Favorites For a Reason

When getting to know someone, the question is often asked, “What do you like to do in your free time?” That question is always an easy one for me to answer. When ever I have some free time (which isn’t as often as I would like) I read. I love, love the deliciousness of losing myself in a good book. Granted, I don’t read as much as say…my cousin Julie, who is the most voracious reader I know…or even my mom who is an avid reader, but I do love me a good book and will go to great lengths to carve out some reading time almost everyday.

Awhile ago my friend Belinda asked me to name my top five favorite books. This is a question that’s not as easy to answer. There are so many incredible books out there. But, I pondered on her question and came up with a few that I know will always be included in my list of favorites.

These books are on my list for a few reasons…

1- They include a hero or heroine that although not perfect, have qualities that I admire and respect. I love reading a book that includes well written, multi-dimensional characters who I can look up to, would want to be like…or at least try to be more like in my own life.

2- I love a story about people who work through and rise above very difficult circumstances. Not all the stories I love have the happiest endings (because I don’t believe life is always like a fairytale), but I love a story where the character(s) comes away from their circumstances better people, having learned something, having overcome or survived difficulty and are the better for it. I want to be inspired and strengthened as a person after reading a good story. If I’m going to spend my precious time reading, I want the books I read to do more than just entertain, I want them to enrich as well…teach me something…make me think…inspire me to be better, be more.

3- The books on my list are the kind of books that when you close them, after reading the very last sentence on the very last page, you hug the book to your chest, sigh a deep sigh of satisfaction (maybe wipe away a tear or two) and know that you’ll never forget the story, never forget the characters…they’re burned in your memory forever.

4- I don’t usually read a book more than once (too many good books to get to), so I know a book is automatically on the favorites list when I want to read it a second and maybe even a third or fourth time.

Note: After finalizing my list, I realized that my favorite books are more on the ‘heavy’ side. Apparently I like serious drama, not fluff. (Although fluff has it’s place and I like it too, if it’s not crap). So…if you’re looking for light reading recommendations this list is not for you.

FYI: These are my favorite books in the ‘Contemporary Fiction’ category, meaning they were written post 1950. I have an entirely different list of favorite ‘Classics’ (pre 1950) and even another list for ‘Non-Fiction’ another for “Children’s Novels'”, and another for books in a series.  I’ll save those for other posts in the future. Possibly.

THE LIST:

6- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The summer I first read this treasure of a book our friends from Canada were here for a visit. I was so close to the end that I couldn’t help sneaking into my room to read a chapter or two (it wasn’t my fault, it was Markus Zusak’s fault). My friend Amy came looking for her neglectful hostess and caught me in my room with the tears and snot running down my face as I read the last page. This book deals with a very dark subject (those darn Nazis), but does so with grace. The writing is like nothing you’ve read before. Make sure you have tissues on hand if you read this one.

5- The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter

I can’t remember who introduced me to this book (maybe mom), but I thank that person from the bottom of my heart. I also thank Forrest Carter for writing it. Reading this book is a total pleasure. It’s a simple book, written in simple language, and deals with subjects both simple and not so. This is the ‘lightest’ of the books on my list, although there are a few heart wrenching chapters. If you love a book that makes you laugh and cry at the same time, this is that book.

4- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

This book is many things, but it’s primarily a story of two incredible women from different generations and different backgrounds, trapped together in unforgettable circumstances, who begin as enemies and end as friends of the deepest kind. When I finished reading this book I could not stop thinking about it. It haunted me. This book is wonderfully written, but it’s not what I would call an easy read. It’s a tough story, but so beautiful. If you want a powerful story about rising above challenging circumstances this is the book for you. I learned a lot too. I know so much more about Afghanistan and it’s tumultuous history than I knew before.  

3- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

When I read the first page I was completely hooked. Sometimes I’ll get an actual craving to read this book, so I’ll pull it down from the shelf and read a few chapters just to experience the writing and the story. It’s that good. If you like interesting, multidimensional, complicated and well written characters, you’ll love this book. I’ve read other B. Kingsolver books, but this one is by far her best. She creates a world here that, once you experience it, you’ll never forget it. This book will leave you with so many things to think about and mull over. You won’t think about the world the same way after you read it.

2- Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

I’ve recommend this book to so many people. When they eventually get the book and read the synopsis they look at me and say “Really?” And I say, “Yes really.” You just have to read it. This book is magical, tragic, inspiring, beautiful and…one of the best books I’ve ever read (and reread) in my lifetime. Whenever I read this book I’ll come across a passage, or sentence that takes my breath away. I then have to tap Mike, who’s minding his own business next to me, and say, “You have to listen to this,” and then I force him to listen to me read. Then I say, “Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard in your life? How does someone come up with something that beautiful?” He nods his head at me, half listening, but…he hasn’t read it himself yet so he’s seriously missing out. And if you haven’t read it yet, you’re seriously missing out. If you haven’t met Jeremiah Land (the patriarch of the Land family), you need to ASAP.

1- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

It’s hard to pick a #1 favorite book, but when I think about it I always come back to “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I’ve read it more times than any other book (other than the Book of Mormon) and each time it’s a revelation. I adore this book, every sentence of it. Jem and Scout, Dill Harris, May Ella, Boo Radley and Atticus Finch…oh Atticus Finch. Is there any fictional character better than Atticus Finch? I think not. I read this book for the first time in high school and that’s when I realized that a good story, even if it’s just a made up story, can truly change your life and make you look at the world in a different and better way forever more. Love, love this book.

With any list of favorites there should always be honorable mentions. Books that would be in the top ten on the “Contemporary Fiction” list (if this list was a top ten list). My honorable mentions are…

Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This was a fun post for me to write because I was writing about my favorite passion, reading good books, but I also wrote it because I’m hoping that you readers out there will recommend other books that maybe I haven’t read that could possibly work there way onto my favorites list. So if you have a recommendation for me please share!