What makes a book an all time favorite? Are there books that you have read several times out of choice rather than error? I have read books a second time because they were so non-memorable I forgot reading them the first time. I hate to admit it, but I have purchased a popular author at the airport bookstore during a layover only to find two hours into the second leg of the flight that I had already read the book – very frustrating. I also have books that I have chosen to read several times. For some reason they appeal to me over and over, and have a special place on the bookshelf.
Included on my list of favorites are the Tolkien books – The Hobbit and The Lord of the Ring series; Daybreak 2250 A.D. by Andre Norton; The Stand, by Stephen King, and Flint by Louis L’ Amour. These four represent the Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Western genres. I know the fourth doesn’t really fit with the other three, but I have read these four books many times, and these are the genres I gravitate towards in my reading selection. I have read many, many books in all of these genres, yet these four are the ones that remain on my favorites list.
Most people agree that these are good books, but people also want to know why these are my favorites. I wish I could pin point why these are my favorites. I read these books during the turbulent years of adolescence. Most of these books are apocalyptic in nature. Psychologist might say I was looking for answers as my life changed from childhood to adulthood. I prefer to think they were well written stories that appealed to my imagination then and still do.
Do you have a favorite book? Care to share, and tell us what makes it your favorite?
1 comment:
I agree that many "favorite" books are discovered when we are tweens. I think that's because it's a time when we are discovering that the world is a bigger place than we ever imagined. New ideas, more choices, and most importantly, greater independence to choose our own reading material.
I remember the classic science-fiction and adventure stories I read at that time (early 70s) by Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London, and Alistair MacLean, for instance. I was not into romances (even then) and didn't enjoy horror, so I never went through the Stephen King phase.
Favorite books:
"To Say Nothing of the Dog" by Connie Willis; "Tarzan of the Apes" by Edgar Rice Burroughs; "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde; "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" by Charles C. Mann; "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield; "Faded Coat of Blue" by Owen Parry; "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson...
I could go on and on. :-)
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