I love reading through a book and feeling like I am lost and trying to find my way out of a thick fog. These 5 books all had me feeling lost and completely enthralled at the same time (in no particular order):
The very first mind fuck that I can remember is Fight Club. Admittedly, I did that one backwards, I read the book AFTER I saw the epic movie but the book still blew me away. Also, to this day that is probably in my top 5 movies of all time. Tyler Freaking Durden!
Another Little Piece is the most recent one for me and I loved every second of that novel. The gruesome imagery and finding out exactly what was going on with this new Annaleise who wasn't really Annaleise was just way too fun.
Lucid was one that I was able to call early on (partly because ever since Fight Club I always think something reminiscent of that novel is going on and scrutinize the MC and the wording used meticulously.) Despite that, I had a heck of a time reading this one as well.
Finally, I want to just have Nova Ren Suma on the list because she is the Queen of the Mind Fucks in my books. Both Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone had me questioning everything that was happening. Those books are the definition of feeling lost and trying to find your way out of a heavy fog to find out what is going on.
I need more of these books in my life! Do you have any recommendations that fit this bill?
Also, don't forget that we are always looking for topic suggestions for future posts.
This is sad but I haven't read anything from your list although I have been meaning to read Nova Ren Suma's books. To think of it, I haven't read any book that a mind fuck! :O
ReplyDeleteI need to change that asap!
I wasn't a fan of Another Little Piece but I do have Seventeen and Gone for review! Nova Ren's books sound creepy and that's what I've been needing lately.
ReplyDeleteLovely list and thanks for sharing, Jenni! <33
Just as Nick, I haven't ready any of these *__* *goes to hide in her shame* I have seen nothing but great words for every single one of the books you brought out so I should really get on them, right?! Mind fuck in a contemporary (romance) world for me was The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher. Then.. Um.. I still haven't figured out what all of the stuff in The Evolution of Mara Dyer means. I like mf books, but I'm not quite sure why I haven't read so many.. Hmh. Something must be done to fix it :D
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome list of books Jenni, I've only read Lucid from your list but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a copy of Imaginary Girls so really need to start my copy as I've heard amazing things about Nova Ren Suma. I've always wanted to read Shutter Island after I watched the film, I remember that totally messed with my head too. Thanks for your other recommendations!
ReplyDeleteHahaha, you contemporary fiend!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I read Fight Club after the movie too, and it was still super awesome. I've only read two of these, so obvi I need to fix that, yes?
I've heard really good things about Imaginary Girls! I'll have to give it a try sometime ... and Another Little Piece! I have an ARC of it ... I don't know why I haven't read it yet. I love a crazy story. Haven't read Fight Club, but Chuck Pahlaniuk's work tends to mostly be mindf*cks. I mean, once you've read Pygmy, you'll get what I'm saying!
ReplyDeleteFabulous list!! I started Another Little Piece last night, but then remembered I had to finish another book first lol!! I'm so behind I supposed it doesn't matter... I suck as a blogger this month. I have never read The Fight Club, but I love that movie!! Another book I freaking loved was Shutter Island!! I read that before the movie and it was really awesome. It kind of ruined the movie for me, but that's okay.
ReplyDeleteOooo I haven't read any of these Jenni! And I love a book that messes with my mind. There's something fun (and also nerve-wracking) about having no clue what's going on or what direction the story is going to take. Clearly I need to give Nova Ren Suma a try!
ReplyDeleteLove a good mind fck, but haven't read any of these. Another Little Piece and 17 and Gone both interest me though. I must make it a goal to read more twisted books! lol
ReplyDeleteI just finished Another Little Piece and I have to agree with you: it's confusing at all levels, but still SO GOOD. Kate Quinn is a talented author to be able to write like that, that's for sure. I felt the same way about Imaginary Girls, too. Beautiful everything, but confusing as hell. And now I want to read Lucid. Ha.
ReplyDeleteThis category has my name written all over it, LOL. Thanks for coining such an appropriate term :-)
ReplyDeleteMy Ooooh I love mind-fucks! My favorite ever is Captive in the Dark and Seduced in the Dark by CJ Roberts. These books take mind fuck to a whole new level. I felt wrong for loving the book so much and for rooting for Caleb.
ReplyDeleteI need to read all of these books! Mind Fucks are my favorite too. The Last Academy by Anne Applegate was the last mind fuck that I read and I loved it! I got to the end and I felt like an idiot, because she gives you all the answers but I had no idea and then she drops her bomb and it's glorious!
ReplyDeleteYES - all hail Nova Ren Suma for the mind-eff win! Awesome list, I can't wait to read Another Little Piece because I hear such fantastically creepy things about it, and its inclusion on this list has me even more excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteI really need to try Nova Ren Suma - everyone loves her books and I love a good mind fuck! I actually DNFed Another Little Piece, but I think I was in the wrong mindset - I might just give it another try!
ReplyDeleteI've read Lucid, and totally agree that is a big WTH type book (although interestingly, I didn't really like it). I have 17 & Gone sitting on my shelf, and am planning to pick it up very soon, actually. Same goes for Imaginary Girls! I've only heard the bestest things about Nova Ren Suma and her flipping awesome plot twists. ;) I'm also planning to pick up Another Little Piece.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Jenni!! <3
-Aneeqah @ My Not So Real Life
I haven't read any of the books that you mentioned but it's great to learn that you had an awesome time reading them. I'll probably grab the Nova Ren Suma titles the next time I go to the bookstore. Thank for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYay! Another Little Piece is really good so far! And I really want to read Imaginary Girls! I would love to read Right Club but knowing the ending from the movie will probably make the book not as good as it should have been. Boo!
ReplyDeleteI am reading Another Little Piece right now, and it freaking awesome so far. I'm a little confused but it's still awesome. I enjoyed Imaginary Girls, but I haven't read the rest. Will have to check out Lucid. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about Nova Ren Suma. She's one of my all time favorite authors for this reason. You never can be a 100% sure what what means and even what's going to happen next. Plus, her writing is stellar and plots are always put a twist on something that was sort-of done before. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteI SO NEED to read Fight Club!! That movie still is one of my all-time favorite movies, like ever! I've actually been craving a re-watch lately so I'm thinking I need to get on that soon :D I can really see the book adding a lot to the story though and seeing as you mentioned it blowing you away nonetheless, I know I'll be reading it eventually! Lucid is on my reading list too, and you sort of alluded to Fight Club similarities there so yeah, I'm in! Thanks for sharing your top mindfucks Jenni
ReplyDeleteI can't even think of one single mind f*cking book that I've read, which means, I probably haven't read any. This genre isn't one that I'm normally attracted to. I'm attempting to try new things, and funnily enough, I recently traded for Lucid and 17 & Gone. I hope I love them as much as you did!
ReplyDeleteOoh I love this list! I have such a weakness for unreliable narration, but that's not quite the same thing as mind-fucks. I have plans to read Nova Ren Suma soon. I haven't read the book Fight Club, but I was floored by the big reveal in the film - totally did not see that coming! And I do love when that happens in stories. It makes me second-guess all that's happened and want to go back and do a re-read right away. I love how books like this force readers to become much more active in their reading process!
ReplyDeleteOh Yaaaaaay! I really want to read Imaginary Girls! The US cover is gorgeous! I'm glad to hear that it's good! :D
ReplyDelete