A new top ten

Back in 2007, I made a list of my top ten favorite books. I've read a lot of books since then and I think it requires some revision.

The new list:

1. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (unchanged)

2. White Fang by Jack London (unchanged)

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (unchanged)

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak- NEW! this book has to be on the list for the beautiful descriptions of the sky if nothing else. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins- NEW! I had to add this one just because of the emotions that it causes.

6. The Princess Bride by William Goldman- NEW! just a classic that I had actually never read. Funny and Entertaining

7. The Giver by Lois Lowry (unchanged)

8. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley (unchanged)

9. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas (unchanged)

10. The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale- NEW! I had to put Shannon in here because the language in her books is just so beautiful. Her books are almost more like poetry.

Our choir teacher in high school used to make us play these games "if you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only have 10... books, cds, movies etc." This would be my list of books, only I am cheating because The Wheel of Time is 14 books, The Hunger Games is 3 books...

I don't know that I could do it with movies or CDs. I will have to think about it.

Ramblings about Hunger Games

Perhaps one of my greatest weaknesses is books. My mother always says that after I learned to read, all she ever saw of me was the top of my head over a book, and try as I might to temporarily give up the dream of a published book (I just don't have time to write right now), the books in my head won't leave me alone, even showing up in my dreams. That is where the problem comes in, putting them down. If the book is good (well-written, good movement to the plot, intriguing characters) I have a really hard time putting it down. Books follow me to parks, in cars (where I am not driving), into bathtubs, heck, I can read while cooking dinner. My housework, sleep and even my own writing suffers.

That brings me to the Hunger Games. The movie is coming out on March 23, I thought I would reread them before then. I started now because I thought it might take me a while to read all three, not so much. I started less than a week ago and am already on the last book.

I forgot how fast they move, and how much just about everything Peeta does and says splits my heart in half. I also have this problem that, in a well-written book, the characters become almost too real. I have very mixed feelings toward Katniss. A part of me hates her because she is so fickle and everything she does to Peeta. Another part of me thinks she holds to Gale because he is the last time her life made any sort of sense. But there is still something in her that makes me hate her, and I can't quite put my finger on it. It might have something to do with how clueless she is, clueless about how deep and real Peeta's love is for her, about the rebellion, about her role in the rebellion. But maybe it is something else entirely. I think the reader's view of Katniss is so colored by the fact that she is the narrator that it is hard to know how to really feel about her.

See, I am over analyzing a fictional character! But that is proof of good writing. It is what I want of my books. That and the ripping the reader's heart in two part.

And as I write I think that I need to re-evaluate my list of the best books ever...

Addicted to Reading

I always say my ideal job would be if someone would pay me to read. Now, somebody always answers that I should be an editor, but that isn't what I mean. Sure, I usually can find a typo in every book I read, but that isn't why I read, and I don' t want it to be. I just love reading. I have always loved reading, and I find almost any excuse to do so, and I will read almost anything recommended to me. I am reading about a book a week right now, two if they are children's books. So, you know that game where "if you were stranded on a desert island and could only have three books what would they be?" I cannot come up with only three, it is impossible. They were playing this game on a rerun of the Office last night, then they did "which five DVDs would you want on the desert island?" And all I could think was can I trade my DVDs in for books? Yes, that is right kids, I am sick. :) Any way, so I am thinking I should try to come up with a top ten book list, but I just don't know if it is possible. Maybe if I can count a series as just one book...

1. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (alas, we miss you!) This one is number one without question. There are not better books ever written.

2. White Fang by Jack London. Yes, most of you have probably read the Call of the Wild; White Fang is better. I have read this book probably five times or more and it is probably about time to read it again.

Now it gets harder. Those two are obvious.
3. Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, yeah I think that has to be number 3 out of principle.

4. Message in a Bottle or A Walk to Remember or A Bend in the Road, something by Nicholas Sparks, not sure I can choose which one.

5. The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper.

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J K Rowling. Yep, that's right just the first one, before all the hype and the movies and all that, though to be fair, I haven't read the seventh one yet.

7. The Giver by Lowis Lowry everybody should have to read this book at some time in their life.

8. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, just read it, it's good.

9. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas because you gotta have a classic on a list like this.

10. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Now, remember, I haven't read EVERYTHING yet.