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 tried to read it, I really did, but maybe it wasn't one of the good ones. However, his aggressive marketing certainly does pay off, once one likes the Patterson formula (and it seems most of the population does) one never needs to read any other author. On sale everywhere you look, a triumph of modern saturation marketing, plus everything you could ever want in a thriller, in one reliable package. Even recommended on a Best Books list by the OP.
He is indeed the king.
Noo waaaayy!
I am normal.
If he killed himself after writing it, I'd be afraid to see what I'd do after reading it
"Making the Modern World: Materials and Dematerialization” by Vaclav Smil.
fantastic list (s).
Imp, I loved those books too.
I could never quite get into the Jo Nesbo books the same way. I still have the series though. I may try again
I love Wire in the Blood by Val McDermid. It is dark but brilliant. I love Tony
There are some books I love which I won't read again, just in case.