I thought maybe it would be a little self-indulgent to post the list (I think this is because I've just finished a rather self-indulgent book --Katharine Weber's The Little Women, which is fabulous; I recommend it, particularly if you like The Great Gatsby and those sort of books), but then I've put it under a cut, so people don't have to read if they don't want to. I love to read other people's lists: it proves I'm not the obsessive reader out there. Oh, and I see on Chicklit that you plan to keep track of the books you read, so I'll look forward to reading your list next January!
The icon is from the cover of Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which you should definitely try. It's one of my very favourites.
That's really impressive! I want more reading time. I just need to make the time, right? Yeah. Anything in particular you'd recommend, besides Pamela Dean and Chicklit club books?
Funny you should ask, because I was thinking that you might really get a kick out of Sarah Caudwell's books. The first reader review here (the Oct. 2001 one) sums up what I like about the series. I'd recommend trying The Sibyl in Her Grave (it's the fourth of four books but it doesn't matter if you read them out of order). (I read it three times last year.)
You might also like Instead of a Letter by Diana Athill. I enjoyed it more than Stet - Athill seems to examine her life quite honestly, and I enjoyed the writing.
All of the Helene Hanff books.
Camilla was great, and it has some faith examination stuff in it (I'm pretty sure L'Engle is Christian).
Some Things That Stay is beautifully written (I think Willis is also a poet). This was one of my favourites - I plan on reading it again this year.
The Orchid Thief was fun to read - love, love, love Orlean's writing style.
Don't Care High is just plain funny - starfishchick and goovie will back me up on this one.
I loved Garbo Laughs. (blue_lotus picked it as one of her top books for the year, IIRC - I
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Madeline L'Engel is a deeply religious writer, especially in the past two decades. She's actually the scholar in residence (and librarian, I think) at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in NYC. I wrote her there when I was about 16, and she wrote back.
I've pulled a lot of your books for my reading list. I loved Cat's Eye, and I think that one's due for a reread as well. Thanks for the list!
I have Cat's Eye and I think I've read it, but I can't remember the story. Is that the one with the ravine and the girls who are horrible to each other? (I think my mind goes into subliminal mode when I read Atwood, because with one exception I never remember the plots.)
idella, I'm curious about Grafton's R book. I got so pissed of at the non-conclusive ending of P that I hesitate to read another, but I've read all of them so far. Is it worth it? Or does she once again fail to actually tell you the ending? And if you know who did it in P, I'd love to be enlightened. "Suddenly I knew exactly what I was looking at" didn't do it for me.
Will write down your suggestions and go read some more!
But you have to promise me that you won't read the ones that SUCK!
Actually, the only one that I'd actively warn people away from is Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Any other book that sucked that badly just wasn't finished.
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Also, purty icon!
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The icon is from the cover of Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, which you should definitely try. It's one of my very favourites.
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You might also like Instead of a Letter by Diana Athill. I enjoyed it more than Stet - Athill seems to examine her life quite honestly, and I enjoyed the writing.
All of the Helene Hanff books.
Camilla was great, and it has some faith examination stuff in it (I'm pretty sure L'Engle is Christian).
Some Things That Stay is beautifully written (I think Willis is also a poet). This was one of my favourites - I plan on reading it again this year.
The Orchid Thief was fun to read - love, love, love Orlean's writing style.
Don't Care High is just plain funny - starfishchick and goovie will back me up on this one.
I loved Garbo Laughs. (blue_lotus picked it as one of her top books for the year, IIRC - I ( ... )
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I've pulled a lot of your books for my reading list. I loved Cat's Eye, and I think that one's due for a reread as well. Thanks for the list!
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idella, I'm curious about Grafton's R book. I got so pissed of at the non-conclusive ending of P that I hesitate to read another, but I've read all of them so far. Is it worth it? Or does she once again fail to actually tell you the ending? And if you know who did it in P, I'd love to be enlightened. "Suddenly I knew exactly what I was looking at" didn't do it for me.
Will write down your suggestions and go read some more!
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also, it makes me really, really happy to see you posting.
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I am printing out your post so that it may serve as my own personal to-read list!
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Actually, the only one that I'd actively warn people away from is Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Any other book that sucked that badly just wasn't finished.
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