There is almost nothing I love more than a good book, and there are tons that I would consider essential classics in my library, but ultimately, there can only be a few that are truly my favorites. This was an incredibly difficult list, with many worthy books having their placement endlessly debated in my mind. This is a list of my favorite books, not the best books I've read, so this list is completely subjective. There are numerous books out there that I would include in this list, but ultimately, I had to narrow it down.

Without further ado, here are my five favorite books.

5. Watership Down

Do you love epic adventure stories, full of tales of heroism and beloved characters? Do you love heartwarming epics about quests for acceptance and the desire for a place to call home? Do you love bunnies? Then "Watership Down," by Richard Adams, is the perfect book for you. The story follows the lovable and well-crafted rabbits Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and many others on their quest to find a new home when their old home is under threat of destruction to build new human houses. While it is technically a children's book, the parallels to the timeless struggle against tyranny and one of the finest examples of the hero's journey in literature cement it as one of the finest books for adult and child alike. However, if you really do love bunnies, be forewarned, there are many epic and incredibly graphic battle scenes between bunnies and other bunnies, bunnies and dogs, and a stork and some bunnies. Do not watch the animated movie, for it will scar you for life.

4. 1984

The greatest dystopian novel out there, "1984," by George Orwell, is by far, the scariest book I have ever read. It follows Winston Smith, who works at the Ministry of Truth as a history revisionist, through his attempt to revolt against Big Brother and the government by joining the revolutionary group, the Brotherhood. The novel is a terrifying look at what the world could one day become under corrupt regimes. It taught me the importance of doublethink, that 2+2=5, and, most importantly, Big Brother is Watching You.

3. Harry Potter

Do I even need to explain this one? Harry Potter, more than almost any other work of art, has had such an important impact on my life. When I read it back when I was seven, it taught me so many important life lessons, like how to be a hero, how to be a friend, how to love, to always fight for what you believe in, and that reading is totally cool.

2. Slaughterhouse Five

As Life Magazine put it, "[Slaughterhouse Five is] a funny book at which you are not permitted to laugh, a sad book without tears, a tale told in a slaughterhouse." 

"Slaughterhouse Five," by Kurt Vonnegut, tells the story of Billy Pilgrim's time-traveling adventures after his traumatic witnessing the bombing of Dresden during WWII. He meets the multi-dimensional alien species, the Tralfmadorians, and proceeds to learn about Time, the nature of life, determinism, and the fate of the universe. So it goes. While that may sound insane, Slaughterhouse Five remains one of the most amazingly well-written books I have ever read. It is incredibly biting and funny, while never ceasing to offer a fascinating look on humanity.

“And Lot's wife, of course, was told not to look back where all those people and their homes had been. But she did look back, and I love her for that, because it was so human. So she was turned into a pillar of salt. So it goes.”

1. To Kill A Mockingbird

More than any other book, this one is my favorite, and I believe it shall remain so for a very long time. No other book quite fills me with warmth, never ceasing to offer a heartfelt and honest look at the innocence of childhood. Mockingbird finds the sweet spot between activism and story-telling. Many writers find it easy to get bogged down in pursing an agenda, but Harper Lee describes Tom Robinson's case with skill, both in order to examine the racial injustices in the south and to act as a catalyst to bring out the true selves in all of the surrounding characters. There is no real way for me to be able to describe my love for "To Kill a Mockingbird," except to say that no other book has quite touched me in this way, and that the book and all of the characters, especially Scout and Atticus, will always remain in my heart.