The Book List
Inspired by the miriad of Life Lists floating around the web, I feel compelled to create a list of books to read before I turn 40 (in just over nine years).
On this list are books that I’ve always wanted to read, books that I feel I need to read, books that sound like a lot of fun, books that are thought provoking, books that I own but haven’t cracked open, books that I read once upon a time but can’t remember, and books I started or have read excerpts from, but never finished.
Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
1. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
2. Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights
3. On the Origins of Species by Charles Darwin
4. Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx (currently reading)
5. Richard Dawkins’ The Greatest Show on Earth
6. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
7. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
8. Grow Great Grub by Gayla Trail
9. Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs ans Steel
10. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt
11. Sharon Shinn’s The Shape-Changer’s Wife
12. A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (yet to be written, due to be published in 2012)
Clearly I have many more books to add to this list and so I need your help! Do you have any suggestions? What must-read books would you recommend?
Most importantly, please don’t suggest any heartbreaking books! Real life (in the news! on the radio!) is depressing enough, I don’t need to cry while reading. (Unless it’s happy romantic tears. I am completely okay with those!)
I’m excited to see what you suggest.
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i have guns, germs & steel on my bookshelf waiting to be read as well!
i just started “the passage” based on several VERY VERY enthusiastic reviews, and so far it’s super compelling.
have you seen this list of 100 books to read before you die?
“withering heights” gave me a good chuckle.. :)
Comment by Alice — November 11, 2010
i saw you have “animal, vegetable, miracle” on your recent reads list – i was going to recommend that. “prodigal summer”, also by barbara kingsolver, is really really good.
Comment by emily — November 11, 2010
I really loved The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton, and I devoured Tam Lin by Pamela Dean in a night.
Comment by Megan — November 11, 2010
These are the books that changed my life, or at least the way I look at it:
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevski (spelling?)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Horns by Joe Hill and Heart-Shaped Box by the same author
anything by Minette Walters
I have to stop myself there or I’ll overload the server. These are all books that stayed with me for years after I closed them. Huck Finn I had to rediscover as a teacher. I read it and liked it and recognized its importance in high school, but it wasn’t until I was teaching it that I realized it really and truly was one of the greatest works ever written in the English language. And funny, to boot.
Oh, and while you’re reading Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible is phenomenally excellent.
Comment by Emily — November 11, 2010
John Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath
Comment by Jessica — November 11, 2010
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Of Love and Shadows by Isabel Allende
Comment by Laura — November 11, 2010
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, different view of the world.
Comment by Jake — November 11, 2010
I loved Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof. I started reading Sharon Shinn recently, after Charleen recommended it! Love the Twelve Houses series! I’ll have to try the Shape Changer’s Wife too.
Comment by Celina — November 12, 2010
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner if you haven’t already read it. If you have, consider another of his books, Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Comment by Holly — November 12, 2010
Annie Dillard! either ‘Pilgrim at Tinker Creek’ or ‘An American Childhood.’
Comment by Sarah — November 12, 2010
In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson–made me laugh out loud more than any book I’ve ever read!
Comment by Sharon — November 12, 2010
Bridget Jones’ Diary, East of Eden, The God of Small Things (A. Roy) The last two are a little heavy.
Comment by Bonny — November 13, 2010
Totally agree with the 2 Steinbeck books, plus his “Travels with Charley: In Search of America.” Also, “Tuesdays With Morrie,” by Mitch Albom.
Comment by Steven — November 15, 2010
The Secret Life of Bees; Bridget Jones’s Diary; The Dark is Rising (young adult); Mr. Popper’s Penguins (young adult – for fun!); Animal, Vegetable, Miracle; When You Reach Me (mind-bending young adult); The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; Ella Minnow Pea (took me two reads to get into the humor); Pride & Prejudice (of course!); Vivian Gussin Paley’s diary-style books about teaching preschool (so interesting and thoughtful/peaceful in so many ways); The Westing Game (young adult — for fun!); Summerhill School; I, Juan de Pareja (young adult). I could totally go on and on. I <3 reading!
Comment by Alexis — November 15, 2010