The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
What can I say about this classic that hasn’t already been said? Come, read the book that helped to found a genre of fiction. Take a journey that will stay with you a lifetime, “Far over the misty mountains cold to dungeons deep and cavern old.”
As many fans do, I picked up this book to read again in anticipation of the new movie coming out. I am never disappointed. Now, I also have the pleasure of introducing my daughter to Bilbo, Gandalf, and their unforgettable adventure.
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
Starting at the end of World War II, the story moves backwards through time, illuminating the desires and passions, hopes and fears, of its characters, as they struggle to live and love through the difficulty of wartime. A much slower pace than some of the author's other novels, without the same tension or suspense, I enjoyed how interwoven the characters become. This novel is not a linear plot going from start to finish, but rather a twisting exploration of relationships, and both the light and dark nature of love.