I'm joining in a linkup over at Many Little Blessings thanks to Momma in Progress showing me the way. Feel free to link up as well here.
Today, I wanted to write more about my favorite all time books, or really, a close estimate of the best books that come to mind while I write this, because anyone who reads knows that picking your top ten favorite books is virtually impossible. Of course, all these books are fiction books because I read for fun and occasionally to learn things useful. :D
Ten of my Favorite Fiction Books
1. The Catcher in they Rye by J. D. Salinger
If you haven't heard of this book, you probably just came out of that cave, right? In all seriousness, after 7 years since I first read it, this book is still my top top favorite. When someone asks me what my absolute favorite is, this comes to mind. Why? Well, I love how easily this book flows. On top of that, the morals and values hidden within the pages just makes the story seem all the more real.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When thinking of all the books I could write about, this one likes to stick out. It is a story about WWII told from the point of view of death about a jewish family in hiding. If that doesn't make you want to read it, maybe if I tell you about the simplicity of the writing, or about how fast it sucks you in to the real life of the characters from that time period? Just go read it if you haven't already.
3. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
If I told you this book was about a dog who likes racing, you'd never ever even think about picking it up, but what if I told you its about how a man who happens to like racing cars and suffers a million different problems finds his best friend twice? Perhaps if I just tell you to pick up the book and go with it? Because, really, no matter how you tell this book, you can't make someone want to read it without giving out all the good juicy details that pretty much ruin the story.
4. Drawing Blood by Poppy Z Brite
Really, this book, there's just one thing to say. If you like crazy weird mysterious books filled of interesting and horror all on the same pages, then this is the book for you. 'Nuff said.
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I find this book great. And of all people, my mother-in-law recommended it. When someone who rarely reads recommends a book, you know it has to be good, so I picked it up. And was sucked in, yet again. This book entails the story of a little girl who grows up in Brooklyn. Not the good side either. The things she sees and learns create a great tale of how one travels through life and finds all those little things that cause joy. It shows how roots are planted and how someone can blossom if people just let them.
6. A Wrinkle in Time
This chidren's classic has found itsself on my bookshelf since a friend of my mom's decided to give me her favorite copy. I still have that copy, actually, and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. The imaginative world created in this book finds its way to create such interesting descriptions and wonderful characters who, while they may be the odd bunch of the world, still manage to do great things. And even find love. Who doesn't love a good love story that takes place on some distant planet that no one would ever dream of finding?
7. The Divine Comedy by Dante
To begin this one, I don't expect a single person to go out and buy this book and try to read it. Why? Well, if you're fluent in Shakespeare, then this -might- make sense to you, but otherwise, find an easy "translated" version that actually makes sense to the common person. I decided to read this in high school for a reading log project because for some reason I figured it would be fun. Yep, reading a book in a language only scholars could understand was fun. At the time, yes. It took me about four tries on each canto to finally understand what was happening, but quite frankly, it was still a powerful book. The comedy is split into three secions: The Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso, or hell, purgatory, and heaven respectively. The story is actually told from the point of view of dante and explains his travels through each of the layers of each section of the afterlife. If you don't want to read it, atleast go play the video game. Ok, the game is super lame, but there's a good reason this epic poem is still around after 700+ years.
8. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
This book tells the story of a little boy who makes a few bad decisions, goes through a war, and makes those decisions right again. Flying a kite never felt so amazing when read through the pages of this book.
9. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Yes, I realize this book is written by the same guy listed above, but when you find a good book, you find a good book, and there's no telling what could come next. Well, I'm so glad this book followed. It tells the story of an Afghan girl (well, two really) who goes through life under the Afghan law, also goes through the war(s) and comes out alright in the end. Really, its a wonderful story that shows life lessons of being an islmaic woman in afghanistan as well as how life is when there's so much fighting going on. Once again, what a story!
10. Dawn by Elie Wiesel
Lastly, I'll leave you with one more book to add to your must read list. I can guess that almost every person in the world by now has read his book Night, but what about the others in the "series" of sorts. Dawn and Day aren't true stories like Night is, but they still hold that same power the first one did. Especially Dawn.
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