DISQUS

sulz · 1 year ago

i was wondering when you'd reveal your other blog, or maybe you're keeping it separate like yours truly. :P

shame to say i have yet to read any sherlock holmes book. :oops: i would if i could borrow it though. i love mysteries; i'm nuts about agatha christie. have you tried any of her books?

interesting to read about books that are close to your heart. :)

teeveebee · 1 year ago

Thanks for sharing, CJ. I've already read many of the books on your list, but not all. I realized I've never read Frankenstein, so I might have to give that a try this summer.

"Of Mice and Men" (Steinbeck) and "To Kill A Mockingbird" (Lee) are two books that I feel changed my life. I've read both of those several times. They have worked themselves into my very soul. Also, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (Hurston) is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.

I also enjoy good children's lit. "The Magician's Nephew" is my favorite book out of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. Have you read any of Kate DiCamillo's books? "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane" is beautifully written. I also enjoy anything by Meindert Dejong, "The House of Sixty Fathers" and "Along Came A Dog" are my favorites. I am currently reading Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Very enjoyable. (Can you tell I'm an elementary school librarian?)

I could go on and on. But, I'll restrain myself. Some of my best friends are books! : )

cjwriter · 1 year ago

Sulz - I know, I meant to post about it last week but life intervened. At least the cat’s out of the bag now. ;) It’s really meant to complement this blog in style and theme; my plan is to self-host and have it as a separate page on the blog, but that’s a long way off yet. I remember when I first found out about your other blog; it was like Superman and Clark Kent, we never saw sulz and your other identity in the same place! :)

I read most of Agatha Christie’s books before I read the Holmes series. They were very good but the Holmes ones seem a bit more evocative of the time period, which is why I like them. Half the fun of Holmes is trying to work out his reasoning and the stories are great because you can get that in one sitting! If you wanted to try Holmes, they’re all available at Gutenberg; this collection might give you an idea if you’d like the rest.

And I’m glad you liked the list! The second part might surprise you. ;)

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Thanks, TVB, I’m glad you liked it! It’s just a small sample of the books I love but I think all of these have influenced my life in a positive way. The second part should be fun too, so I’m looking forward to that. ;)
I’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird and that had a big impact on me as well; I think I read Of Mice and Men but I don’t remember it very well. I’ll have to reread it. One of the most beautifully structured novels I’ve come across is Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man; at times it’s transcendent.

I love to read children’s literature when I can; it has an innocence about it that is wonderful and some of the best writing is in children’s lit. I haven’t read Kate DiCamillo; I’ll have to look for her books! One of my favourite series of the last decade is Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials because it’s so different to everything else; can’t wait to read his latest.

Books make great friends, don’t they? Some of the best moments of my life have been spent with a book, discovering a good story… some people just don’t get that! I guess that’s why bibliophiles are so unique. :)

timethief · 1 year ago

Hi cj,
Congrats! Your new site is looking fine. I've read most of the books on the list but not all. I find that the tourist season is the worst time of year for me to read in. I just never seem to have the time to complete a book and end up reading the same chapter over and over and then getting interrupted again. In the winter it's a different story. It's a great time for me to read.
Cheers

museditions · 1 year ago

Congratulations on the new site, cj. It will add to your overall eruditeness. I shall hop over and take a look.
I was even younger than Anne Frank was when I read her book. I found it fresh, honest, shocking, and life changing. Certainly belongs on any list.
I never read the Lewis or the Williams---why, I wonder? I actually read some of Lewis' "adult" books as a teen, and they scared me a bit. Now that the Narnia movies are out, I'll have to at least see them.
All of Sherlock Holmes! Speckled Band! (I couldn't make out WHAT that thing was) Indeed!
Haven't read those particular James or Bear, but now I will. King's book is splendid; but no matter what you say I'm not going to read The Road! I mean, I respect you greatly, but, ahhhh!
Peace & good reading! ;)

cjwriter · 1 year ago

TT - thanks for the kind words. Finding the right theme was the hardest part, so I’m glad it looks okay. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep track of everything I read now. ;)

So you’re a winter reader? Interesting; I often go through long periods without reading (particularly if I’m writing), but then I’ll devour a dozen books in four or five weeks. I love reading in winter, though; there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate on a cold night. It’s bliss. :) Take care, and good thoughts.

