Day two of the A-Z Challenge, and I'm going with an easy topic for the letter B, Books.
I've always loved to read and, as a librarian, it's in my nature to love books. It's been fun to discover so many book bloggers, and read their great reviews. I've already added tons of books to my "to be read" list just in the few months I've been blogging.
It's hard for me to pick my favorite books as I've enjoyed so many, but one series that sticks out for me is the Thomas Lynley books by Elizabeth George. I love the character of Lynley, and have loved nearly every book in this series. When I learned that George was 40 years old before she published her first book, that was very inspiring to me.
Another favorite series of mine is the Tony Hillerman Navajo mysteries, as I am enchanted by the American Southwest and I loved the atmosphere of those stories. I've been to Arizona a few times and adored it, and I hope to some day travel around the rest of the Navajo area and "Hillerman Country."
Other favorite books that come to mind include Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, A Scandal In Belgravia by Robert Barnard, The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, A Place of Execution by Val McDermid, and the seven books of the Harry Potter series.
While I mostly read fiction, I love animal stories, and loved Marley and Me by John Grogan, My Dog Skip and My Cat Spit by Willie Morris, and the All Creatures Great and Small series by James Herriot. Nothing can make me cry faster than a touching animal story!
In another break from fiction, I'm currently reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, after seeing it mentioned on numerous writing blogs. While I haven't read that much yet, I am loving the book so far, and would recommend it to anyone interested in writing. The title comes from Lamott's father advising her young brother to take a large project on birds "bird by bird," and I like how she applies this to writing. If feeling overwhelmed I think it's a great idea to take a project chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, or even sentence by sentence.
I know I'm leaving out tons of favorites, but these are the books that came to mind while thinking about this post. What about you? What are your favorites? I'd love to have more books to add to my TBR list!
I have an e-reader now, and I find that I read more often, but I miss going to the library and picking out a book. It's just not the same.
ReplyDeleteI seriously considered Books for my B post. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, we named our first daughter Scout. A more recent book that's right up there is The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak, a very moving tale of a young girl during WW II.
ReplyDeleteI've read Bird by Bird and loved it. Great recommendation.
ReplyDeleteI have been seeing the title of that book pop up. Thanks for the insight I will add it to my amazon list.
ReplyDeleteAdore the HP series (who doesn't love them?) My fave books include The Time Traveller's Wife, Neverwhere and Memoirs of a Geisha. Hope you're having a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed Marley and Me, and Bird by Bird, very much. Two books that come to mind now are The Remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. What I like about both of those is the way the reader understands more than the narrator. ~Miriam
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to pin down a favorite as I love them all, but I would say Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (better than the movie).
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ReplyDeleteA walk in the woods by bill Bryson.
Hi Julie ~
ReplyDeleteI finally made it over, and enjoyed your post...although, unlike you, I hardly ever read fiction. It takes a truly thought through, well-written (and edited) story to pull me in. I've somehow kept most of my fiction to movies, and all my nonfiction to books. Is that strange, ya think? Maybe I should write a blog post with that question...see what my readers think...HA!
In college, I thought I would be a failure if I wasn't published by age 23. Because, you know it's all down-hill from there. ;) Bird by Bird does seem to be coming up a lot. Will have to check it out.
ReplyDelete@B's Mom, I've been thinking about getting an e-reader, but I think I would feel the same about picking up a book, I'd miss it. But I hear so many people raving about the Kindle, I'm curious to try it out.
ReplyDelete@Tim Riley, oh I love To Kill a Mockingbird too, it's been years since I read it, but it definitely sticks with you. I will have to look up the Book Thief.
@Aine, I'm glad to know you liked Bird by Bird as well, I've read so many great things about it. I'm glad I finally picked it up!
@V. Furnas, I think you will like it too!
@Samantha, hope you're having a great weekend too! I actually just got Memoirs of a Geisha and have it in my stack to read. I've always heard how good it is. I was sad when I finished the HP series, I didn't want the books to end!
@andthewallscametumblingdown, oh The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time is another book I just picked up! Glad to know you liked it, I'm looking forward to reading it.
@Donna, that's how I feel, it's really hard to pin down a favorite. I haven't seen that movie but whenever movies are made from books I seem to always prefer the book version.
@Retired Knitter, I loved that one as well, great book. See, I knew I would forget tons!
@Kathy, oh no, I don't think that's strange at all! But it would be interesting to see what kinds of responses you would get with that question ha. :D
@Tamara, I so know what you mean, I felt like it was all downhill too. :D I hope you will enjoy Bird by Bird if you read it.
Thank you all for the recommendations and for visiting!
Books are the best!!
ReplyDeleteI tend to be reading older stuff lately, Dostoevsky, GK Chesterton, but I really love Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. I just read Bay of Love and Sorrow by David Adams Richards too. That was a really good one, though I love all of his work...so far.
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I read anything by Preston & Child!
ReplyDelete@Trisha, I agree! There's nothing better than getting totally wrapped up in a new book. :)
ReplyDelete@Inside Out, I will have to check the Dillard and Richards books out, thanks for the recommendations!
@Alex, more for my list, thanks!
I've also found a bunch of books that sound good by visiting other people's blogs, and they are now on my Amazon wish list for future purchases.
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon, thanks for coming by, it's great to meet you! I agree, I have so many books added to my wish list now, it's great. I can never have too many books to read. :)
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