Remember a few years back when literally every book that was released was a dystopian and then dystopians got a really bad name because of it? Yeah, good times. I was getting a little overwhelmed with the amount of dystopians being released at that time, but I wouldn’t go so far to say that I don’t like them – there have been some really amazing books over the last while within the genre! If you don’t remember the craze a few years back, and you’re actually wondering, “What the hell is a dystopian?’, let me help you. The definition of a dystopian is elating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice. In a lot of cases this will mean a world that has been ravaged by disease or disaster, and humans need to put things back together in the aftermath. Here are my top 5 dystopian reads:
Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme where I explore different topics. If you are interested in participating I would love to have you! Here is a list of my Upcoming Topics in August – please remember to ping back a specific post of mine so I get a notification and I will add you to the participants list!
Call me cliche and boring, but my favourite dystopian is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – hands down! Though I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way the series ends, it was still the concept of the world, how its run, why it runs that way, who controls it, why things need to chance……. it was just SO interesting! Heartbreaking and awful, but interesting none the less (only because I know it’s not real and no one is actually living their lives). I powered through all three books in less than 48 hours lol
I don’t hear a lot about this book, but The Space Between The Stars by Anne Corlett was really fantastic! Earth as we know it is gone and humans are forced to travel to other planets to survive and people are separated from everyone they love. One woman is trying to figure out where she fits now and is faced with a question of right and wrong. The plot isn’t strong – but the characters as we travel and meet many new people were just SO WELL WRITTEN! So many different people, living in different places for completely different reasons. I loved this!
Apparently this is a series that most people are introduced to when they’re younger, but I didn’t get into The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry until I was in my 30’s – and I immediately fell in love! I happened to see someone talk about it so I picked up the first. I was so obsessed that I immediately ordered this gorgeous bind up and flew through the rest in the series. As much as I loved the first book, it was the rest of them that I loved even more!
When I first read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel I struggled a little bit. I think that I went into it expecting more of a plot. Instead it’s a very character driven story that illustrates the relationships formed in stress and the connections within civilization. I didn’t get it right away. But, even years later, this book is still vivid in my mind and I can remember all the characters, what happened, and how they all fit. It’s also the only book i’ve ever read that takes place (in part) exactly where I live!
My most recently read dystopian is yet another favourite! Red Rising by Pierce Brown reminds me a little of The Hunger Games. There are factions of people who have their own tasks and responsibilities within society and all are oppressed. This is another story of a rebellion and rising for change. This one just happens to take place in space….. lol.
TOP 5 TUESDAY PARTICIPANTS:
Meeghan Reads ——— Flora’s Musings ——— The Limit of Books Does Not Exist
My Year of Reading Dangerously ——— We Are Just Stories ——— Realms Of My Mind
Zwischen Worten (Between Words) ——— The Punk Theory ——— Feed The Crime
Jillian The Bookish Butterfly ——— A Fictional Bookworm ——— The Book Nook UK
Ace Reader ——— Books On The Brain ——— Robyn Reads Books
Lukten Av Trykksverte (The Smell of Ink) ——— Libby Reads ——— Stargazer Online
Kristin Kraves Books ——— Perfectly Tolerable ——— Kyera’s Library
Synopses By Sarge ——— Books and Bugs ——— My Bookish Fantasy
The Words Gremlin ——— Tay’s Infinite Thoughts ——— Bookishly Rebecca
The Book Prescription ——— Coffee, Crumbs and Books ——— Shades Of Paper
J.W. Martin – Storeys of Stories ——— Words Words Words ——— Lola Et La Vie
Hanna Reads
Note to all participants – in true Tuesday fashion, I have an out of town doctors appointment and will be spotty and late with adding you to the list. I also will not have time to comment – today is seriously insane and I may need an extra 12 hours to keep up with it all! I apologize and will add you as soon as I can!
I hope you enjoyed this list! And I hope that dystopians become a thing again – I really enjoy the genre, but not as saturated as it was a few years ago! Are you listening authors/publishers? What are your favourite dystopians?
Until next time, happy reading!
I didn’t realise Red Rising was dystopian?! Also, I’ve never heard of The Giver Quartet so now I need to read those as well!!
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The Giver is an older series, originally published in 1993 I think. The four books follow completely different people in different places but then they all connect and come together somehow. It’s soooo good!
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Intriguing!!
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Here’s mine; https://luktenavtrykksverte.blogspot.com/2019/08/top-five-tuesday-dystopian-books.html
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Thanks for sending me the link 🙂 adding you now!
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Great list here is my link
https://wolflibby0914.wordpress.com/2019/08/20/top-5-tuesday-august-20th/
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Thanks for sending me the link 🙂 adding you now!
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your welcome and thanks for adding me
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Station Eleven made it to my list as well! I liked the Hunger Games, but was very disappointed with the third book. Not sure if my post did a ping-back; just in case, here is my first attempt at Top 5 Tuesday:
https://stargazer-online.com/2019/08/20/top-5-tuesday-dystopian/
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Thanks for sending me the link! I haven’t seen a pingback notification yet so it’s probably a good thing you did 🙂
The third book in the hunger games annoyed me and make me angry (basically just the last 50 pages 😂) so you’re not alone!
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Yesss, The Hunger Games and The Giver are both so good! And I really need to pick up Red Rising haha.
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The Red Rising Audiobooks are really good. I think they’re easier to consume that way actually 🙂
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Really? Thank you for the rec, I’ll try and pick them up on audio then!
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That’s a nice list! I also added The Hunger Games to mine, and I’ve been hearing amazing things about Red Rising, so I think it’s about time for me to pick it up, haha!
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Yes!!! The audiobooks are fantastic – it actually makes the series seem less scary and long 😂
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We think very much alike in our lists, though I technically retired Red Rising from Top 5 Tuesdays due to overuse. lol
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😂 there are a few books I should retire as well!
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Great choices! I skipped this week’s topic because I couldn’t think of many dystopians, but I know I’ve read a few.
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No worries! Participate when it suits you 🙂
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Thank you! I’ve been trying to do it at least twice a month when possible.
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The Hunger Games made my list as well – it’s just too great a book not to include. It still amazes me how Suzanne Collins came up with it all in the first place!
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I’m still hoping that she will write more adult books……
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The hunger games would also be on my list! And I really want to read the giver, it sounds very good 🙂
(www.evelynreads.com)
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Here is my link late as usual (and don’t worry I’ve read your warning about you running the whole day!) http://bewareofthereader.com/my-top-kind-of-boyfriends-a-dystopian-world-can-give-you-top-5-tuesday-is-all-about-suffering-and-injustice-today/
Now you are totally right about every book being dystopian some years ago!!! I had to look back back back…
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Ill add you shortly when I get back home 🙂
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I forgot that Station Eleven is dystopian. I really like that book. Well, I love it more in retrospect. When I’d just finished it, I didn’t rate it very high, but the more I think of it the more I like it.
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Wow we are twins!! I felt exactly the same way about it! I think I rated it a 3.5. But the more I think about it, the more I’m fascinated by the stories and the characters
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Interesting. I guess I’d say 1984 and Brave New World would be my top dystopian picks. Have you read those?
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1984 is one of my all time favourite novels! I read it in high school and have read it many times since. Brave New World is one I still need to get to
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So many great books, so little time. 🙂
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I loved Station Eleven. I’m getting ready to start The Giver with my son 🙂
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Enjoy! I hope your son likes it.
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The Hunger Games seem to be the most popular pick this week. Of course, I also listed the books. 🙈
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