I just noticed that the lady at Moomin Light tagged me on books. If anyone knows me at all they would know that I would most likely be prompt with this (even if I am operating with half a brain right now---thanks, funk that I have).
I have been a book reading slacker. I know I have had a lot going on lately, but to me, I think of that as no excuse. So here is my sorry little response to the tag (all one really has to do is read any "reading list" I ever post and you have me):
ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE:
I have a few, so saying one is not going to cut it.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde got me into reading the classics. I remember reading this while walking to the bus stop. I was hooked.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I know, join the slew of others, I am original.
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis. To this day because of this book I see that my desire for Wonder Woman t-shirts is really not some sick childish thing that I harbor. It is my glimpse of heaven.
ONE BOOK THAT I HAVE READ MORE THAN ONCE:
I rarely do this. This is why: there are only so many hours in one's lifetime, I think it is almost silly to re-read something. There are too many books to read and so little time!
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
You have the Heath, a handsome man newly come from Paris, a "hussy" who stands on Rainbarrow with a telescope and a bonfire, and the Reddleman. With that combo and more you got a good story. The best part is that people die at the end and you can sit and argue with someone about whether it was a suicide or not. I love it!
ONE BOOK I WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND:
That is a ridiculously hard question and I think quite unfair. If I don't say the Bible I will be acting like a pagan. If I do say the Bible, I will sound like I am better than everyone else. So I guess I pick the Bible.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE ME LAUGH:
ONE?
If we bound Cannery Row by John Steinbeck and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith in one volume I suppose that would be considered one.
Cannery is like reading a Seinfeld episode or something. But a Seinfeld episode on crack. It is really odd. I loved it. Castle is just romantically funny and witty. If anyone starts a novel by saying they are journaling from the inside of the kitchen sink, it has to be finished.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY:
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I cried when I realized that the two main characters in the novel are Boo Radley and Jem. If you read the novel and think that way, it will make you cry.
ONE BOOK I WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN:
There is nothing new under the sun, from what I understand. I have no clue.
ONE BOOK I WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN:
What is it called? Left Behind? I have never read it, but it annoys me anyway. How about Shattering Your Strongholds by Liberty Savard. How about The Book of Mormon or that L.Ron Hubbard book, or Madame Bovary?
There are too many....
ONE BOOK I AM CURRENTLY READING:
None. I know, shoot me, but I am currently reading NO BOOK. I sat around today watching the food channel and TLC. I finished Cakes and Ale by Maugham on the plane but have not read anything since. I feel simply wicked. I did start a little snippet of The Frozen Deep by Wilkie Collins, so maybe that is presently reading something.
ONE BOOK I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ:
There is a huge list a few posts back about all the books I am meaning to read (and I have already added a few more in my brain). I have a massive headache right now so it hurts me to think about it.
HERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS TO STICK ON THE TAIL END OF THIS:
ONE CLASSIC BOOK THAT MADE ME THINK:
The Idiot by Dostoyevsky. Think: Holy Saturday, symbolism of Christ, the Trinity and the Resurrection, and you have an immensely deep book. I love how Dostoyevsky integrates his history with execution in the novel as well. That man was brilliant.
ONE MODERN BOOK THAT MADE ME THINK:
This is stupid, but Life of Pi made me think. It's that crazy book about the boy and the tiger on the boat in the middle of the ocean by Yann Martel. I like how the guy put the book together and I like the ending. I think my take on it is correct, so I feel completely relieved with my findings. As anyone that knows me well enough, I am very opinionated about books and I argue a lot about them.
So, in Moomin Light fashion, please pick up a copy of Grant Lee Phillip's Virginia Creeper on CD and listen to his beautiful voice croon out his own little kind of country. If this man could write a book he would write O! Pioneers! I think.
I will tag in turn:
Elysium
Americanspark
RickandRachelCapezza
Lobsy
Anonymous at The Life You Save May Be Your Own
Green Cathedral
Madness in a high-ceilinged building.
Followers
People in my Holy Place
The Professor----Formerly known as Dear Sir, my husband, the man of the house
The Oldest----Known in younger years as Mickey Mouse, and now he is embracing adulthood by being over 18.
Eraser Eater----Well-known for his old habit of eating erasers and whining about ridiculous things. Now he eats Tabasco sauce and says little in his 15 years.
The Girl---The one who is still more mature than I am at 13.
The Oldest----Known in younger years as Mickey Mouse, and now he is embracing adulthood by being over 18.
Eraser Eater----Well-known for his old habit of eating erasers and whining about ridiculous things. Now he eats Tabasco sauce and says little in his 15 years.
