Prompt 001: Favorite Books
I usually have a book in my hand during my free time, so this will give everyone an idea about what it is I could be reading.
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The entire Sherlock Holmes series is actually my favorite. I love a good mystery, trying to solve them and getting the chance to think and analyze. As a scientist, I often get to use the same methods of observation and deductive reasoning. It's all elementary! - The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
I've always been attracted to Holden's character- probably because he was someone I could relate to. The first time I read the book, I was going through some difficult times as a teenager. I definitely dealt with teenage rebellion, and this novel helped me cope with it. - Cosmos, Carl Sagan
This is a book by one of my favorite astronomers and astrochemists! He's always been an inspiration for my work in astrophysics and other natural sciences. - Les Misérables, Victor Hugo
This is one of the first French novels my father gave to me. It's a great piece of literature that helped me to learn, and definitely appreciate, some of France's history. - The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Just some more French literature, and a classic adventure story with a dash of romance - what's not to like? - Micromégas, Voltaire
It's only a short story, but it's one of the few books in print that I own (used to belong to my father). My dad was always reading Voltaire, and this was something that I found interesting because it incorporated space. - Antigone, Sophocles
My mother introduced this story to me- along with other major Greek works. The story of Antigone was always my favorite. She's a strong woman who stands up for what she believes is right, and even though she's not a conventional beauty there is something about her that draws you in. - The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
There's something tragically glamorous about the entire era of the roaring twenties, and this novel captures it beautifully. There is also something tragically appealing about Gatsby and his ability to make his dreams a reality, not to mention his love for Daisy. Then again, maybe deep down I'm just something of a hopeless romantic.