Best of the 2010s - Books

So initially I wanted to do this one and then another post on the mystery box items that I have received over the last decade. But I decided to only do this one of the two because I didn't have a mystery box in every year of the last decade. So with that, here we have the last of the best of 2010s posts which is books. Now having already done comic books and graphic novels, this list will be on books that are largely all words and very little pictures. All of which I have read and love very much. Some of these have been adapted into other forms of media while others may be in the process of such. So let's get our reading glasses out and look at the best books of the last decade:

Now unlike the other lists, this one is a list of books I read that were released over the last decade. The list will act as like the end of year best of posts because most of these books were released within either one year or a few years but not enough to cover the whole of the 2010s.

Mockingjay

We start this list off with the last of the Hunger Games books. Of all the books made for young adults, this series was among the best. All about a group of carefully selected people taking part in the titular Hunger Games which is a battle for survival. The final book sees Katniss join the ranks of the rebels as the fight against President Snow takes place. But some things aren't quite as they seem. A truly epic conclusion to a trilogy of books and have done well as films too. Yeah worth a read.

Ready Player One

Lots of people know that too much pop culture in one thing can very well destroy a great or not so great story. But in the case of Ready Player One, its all about people entering the Oasis to be whoever they want to be as a certain house of mouse has always said for many years. While the film acted out as if the events were done over a few days, the book meanwhile is spread over years with the fates of the protagonists being almost similar to the film. Many people believe that the film is a massive improvement over the book and I agree. Its not anywhere perfect and does differ in some areas to the book, but that's OK. It has nostalgia and leaves lots to the imagination. Plus I hear there is a sequel book on the way so that must be worth a read surely. But in the meantime, this is good enough for those with imagination and nostalgia at the top of their lists.

A Dance With Dragons

We are all waiting to get the next book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series and with the TV show having already come to an end, chances are that George R.R. Martin has a different ending in mind for his book series. So this is the last book he did for the series which takes us into all areas of the series' universe and the book itself has been split into two parts in some areas. Most of this book has been adapted into the TV series mainly as part of its fifth season but has had elements been thrown into previous seasons before it so probably best to watch the show from there to get an idea of where the book stands. But yeah its a good read whether it be in two parts or not and if you like this fantasy world, then this book is for you. Now we just wait patiently for the next instalment whenever that is.

Nerd Do Well

And now for a couple of autobiographies from two people well known in pop culture and just general nerdiness. The first comes from Simon Pegg who in this book talks about his time being a film actor. He explains things that occurred such as how he met Nick Frost and Edgar Wright, became associated with Steven Spielberg and how he became part of many big franchises like Star Trek and The Three Flavour Cornetto Trilogy while hinting at some of his other works too. Its a good read coming from a guy who was once just a guy from a filthy flat in Tufnell Park. Amazing how such beloved people like him can go a long way in their careers and he's all the better for it that's for sure.

Tough S*it: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good

Many people know Kevin Smith as being one half of Jay and Silent Bob as well as his associations with DC Comics. His autobiography is him talking about all the ups and downs he has gone through including an infamous incident on one plane flight where people believed that he took two seats because of his weight but the truth of matter was not that at all. And also his childhood, relationships with fellow celebrities and his early film career. Lots to read up from a guy who did good so yeah worth reading for sure.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

So before anyone tries to bite my head off, I am aware that this is not in anyway the best Harry Potter story by far. I mean yeah its too complicated, turns its back on some of the best things to come from the series and there is just too much time travel involved. It became a two part play and it has had a very mixed response from everyone. I guess the reason why I put it in this list is because its the first Harry Potter book we have had since 2007's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the first thing to do with Harry Potter since the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 film in 2011. So in a way its something that got people interested in the franchise again alongside the release of the first Fantastic Beasts film which helped made the franchise be known from then on as the Wizarding World. Sure Pottermore has been around to fill in the big gap there, but only those hardcore fans like me knew about that. So yeah may not be the best story from the series, but it is one that helped make the franchise popular again and gave the Wizarding World a home on stage. May not be perfect, but at least its got that going for it.

William Shakespeare's Star Wars series

With such a big franchise like Star Wars, many people have done their own takes on all the films in the Skywalker Saga. But then a guy called Ian Doescher one day decided to do a take on the films that gives us the each of the films' scripts as if it were written by the legendary William Shakespeare. Although still the films in every way, all the wording uses classic old English that Shakespeare's plays are known for and they are actually really funny and a good read. Never thought two very different things could work so well together and they really do. I hope we get to see it end with The Rise of Skywalker, but for what we got now its a good series and one that I'm sure lots of people will enjoy reading whether you are a fan of both or one or the other. May thine Force be with thee (I know that probably makes no sense, but its the best I got)

Star Wars: Thrawn trilogy

Continuing with Star Wars, we now have a trilogy (and possibly more) of books based on the character of Thrawn. A character widely known for being loyal to the Empire who also played a big part in some areas despite only being an Imperial Grand Admiral for a time. He has had appearances in Star Wars Rebels and has come into contact with Darth Vader. The three novels talk about his origins, how he came to be one of the most important people to serve the Galactic empire aside from Vader and Darth Sidious as well as how the information he left behind prior to his disappearance into the great unknown proved to be very useful for the remains of the Empire who would go on to form the First Order. Lots of fans do have to acknowledge that while books are books, some books can still have an impact in the greater Star Wars timeline and the Thrawn trilogy are just some of those books. So yeah a great trilogy worth reading for those that want to know more about the greater but not very well known parts of the timeline.

Star Wars: Adventures in Wild Space series

Last one for Star Wars and we have a series tailored to the junior fans. So over the course of seven books, we learn of the story of two characters known as Milo and Lina Graf who go on a quest alongside their droid and pet to find their parents who have been kidnapped by the Empire and may be hidden somewhere in Wild Space. With some pictures and lots to be left for the imagination, this series is good fun, features a few familiar faces and a good read for the junior fans as well as those hardcore fans wanting a break from the wider universe. Give it a read.

Doctor Who in the form of Mr. Men series

Onto Doctor Who now and here we have a take on the many Doctors as if they were Mr. Men characters. Now Mr. Men and Little Miss are British icons that have had a number of books about different emotions with cute and child friendly characters who go on various adventures. With the Doctor Who series that they did, most were just a newer version of an already well established story from each of the Doctors and its good fun. Not only did it give people a fresh new take on the franchise, but it also gave a renewed interest for the Mr. Men and Little Miss series who would then go on to feature in more mature books as well as children's books like these. A good little read for fans and little ones so yeah give it a go.

Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales

To best describe this boxset of books, these are basically fairy tales for those living on Galifrey. Which of course is unknown as to whether its real or not, but nevertheless this is a good series of books. Most are just using a lot of characters, settings and features from the franchise with most not even having the Doctor him/herself in them. But that's OK because sometimes people want something different and different is what we got here. A good read for young ones as well as the hardcore fans too.


And that's it for books as well as all the best of the 2010s posts. As always let me know of your favourites from the last decade in the comments below and here's to a new decade that will no doubt have even more things good or bad.