I'm looking for a good storm.
I mean, a wicked-awesome, black cloud-scudding, fallen leaf-whipping, sweater-wrapping, cheek-stinging, gray light-wafting, tree branch-rasping, air-whispering, mood-settling, cocoa-sipping nor'easter.
And I want it to last at least a week. Maybe more. Because I'm in the mood to wear Fall clothes, wrap up in Fall blankets, and read Fall books. I'm in the mood to be borne away to somewhen else–the way I was as a child when the autumn chill hit and my homework was done, and jobs were finished, and I could just steal away for a bit and fall into C.S. Lewis or Tokien. Watch Atticus transform before Scout's eyes, narrowly escape witch-burning with Kit Tyler, cry for Charlie as he watches Algernon die and understands what his life will be, and feel exquisite exhaustion as Pip finally mans up and takes responsibility for his life. I'd even go back and help Mrs. Frisby outwit the despicable rats of NIMH, or tag along with the "titian-haired" detective and her friends Bess and George on their crime-solving sprees.
There's an energy for this type of reading in the Fall, and I want the weather to cooperate with it. Besides, the second to last of the Potter movies is coming out this Thanksgiving. I need to get everything else out of the way so I can infuse myself with that for a few weeks.
What are your favorite books? Those that you snuggle up and disappear into, and have stayed with you since childhood. Or a more recent read. Don't be shy. We all want to know.
Here are a few that I have loved enough to pass on to my kids:
(These are in addition to those mentioned above)
-Mystery at Boulder Point
-Anne of Green Gables (All of the Annes)
-The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
-The Last Unicorn
-Charmed Life
-Good Omens
-Jurassic Park (I know. But it had me at Rawwooorrrrrrr.)
-The Box Car Children (The first book)
-A Year In Provence
-Under the Tuscan Sun (Not a blessed thing like the movie. Thank heavens.)
-Women Who Kept The Lights (Weird, I know, but fascinating history of women lighthouse keepers)
-Into Thin Air (Whoa)
-Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-Ender's Game
-The Tale of Two Cities
-The Princess Bride
Oh good heavens! There simply isn't room! Go on. Tell me what your favorites are. I'd love to know.
I recently read 'The Blue Sword' for the first time. Robin McKinley writes the best heroines and I can't look at the hills of Utah valley anymore without thinking of Damar – and if you want to know what that means, you'll just have to read the book 😉
Ahhh! I read that years ago! Great story. I passed it to my daughter and I think she took it to college with her. 🙂 Cool.
Oooh – where does one begin? YOung reads – you covered some of them like Princess Bride, The Rats of Nimh, etc – but what about A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door; The Narnia series for sure; The Secret Garden; The Phantom Tollbooth; Indian in the Cupboard; Charlottes Web; Where the Wild Things Are; The Little Prince – as a young (and older adult) – I have loved Richard Bach's Johnathon Livingston Seagull and The Illusion; She's Come Undone; I know This Much is True – both by Wally Lamb (love him) – early John Irving lik Hotel New Hampshire and . . .oooh too many to mention.