Ages ago, my friend Khai published a list on Facebook of fifteen books that changed her life. She tagged me to publish my own list. I'd like to say I saved mine for now as a great way to promote the opening day of He Read/She Read, wherein Jim Styro and Sprite's Keeper (The Mistress of the Spin Cycle) review The World According to Garp by John Irving. But I'd be lying. I've just put it off until now because I am a champion procrastinator.
Anyway, after you are done here, go check out the inaugural post there. I think you'll be impressed.
1. Andrew Henry's Meadow by Dolores Burns
This was my first favorite book as a kid. A picture book, published in 1963, it has recently been re-issued, and I snapped up a copy. A tale of a boy-inventor who feels unappreciated by his family, Andrew Henry decides to run away to a nearby meadow, where he can set up all the inventions his heart desires. Soon, he is joined by other kids who feel equally unimportant at home because of their interests, until the whole town starts looking for the missing children.
I wanted to have my own little home in Andrew Henry's meadow. What child doesn't feel like a stranger in their own family sometimes?
2. Nancy Drew Mysteries by Carolyn Keene
I didn't find out that Carolyn Keene was a pen name for years. To this day, there is still some mystery surrounding the authorship of some of these stories. I loved how independent Nancy was, and how brave!
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I read this years before I fully understood all that was going on in the book, and was always fascinated that Harper Lee never wrote another after writing what is arguably one of the greatest stories ever from American Literature.
4. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Another tale of a misunderstood boy, whose family lives in the city. He runs away to live on old family land in the Catskill Mountains. He lives off the land using skills he learned from books! How awesome is that for a kid who loves to read? I never needed to be independent in real life. I could just live vicariously through my heroes!
5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
From this book, I learned the meaning of the word "Abridged." For years, I read the abridged version of this book, and had no idea that meant that some of the great stuff was cut out! Once I got my hands on the complete version, I read it cover to cover in one day. I could NEVER have survived back then. If the dresses didn't kill me, the cooking from scratch certainly would have. But I loved the March girls as least as much as my real family. Besides the tragedy in the story, I was devastated that Jo didn't love Laurie.
6. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
The first time I read this three-book series, I did it in four days. It was Christmas break during my sophomore year in high school. I cried like a baby at the end. Once again, I was too young to appreciate the theme at the time, that although Frodo saved the Shire, he had to give it up himself. Kind of a variation on, "You can't go home again." I love the language. Tolkien's prose reads like poetry. "The bow of Legolas sang." Shivers, I tell you.
7. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
This book is my favorite Crichton, followed closely by Timeline. I've been a science fiction fan forever, but it's rare to read a sci-fi book that changes your attitudes about anything. The idea I always take away from the story is this one, from Dr. Ian Malcolm, that science lacks morality. That we don't need to just decide whether we CAN do something new, but also whether we SHOULD do that something new.
8. The Stand by Stephen King
This is my favorite King book, and it's one of his earlier endeavors (I also love Duma Key, one of his very recent titles, so there). Somehow post-apocalyptic appeals to me. I learned more about sociology from Glen Bateman than any class I ever took.
9. Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
I really think that Chris Moore gets better with every book. Dirty Job is just as hilarious as anything he's written, but has a very sweet side to it. What I take away from this book is Moore's description of Charlie witnessing the deaths of the people whose soul he has come to collect in his new job as a Death Merchant. Reconciles him with the idea of death, and alleviates his fear of life.
10. Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell
I've written pretty extensively about Sarah Vowell. You might know her as one of the editors of This American Life, or the voice of teenage superhero Violet in The Incredibles. She is a fan of presidential history, and drags her twin sister, Amy, and nephew, Owen, all over to visit sites associated with McKinley, Garfield, Lincoln, and their assassins.
11. Standing In The Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
She's more famous for Fried Green Tomatoes. Hell, she's probably more famous for appearing on Match Game in the 70's, but I love Fannie Flagg's story of Neighbor Dorothy, a housewife and mother who did a daily radio broadcast of local interest stories from the living room of her house. Can't Wait to Get to Heaven is the story of Aunt Elner, a minor character in Standing in the Rainbow. A close second.
12. Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
Do I really need to say anything about this? How about my favorite character: Luna Lovegood. And the actress they found to play Luna is spot-on perfect for the role.
13. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
I'm not going to say much here, but I will let this slip...you can expect to see a He Read/She Read review of this book!
14. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My favorite of the series. It helped fuel my brief foray into sincere Christianity (as opposed to the kind that was imposed on me as a kid). I love Lewis as a storyteller, and read some of his adult Christian writings as well. Leave out the whole Supreme Being idea, and I am totally with him when it comes to a life well-lived.
15. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
John Irving is my favorite contemporary fiction writer. I think his books are going to have the staying power of Charles Dickens' work. Owen Meany is one of his first-person narratives, along with Hotel New Hampshire. Not usually my favorite perspective, but this story just lives. I hadn't cried so hard at the end of a book since I first read The Lord of the Rings.
Thanks for sticking with me through the whole thing. Now, scroll back up to the top and click on the link for He Read/She Read.
