Favorite Books

We often talk about favorite books - favorite books of all time, favorite books of the year, favorite books of the century, favorite children's books, etc. Go to a search engine, type in the words "favorite" and "books" and you will get upwards of 1,000,000,000 results. But what we won't necessarily find are the personal lists - the favorite books of the people who love us, teach us, and help shape us into the beings that we are.

My mother was a reader. I know that my love of the written word is a legacy from her. Mom had degrees in English education and journalism; she worked as both an editor and a writer. Many of my strongest memories of her include books. I don't remember a time when she did not read to me, recommend books to me, discuss books with me. Everywhere she went, Mom took a book; there were shelves and stacks of them in our house and the library was a weekly event. All of this and I have no idea what her favorite books were. None. I never asked.

It is amazing how much you can learn about a person by simply asking them about their favorite books. Usually, the picks are inspired by strong memories and/or intellectual passions. When I consider my own favorites, I realize that these titles contain more information about me than my Facebook profile. They are a window into my life, who I am and what I love.

This week, I challenge you to share your favorite books with someone important to you. More importantly, ask them about their favorites and see what you learn.

Marcia's Favorite Books:

 Early memories of reading this with Mom. When I read it now I'm amazed that I wasn't frightened by some of the illustrations.

"But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." ~Margery Williams

 I bought a composition book after reading this one. I was never as good at keeping notes, but developed a lifelong love for tomato sandwiches.

I loved Caddie's spunk, I loved the history, I loved the rhyme about chicken fricassee. I read this book so many times the dust jacket wore to pieces.

I read and re-read all four books in the series. Somewhere in my house is a signed copy that my mom gave me as a gift after I was grown.

Again with the plucky girl protagonist and the history.

As a child this book made me laugh and cry.

As an adult I drove 20 hours to Prince Edward Island with my
husband, children, and in-laws in tow to see it for myself.

 Judy Blume. And that's all I have to say about that.

Still the only sci-fi book I've truly relished.









 
I think I've read every book he wrote.

Re-read this annually. Who wouldn't love getting lost in the language or the settings of a Jane Austen novel? Own 2 print copies and have it on my Kindle.

Best Civil War novel I've read. Own 2 print copies (hardcover and paperback) with a spare paperback to loan out. I have had several students tell me that they've read this at my recommendation and "really liked it".

Riveting. Letters in response to The Greatest Generation. I could not put it down.