November 30, 2001
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So Many Books -
If I have an obsession, it has to be reading. (Sorry Tim, I love you, but I've sworn to speak the truth.) I read history, philosophy, theology, popular science and of course ***drumroll*** novels. In 38 years I have amassed quite a library, in spite of the fact that I loan, give, and donate enough books to qualify as a one woman literacy program.
The thing that disturbs me more than any other is the list of books that I HAVEN'T read. I've never read Les Miserables, I've never read anything by Thomas Hardy, and though I love the quotes I can pull from T. S. Eliot, I feel completely stupid when I try to read his poetry - so I don't.
Several years ago, I hunted up several "100 Great Books" lists and combined them into one list that I'm still working my way through. But there are millions of books out there. And I wonder if I tried to put together a list of "Pretty Good" books what should go on it. Now understand that I'm the woman who'd probably burn to death trying to decide which books to save if the house caught on fire.
So using a less drastic image, which books would I pack today for a trip to a mountain cabin (safely assured that I could come home to the rest of my friends when my vacation was over.)
1. I'm gonna admit up front that I'd grab my Bible CD-Rom before I grabbed any of the printed versions.
2. CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters, I reread this one every year and I have it on cassette tape so I can listen to it in the car on the way.
3. Complete Shakespeare - in an isolated cabin there is no one to make fun of me if I act all the parts the way I think they should be done.
4. Daniel Boorstin - whichever of his books I grabbed first would do.
5. J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
6. Thomas Cahill - whichever book I grabbed first.
7. Greg Boyd - Satan and the Problem of Evil because I haven't read it yet.
What would you recommend to round out my reading? I need at least three novels. And what's the point of a vacation without some junkfood! I'd have to have several romance books for reading in the bubble bath.
Comments (15)
Classic 80's era X-Men comics. You really need some comics!
Oh, and here's your eProps. Even if you didn't save me from the fire!!
I like Ray Bradbury a lot. Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of my favorites. It's 1920's Midwest...carnvial comes to town late at night. It tempts the residents by givng them what they think they want, but never works out the way they think... Of course, two young friends figure it out, but no one believes them... Great movie by Disney too...
I like spy novels, and thrillers. Try books by Vince Flynn - I just discovered this author a couple of months ago - he's my new favorite alongside robert Ludlum.
For novels, let me suggest an oldie but one of my all time favorites, A Woman of Independent Means. Maybe throw in The Red Tent or The Poisonwood Bible. As a southern gal, a good old southern romp to make you laugh might be Walking across Egypt by Clyde Edgarton. I can't deal with the schlocky romance novels, but great romantic tales are found in Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman, Lucia St. Clair Robson's Ride the Wind and The Map of Love by
Ahdaf Soueif. And leave a small space for a children's book - A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle. Sorry if that makes the bag heavy. I'm a reader, too.
Hhmmm... no good recommendations here. The last three books I've read have been technical / users manuals and they are quite dull.
I don't know. I don't think I could leave without my unedited version of Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein. Then of course there is the ever popular Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy from Douglas Adams. And the last one I would take, (since you already have the complete Shakespear and LOTR [and I am assuming you will include The Hobbit in that set]) would have to be Marion Zimmer Bradly and The Mists of Avalon. There is something about that particular telling of the Arthurian legends that grabs me every time I read it.
And I find it amusing, on the day I do your smiley post, and mention you starting my love affair with literature, you post on reading books. Hmmmm. Maybe we can read each others minds. We could be psychotic.
Dearest Sister, due to life changing circumstances beginning with the birth of my first child, my reading time has been severely limited. Mostly, just to the time it takes for me to accomplish undesirable biological functions while locked away in my bathroom. Because I don't possess the forethought to keep my retreat stocked with literary masterpieces, the two best works I've read most recently consist of the ingredients on the Crest toothpaste, and the instructions on the Tampax box. Sorry I could not help.
Okay, That was funny. However, lest anyone get the wrong idea about my sister, I happen to know that she has read at least a half dozen books off the Oprah reading list in the past six months.
No novels come to mind...but if you like travel, read all of William Least Heat Moon's books (Blue Highways, PraryErth, & Riverhorse)...especially the first one...
Actually, one of my FAVORITE novels is Heinlein's The Door Into Summer. I'm a sucker for time travel and cats and good storytelling...it combines all of them!...
Hmmm....no good ideas here.....lately I have been reading nothing but the "For Dummies" books for computer stuff and html.
Trying to learn something
I have spent most of my childhood with my nose in some book it didn't matter what as long as it was a book.
I am hoping that one day you'll say hey I better go her book as well. I won't compete with Shakespear but I am hoping that I will be good reading.
Peachy
Gosh, I feel like such a reading amateur, and I've been avidly doing it all my life...I'd take anything Clive Cussler, he is my favorite author, but I'm also a fan of Patricia Cornwell and Jonathan Kellerman.
Yea, I can't wait for Friday either. . .
Cabin better have a generator... nah, just bring a hardcopy bible.
and you'd better bring some poetry or I shall be crushed!
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