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This week’s Top Ten category is a good one for me, as I love to read “older” books. I read a decent number of books that have come out in the in the last few years, but I’m not the one to follow all the latest, hottest books (or so I’d like to think).

For the sake of this list, I’m going to list books published before 2000. Because 13 years old is “old,” you know.

1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

This is a perennial underrated book. I do hope that the movie succeeds, because it seems like one of the only ways a book can garner public attention.

2. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

This is a beast of a book, with a incredibly probing story underneath. Sadly, it’s just too wordy to attract most modern readers.

3. A History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

I found this to be hilarious. It’s long, but doesn’t feel long. I hope to enjoy it as much when I re-read it.

4. The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton

This is high on my re-read list as well. Unlike a couple of the other ones, it’s a lot more accessible for today’s readers.

5. Tomorrow, When the World Began by John Marsden

A recenet Australian movie has brought this back to light, but it wasn’t released in the US. I can’t help but be transported back to my youth when I read it, as it meant so much to me back then.

6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Perhaps not an unknown book, but it was unknown to me until a couple of years ago. Wish I had read it earlier so that I could re-read it more often!

 7. Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs

Given the fact that this book is over 300 years old, it is very applicable to people today. After all, contentment is still a rare jewel.

8. They Thought They Were Free by Milton Mayer

Not as old as the last, but one that I had to request through interlibrary loan. So glad I did. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about how everyday people supported Hilter…and how we can avoid supporting someone who may follow in his footsteps.

9. From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman

Published in 1989, this book is ancient in terms of international politics. Then again, unrest in the Middle East is nothing new. This a great introduction to the Middle East and is incredibly readable.

10. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

I hope this book is as popular with kids today as it was in my childhood and years before. Of all the children’s books I could have mentioned, I chose this one as it was one of the rare books that I remembered well into adulthood. (I can’t figure out how to reword that sentence to make it obvious that “well” is to describe “remembered” not “adulthood.” Because at 29, I don’t claim to be “well into adulthood.”)

What books do you not want people to forget about?