No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books. ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
There are few things in life more enjoyable than a good book.
When I fall in love with one, I want to own it and reread it later; if a book is labeled “a classic” it’s usually for good reason, but I don’t like them all; I adore a good mystery; I didn’t enjoy poetry until I was an adult; I highlight and write in the margins of my books.
Sometimes I photograph lines I especially like with my phone and post them to Instagram. That’s technology for you.
Here are some of my favorite books—the kind that make me forget to stop and eat, sleep, or get up and go to the bathroom!—in no particular order.
Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
…and so begins one of the most beloved books in the English language. For wit, wisdom, delicious dialogue, and insight into the human character, Jane Austen can’t be beat. Mr. Darcy! Need I say more?
If you’ve read this book, it’s probably already on your favorites list. If not, for goodness sakes, girlfriend, get it!
Odd Thomas—Odd is his name—considers himself an ordinary guy. He’s a short order cook in a small desert town with a great girlfriend. Oh, and dead people (sometimes famous ones) try to communicate with him. So much for ordinary.
I hear what you’re thinking: “Dawn, this really sounds a little hokey. A favorite. Really?”
I love Odd. He is truly lovable. The character is imbued with such heart, such compassion, such wit, such style, such goodness. I wish he were my son, or at least my son’s best friend.
Just thinking about this book makes me want to read it again.
Jane and Mr. Rochester are two of my all-time favorite characters in literature. Their emotions are so real, I live right along with them, feel the ache in my chest. This is another classic rightly labeled so.
My 16-year-old son read Jane Eyre this year. It’s an excellent book for an older teen, with strong themes of duty and morality.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes lives at one of the world’s most famous addresses: 221b Baker Street, London, England. His friend and confidant, Dr. Watson, narrates the tales as best he can, considering sometimes Sherlock doesn’t even share all the details with him. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories tie my love of mystery, suspense, and logic into one tidy package.
I had a secret wish to give one of my sons “Holmes” as a middle name!
The Bourne Trilogy by Robert Ludlum
Before the string of hit movies, there were the books: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum. In childhood I dreamed of becoming a master spy as I peeked around corners, my fingers laced as a gun pointing into the air.
Somewhere along the way I chose a different path, a husband and eight children, but I do love me a good spy thriller and these are as good as it gets.
The Moment it Clicks by Joe McNally
Joe McNally is a living legend. He has shot cover stories for Time, Life, National Geographic, Newsweek, and Entertainment Weekly. After attending classes he’s taught at Photoshop World and for KelbyTraining LIVE, I can also say that he’s not only an amazing photographer but an impressive instructor as well.
Joe shares the fascinating stories behind the images and “How to Get This Type of Shots” tips. The subjects range from sports, science, ballet, theater, politics, music, space, to the everyday. Joe is especially good at telling a story with an image. It’s a fascinating read.
“Tell me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are” is true enough, but I’d know you better if you told me what you reread. ~François Mauriac
Those joyous moments when I discover a paragraph or line, when the author says something that resonates deep inside me—expresses feelings I’ve never put into words; reveals something I’ve never seen; pieces words in a way that catches my breath, nods my head, brings a smile or a tear—that is my favorite kind of read.
What kind of reader are you?
By Dawn Camp, My Home Sweet Home
{Disclosure: Book links are affiliate links and all proceeds go to support the Bloom (in)courage book club.}
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I have to take notes when I read, usually. Most of the time I’m reading study type books. I have two journals just for reading. And they go with me everywhere my books go, LOL! I do like Transgression, Premonition, and Retribution by Randy Ingermanson (?) though.
I kept a reading journal with favorite quotes as a teen. I’m not sure why I ever stopped keeping one, but I would love to find that old one now.
I have to admit, this is a pretty great list of books! I’ve read a few of them myself, and plan to read some more of them! Dean Koontz is one of my favorite authors, but I also like Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton. I used to read a lot more than I do now, but I’m really trying to get back to it because I believe so strongly that reading keeps the brain sharp, and I don’t want mine turning to mush! 🙂
Yes, reading keeps the brain sharp—I couldn’t agree with you more!
My list is massive, and eclectic. I am actually participating in a challenge you might enjoy called 52 in 52, where you try to read 52 books in 52 weeks and write a little review about it. Very fun. There’s a website for us to link to. Keeps me challenged. I’m actually about to write the review for #17 this year.
My list includes: C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, Eric Metaxas, Howard Pyle, David Platt, Gene Stratton Porter, Rosemary Sutcliff, R. M. Ballantyne, A. W. Tozer. I’ll stop. It really could go on and on. 🙂
What an ambitious project! I’ve been reading some C.S. Lewis lately for the homeschool high school class I teach. We recently finished Out of the Silent Planet and next week is The Screwtape Letters.
