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The loves of my life - ten top readsNov 16 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Great reads in a variety of genres. I love them all
Books have always been a major part of my life and trying to choose a top ten is like trying to pick a favorite cloud out of the sky - next to impossible. So I thought about it some more and decided to set some criteria for the choice. With one exception, I've read all the books listed below several times over the years and have enjoyed them each time. In many cases, reading them again has brought a new perspective or point of interest. I'm not going to attempt to put them in rank order - that would be too much of a challenge. So here goes ... I, Robot by Isaac Asimov Asimov's books were my introduction to science fiction. He's best known for the Foundation future history series, but these were hard going when I first started reading his books in the early 1980s. I have always preferred his short stories, especially the ones about robots. The three laws of robotics, made famous in the recent film (which, though watchable, in no way does justice to the breadth of Asimov's imagination) were first listed here. In the book, robo-psychologist Susan Calvin is recounting her experiences with robots. Their positronic brains can be a bit buggy and this can alter their behavior in interesting ways. I liked all of Asimov's short stories and had difficulty in choosing one book. This one stands out because I still find it interesting. As a teenager, I was fascinated by the idea of robots, what they could do and how they might change our lives. Now, I'm blown away by the immensity of Asimov's vision. Given that the stories in this particular anthology were written in the 1940s and 1950s the concepts he proposes are radically forward thinking. Even today, technology hasn't fully caught up. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen It is a truth universally acknowledged ... that many people love this story. I first read this book at school. I have to confess to being a girly swot. Well, not really, but I used to read my literature books before term started so I could enjoy them before teachers leeched all the fun out of them. So in my O-level year, I shut myself away with Pride and Prejudice and got lost in the world of Eliza Bennett, Mr Darcy and others. I was enthralled. Despite the setting which was so far from my own experience, the characters and situations sprang to life and I read would end up with Mr Darcy, whether her sister Jane would marry Mr Bingley and what would become of the flighty Lydia. Austen's descriptions of characters and situations are unparalleled and the book is unputdownable. This is a book I have read and reread over the years and each time I get new enjoyment from it. Perhaps as I get older, I can see the perspectives of more of the characters, or perhaps it's just that it's a damn good read. This is one of my favorite books and if pushed, I would put it at the top of my list. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott This is another widely loved tale. The story of Jo, Beth, Amy and Meg growing up in genteel poverty in the US has something for everyone. Because the sisters are so different in personality, every reader can find someone to identify with. My favorite was Jo, the tomboy who was always getting into scrapes, but as I have read and reread it, I have come to appreciate Beth (who is gentle and good); Meg (sensible and good); and Amy (vain and foolish, but with a good heart). The lives, loves and traumas of these four sisters have moments of humor and of sadness. Almost everyone can find something to relate to in this great novel. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach One of my favorite books of all time, this short, inspirational tale sold one million copies in its first edition and has continued to be a bestseller. Jonathan Livingston Seagull wants to rise above the ordinary, food-focused life of a seagull and explore the possibilities of flight. Despite its title, this book is not just about seagulls. It is a story about searching for excellence, finding it within yourself and helping others to do the same. I love it because of the sense of possibility it gives me. I always feel uplifted after I've read it. Other good books by Bach include One and There's No Such Place as Far Away. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom Unlike the books I've listed above, this is a book I've read only once (it was a reading group choice earlier this year) but am sure to read again and again. Eddie is a maintenance man at a carnival. He dies at the start of the book and then meets five pivotal people from his past. Through his interaction with them he tries to make sense of his life and to undo any harm he may have done. This is a beautiful concept, even for a non-religious person like me. It was an extremely moving book, with moments of great sadness. I like it because it made heaven a real and interesting place. It's also a comforting book for anyone who has experienced a loss. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum Don't be put off by the recent film - the book is soooo much better than that. The story of Jason Bourne, the spy who has lost his identity, is gripping from start to finish. Jason tries to find out who he is and who he's working for. Along the way he finds out that he can speak several languages, knows things he doesn't think he should and can kill very efficiently. He uncovers a web of betrayal, the full extent of which is only revealed at the end of the novel. For me, this is the best of Ludlum's copious output (which includes two sequels to this novel). Jason Bourne is a strong and likeable character and the book is fast paced. I sat up well into the night to finish it the first time I read it, and even though I now know how it will turn out, it is still a good read. Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan Again, this is a much better book than the film would suggest. Terry McMillan was part of a new breed of African-American writers who wrote contemporary stories rather than focusing on the injustices of the past. This is the story of the lives and loves of four African-American women (shades of Little Women and Pride and Prejudice). I liked this book because the women in it were like women I knew - smart and sassy and able to take control of their lives (sometimes). McMillan's other books, Mama, Disappearing Acts, How Stella Got her Groove Back, and A Day Late and a Dollar Short are also worth a look. The Color Purple by Alice Walker The story of Celie who is abused by her father then married off to an equally abusive husband, Mister, is told through her letters to her lost sister Nettie. Celie recounts her pain at the loss of her children and sister and bewilderment at some of the events of her life. When Mister introduces his new love Shug Avery into the household, Celie's transformation begins. Shug helps her to find a sense of self. The Black English vernacular takes some getting used to but it is worth persisting because this is a remarkable tale of triumph over severe adversity. Walker's Possessing The Secret of Joy, the tale of Nettie's life in Africa is also worth a read, though it's not for the fainthearted, as it deals with female circumcision. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson; illustrated by Alex Scheffler This is a story I discovered recently when it was given to my (then) one-year-old as a birthday present. It is a rhythmical tale of how a small mouse outwits his would-be predators by inventing a monster called the Gruffalo. When the Gruffalo turns up behind him, he gets quite a shock, but soon turns this to his advantage, showing the Gruffalo (who is walking behind him) that all the other creatures are afraid of him. He thus makes it safely back home and scares the Gruffalo away. This is one of my daughter's books that I can read with her over and over again, without getting tired of it. It's also such a good book (see my review) that I've been giving it to all the children I know as gifts. That's why it's on this list. Misery by Stephen King Paul Sheldon, a writer, crashes his car and is taken prisoner by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. She reads his latest manuscript and doesn't like it. So she burns it and forces him to write a new one. For my money, this is one of King's best books. I was a fan in my teens (Carrie, The Stand, the Shining), fell out of love with the Green Mile series and have recently started reading him again, but Misery is one I've gone back to a few times. The relationship between writer and reader and the novel within a novel make this a compelling tale. And now that I've become a full-time writer myself, I plan to read it again. Summary Best books for language, description, characterization: Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, The Color Purple Best pacy reads: The Bourne Identity, Misery Best children's: The Gruffalo Best inspiration: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Five People You Meet in Heaven Best vision: I Robot Best feel-good: Waiting to Exhale So there you have it - my top ten fiction list. What do you think?  |
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