Cult Classics - Christchurch City LibrariesLike this list

24 items

• To Kill a Mockingbird

  Lee, Harper, 1926-2016

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  To Kill a Mockingbird' tells the story of racial hatred in Alabama. Told through the eyes of Scout Finch, a young girl whose father is defending a black man, accused of rape, Harper Lee's narrative makes for a moving, and memorable read. Often…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Hound of the Baskervilles

  Doyle, Arthur Conan, 1859-1930

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  A gripping, darkly gothic, page turning classic thriller that paved the way for mystery writers to come. Starring the eponymous detective Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr Watson; they are seeking answers when called to an isolated manor house…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Road

  McCarthy, Cormac, 1933-2023

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  Is this the best dystopian story ever written? Could be! A man and his son travel the wastelands of America, trying to stay alive, up against the worst that has become of mankind since the occurrence. 'The Road' is warm and human at times, at others…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fight Club

  a Novel

  Palahniuk, Chuck, 1961-

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  Gritty, irreverent, violent, and darkly humourous. This is the modern tale of a disenfranchised young man who, with the help of a mysterious other, creates a sub culture of bare-fist fighting in the inner city. Also a hugely popular film directed by…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Beach

  Garland, Alex, 1970-

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  A modern adventure classic, Garland's masterful blending of suspense and dread pulls you in from the start. Richard is backpacking in Thailand when he's given a map to an isolated and secluded beach, and together with a couple of other tourists,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Slaughterhouse-five

  Or, The Children's Crusade: a Duty-dance With Death

  Vonnegut, Kurt, 1922-2007

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  Butchery in the service of authority is the theme of this classic novella. It's post-war absurdist humour, and tragedy, and also quite brutal - a great read in 185 pages!

• Gormenghast

  Peake, Mervyn, 1911-1968

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  This classic fantasy series has a cult following, for many sitting right up there with the famed works of Tolkien. This story centres around an Earl who is heir to an ancient crumbling castle; and there is intrigue and treachery aplenty. Peake's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Once Were Warriors

  Duff, Alan, 1950-

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  A powerful modern classic and award-winning novel about the struggles of a modern urban Māori family. Themes of domestic violence, gang-related crime and relationship issues make this a difficult read, but one that's ideal for readers looking for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Picnic at Hanging Rock

  Lindsay, Joan Weigall, 1896-1984

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  The dark, sinister, complex, and very creepy story of a group of school girls who are on a field trip in 1900 when three of the girls and one teacher inexplicably go missing. What began as a sweet Valentine's Day outing swiftly descends into terror…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A Clockwork Orange

  Burgess, Anthony, pseud., 1917-1993

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  Violent and bleak, thought provoking and a commentary on society, this one isn't for the faint of heart. It's a gritty and hyper-realistic story of a gang leader who rules the streets with violence, is eventually caught, and forced to undergo a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Time Machine

  Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946

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  The original time travel story! Our hero builds a time machine and travels from late Victorian England to the far future, to discover an age where humanity appears to have overcome all of its problems; until a very ugly and disturbing truth…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• It

  King, Stephen, 1947-

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  An epic and unnerving horror novel following a group of misfit kids who band together and come face-to-face with the demonic presence that has been haunting their town and feeding on its children. No matter how good the 2017 film remake and 1990…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Brilliant Career

  Franklin, Miles, 1879-1954

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  The 1901 rags-to-riches story of the indefatigable Sybylla Melvin. She's on a mission to create the life for herself that she herself chooses and it's a grand plan indeed. This life saga and character driven classic is written by the namesake of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dracula

  Stoker, Bram, 1847-1912

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  Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel starring Count Dracula paved the way for the rise of vampire fiction. Beginning in the Transylvania region and ending up in Victorian-era England, Dracula features staple ingredients of a good gothic horror;…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Whale Rider

  Ihimaera, Witi, 1944-

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  Lyrically written, intricately plotted, and thoroughly belonging to Aotearoa, this courageous tale of strength and courage is a classic of our times. The Māori iwi of Whangara has no male heir to become chief and a young girl named Kahu embarks on a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Fahrenheit 451

  Bradbury, Ray, 1920-2012

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  Written in the early years of the Cold War, this short dystopian novel is Bradbury's comment on issues he saw in American society. Set in the 'future' (an unspecified period post-1960) the story revolves around fireman Montag, whose job it is to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Brave New World

  Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963

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  The ultimate read for lovers of dystopian fiction and fans of 'The Handmaid's Tale'. Bernard Marx lives in a world where babies are made in laboratories and split into five categories- from the unintelligent and physically weak who are destined to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

  Kesey, Ken, 1935-2001

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  An imagery-laden novel you may remember from high school English! Controversial upon its publishing, this medical fiction looks at the effects of institutionalism on the human mind. Randle Patrick McMurphy is an inmate of a prison farm who gets…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Odyssey

  Homer

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  A truly epic adventure tale told in poetic language that paints the perils and upheavals of a soldier’s 10-year return journey from the Trojan War in vivid colour. Odysseus' love awaits him, but before they can be reunited, he must overcome Sirens,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Beowulf

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  With stunning imagery, this is a true heroic epic recounting the adventures of Beowulf, a sword for hire who sets off to rid a village of a monster called Grendel who has plagued them for years. What Beowulf doesn't count on however is the fury of…Read moreRead more of this annotation