I am an avid reader, and during the summer months, when I have no free time in the studio, I turn to books for comfort. As a child growing up, they were my means of escape, and I probably use them in the same way today. A library card is free, so as far as escapism goes, it is one of the best means available.
While I was sitting at the pool the other day, unable to read because the teenagers from the community had descended en masse and were blaring heavy metal music, I decided to start a list of my favorite books. I generally keep lists of books that other people find interesting as I’m always looking for a good read. I like to think that all books are magical and enchanting, but the sad truth is that there is a lot of bad fiction out there.
Although this list is numbered, I couldn’t begin to prioritize them. Many I’ve read in the last couple of years, but Tess has been on my list since childhood.
1 -The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
2 – Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
3 – The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audry Niffenegger
4 – Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
5 – The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
6 – The Secret History by Donna Tartt
7 – Harry Potter (all of them) by J. K. Rowling
8 – The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien
9 – The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
10 – The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve
11 – The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
12 – The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
13 – Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
14 – Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
15 – Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Although all of these will probably not suit everyone’s taste, they represent what I enjoy — and so this may find some other soul looking for a place to rest.
Oh — and by the way — I oftentimes read all of the books that an author has written — although you will find that no author made my list twice (with the exception of the Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings books which — as a series — must all be read). Some authors, in fact, seem to only have one good book in them — others are able to write well many times, but only once greatly.
An interesting collection of favorites! A lot of mine are really old and many of them I like to reread from time to time. I’ve just reread all of the Anne of Green Gables books — a lovely visit to a time gone by! Also n my list are
John Goffe’s Mill by George Woodbury
All of Mary K.Lasswell’s books about Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen and Miss Tinkham
L. M. Boston’s Green Knowe books
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books, also her Bardic Tales series
All of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels with Civil contract being my favorite
There are many others on my shelves that I reread but I have returned to these many times! There is nothing like old friends, even if they are fictional…
You might like authors Carol Goodman, Louise Erdrich, Amy Tan. One of my all time favorites is A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Well over 1000 pages, and I was still sorry to see it end. I just finished The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris. It’s the sequel to Chocolat, which I guess I will have to find (or borrow the movie from my daughter the Depp fan).
I have read all but four of the books that you listed. Interesting that we would choose similar reading.
I like your choices!
Caryl
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woodhavenstudio.wordpress.com