Diversion or catalyst, however you choose to see it

[devoken]

The 15 books meme sounds appealing, but I don't want to read anyone else's lists until I've written my own. Hence, I am writing my own.

Directions: "List 15 books you've read that will always stick with you: Don't take too long to think about it

Comments

[londo]

Holy crap.

Someone else who's read The Green Book.

[devoken]

It's one of my favorite books. My father got it for me at a library book sale when I was around 9 years old. When I first sat down with it I read it three times in a row. Even as an adult I still occasionally read it.

[londo]

I have vivid memory of most of the book, various scenes within the book, the author's name, and the cover art, but could not remember the name of the book itself and had to google to be sure I was right.

Also, you totally forgot The Giver the first time around.

[devoken]

That happens to me frequently, actually. I'll clearly remember many parts of a book (or painting, or movie, or poem, or movie) but none that are useful for talking about the book. Sometimes I don't even have anything that's useful for Google. For instance, the time I had a book stuck in my head that I'd read in childhood. All I remembered from it was "three rings", "Michelangelo", "personal filing system", a brilliant description of how to hide in a bathroom from a security guard, and the fact that P.O. boxes had to be rented quarterly. Let me tell you, those are not particularly useful bits of trivia to google with. I eventually figured it out, though it took quite some time. It's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg.

You're right, I did forget The Giver. I edited it pretty quickly, but clearly not quickly enough. You have caught me in my foul deceit.

[woodwardiocom]

Hmm, well, I've read the Heinlein . . .

Which would you recommend the most?

[devoken]

That really depends on what you're looking for. It's a pretty eclectic list. I'll give you three that seem likely, but if you wanted to send along some hint of what you're in the mood for, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to hearing it. Also, I'm happy to send along a list of the books and pertinent information like premises, genre, whether or not it made me cry, etc.

First off, A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters, which is a collection of well-written short stories. Given that it's short stories, there's likely to be something in it that is to your taste. Beyond that, Julian Barnes is an excellent author and this is a good way to check out his various writing styles. I would recommend that you not skip around, though. Even when you come to the slow, ponderous, medieval Catholic treatise.

Another one which might appeal to you (I'm being a bit vain here) is Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, which is an autobiography. I first read it because my family figures heavily in it. The author is not related to me, but many of the main

[devoken]

bah. Sorry about the italics. Guess I didn't include the backslash in the title of Suck City.

[woodwardiocom]

Thanks! I've made a note about History, which looks up my alley . . .