Okay, so I’ve seen this meme done a few times around the ‘hood and on Facebook so I thought I would do it too. I don’t remember exactly who all has done this and where I stole from. I do know that Knight did it. And since I like to stalk Knight I probably swiped it from her.
Anyway, there are some pretty vague rules that I also don’t really remember, but the gist of the whole thing is you are to tell everyone 15 (or so) books that really stuck with you or made an impression on you or whatever. Not “changed your life” books, but books that you loved or hated and they stuck with you cause you loved or hated them. Or something like that. Oh and you’re not supposed to spend a lot of time on it. Yeah, I do remember that. Just real quick like come up with 15 books that have stuck with you for whatever reason.
So here they are, in no particular order…
A Time to Kill – John Grisham
North Dallas Forty – Peter Gent
In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
On the Road – Jack Kerouac
Private Parts – Howard Stern
Clear and Present Danger – Tom Clancy
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
Assassination Vacation - Sarah Vowell
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson
Notes From a Small Island – Bill Bryson
Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger
Ana Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
A Parliament of Whores – P. J. O’Rourke
In the Electric Mist of the Confederate Dead – James Lee Burke
The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
As I Lay Dying – William Faulkner *
Profiles in Courage – John F. Kennedy
Shoot Low Boys, They’re Riding Shetland Ponies – Lewis Grizzard
Misquoting Jesus – Bart Ehrman
D-Day/Citizen Soldiers/Undaunted Courage – Stephen Ambrose **
A Season on the Brink - John Feinstein
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
* Funny how something you hated sooooo much can stick with you, isn’t it?
** Just couldn’t decide which of those three to use, even though I’m sure I read D-Day first. Love Stephen Ambrose.
Okay, so for a lot of these authors, like Grisham, Thompson, Burke, Bryson and some others, I could have used any one of a number of their books. For all of them except Ambrose I went with the first one that I read.
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Aaaaaaaaand that’s it for me kiddos. I’ve got family in for the 4th of July weekend so I will be gone from the bloggerhood for the most part. I will probably wander and by and comment, but not every day.
So everyone have a wonderful Independence Day. Be safe and remember DO NOT TRY TO RE-LIGHT DUDS!
Jul 2, 2009
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22 Cynical Comments:
UGH, I hated As I Lay Dying as well but I sure do remember a lot of it.
Thanks for this excellent list. I will be coming back to it each time I need a new book.
You Rock. Happy 4th.
I can't think of one book that I hated, I know I have some..I can even remember saying I can't believe I wasted my time on that ending. But my mind is blank ????
My all-time favorite was Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King. Some of my least favorites include Dragon Tears by Dean Koontz, The Phineas Poe collection, and Black Hawk Down.
Enjoy your long holiday weekend! Happy Independence Day!
That is quite a list of books there Jay. I am glad I have a poor memory for things I don't like.
I am always amazed by how available fireworks are in the States. Very glad this year in our drought conditions that we don't have the same kind of access.
Happy 4th.
I'm what as known as a 'chain reader'. I'm ALWAYS reading. Some of my reads are posted on my blog -- others on Shelfari.
Ack! Post a book list and then go on vacation - what a tease. Your list is interesting and surprising. Did you actually like Ana Karenina? I could not get into that book, but a very snooty girl recommended that I read it and then asked me every day how far I'd gotten. I finally got the fucking cliff notes & read them just so I could get her off my back.
Hm. Not sure I'll post it but I'll make up my own list just for the fun of it.
Have fun with your family & stay safe.
love,
fiwa
Some great books on your list Jay. I however, am a HUGE fan of Faulkner. Cheers!!
as i was reading your list i was thinking of my own! thanks, sugar...have a safe, but still outrageously fun 4th! xoxoxo
Great list. Some good ones there.
Great idea for a meme. I forgot all about Lewis Grizzard. He's so funny. Enjoy the holiday!
Jay I did not know you liked to read like that! I love reading. You have read some good ones and I need to read some of them on your list!!
Happy 4th to you also!!
Ne
That's a great list. I've read quite a lot of them, but not all. If you liked In Cold Blood (one of my all time favourites too) then you might like Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt.
Take Jays advice girls. Never try and relight a dude. Just get up and leave.
In Cold Blood has always been on my list, but I've yet to read it. When I ever finish the Spanish book (and I will!) I'll move on to something dark like that.
PS - Hope you had fun with your family this weekend and that you all had a happy 4th!
I feel like a Virgin in your list of books; I mean, sure. I remember the one's we read in school and I read a couple later out of curiosity but...
I read a lot of books, especially now that I'm hooked up with a few Publicist PR reps who offer me stuff to read for free and review.
Still.. I guess I'm more of a "how to be a better parent", self-help and 'romance novel' kinda' Gal.
There I go again, with my head in the sand! LOL!!
John Steinbeck is good though! That was a love-hate-addicting and love read there!
I'm on another insomniac night so lemme' slide....
Happy Monday, Jay!
You are so right about the ones you hate sticking with you!
My two most hated:
The Grapes of Wrath
The Good Earth
Both of those left a lasting impression....probably because they made me want to slit my wrists.
Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
I love you put Private Parts up there. People just don't get what a love story that was.
I'm still into the Hitchhikers guide and True Blood's books right now.
Reading is cool when you have time. :(
I recently read Undaunted Courage for book club. It arrived on the tail of too many historical fact books (Cokie Roberts' Ladies of Liberty, for example) and I had to force myself through half of the tome. I get enough factual reading without having to do so for book club. Bring on the novels! (Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.)
Great list. There are a few on here I haven't read that based on your taste I'm sure i''l like.
I saw the movie Capote, which I really liked, but I'm afraid that will have ruined the book. What do you think? Worth ready anyway?
Also, I haven't read Ehrman yet but i have seen some of his videos and listen to his podcasts, I'm guessing his books are pretty good. Yes?
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