WATCHMEN

There are many reasons why Watchmen is in the Times 100 novels list. It explores the motivations for becoming a superhero through flawed but fascinating characters, and delivers so well on so many levels, from breaking cliche’s that are still present in the genre to mastery of symbolism.

Both the script and the art are almost flawless alone, but combined they deliver a piece of fiction that is almost peerless.

SAGA

Brian K. Vaughan is a rare genius. His epic space fantasy is a few issues passed the halfway point and has consistently delivered spectacle, characters I’m addicted to reading about and emotion that packs a punch harder than anything I’ve ever read. His understanding of character may be unrivalled.

Fiona Staple’s art is heart-wrenching, beautiful, full of character and sheer joy to behold. It is full of details and delivers perfect pacing that creates that difficult balance of clarity of storytelling and beauty.

This story shows what comic books can do that no other form of storytelling can. It’s one of my favourite stories of all time.

THE WALL

A collection of short stories by Jean-Paul Sartre on existentialism, Sartre continuously examines what it means to be alive, and how the meaning of life is the meaning that you give to it.

Each story is solid and grips you even when events aren’t especially eventful, but there are plenty of high stakes to be found too.

THE GARGOYLE

I’m long overdue a re-read. but many years ago, this is the book that pulled me back into reading. It feels like a modern fairy tale that digs deep into love of the self and others. It’s a real page turner and like nothing else I’ve read.

THE LAST BOOK

Every so often, I treat myself to a Zoran Zivkovic novel, always in hardcover and devoured on the sofa with a hot drink. Full of whimsy, it follows a detective investigating mysterious deaths. With prose that is a pleasure to read every word of, it is the perfect book to get lost in.

The author dictates his stories from Serbian to be immediately translated and never revises a word.

THE BINDING

I’m not a big fan of lengthy description, but Bridget Collins’ description is so elegant and evocative, I could read pages of it. The world is so immersive that it made me want to learn the art of book binding. I loved the way the story is split into clear sections, each different than the last but equally addictive. Most importantly, the characters and their secrets kept me hooked and provided much emotional impact.

HARRY POTTER AND THE…

Cards on the table, I’ve only read the first three (shocking, I know - I’ll remedy it soon), but they grip you like a thriller, create a fully realised strange world like an epic fantasy, intrigue you with a mystery and knit everything together seamlessly with loveable, fully realised characters that you want to be friends with and prose that seems to float on by as you read it.

Undeniably one of the greatest book series of all time.

THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

I know it’s a cliché to have it on any best book list, but it’s only because it’s that good.

SO, YOU’RE A CREATIVE GENIUS, NOW WHAT?

For all the weirdos and misfits. For anyone who has read a book on how to live your life that didn’t feel like it was speaking to you. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, this book will connect with you. It can be read from cover to cover, or you can jump around, but it provided heaps of inspiration and a process for those of us that don’t want to follow the patterns of everyone else.