On Tuesday, two books came out that I'd been eagerly anticipating: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik, and Talking to Girls About Duran Duran, by Rob Sheffield. Sam brought home the latter on Tuesday, but didn't pick up the former until yesterday. When I took it out of the bag, I caressed it; I'm not above caressing precious books. I couldn't start it right away, though, as I was still finishing the Sheffield book. Even so, I brought both of the books into the bed at 9 (when Sam and I lay down for an hour; I read, he watches TV), because hello! New book!
When I went to sleep, Sam asked me if I was going to fall asleep hugging the books, which was a joke, obviously. But obviously not all that far from how I felt, either. For some reason, as I lay in bed trying to go to sleep last night (a struggle, sadly), all I could think about was the books that I would want to hug as I slept. I don't think I can put these two new books in that category, but there are plenty of books that I'd (metaphorically) hug while I sleep. So....I started composing a list of my all-time favorite books, something that I don't know that I've ever really done. And here it is, with some comments afterward.
- The Blue Castle, by LM Montgomery
- Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
- Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
- Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
- His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
- Swan's Chance by Celeste DeBlasis
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I'm certain I'm missing some. Those are the ones that I could think of while in bed last night, with two additions this morning (the last two). I read eight of these books in high school for the first time, and at least three of them were things I bought at the used book sale put on by the Friends of the GPL, while I worked there (Watership, Thorn Birds, Swan's Chance). Two are essentially straight-up romance novels (Whitney, Swan's), though Swan's is the middle book in a trilogy, an epic. I never did care for the first book in that series. Whitney, My Love is the first romance novel I ever remember re-reading. I know I checked it out from the library the first time I read it, and then I bought it. I can't tell you where my copy is now, which is making me sad, and making me think I should dash out and get it. I'm not ashamed of the romance novel thing, which I know some people are, and I'm not ashamed two of them count among my favorite books of all time. They may have no value to others, but they have value to me. I love them. That simple. I suppose that even Outlander and the Blue Castle can be considered romances, and some people might dismiss them. I love Outlander so much (I can even overlook its hideous brutality) I listened to it as an audiobook. The Blue Castle will always be my favorite LM Montgomery book; I love Anne, but I love Valancy even more. Amazon says that this book is considered adult fiction, where most of Montgomery's aren't. But I think this hovers right on the line. I'm on my second copy of the book already (who knows what happened to the first?), and I suppose it won't last forever either, considering how often I read it.
Notes from a Small Island is also an important book, as it set off my love of travel narratives, which is a genre I still read ravenously. I'm sorry Bryson isn't doing travel books anymore--though I think I can guess why--because I still think his are the best, funniest ones out there. Notes never, ever fails to make me laugh out loud. If I read it tomorrow, it would make me laugh again. It's deliciously funny, and I wish everyone would read it. My copy is falling apart, from so many repeat readings. The other two non-fiction books on the list--Klosterman and Sheffield--are recent additions, of course. But each have been read multiple times, already. Klosterman speaks to me; I love the way he thinks. Sheffield is perhaps the best writer on music I read. He might not be the best ever, but he writes about music in a way that I can understand. That I can relate to.
Four of the books are probably Sci-Fi--Potter, Watership, Temeraire (His Majesty's Dragon), and Ender's. I hate Orson Scott Card and what he stands for, but I love Ender. I LOVE Ender. I'm on at least my second of third copy of Ender. Watership is something I haven't read in a long, long time. My copy disappeared at some point, which is why. I don't know why I never replaced it before today, but fingers crossed Sam brings it home like I've asked. I'm anxious to see if I still love it like I once did. I could have, of course, chosen any Potter book. They're all good, and I've read them all many times. But Goblet is definitely my split-second pick for a favorite. I love the Quidditch World Cup. I love the competition. Talking about it is making me want to read it again. Temeraire is the newest addition to the list, and I love that stupid talking dragon like crazy. What a brilliant character! I've read it multiple times already, and because it's an active series, it means I get to keep reading about him again and again. The books have really gotten worse, as the series goes on, but I don't much care. Because I like the dragon so damn much.
And lastly, Gone with the Wind and The Thorn Birds. The former, is, of course, a classic. I've read it so many times, and seen the movie so many times that they're blurred in my head. The Scarlett I see is Vivien Leigh, usually in her white ruffled dress from the first scene in the movie. The Tarleton twins are flirting with her, but she loves insipid Ashley Wilkes. It's hard to love Scarlett, oddly enough. She's compelling, but not really lovable. I still can't get enough of her. And then...Meggie. Meggie Cleary, who loves a priest. Meggie Cleary, who has a child with a priest. I don't know why I love Meggie so much. I only know that I found Meggie to be completely and 100% enthralling. I found the Cleary's story to be so engrossing I couldn't stop reading. I read over and over and over again their story in Australia, and I never got sick of it. It's a book full of torment, full of religious torment. And I still couldn't read it enough times. It's another book I haven't read in a really long time. I should pick it up again; I have a newish copy of it, which I bought after my used paperback literally fell apart in my hands.
There are more, of course. I thought of one while I was writing this. I'll make that other list and post a follow-up at some point. Now, though, I'm going to read Tongues of Serpents.
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