Weekly Reading Round-Up
Since things are a little crazy with Orchid Tour, instead of telling you what I’m reading this week, here are the books that meant a lot to me once upon a time, via Historical Tapestry.
What are the books that have meant the most to you? And what are you reading now?
Actually…nothing. I haven’t had time to read anything.
=(
I have a midterm paper due Tuesday. lol. But the books that mean the most to me are the Lord of the Ring books and the Pink Carnation books and the Scarlett Pimpernel.
The only book I read this week was a rec from friend, The Proposition by Judith Ivory. I really, really disliked it and gave up about 3/4 of the way through. I’ve come to the conclusion that straight romance just isn’t for me anymore. I much prefer romance mixed in with mystery or adventure or paranormal.
As for books that had the most impact on me, I’d say that my top three are:
1) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – Like Jo, I wrote stories throughout my childhood and plays for my friends and family to act out, so I really related to her and loved that she was so determined to follow her dream of being a published writer. I will never forgive her for turning down Laurie’s proposal, though. Bad Jo!
2) Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – I still think that Scarlett O’Hara is one of the most fascinating, entertaining heroines ever written. GWTW turned me on to historical fiction and sardonic anti-heroes (Love you, Rhett!)
3) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – It’s so cliche to name this as a favorite, but it’s true. I discovered this book and Austen when I was just 12 y/o and her language, wit, and characterizations really transported me. P&P is a story that I never get tired of.
“The Three Musketeers”, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Lord Peter Wimsey novels, the Nero Wolfe series, the Hornblower series, the Flashman series, and, most recently, the PC series.
Recently, “The Attenbury Emeralds” by Jill Paton Walsh. This is a look at Lord (and Lady) Peter Wimsey in post WWII England, with flashbacks to Wimsey’s first detective efforts. Well done, though Paton Walsh is not Dorothy L. Sayers (who is)? I liked it well enough that I hope she writes another.
I have to give credit to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia and Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. I read all of these books when I was 7 or 8 and they had a major impact on the way that I grew up writing, both in fiction and academically. C.S. Lewis creates such an amazing world in his books. The characters are very vivid, unique, and are hard to forget. The way that he describes things is so colorful and magical. Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca is similar in that she is one of the most beautifully descriptive writers I have ever been able to enjoy. The opening lines of Rebecca are haunting and captivating. I’ve read this book at least ten times and I still can’t get over how well written it is. Even though I know the story by heart, I still have a hard time putting it down.
Sorry for another post! As far as books that have been very dear to me for a long time, I have to give credit to Elizabeth Peters and Agatha Christie. Their books have provided so much entertainment. Amelia Peabody, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot will always be among my favorite characters! More recently, the Pink Carnation books and the Harry Potter books have become valued friends. They make my life much happier!
I’m not reading anything too thrilling right now – I have to read Death Comes for the Archbishop soon for class, but I haven’t started yet, and I just finished Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (again, for class.)
But as far as the books that mean the most to me…
I have to mention the Tortall books by Tamora Pierce because they were my first introduction to the wonderful world of fantasy about 10 years ago and I still read them.
I adore happy endings, so your books number in my favorites as well, Lauren.
I’d also have to mention The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton, and Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde because, even though they are radically different, they are books that make me want to write when I read them.
Oh, and Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish…
Ok, I’ll stop now. I could go on for too long, probably.
Love this topic! If it wasn’t for “Pride & Prejudice” (which I got my mom to read to me when I was six after we saw the Garson/Olivier movie), I’m not sure I’d be writing Regency/Napoleonic fiction today. Georgette Heyer solidified that love (particularly “The Grand Sophy,” “Venetia,” and “An Infamous Army”, the later of which taught me a lot about blending history and fiction). Dorothy Sayers, particularly “Have His Carcase,” “Gaudy Night”, and “Busman’s Honeymoon” inspired my love of blending mysteries with evolving love stories. Dorothy Dunnett was also a huge influence on me. And somehow echoes of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” keep finding their way into my books :-).
The books that meant the most for me were Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery and the Nancy Drew series. The women in these books became my friends and my heroes. But right now I am reading the Murder,She Wrote series by Donald Bain.
I’m reading The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
As for meaningful books:
1)Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea
My favorite book of childhood!
2) Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
3) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4) The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
5)The Chosen by Chaim Potok
The books that mean the most to me are the ones I’ve had for an eternity, and grew up with that helped solidify my love of books in general. Books written by Patricia C. Wrede, Susan Fletcher, Gail Carson Levine, Lloyd Alexander, Tolkien, Rowling, and Maud H. Lovelace are all precious (if rather battered!). Coincidentally, what I’m (re-)reading right now are The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede. I just went back to visit my family and stole all my childhood books back, to put in the places of honour on my bookcase. I have the same glee in them as I did when I first read them. 🙂
This is a difficult topic but I guess that books that mean the most to me are books that I read again and again….Pride and Prejudice, Housewrights by Art Corriveau, any Sharon Kay Penman book, the Harry Potter books, Dorothy Dunnett books, Little Women, and your books Lauren especially Mistletoe. Right now I am reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Two book series that had a big impact on me were
Harry Potter, which got a late reader to discover that reading could fun!
the Alanna books by Tamora Pierce got me through middle school. I loved her adventurous heroines and George was the first fictional character I had a crush on.
Right now I am reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It is wonderful! Definitely recommend it.
As far as childhood books go I would say The Black Stallion series, and echoing everyone else, Tamora Pierce. Mercedes Lackey and her Arrows of the Queen and Mage Winds trilogies got me through high school, as did Pride and Prejudice. I found Harry Potter in college, and still read The Prisoner of Azkaban when I’m having a bad day. Basically, if it’s sitting on my book shelf and looks like it got put through the washing machine it has factored into my life in some important way.
For classics, besides P & P, I would add To Kill a Mockingbird, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Red Badge of Courage, The Age of Innocence and The Scarlet Letter. Modern authors who have left their mark on me, Olive Ann Burn’s Cold Sassy Tree, Sharon Kay Penman’s The Sunne in Splendour, Sebastian Faulk’s Birdsong, Michael Ennis’ Duchess of Milan and Shan Sa’s The Girl Who Played Go.
This weeks reads. I finished Arturo Perez-Revete’s 17th century Spanish swashbuckler, Captain Alatriste and am almost done with Debra Dean’s Madonna’s of Leningrad. What a haunting, thought provoking read, I think it may be my best of the year, so far.
I loved Anne of Green Gables – I could relate to her situation somewhat being adopted myself, but luckily I never had to live in an orphanage or with horrid people that just wanted a maid! Since the 5th grade I have wanted to visit PEI and Nova Scotia. I was also very proud of myself when I read Gone with the Wind when I was 12 and it only took me 2 weeks – during the school year! I think those two started my love affair with romance.