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Thanks, Muse! It’s really just a side project and I don’t expect too much from it, but it’s always fun starting a new blog! It’s my fourth blog now; guess that makes me a veteran. ;)

I think I would have been about 12 when I read Anne’s diary, so just younger too; I’ll never forget how I felt reading it… she represents so much more than herself and to this day I don’t think I’ve read another book that’s left me as overwhelmed as her diary… I hope I never will.

That’s interesting about Lewis. I loved the Narnia books when I was a younger but to be honest I’m not sure how I feel about some of them now. I still love Wardrobe and think the themes are universal, but some of the themes near the end of the series trouble me… particularly Susan’s absence in The Last Battle. I did enjoy the movie version of Wardrobe, though; it’s very faithful and the music is great.

I understand about The Road! MQ just finished reading it and had the same reaction; brilliant but devastating. I wonder how they’ll handle it for the movie? I can’t imagine it being any easier on the screen… arguably it shouldn’t be. Peaceful thoughts to you, Muse, always. :)

Priya Raju · 1 year ago

Interesting list. Sherlock Holmes is a perennial favorite - I don't think Agatha Christie comes anywhere close. Even though Hercule Poirot is very charming.

I can never interest myself enough to read Anne Frank's diary, regardless of the sympathy I feel for the victims of the holocaust.

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" would probably be on the top of my list.

But the 1st ever books that fascinated me were "Gray's Anatomy" (my ped was kind enough to lend me her copy), "Our Solar System", a kid's book on Astronomy.

I mostly grew up on a staple of quaint books. Bronte sisters, Hardy, Austen etc. Being a kid in India then meant a supply of books from USSR. I still have this book - "Kids & Cubs" by Olga Perovskaya. A hunter's kids raise various animals like tiger, fox, wolf etc. I still love it :D

And Shakespeare, Marlowe, Shaw etc. I still can't get over "Macbeth" (love the witches), "Othello" (though to my dad's horror, I admired Iago), "Dr Faustus" & "Pygmalion".

But it was Bertrand Russell & Somerset Maugham who truly made an impact on my life & my thinking. And C.E.M. Joad's "Story of Civilization" - an open enquiry on the meaning & evolution of human civilization.

cjwriter · 1 year ago

Glad you enjoyed the list, Priya. It’s just the first part and probably won’t look right until the other part is done (it’s taking me a while!), but it’s been a fun project to do. It’s been very rewarding to look back on so many books.

That’s interesting that Gray’s Anatomy and Our Solar System were the first two books to inspire you. Makes sense. Looking back I had a book of mythology that had a big impact on me; eventually that led me to writers like Joseph Campbell, who have had a big impact on the direction my life has taken. Perhaps sometimes it’s the more unexpected books that have the biggest impact on our lives.

The Brontes and Austen are wonderful; I particularly love Wuthering Heights, just the structure and Heathcliff as a character are very striking. I’ve never really gotten into Shakespeare as much, though I do like Julius Caesar; it’s mainly Hemingway and Kafka that have influenced my thinking. They’ll both be on the next list.

You reminded me, though, that I’ve not read Things Fall Apart. I’ve wanted to for years so I’ll have to find it; it’s one of those books everyone should read, particularly writers. It’ll give me something to post about too. ;)

cherikooka · 1 year ago

I love reading your blog. So, I am giving you a 6 word memoir assignment:
http://cheribomb.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/tag-y...

amandzing · 1 year ago

anne frank, cs lewis, stephen king (the novels), frankenstein and sherlock holmes, read them all :)

also edgar rice burroughs, his books take me away...

i think life changing was the womens room, by...wait...

amandzing · 1 year ago

marilyn french. had to get it out the book case.

also, arthur c clarke, and the best of the best, isaac asimov, its surreal how much of their stuff is coming true! and of course _0_ star trek..

i'm going to read the womens room again now, thanks for reminding me :)

marnini · 1 year ago

Hi C.J. I remember growing up I always loved a good mystery. There was a book called The Ghost Next Door, I loved it and have tried to find it in my adult years but have not come across the same one.
I also loved Behind The Attic Wall.

As an adult I also liked to read mysteries and always loved Dean Koontz. As far as authors I love Poe and Robert Frost's work has definitely inspired me.

Oh, how can I forget Erma Bombeck-love her too. Okay, I know I'm talking authors instead of books but I thought they were worth the mention.

Hope all is well, I will spin by your new blog.

Maribeth