Books and Reading
I recently came across a Best Books list, and thought it would be interesting to see what people thought of it, and if they had read many of them (No, watching the film doesn’t count
)‘Best’ is subjective, and this list is probably Western-centric, but it does cover a lot of genres.
I can never remember not reading, from earliest childhood to the present day. Reading has always been an important part of my life. It is how I discover new words; new styles; new ideas and new worlds.
As kids we used to trot down to the local library on a Saturday morning to gleefully choose our books for the week. I didn’t read many classics as a kid, I was more into Enid Blyton or other adventure books.
It was only as a teenager I started reading deeper books, but I still enjoy a good mystery/murder novel.
I prefer to watch Shakespeare plays being performed rather than reading them, and I, to my shame, have never got to love James Joyce. I never really liked romantic novels either, especially chick-lit.
I love travel books. I get totally engrossed in the journey and the adventure. Dervla Murphy was my favourite travel writer growing up. She was so independent; fearless; bohemian and different to the people I knew in real life that I loved her, and followed her travels with glee.
Apart from all Oscar Wilde books (he is my favourite author, being witty and irreverent), a few books stand out in my mind as being memorable:
The Alchemist by Paulo Cuehlo
Sarum by Edward Rutherford
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Lorca
A Place Apart – Dervla Murphy
Gulliver's Travels - Dean Swift
Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
What are your favourite books/authors.genres?
Best Book list to follow....
Comments (94)
I could imagine you reading romantic novels from morning to night
Gosh, if it works like that, I'd make a great psycho killer
You've given me some great ideas for reading, and I'm off to the library to load up again.
And Imp, yup, Harlequin and Silhouette very similar, I think they all (or used to) release a new book every week and the demand was endless, hence the relatively huge prices they paid authors. Really not sure what the current situation is because I can't remember when I last saw a stand with their books holding pride of place next to the till in bookshops - did I stop noticing? Did they stop doing it? So few people read nowadays.
Sometimes it is where your head is at at that particular too though.
You mentioned James Joyce, there's a lad I have never been able to read for long
And To Kill A Mockingbird should have been on my list.
My book club closed, so I am at the Library when I can but Book shops overwhelm me. The best selling, Irish list is all chick-lit. Can't stand it.
Then there are best sellers from US and other places with Best Sellers written over the section, I quickly scan through but they don't seem to hold me in any way.
A book now is the best part of 14 to 15euro and it's alot if you're struggling to get to the end and you know it's going straight to Oxfam
when you've finished. Recently I have found some good books in Oxfam near where I live, they are in perfect condition, and only a few euro.
I haven't read her new book either. I did mean to get it when it came out, but haven't as yet.
I've just thought of another book i loved - As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee.
I didn't enjoy Cider with Rosie quite as much.
I
The most recent release was really disappointing to me. I can't say that I'd recommend reading it.
I'm afraid royalties alone won't keep Mimi in the lifestyle, and shoes, to which she has become acquainted
You'll have to write your own multi-million bestseller for that
Thank you!! MiMi has set sights on an orange HERMÈS EVELYNE
A Chanel 2.55 Double Flap would be nice too
Don’t want Jimmy Choo, I’d prefer Louboutins!!
War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence.
Book by Ronan Farrow.
I have read loads of his stuff. I did like them, but that was always my favourite.
The book I have in front of me is- Why werent we told? by Henry Reynolds... My boss gave it to me and has been hassling me to read it, it will be about Aboriginal history which is rarely uplifting.
I find books like the one you are reading now pretty tough going.
I think it is necessary though. We have to understand history to not repeat it.
The book about the escape sounds interesting.
(and I am not even a writer)
I have never listened to an audio book I must admit.
How are things in beautiful Asturias?
His books are the thriller equivalent of the Mills & Boon / silhouette / romantic novels, he writes for money and money alone - he says so, openly - and by golly it works. He and his stable of hacks rule the publishing world, only a matter of time before they push every other author either into oblivion or into co-writing his books for him.
Go JP. You are a true symbol of today's world, and when computers start writing books they will borrow your winning formula, and no-one will ever notice the difference.