Those are both wonderful!!! My favorite of his space trilogy was Perelandra. Have you read it? My husband and oldest son are reading Screwtape right now.
We’re going to get the 2nd and 3rd in the space trilogy. My 16yos read the 1st one, too, and he wants more!
I just had to laugh when I saw your list of books. My brother gave me a copy of Odd Thomas for Christmas in ’09, and I have YET to read it! He gives me a hard time about it EVERY time I see him! He’s not a believer, and seeing that the book is about a character who sees dead people, well, I have to admit that I was a little hesitant. I get spooked easily, and after living in the jungle, where the spirit world is often more real than the physical world, I tend to be very cautious with things along those lines. Add that to the fact that my reading time is limited at best, the book has been on my procrastination list! This might just be the push I needed! 🙂 My brother will be thrilled!!
and ps….Jane Eyre is one of my all-time faves! So rich!
Erika, just READ THE BOOK! 🙂
Oh you hit on so many good ones! I have read (and reread) the Holmes series so many times.
Another Author I love is Dee Henderson.
I’ll have to check her out!
I just heard about this shop on Etsy and thought you may like it. Everything Jane Austen. Have fun. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Brookish
Oooooh, my husband may be getting the “I am Mr. Darcy” t-shirt for Father’s Day!
The Bourne Trilogy was great. I think I’d make a great spy. Except for the being shot at part. I wouldn’t care for that.
Yes, the shooting part is no good. I used to thing my downfall would surely be my popping ankles. 😉
This was not the type of list I was expecting when the feed came through my e-mail this morning. I love it! I grew up reading Dean Koontz, Robert Ludlum & Stephen King. This past fall I read for the first time ever P&P. I don’t like romance or girly books, but this was wonderful. I usually get grief from Christian friends that the books I like to read aren’t Christian enough and from my family (unsaved) that I shouldn’t be a snob in what I read “just because I’m a Christian”. I read because I like to read. Some books are an escape; some are educational; some reads are about finding God in unexpected places. The best books are all of those. 😀 Thanks for sharing your list.
I am definitely a book snob. We sound like kindred (book) spirits (yes, I like Ann of Green Gables, too!). 🙂
I’m a fickle reader, I will start a book and love it and then quit only to return to it months later. I’ve been reading Middlemarch for about a year now but in 2 week spurts. It’s a great book.
I usually read a book and like it but can’t tell you why and then on the second or third read, BAM, it all crystallizes.
Les Miserables is probably the BEST book I’ve ever read. Its huge, beastly, and beautiful.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/80832427
But if you’re talking about rereadability, I actually have read the HP series about 6 times 🙂 But it would never make a top 10 list.
Why is that?
Pride & Prejudice may just be a perfect book. I know you can’t say that, but it might be.
I read the complete works of Sherlock Holmes while I was in middle school PURELY for bragging rights. Luckily for me, it was awesome, even though I only retained half of it. I had to go back and reread a few after the Robert Downey Jr/Jude Law movie came out.
Jane Eyre is such a marvelous book! Oddly, I wrote a kind of negative review of it… http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72129918 but it’s still one of my favorites!
Dawn- Thanks for sharing. As a compulsive reader, I’ve had to switch to non fiction ’cause I was convicted of loving reading more than my family.. i.e. I would only work out on a Stairmaster ’cause I could read at the same time, I would cook all meals with a book in my hand, I would only buy purses big enough to carry a book, and I would start to hyperventilate when there was a holiday notice at the Libray that they would be closed more than 12 hours.
In my fiction days- I loved Lori Wick and Nicolas Sparks, plus most Regency Romances. However, my favorite books of all time are children’s books. I loved How the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, Of Nightingales that Weep by Katherine Patteson, and My Father’s Dragon to name a few.
My Favorite Non-Fiction books are “Same Kind of Different as Me”- This is such a good book, I cried, laughed and could not believe such a amazing, sad and wonderful story was true. I also really like “The Tipping Point” and “Outliers” by Malcomn Gladwell. As a don’t sweat the small stuff kind of person, “The Tipping Point” revolutionized my parenting. “Outliers” was just plain fascinating as it examines what causes success.
I’ve never read any of those books! I appreciate the list and am going to add several of them to my “must read” list.
I made a commitment to read Jane Eyre last summer, and I’m glad I did. Then, I rented the movie from the library, and last week my husband and I went to the theater to see the latest version (which was just the way I pictured it in my head!)
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