The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
The best exploration of what living in a truly alien society would mean that I have read. The unique relationship that forms between two individuals with no common ground is what has stuck with me.
Dragon on a Pedestal - Piers Anthony
This is the book that got me hooked on reading. An innocent girl lost in the wild meets the land's most feared dragon and then things really get going. Filled with puns, wit and charm I was hooked on the land of Xanth and reading after this.
The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkein
The history of Middle-Earth from it's creation to the events immediately preceding The Hobbit. It's a masterwork of myth and epic in scope. Every time I read it it impresses me more.
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Filled with wit, unforgettable characters and a strong female lead, the rocky love story of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy (sigh) is my favourite example of why we shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Psalms
Equal parts praise and lament. These lyrical outcries to The Lord regularly inspire me and remind me that it's not about having it all together, it's about reaching out whatever my situation.
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
The descent from order to chaos, civil to wild of a group of boys stranded on an island. A haunting exploration of the human condition.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
The last of the Harry Potter series, but the first to break the formula. No journey to the school, no trying to since a mystery while still passing all your classes, just a mission to defeat the ultimate evil.
Perelandra - C.S. Lewis
The second of his space trilogy, Perelandra a world newborn world. Will the main character be able to combat the Tempter and prevent this world's Fall? This book helped me better understand the story of Eden and the possibility of life beyond Earth.
The Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
An American novel of society and scandal. An engaged high society man tries to shake off his obligations and follow his heart.
The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russel
Jesuits in space! A modern day Job. The Sparrow explores colonization, conversion, exploration and is the reason I am an English teacher and not a rocket scientist or astrophysicist. The heartbreaking climax is matched by an oh-so-subtle glimpse of hope.
