Reading Journal: Ten Books

Lately, a few folks on my facebook have been posting the "Ten Books that Have Stayed With You" tagging game.  Before anyone tagged me in it, I decided I wanted to do it as a blog post (and then post it on facebook because....I like social media), mostly because then I could include links to each book (mostly on goodreads). 
To be honest, considering my horrible reading retention, this was pretty easy. 
They are in no particular order.

8. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
I'm currently in the middle of my sixth or seventh annual "fall" re-read of this book.  I almost have some of my favorite passages memorized, and think about scenes from it often.

4. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
This introduced me to the wonders of Ms. Binchy (the only author I seek out on a regular basis).  Plus, it has one of my favorite endings of all time.  Complete enough to satisfy, yet ambiguous to disagree about.


5. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Reading this had changed my life and helped understand my Savior more, before even taking into account the circumstances under which the book was originally introduced to the world.



3. The Princess Bride: an Abridgement of S. Morgenstern's Classic Fairy Tale by William Goldman
Duh.  Also introduced to me the idea of breaking the fourth wall in literature, which is where some of my most favorite parts are located.  When I was younger, I toyed with the idea of shelving it under Morgenstern.  And, someday, I'll get around to mailing the publisher for the extended reunion scene.


10. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
I don't care that it's a children's book, that some good stuff in there. But, some days, you just want to move to Australia.


1. Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
You know a book is good when you don't realize you're shouting at the characters at 2 a.m., as though they can actually hear you.

9. KJV of the Bible
There's some good stuff in there.


7. Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Withing by Natalie Goldberg
It's a great little handbook for writing and editing.  Or it's a nice, easy read if you're not looking for guidance in those areas.  I need to get in touch with my inner samurai.


2. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I was in fourth grade the first time that I read this, and I didn't finish it because I got sick, missed like two weeks of school, the teacher had to go into my desk, return it to the library for me, and I had to wait a long time before no one else was reading it so I could check it out.  I sometimes still cry when I get to *that* part, and I don't think I ever want to see the movie.

6. Daughters in My Kingdom: the History and Work of Relief Society
This book made me feel wonderful about being a woman, and many of the stories inside of it help inspire me to be a better woman.


Fun Fact: As a testament to my inclination towards classic literature, I read Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard during my sophomore year study halls.  Only recently have I learned it's been canonized.  (I also read Wuthering Heights and The Great Gatsby during high school, by choice, and not for assignments.)