Happy Tuesday, everyone! How has the year been so far? I hope that the year is going in everyone’s favor. As it is a Tuesday, it is time for a Top 5 Tuesday update. Top 5 Tuesday was originally created by Shanah @ the Bionic Bookworm, but is now being hosted by Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads.

This week’s topic: Top 5 books with unreliable narrators

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Snippet from my review: What makes The Murder of Roger Ackroyd soar above its contemporaries and above all of Christie’s canon is its seamless assimilation of psychoanalysis into the entire narrative. The astute observation and understanding of a character’s personality is palpable in most of Christie’s works. However, it was in this mystery fiction classic that it was in full display. Christie’s exploration of her character’s psychological state elevated the narrative. When Poirot was wrapped with confusion, he regressed to his understanding of human motivations.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Snippet from my review: As the narrative sails forward, a new clarity begins to crystallize. As it condenses, it slowly alters one’s perspective of the entire narrative. With Manderley as a metaphorical arena, the two Mrs. de Winters battle not just for Maxim de Winter’s love; this is just a murmur on the surface. As one digs deeper into the narrative, the realization that the two Mrs. de Winters were battling for deeper motivations become clear. They were both fighting for life, power and liberty, giving the story yet another layer – a psychological overtone. This formed the primordial mantle upon which the rest of the tale was built on.

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Snippet from my review: In a breathtaking tapestry, Salinger weaved a wonderful story. Although The Catcher in the Rye is less about the story, it is more about the character. Many a reader may try to polarize Holden’s story: whether you can relate to it or not. Break out of the bounds of teenage rebellion and mentality and you’ll witness humanity’s infinite desire for love and care. However, Holden’s need took a different form: anger and angst.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Snippet from my review: This magical poetry was also in full display in the character’s interactions. The interactions amongst the characters were powerful but not overbearing. Each emotion portrayed in the story can easily be discerned by the reader’s naked eye. Tension, fear, anger, passion and angst are some of the strongest emotions that hover above the book’s characters. This natural flow assuaged my understanding and appreciation of the story, which I initially thought was a complex one.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Snippet from my review: The book stirred controversy and scandal because of its vivid depiction of the daily life of mental health patients. But the book also deviated towards other contents that are of sexual and suggestive nature. These raised the brows of the conservatives who sought for the banning of the book. The presence of overwhelming male bravado made sexual allusions unavoidable. The subject of virginity, as always, was portrayed as a disease amongst the overwhelmingly male characters. Sexually deprived men do create an interesting case study.