The Girl---The one who is still more mature than I am at 13.
About Me
Blog Archive
-
▼
2006
(236)
-
▼
August
(23)
- Speak To Me of Tongues
- Not So Smooth Criminal
- Nutty Nut-Nut
- Dreams
- Ripe
- Keane
- The Devil
- Music for the Masses
- Neighbors
- Good Morning
- Turtle
- Religious
- Grant Lee
- Day 3
- Book Tag
- Being Ill
- Poor Eraser-Eater Puking up Cold-Eeze
- No Brain on the Breather
- No title
- So I am back. Everything went well, the music was ...
- I am leaving today for Milwaukee. My best friend f...
- Eraser Eater is a Freak
- People
-
▼
August
(23)
6 comments:
"A Prayer For Owen Meany" made me cry.
I have heard the name John Irving, but you know, I have never heard of that book. I have allowed myself to steep for years in the classics and I hardly have propped my head up to take a breath. I have only read some modern stuff at all because someone bought the book for me or put it in front of my face and said, "You have to read this. You, of all people, will enjoy this book." I figure if someone thinks that they know me that well, I will give the book a try. But, I must say, I looked up the book on Amazon, and it looks very interesting. I liked especially the comparisons with Flannery O'Connor. That is always a good thing.
Francine Rivers books make me cry too. I used to read her books like they were to be "no more" next week when I first discovered her, and I think it annoyed Dear Sir. He used to write me little notes before he left for work and one day he wrote:
To: FR#1F
From: [Dear Sir]
It took me a whole day to figure out what the heck he meant.
I think he thought I was her number one fan because I cried when I read her books. I was also between children at that time and very emotional. I don't know who you are, but you might benefit from a little FR.
Thanks for the tip.
If you read anything by Irving, make sure you read A Prayer For Owen Meany and also The World According To Garp (his breakthrough novel). He has a quirky writing style (reminds me sometimes of Vonnegut). Without being judgmental, I think it's safe to say he does not have a Christian perspective (I know that you do); hopefully, his writing wouldn't be offensive to you. Be careful, though - like other prolific writers, he runs out of important things to say and can create awful garbage (A Widow For One Year is a particularly good example of his bad writing - Irving has the distinction of having written some of the best and worst novels I've ever read).
No problem.
Thanks for the more abundant information on Irving. I have heard of The World According to Garp---was there not a movie on that? I don't watch a ton of movies either--I know, I am so not with it.
I remember a book I read that should have been offensive to me, but I did enjoy it tremendously (although I would not recommend it to my Christian friends who are light of heart). The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. I even bought the sequel (it was not published in America) from overseas, but I have not gotten myself into it because a friend of mine read it before me (I was reading something else at the time) and she told me that it was horrible. Disgusting. The one thing about the main character in The Power of One is that PK is a true character. Courtenay did a great job of producing this development, I thought, and he just seemed like a real individual. The thing that my friend said about the sequel that caught my attention was that PK did things in this book that did not line up with his real character---sort of like Courtenay lost touch of what his own creation was like. That would be too painful to read for me so I can not do that.
Just like trying to read Scarlett after reading Gone With the Wind. There were so many bad reviews I could not allow myself to take that step into reading it. If you have ever read Gone With the Wind, you get this desperate feeling of "cliff hanger" when reading the last line. I had never seen the movie when I read it so I had no idea what was to happen. I love that. Just punch me in the stomach.
I will check out that book though when at the library next. I still have to read Basil by Collins (maybe you should read some Collins---I get everyone else to) among many others on my huge list. Daunting.
After reading a few months of your blog archives, I thought you might like a book meme.
I read Gone With the Wind in two days (while sitting in the back of classrooms in junior high trying to hide it behind other books). I hadn't ever seen the movie either at that point. I've never had any interest in reading Scarlett, though.
And Mere Christianity was another one of the Books that Changed my Life. It changed it far more than the one I actually wrote about, but I had the same feeling - a lot of people have written about it.
Since you've been sick, though, I was surprised at how quickly you wrote about the meme!
That's me. You got me pegged. You don't even have to spell it out. I wrote the whole thing out with half a brain, is what I did. My head was pulsing, body aching, it hurt to turn my face, and snot was abundant. When it comes to books I will be up for just about anything. I will part waters. It is really sick, actually.
I appreciated thinking about what books were great for me, etc. I was surprised to look at other blogs that posted this same book deal and they were acting like someone DRAGGED them into it. Like Rick Capezza. What is up with him? HA ha. He knows it was quite enjoyable to think of good books.
Thank you for tagging me. :)
Post a Comment