Thursday, March 29, 2007

Ten Books I Can't Live Without

Kailana has asked us bloggers to post the Ten Books You Cannot Live Without. I have been thinking about my list for days. It's just so hard to narrow it down to ten. I kind of tweaked my list to include series and short stories. I hope that is okay. Here goes.....

1. Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - I heart this short story big time. I can read it over and over again, which I do. I think it's just so beautifully written (as well as many of his other works). Pure perfection.

2. A Book of Dwarfs by Ruth Manning-Sanders - My favorite short story collection as a child. Each story is about mythical dwarfs, good and bad. I love the illustrations that accompany each story. I used to get lost in my imagination each time I cracked it open. I still have my copy, although it seems that I pilfered it from my elementary school library (I really don't think that I intentionally kept it). Shame on me!

3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - My mother bought me a beautifully illustrated unabridged edition when I was around 8 or 9 years old. I remember how excited she was to have me unwrap it. I also remember not being as eager to read it, but once I finally decided to I just fell in love.

4. Bruno the Pretzel Man by Edward E. Davis - This book was given to me by my "aunt" when I was in the single digits (I believe around 6 y.o.). I remember salivating over the description on how perfect pretzels were made and tasted. I think this was my first cozy read. I also remember it making me feel all gooey inside.

5. The Birth House by Ami McKay - I heart Ami McKay. I heart The Birth House. Read my review here. And go out and buy a copy RIGHT NOW!

6. Archie Comics - I know, they're not books. But how can I not mention them! I love Archie comics. To this day, whenever I see a new digest out, I buy it. I love the fact that my local supermarket stocks them. Yes, I get the occasional weird "are you kidding me??" look, but I really don't care what people think. They're fun. Here's another embarrassing confession - I had a crush on Jughead. I kid you not. I also had a crush on Lion-O from Thundercats. There is no shame in my game! ;)

7. The Casteel Series by V.C. Andrews - I've read this series three times. V.C. Andrews just does it for me.

8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - I gulped this one down in a few days (in between work and school). Read my reviews here and here.

9. Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor - Amber is a naughty, naughty girl. This book is huge in size and yet I wished it went on a bit more.

10. Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue - Another naughty, naughty girl. If you haven't read this, then what are you waiting for?

Okay.....that was really hard. I have so many more that I can't live without, such as Yo! , When I Was Puerto Rican, An O.Henry Reader, Fruits Basket, High Maintenance, Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, Something Borrowed, The Ramona Series, anything by Judy Blume, The Crimson Petal and The White and, of course, the Harry Potter Series. They're probably going to get mad at me and disappear deeper into my piles for a couple of years :)

21 comments:

Kailana said...

Thanks for joining in! Great list!

Cory said...

I don't recognize most of the books on your list, but that will change. However, several of the one's that almost made it almost made mine as well!

Chris said...

Loved The Birth House and reviewed on my blog recently as well.

kookie said...

Amelia, you are not going to believe this. I also still buy and read Archie comics! And...I've always had a not-so-secret crush on Jughead. I guess you are not so strange after all. ;)

Andi said...

Love me some Stephenie Meyer. I'll definitely give your reviews a look!

Cipriano said...

Wow. I cannot believe that you mention Slammerkin!
It is one of my favorite, as in TOP TEN novels of all time! And so few readers are reading Emma Donoghue. It is a tragedy. She is superb.
All the best to you Amelia.
-- Cip

Anonymous said...

What a fun list. Slammerkin was good, and Crimson Petal, too! I will have to look for the Nathaniel Hawthorne story--I have only read Scarlet Letter! I don't think I could narrow it town to ten books!!

Stephanie said...

Great List! I have a secret affinity towards V. C. Andrews!! Not the best books around, but they are so much fun to read!!

I read Forever Amber last year. Good book...but Amber started to annoy me senseless by the end of the book!

Cipriano said...

Here I am, back again.
You know.... you make me realize that I don't think I have EVER heard a bad comment about Ami McKay!
What IS it about her?
Is she really that good? If so, I am seriously missing out.... I looked at the book on Saturday, it was at Costco... [about nine times cheaper than anywhere else in the world], and I still did not buy it. I have never heard anyone say anything but really positive things about her book.
What is my problem?
Is it that cover?
Is it my fear of [inflicting] pregnancy? Is that what keeps me from cracking her open?

She must be an amazing author.
I've got to read her.

Anonymous said...

I don't know most of these books.

They all look good, though.

Kagemusha said...

I was sort of disappointed with "Yo!" but "When I was Puertorican" sure made up for it. Cheerio!

Anonymous said...

I love it! I am doing this one over the weekend and I loved that you included Judy Blume (she saved my mom and I from MANY embarrassing conversations) and Beverly Cleary (love Ramona Quimby!).

Bookfool said...

I've got Slammerkin on the shelf - just came across it, tonight, and thought, "Hmmm." I'll have to bump it up on the list, thanks. The Birth House is on my wish list, too. :)

Lotus Reads said...

Oh, true, whittling the list down to ten sounds like a Herculian task indeed...but I think I might try this exercise.

I've never read "Rappaccini's Daughter" but you make me want to. I shall have to put it on my list. "A Book of Dwarfs" sounds great too! "Forever Amber" used to my mom's favorite book for many years...

Nice post, Amelia!

Anonymous said...

Ruth Mannning-Sanders collections (the dozens of them) are wonderful. Her books are true treasures.

Harlot said...

Good list. Not a fan of Nathaniel Hawthorne since i loathed SCARLET LETTER, but LITTLE WOMEN was one of the things i nicked from my grandfather's library when i was a wee heathen LOL. I loved it. TWILIGHT *sigh* oh Edward... *double sigh* SLAMMERSKIN is fantastic and i shouldn't start with Harry Potter since i wouldn't be able to stop! :P

Carl V. Anderson said...

I haven't read Archie comics for years and I miss them. I used to buy the digests all the time. It is ridiculous how expensive they have gotten! I now have the hankering to go pick one or two up from the grocery store and revel in some nostaglic pleasure.

Anonymous said...

Hope all is well with you.

I have to gather my thoughts, weigh my options, rummage my shelves, and revisit my journals to come up with a list. But an interesting list you've got there. :)

Josette said...

Twilight is a good book. It's better than New Moon, though.

Are you going to catch the Twilight movie? =)

Carl V. Anderson said...

I love Archie comics! Even at nearly 40 my wife will still occasionally pick me up a Betty and Veronica Double Digest for a sweet surprise gift. I always had...still have...the hugest crush on Betty. She was the ideal woman! :) Don't let people look at you funny, the Archie series is wonderful.

Kristine said...

I love the Books on your top 10 list. I have read few of them and would lie to read the other books.