Top 5 Book Inspiration
As a writer, I enjoy writing across genres, even mixing the standards and tropes of them with each other. Why shouldn’t an orc family be worried about the killer in the woods? Why shouldn’t an alien invasion involve a murder mystery and maybe a bit of romance? I love blending genres in my writing, and taking unique approaches to stories. How did I get to be that way? Like most authors, I tend to write what I enjoy reading, and there are five books from five genres that took unique approaches to their stories that inspire me to do the same.
Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
This is the newest book on this list, but should in no way be discounted for that. Stevenson took the classic “Golden Age Mystery” and modified it for modern times. Following the rules, and even breaking the fourth wall to mention them, Stevenson’s unreliable narrator Ernie Cunningham lays out the mystery for the reader, both properly leaving behind clues while also subverting our expectations of where the clue actually fits into the narrator. Filled with ample humor, vivid characters, and an enjoyable mystery that lives up to the the title, Stevenson pulls no punches on his audience while maintaining the credibility of Golden Age Mysteries.
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
Before there was Hunger Games, there was Battle Royale. Told mainly through the point of view of Shuya Nanahara, Battle Royale tells the story of a group of classmates who are forced by the government to kill each other on an island until there is only one survivor. Where Battle Royale differs from most narratives, however, is that between each of Shuya’s perspectives, the audience is put into the eyes of another classmate, giving a fuller and more in-depth look into the story as well as each individual character. And with 46 students competing on the island, there are plenty of unique characters the audience gets to experience.
IT by Stephen King
I think it’s near impossible for someone who writes horror in any capacity to not at least be slightly inspired by Stephen King. For me though, IT is what did it. King tells the story of a group of friends who are targeted and attacked by a supernatural incarnation of fear as well as the local sociopathic bullies. The first half of the book doubles as a coming-of-age novel, and the second half becomes those same friends returning decades later, now embittered adults, still haunted by the fears of their childhood.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I have to admit, out of all the genres I read, science-fiction is probably in last place. Most science-fiction readers want a deep dive into the science of everything involved, which is understandable. I’m a bit more casual with my sci-fi, and when it comes to that, Hitchhiker’s Guide takes the cake. Sure, there is plenty of science and math and engineering and jokes that only people way smarter than me will understand, but it doesn’t take away from the story for a casual reader. Arthur Dent is a casual spectator and participant in the adventures, being relatable to those like me who can hear all the technical know-how without actually knowing how.
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Simply put, fantasy is one of the biggest genres in the speculative market. In a way, it already encompasses multiple genres, and the subgenres under fantasy are so vast that almost every reader likes some form of it. Fantasy was and is the way it is simply because of one man: JRR Tolkien. The vast worlds, the deep stories, the multiple moving parts. The magic, the core being about how one person can change so much. That’s all Tolkien. Not only that, but Tolkien didn’t simply write a narrative. He manufactured a fictional historical document, complete with languages, maps, and lore that goes beyond the story, and presented it to the world as a translated fact. His unique approach to writing a story as well as crafting the basis of what fantasy is today is above and beyond enough to inspire anyone.
