What to REALLY read?
Okay, between packing, appointments, rebooking flights, and every other ridiculous chore I had today, I thought about the 10 novels I would recommend reading before death. Or at least before you claim to be a grown up somewhere in your 30s.
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
- War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
- The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
- 1984, George Orwell
- Catch-22, Joseph Heller
- Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
- The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury
- The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
- The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
While I think the AOL book list sucked, it's not easy to compile. And even though this is my own rant based on Dan Brown delirium, I can’t help but meme it – so let me start with Erin, Jason, Ron, and Nancie. Feel free to share.
Comments
And my non-fiction list is topped by:
- Pilgrim at Tinker's Creek by Annie Dillard
- The Writing Life (also by Annie Dillard)
And a couple more it's too early in the morning for me to remember. Good list!
Posted by: Kevin | August 14, 2008 06:33 AM
I agree with you about most of these, especially Bradbury but I must confess I have never read War and Peace.
Posted by: Rachel | August 14, 2008 05:02 PM
I've never ready anything by Annie Dillard - sounds like I'm missing something good - I will check her out, thanks Kevin.
Posted by: suzie austin | August 15, 2008 09:26 PM
Rachel - I read it the first time in a geeky advanced class my senior year in high school. I definitely recommend giving it a try (obviously!).
Posted by: suzie | August 15, 2008 09:41 PM