Usually when book recommendations concerning books for women are made, they are a litany of Jane Austen, Sarah Dessen and Nicholas Sparks. I enjoy each of these authors, but I believe that women have more scope and interests than traditional romance novels.

I spend an unreasonable amount of time reading, usually at the expense of school work, relationships, and laundry. Below is my top 10 list of truly exceptional fiction from the past and present.

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10. "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn

"When I think of my wife, I always think of her head." —Nick Dunne in "Gone Girl"

This is the opening line to the high-paced thriller, Gone Girl. I finished this book in a matter of days and learned marriage can be a real killer.

9. "East of Eden" by John Stienbeck

Considered John Steinbeck's magnum opus, "East of Eden" is a sweeping unforgettable novel.

After his wife attempts murder, Adam Trask is left alone to raise his two sons. One boy thrives, nurtured by the love of all those around him; the other grows up in loneliness, enveloped in a mysterious darkness.

8. "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory

The rise of two sisters. The fall of one family. They were doomed to be best friends and terrible enemies.

7. "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

After all this time, this remains my favorite novel. It is a simple and charming tale about a lovely little girl who meets adversity and triumphs. Born the daughter of a wealthy and indulgent father, she is not spoiled but imaginative and kind. When he dies, leaving her penniless, she accepts her circumstance with bravery and humility — an example of love in loss.

This book colored my childhood and revealed to me a magical place called England.

6. "World War Z" by Max Brown

It's easily the most well crafted novel ever written. The book contains dozens of self-contained short stories concerning people all over the globe and their experiences during The Great Panic. Incredibly diverse and immense in scope, "WWZ" left me spellbound. Every single story is completely different with a unique and fascinating backstory.

“There's a word for that kind of lie. Hope.” ― "World War Z"

Don't watch the movie. They have nothing in common at all.

5. "Mrs. Dolloway" by Virginia Woolf

Dark and fascinating, it is a tale which could only occur in the Age of Innocence.

4. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

We all know what this book is about, and while the central theme of southern racism remains one of the central aspects of this book, pay attention to the care Lee takes to discuss mental health and coming of age. I have read this novel a half dozen times, but I'm always surprised at the little insights one finds when they really read it close. Thank you, Harper Lee, for this culture defining novel.

3. "Johnny Got His Gun" by Dalton Trumbo

This book is positively haunting. It concerns an ordinary man, Joe Bonham, who loses his arms, legs, speech, vision and hearing in WWI. Joe lives his life in a series of surreal dreams and flashbacks. This novel serves as a sharp critique — even condemnation of the industrial military complex and America's infatuation with sending young men to die and suffer in pointless wars.

2. "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.” — "Great Expectations"

Read this book if only for this quote.

1. "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin

Words cannot describe my love for this book series. It is in my view the greatest book series ever written or ever will be written. It has everything in the world that a book should have.

The only requirement to read and love this series is to hate the author, who hates his fans equally. George R.R. Martin has been writing these books since before most of us were born. Long may you write GRR!

Enjoy this video of Tyrion slapping Joffrey. If you don't know already, fanhood for GOT also requires an undying hatred for Joffrey.