5 fictional novels I wish I had written #MondayMusings

Today's Blog-Tember challenge asks us to write on 5 books that impacted our lives. I wanted to do a slight spin on that question and so decided to talk about a different list of 5 books.

So many times, we come across a book that is so unique and awesome that we end up saying "If I could write a book someday, it would be like this."
The thing is when people ask you to make such lists, invariably we fall into the habit of quoting self help books, religious books or fictional classics... or the Fountainhead! The problem with these kinds of lists are that good fictional novels do not get their due.

So what I am looking for is purely modern (post World War 2 era) fictional books.
No self help books. Religious books are out as well (I can't compete with 420 crore and 10 Gods plus Radhe Maa. I just can't.)

Given these criteria, what would be the ideal 5 books you wish you had written?
Here are mine.

"Twisted" by Jeffrey Deaver - Well, it is no secret that all my published stories till date have been short stories. I personally feel I can do more justice to this segment rather than a full novel. I especially love the stories which provide a worthy twist in the tale (Jeffrey Archer's earlier anthologies and Stephen King's Night Shift come to mind) but if you asked me to pin one book down, it would probably be Jeffrey Deaver's Twisted. That author is simply brilliant with his Lincoln Rhyme series (Remember the Dental Washington - Angelina Jolie thriller, "The Bone Collector"? Well, there is a whole series of novels featuring those characters and they are just brilliant.)
And his first anthology series, Twisted, was a masterclass in deceiving the reader with each of his sixteen tales.

Fun Fact: If you like Twisted, rejoice. There was a sequel to this book titled (drum rollllllll) "More Twisted"!!

"Primal Fear" by William Diehl - While it is brilliant to be able to deliver a twist with the last line of a short story, how amazing is it when after 350 odd pages, you manage to stun the reader and deliver a twist with the very last line of an actual novel?! It has been nearly twenty years since I read the trial of Aaron Stampler and I still remember the last line even today. That is the genius of the author, William Diehl.

Fun fact: The Richard Gere movie based on the book starred a young Edward Norton in what would be a career making role.

"Every Dead Thing" by John Connolly - It might surprise people who know me but given a choice, if not an outright comedy I would look to write an atmospheric horror novel. For the latter, it would not be about the blood and gore so much as the pathos of the characters. And in my mind, no one has done that as commendably as John Connolly with his Charlie Parker series. I mean, My God! The themes of the novels can be so mortifying and harrowing for this tormented detective and yet, the author weaves his skill with the pen so magically that you find yourself marveling at the almost lyrical beauty of the imagery. He drags you into the darkness and does not let go, forcing you to feel the inner turmoil and torment of your protagonist as he tries to ward off evil, both within and without. And the crazy thing is - you do not want to leave either.

Fun fact: Every Dead Thing is the first of 8 Charlie Parker novels, all of which are rated 4 or above out of 5 on Goodreads (for good reason!)

"Ticktock" by Dean Koontz - This is written by horror maestro Dean Koontz but believe me, it is one of the most hilarious novels I ever read. It starts off innocuously enough with the immigrant protagonist - a detective novelist - calling his disapproving traditional Vietnamese mom to show off his new purchase, a brand new American car. How his world is turned around in the next few hours with the arrival of an eccentric yet adorable woman, a very weird dog, a chase unlike any you have ever read and oh yes, did I forget to mention, a rag doll monster is what forms the remainder of the tale. This is a horror author poking fun at his own parent genre and he does it so well, you feel like standing up and applauding between fits of giggles by the time the last chapter begins.

Fun fact: Dean Koontz admitted that he had written this screwball comedy to get rid of the hangover of one of his more intense books "Dark Rivers of the Heart".

"Love Story" by Eric Segal - If it came down to writing a love story, I don't see myself weaving any huge legendary saga spanning decades. No, I would love to just keep it short and sweet and hold on to the reader's interest by memorable moments and conversations within the story. Eric Segal's classic book did just that; a short (133 pages!) story with the focus revolving almost entirely around the two protagonists.

Fun fact: The movie was a huge hit back in the 70s'. And the theme song... oh my.



So that is it. My five.
What did you think of them? More importantly, what about you? If you had to choose five novels ( no classics/self-help/religious) that you wish you had written, which would they be?


 Authors note:

I am participating in NaBloPoMo. You can read more about it here and join in the fun yourself, adding your posts here. I am also participating in EverydayGyaan's September Blogging Challenge, WriteTribe's Monday Musings and Bailey Jean's Blog-Tember challenge. Do check them all out. So many inspiring themes to get you writing.