1. The Wheel on the School. Written by Meindert DeJong. This is the book that I have the earliest memories of my mom reading to A** and I before bed. It is a wonderful story set in the small fishing community of Shora, where the children wonder why there are no storks in the village. I won't ruin it for you, but this book is definitely one of the best of the 20th century! (PS-It won the Newberry Medal in 1955.)
2. Little Women. Written by Louisa May Alcott. I can't even count the number of times I read this book. At least four, maybe five. I think I love this book so much because I identified with the trials and tribulations of having sisters. I still remember the one chapter I dislike - chapter 10: The P.C. and the P.O. It's about a secret society the girls form called the Pickwick Club, and it's a total snoozefest.
3. Anne of Green Gables. Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. By the time I was in fifth grade, I had already read all eight of these books at least once. Thanks to these books, I made it onto Mrs. Kijima's list of people who had read the most pages. I love Anne (with an E) and her auburn hair and I still drive past houses that I think are "Anne of Green Gables" houses. They're the ones with wrap around porches and turret style corners. I refuse to watch the movies or television shows because I have the image so perfect in my head.
4. Little House on the Prairie. Written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is another set of books that my mom read to A and I when we were little. We made it through Farmer Boy (the third book, which is about Almanzo) before I started reading them on my own. I loved these books because they transported me to a time unknown, where people had to live in log cabins and worry about bears and cougars, and where hard candy was a treat enjoyed very rarely, usually after a trip by Pa into town.
5. Brave New World. By Aldous Huxley. I can confidently say that this is the only book that has ever given me nightmares. I can't read books about dystopian futures, apparently. (Hey, I never said this list of books impacted my life in a good way!)
Most of the books I buy now are in airports, and some of the most recent books I've read are The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and Secretariat.
What books have impacted your life? What are your favorites?
*Even though I want a Kindle, I'd still buy books. I love the way they smell. And don't look at me like that, you smell books too.
**A is my sister. I'm trying not to use too many first names.
1. East of Eden - favorite book. This book ties together stories from the Bible and Steinbeck's brain SO well.
ReplyDelete2. The Chronicles of Narnia series - 2nd-7th favorite books.
My very favorite book is Jane Eyre followed closely by Charlotte's Web.
ReplyDeleteShe read The Wheel on the School to me too!
ReplyDeleteI just didn't listen as well as you guys did. :(