My Favorite Books (Redux)
I have been attempting to keep a running list of all the books I have ever read for years now. It's unfortunate that I would choose to revisit this almost a decade later, when I have little time for books anymore and finding a book I actually want to read has become an exhausting excess of "what the hell is this?"
Anyway, I think I should start with my favorite authors. At the very least, it's a place to start, until I can figure out how to catalogue (and where to find) every book I've ever read. Ever.
I will allow myself to list backdated reads, provided I remember or can find their title and author.
Favorite Authors
Sarah Addison Allen
Jane Austen
Emma Bull
Gillian Bradshaw
Gail Carson Levine
Robin McKinley
Garth Nix
Philip Pullman
Mary Renault
Vikram Seth
Dodie Smith
Banana Yoshimoto
The Read(ing) List
A work in progress, obviously.
Lonely Werewolf Girl, Martin Millar (Was I absent when everyone held the "This Book is Fracking Amazing" conference? Yes? Good. I am glad. Because it is AWFUL.)
Midnight Never Come, Marie Brennan (Considering buying it so I can have her lovely book on my bookshelf forever.)
Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella (I rather disliked the heroine. By the end I found myself wanting to stab her with all 12 of her credit cards in turn. Still good for a laugh and that warm, superior feeling.)
Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (Started unconsciously leaving off the "I" in any sentence that required "I am" after finishing. Annoying. As was the book.)
The Actual, Saul Bellow (It gave me that rather dull feeling of having read something ridiculously well written but at a time when all I wanted was a trashy trashy novel. Will try again when I am feeling intellectual.)
How Fiction Works, James Wood (Brilliant essay/commentary, made me feel woefully under-read and ignorant. Recommended.)
The Wolf Hunt, Gillian Bradshaw (I really ought to start keeping track of how many times I have read this. This may be the thirtieth.)
The Beacon at Alexandria, ibid (This book made me believe in authors again. If I have read The Wolf Hunt entirely too many times, then I am guilty twice over when it comes to The Beacon at Alexandria. I bought a copy and had it shipped express when I found out it was no longer in print. I treasure my copy like I treasure my chocolate turtles.)
The Moon by Night, Madeleine L'Engle (This book made me sneeze: partially because I have an original 1963 edition, and partially because I have not read it since sixth grade. It was dusty. But still enjoyable. While I remember Ms L'Engle, I may as well add...)
Meet the Austins
A Ring of Endless Light
The Arm of the Starfish
A Wrinkle in TIme
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Many Waters
Ms. L'Engle was very talented, and her books are some of the first I read or owned when I was younger. She will be greatly missed.
Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen (reminded me very strongly of the movie Practical Magic. Loved it.)
The Sugar Queen, ibid (reminded me very strongly of Garden Spells. A little itty bitty formulaic. A tad. But still oh so good and made me crave chocolate and spun sugar like a sweet-tooth just out on parole.)
Love in Translation, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga (This was a traveling gift to me from a close friend when I left for Japan. By the time I finished it -6 hours later on my 14 hour flight- at first all I could think was, way to go giving me ideas, damnit! The book was lovely, and very sweet.)
Kamikaze Girls, Yukio Kanesada (I read this in 2.5 hours. That is a compliment - I was reading that fast because I didnt want to stop. It was hilarious, and thoughtful - I had never had this kind of insight into lolita culture, something I admit I have scorned up til now.)
Anyway, I think I should start with my favorite authors. At the very least, it's a place to start, until I can figure out how to catalogue (and where to find) every book I've ever read. Ever.
I will allow myself to list backdated reads, provided I remember or can find their title and author.
Favorite Authors
Sarah Addison Allen
Jane Austen
Emma Bull
Gillian Bradshaw
Gail Carson Levine
Robin McKinley
Garth Nix
Philip Pullman
Mary Renault
Vikram Seth
Dodie Smith
Banana Yoshimoto
The Read(ing) List
A work in progress, obviously.
Lonely Werewolf Girl, Martin Millar (Was I absent when everyone held the "This Book is Fracking Amazing" conference? Yes? Good. I am glad. Because it is AWFUL.)
Midnight Never Come, Marie Brennan (Considering buying it so I can have her lovely book on my bookshelf forever.)
Confessions of a Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella (I rather disliked the heroine. By the end I found myself wanting to stab her with all 12 of her credit cards in turn. Still good for a laugh and that warm, superior feeling.)
Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding (Started unconsciously leaving off the "I" in any sentence that required "I am" after finishing. Annoying. As was the book.)
The Actual, Saul Bellow (It gave me that rather dull feeling of having read something ridiculously well written but at a time when all I wanted was a trashy trashy novel. Will try again when I am feeling intellectual.)
How Fiction Works, James Wood (Brilliant essay/commentary, made me feel woefully under-read and ignorant. Recommended.)
The Wolf Hunt, Gillian Bradshaw (I really ought to start keeping track of how many times I have read this. This may be the thirtieth.)
The Beacon at Alexandria, ibid (This book made me believe in authors again. If I have read The Wolf Hunt entirely too many times, then I am guilty twice over when it comes to The Beacon at Alexandria. I bought a copy and had it shipped express when I found out it was no longer in print. I treasure my copy like I treasure my chocolate turtles.)
The Moon by Night, Madeleine L'Engle (This book made me sneeze: partially because I have an original 1963 edition, and partially because I have not read it since sixth grade. It was dusty. But still enjoyable. While I remember Ms L'Engle, I may as well add...)
Meet the Austins
A Ring of Endless Light
The Arm of the Starfish
A Wrinkle in TIme
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Many Waters
Ms. L'Engle was very talented, and her books are some of the first I read or owned when I was younger. She will be greatly missed.
Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen (reminded me very strongly of the movie Practical Magic. Loved it.)
The Sugar Queen, ibid (reminded me very strongly of Garden Spells. A little itty bitty formulaic. A tad. But still oh so good and made me crave chocolate and spun sugar like a sweet-tooth just out on parole.)
Love in Translation, Wendy Nelson Tokunaga (This was a traveling gift to me from a close friend when I left for Japan. By the time I finished it -6 hours later on my 14 hour flight- at first all I could think was, way to go giving me ideas, damnit! The book was lovely, and very sweet.)
Kamikaze Girls, Yukio Kanesada (I read this in 2.5 hours. That is a compliment - I was reading that fast because I didnt want to stop. It was hilarious, and thoughtful - I had never had this kind of insight into lolita culture, something I admit I have scorned up til now.)