My Favorite Books of All-Time!

If you’re anything like me, you dread the question: “What is your favorite book?”. You see, I’m quite the indecisive reader. There are just so many amazing books out there! How do you expect me to pick only one?

So, to start off the blog, I’ve challenged myself to pick five of my all-time favorite books, in no particular order. These books have all influenced my literary taste in some way and live in my mind rent-free. I also included a favorite quote for each — or two, if I can’t pick just one 🥺 — to give you a peek at the writing. 💘

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

What is there to say about this book that hasn’t already been said? Wilde’s only novel is a timeless work filled with possibly the most beautiful writing I’ve ever encountered. Seriously, you can flip to any page of this book and find a gorgeous quote waiting for you. The Picture of Dorian Gray follows the titular character and his reckless pursuit of pleasure and eternal youth. I read this one when I was only a teen, so it’s undeniably influenced my reading taste. Now, I always find myself drawn to books with gorgeous, ornate language, morally-skewed characters, and dark, gothic elements. This novel is a masterpiece that I believe stands out amongst all the classics, making it a favorite for life.

❥ “Then I feel, Harry, that I have given away my whole soul to some one who treats it as if it were a flower to put in his coat, a bit of decoration to charm his vanity, an ornament for a summer’s day.”

❥ “On his return he would sit in front of the picture, sometimes loathing it and himself, but filled, at other times, with that pride of individualism that is half the fascination of sin, and smiling, with secret pleasure, at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should have been his own.”

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Ah, Ms. Tartt, you finally got me. I was a bit skeptical about The Secret History at first, given that I have yet to make it past the first half of The Goldfinch for years now (am I broken or something?). As it turns out, I love, love, love this book. We follow Richard Papen as he begins his first year at Hampden College and quickly becomes immersed in a group of eccentric, elitist scholars. Tartt’s writing shines in this book and her characters fly off the page. As you make your way through the narrative, you feel that you are along for the ride with Richard — no matter how horrific it is. This book is to blame for my recent fascination with dark academia and I expect to still be obsessing over it for years to come. An all-time favorite, indeed.

❥ “Does such a thing as ‘the fatal flaw,’ that showy dark crack running down the middle of a life, exist outside literature? I used to think it didn’t. Now I think it does. And I think that mine is this: a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs.”

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice

I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t know about Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire until I watched — and loved — the movie years ago. This book is a must if you’re a fan of vampires or gothic literature. The story centers around the protagonist, Louis, and his experiences after being turned by the cruel vampire, Lestat. What I admire so much about this book is how Rice defied tradition by presenting a new image of the vampire as a tortured soul cursed with a dark gift, rather than an inhumane monster. Consequently, her work has gone on to inspire a plethora of vampire media. The author’s unique take on vampires paired with her stunning use of language has easily made this novel an all-time favorite for me.

❥ “It was as if the empty nights were made for thinking of him. And sometimes I found myself so vividly aware of him it was as if he had only just left the room and the ring of his voice were still there. And somehow, there was a disturbing comfort in that, and, despite myself, I’d envision his face.”

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre was one of my favorite books to study in university and it’s one that I constantly keep coming back to. If not for the haunting supernatural and gothic elements, then for the protagonist’s revolutionary voice. Jane Eyre is one of those characters that will, without a doubt, live on for centuries. Every time I revisit this book, Jane’s words hit me as if I were reading them for the very first time. I always say that this book has a bit of everything in it. Whether it’s the romance, a feminist heroine for the ages, or a spooky ghost story, every reader will find something to love in this classic book.

❥ “If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.”

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

A most recent read, I adored this book so much that I already consider it an all-time favorite. Six of Crows is set in the Grishaverse (the shared fictional universe in Bardugo’s fantasy novels) and follows Kaz Brekker and his team on a deadly heist. This book has everything I want from a fantasy read — excellent world-building, a compelling story with distinct, complex characters, and a diverse cast. This was such an enjoyable read that it’s become one of those books I wish I could experience all over again. I miss the Crows dearly, as I still find myself wondering now and again what they’re up to.

❥ “There was no part of him that was not broken, that had not healed wrong, and there was no part of him that was not stronger for having been broken.”

There you have it! Five of my all-time favorite books that I will cherish forever. I’d love to know what books made it to your all-time favorites so do leave a comment if you wish to share! 💞 Wherever you are, I hope you’re having the loveliest day, and thank you so much for reading. From me to you, a warm cafecito! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝

Mucho amor,

Alex 💗

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