my opinion. Atwood has always been one of my favorite authors, as her prose is unbelievable. This novel is not for the faint-hearted; it delves into issues about women that are very prevalent today. Set in the oppressive church-state of Gilead, Handmaids are used for reproductive purposes, and not much else. Through the narration of Offred, a Handmaid herself, Atwood shows us the kind of society that could arise from prolonged inequalities against women.
The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey: This was a book I read a few years ago, and before I started it I was very skeptical about it. The novel is set after a zombie apocalypse of sorts--within a special "school" for young zombie children. I know what you're thinking--it sounds like a Walking Dead-esque plot. It's actually not. While the main character is indeed a zombie, the author uses it to brilliantly discuss issues that are much more enduring, like the ability to feel and love. I would highly recommend this book, it was honestly one of the best I've read.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: This book is sadly not pictured in the image above, because I'm currently lending it to my uncle. But nonetheless, this dystopia is a masterpiece. Ishiguro uses clone children to discuss major problems in today's society regarding education, social injustice, and medicine. It's a bit of a slow burn, but the thought-provoking ending is so worth it.
The Legend Series by Marie Lu: The early years of my high school experience were practically defined by this series, I loved it so much. Made up of four books--Legend, Prodigy, Champion, and Rebel--the plot follows two young kids, June and Day, as they work to defeat the oppressive Republic and change society for the better. This series was everything my fourteen-year-old heart loved about literature, and I will probably always think of it as the best YA dystopian series, ever.
Carve The Mark by Veronica Roth. I'm probably one of the only people who read the Divergent series when it came out, and liked it but did not love it. I can't really say why, it just didn't stick with me as much as other series'. That being said, I think Roth really stepped up her game with this book and the subsequent series. It's fresh and original, something hard to do with dystopian novels. While it is somewhat similar to the Legend series, it's different in the ways that matter. I don't want to say too much about it because I can't adequately explain it. You'll just have to trust me when I say it's good.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope you enjoyed it, and maybe even read some of my recommendations!
Sincerely, Hanna