My 15 books in 15 minutes
I just started to read Howling at the Moon by Zoomdoggies and she challenged me to make my list of 15 (favorite) books in 15 minutes, before reading her own posted list. So here it is:
1. Shogun James Clavell
2. A Confederacy of Dunces John Kennedy Toole
3. Saint Maybe Ann Tyler
4. The Falls Joyce Carol Oates
5. Crime and Punishment Fyodor Dostoevsky
6. Life of Pi Yann Martel
7. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Tom Robbins
8. The Source James Michener
9. Until Proven Guilty J.A. Jance
10. Ella Minnow Pea Mark Dunn
11. The Shining Stephen King
12. The Sparrow Mary Doria Russell
13. Ecotopia Ernest Callenbach
14. The entire Harry Potter Series J.K. Rowling
15. The Little Prince Antoine Saint-Exupéry
and just for sh*ts and grins I'll add one more 'cuz it appears I'm on a roll.
16. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
With the exception of Ella Minnow Pea and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I read these books from a few to many years ago. Some in high school: The Source and The Little Prince; college Crime and Punishment in my first English class before I switched majors; first novel after college: Shogun, when I was on vacation in Japan at my brother's followed by Even Cowgirls Get the Blues soon after I got home.
The others just came along over the years. Until Proven Guilty was my first mystery novel, which I had signed; I heard an interview with J.A. Jance on KUOW our local PBS station and I rushed down to the bookstore to meet her. Instead of selling me her newest hardback book, she suggested I start from the beginning, some five books earlier, and so I did; and she signed the paperback for me. I must say, I don't much care for her Arizona based Joanna Brady series as well as the Seattle based Beaumont, but I should pick up the one or two that feature characters from both series. It's on my rather lengthy list.
Fairly recently I was recommended the book Ella Minnow Pea, and it is a delight! I highly recommend it. It is an epistolary novel, not unlike the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was also quite special. I believe that both authors are deceased, as is John Kennedy Toole* whose mother saw to it this first book was published), * and others too, which is sad as I would welcome whatever they came up with next.
The Sparrow was followed by Children of God, and make an interesting pairing, about a Jesuit making first contact with life on another planet. Mary Doria Russell has moved on to different topics, however. The environmental novel Ecotopia was published in 1973, and has a sequel to it as well.
I think you would enjoy reading any of these books. I'd love to hear if you pick any of them up and see how they suit you.
Good night, TTYL, and Be Well,
and just for sh*ts and grins I'll add one more 'cuz it appears I'm on a roll.
16. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
With the exception of Ella Minnow Pea and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I read these books from a few to many years ago. Some in high school: The Source and The Little Prince; college Crime and Punishment in my first English class before I switched majors; first novel after college: Shogun, when I was on vacation in Japan at my brother's followed by Even Cowgirls Get the Blues soon after I got home.
The others just came along over the years. Until Proven Guilty was my first mystery novel, which I had signed; I heard an interview with J.A. Jance on KUOW our local PBS station and I rushed down to the bookstore to meet her. Instead of selling me her newest hardback book, she suggested I start from the beginning, some five books earlier, and so I did; and she signed the paperback for me. I must say, I don't much care for her Arizona based Joanna Brady series as well as the Seattle based Beaumont, but I should pick up the one or two that feature characters from both series. It's on my rather lengthy list.
Fairly recently I was recommended the book Ella Minnow Pea, and it is a delight! I highly recommend it. It is an epistolary novel, not unlike the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which was also quite special. I believe that both authors are deceased, as is John Kennedy Toole* whose mother saw to it this first book was published), * and others too, which is sad as I would welcome whatever they came up with next.
The Sparrow was followed by Children of God, and make an interesting pairing, about a Jesuit making first contact with life on another planet. Mary Doria Russell has moved on to different topics, however. The environmental novel Ecotopia was published in 1973, and has a sequel to it as well.
I think you would enjoy reading any of these books. I'd love to hear if you pick any of them up and see how they suit you.
Good night, TTYL, and Be Well,
My mind went blank for 15 mins so I have no list. I think I will look around for copy of A Confederacy of Dunces.
ReplyDeleteList of what I have read since end of 2008
I have a storage area full of all my older books but no where to put them right now. I should go get them . ... they are the more technical reading from school days.
Little Prince - o ok I remember Jonathan Livingston Seagull umm 1984, Fahrenheit 451 ok my mind went blank again
I loved the Potter series!
ReplyDeleteJane
You did great to list 15 in 15 books, not sure I could??
ReplyDeletekim
kmilyun--LOL
ReplyDeleteWebster, Zoomdoggies should know better than to challenge YOU! :)
I pass. Non-fiction is my bag. Jance was here at the Viewpoite! B5 my time here...she signed books and chatted, that's what I heard.
6, 14,15,16 love them all..the others are new to me...thanks for some new books to check into!
ReplyDeleteI've put one of these in my queue -- will let you know what I think afterwards. You and Jan rip through the books!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it is MS brain or just my brain as i don't think this would have change much before MS.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't name 15 books if I tried.
2 I can think of though, one was about cultures and spirit as they related to disabilities...wish I could remember the name as it was awesome and any Jodi Piccoult book.
I'll work on my brain and come up with a few more.
Gretchen
Jan, You've read a lot. A lot of mysteries. Who is your favorite author, and which was your favorite book?
ReplyDeleteJane - What's not to love?
Kim, Are you a reader? Of so, it might take longer than 15 minutes, but I know you could do it.
Diane, name just a few of your non-fiction books. I can take it. But notice I didn't list any self help books, or A Course in Miracles. (LOL) (Because I haven't finished it - hey, it's only been 24 years.)
LauraX - Let us know which ones.
Donna - Which one?
Gretchen - I like Jody Picoult too. That book you described sounds interesting - keep thinking! It'll come to you. I need your E-mail, btw.
I love to read but due to MS I can't remember ****.
ReplyDeleteI recognize several of the books on your list (I own them) but I couldn't tell you what they were about.
I'll take your word for it! =)
Fun list, Webster. The Source could have been on my list, too. And I really like J.A. Jance. So many books, so little time...
ReplyDeleteSaint Maybe -- probably not the one you would have guessed.
ReplyDeleteSherry, if I didn't write them down, I wouldn't remember either. I still have trouble remembering what some of them were about.
ReplyDeleteZoomer, These are just the books that popped up in 15 minutes!
BibliotekDonna - Actually I like ALL of Ann Tyler's books. St. Maybe just popped into my head. Also I think the protagonist reminded me of my supervisor at the time. He was such a nerd.