Book Meme

TG has tagged me with this book meme, so here goes!

Instructions: Look at the list of books below.

• Bold the ones you’ve read.
• Italicise the ones you want to
• Don't do anything to the ones that you aren’t interested in.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) - really enjoyed it, but wish we'd had the illustrated version at the time.

2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) - LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it! This is one of a few books I wish I could read for the First Time again.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) - twice - once for school, again to see if it was worth the fuss and found it to be more than worth it. This one improves with age, IMO. (the reader's age that is)

4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell) - should I? Maybe simply because it breaks my bold streak. ^_^

5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien) - several times. Why are these out of order?

6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien) - ditto

7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien) - ditto ditto

8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) - see how it's half bold? That's cuz I got about halfway through this book. OMG I want to KILL Anne! She's such a freaking goody-goody. Even this girl I know, who is lovely and charming, and very very very fundamentalist, thinks she's too much of a goody-goody. I mean, that's really saying something, isn't it? I will probably finish it someday, because it's hard for me to leave a book unfinished no matter how sucky it is, but I'll probably be grinding my teeth the whole time.

9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) - Y'all have seen me prattling on about reading these. Who made this list, anyway? And why are there so many I've read? I thought I was a book reader, like TG. (and not so much a Book reader)

10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry) - on my shelf, waiting patiently. I suspect it mught turn out to be a Book, though.

11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling) - Like there are people out there who haven't. OK, there are. I even know some. But I love these books. They are SO much better than the films.

12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown) - I really enjoyed this one, too. Both are a departure from my normal sort of reading. I think.

13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling) - my least fave of the HPs, I'd say, but still worth the read. I like Mrs. Weasley. I think I cried when she was seeing the Boggart as Dead Harry. (motherhood can do that to you)

14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)

15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)

16. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Rowling)

17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)

18. The Stand (Stephen King) - I think this is the only King I've ever read. Probably the only King I'm likely to read. I read it mostly cuz I'd seen the mini, and, OK, was enamoured with erm - that guy from Forrest Gump - or his character.

19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)

20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)

21. The Hobbit (Tolkien) - My first Tolkien. I discovered it for myself (I believe) after reading the Narnia books. No one else in my family was into Fantasy/Sci Fi, so I had to sniff them all out on my own.

22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) - sadly, twice. Once for school, once again as an adult to see if it really had a point after all. It didn't. I want my wasted hours back. Now! My sincere opinion on this book: high school teachers assign this because they think the swearing will make them look cool to their students. There isn't any other point to this book at all. No, that's not true. It would be great kindling.

23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) - but not til I was an adult. I cried. (imagine!)

24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) - sounds depressing

25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel) - I *think* I will. Then again, it's awfully popular, so maybe I won't. I read the other popular ones before I found out they were popular. ^_^

26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) - well duh. Yes, where ARE the others on this list? I've read them all, as well as the Dirk Gentlys and Last Chance to See (nonfiction) and am about three quarters of the way through Salmon of Doubt. I can't bring myself to finish it. Because that is all. Ever. You know? I will finish it someday. But I'm rationing. So far I've made it last about 3.5 years. The highly amusing Biscuit Story is contained therein.

27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte) - O.M.G. I want to reach into the story and STRANGLE - uh - whatsername. What an idiot. I listened to this on tape while hand-sewing a tree skirt for my mom and dad. I hope the tree skirt isn't full of frustration and angst and withering hatred because of this. :-P

28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis) - my illustrious cousin introduced me to thses by sending the boxed set to us in Hong Kong. My first encounter with fantasy. It became a lasting obsession. Thank you, Ronnie. Years later, at his house, my sister and I were dispatched (or allowed) upstairs to read while the adults talked and we found countless books about all manner of fascinating sexual things. His wife at the time was a psychologist and is now, I believe, playing for the other team, so there really were some highly intriguing books on the shelves. Upon being called down at the evenong's end, we pretended (red-faced) to be highly excited about their having the hardback versions of the Narnia books up there. ^_^

29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck) - I hate John Steinbeck. I hate Lenny, the murdering bastard.

30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom) - *might* read it. I understand that Mitch loves himself very much. This makes me disinclined to read his book, though I hear it's interesting and does not flaunt Mitch's self-obsession, so maybe. . .

31. Dune (Frank Herbert) - several times. I love it! It's odd, because the writing can be less than stellar. I can't count how many times he uses the phrase "tried to swallow in a dry throat." But the plot is fantastic and the story well-constructed. One of my favourite books. I like the first 3 of the series best.


32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)

33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) - another of my faves. I made MuNKi read it and it's one of his faves, too. One of our children is named after a character in this book. Don't read it before The Fountainhead. It's her crowning masterpiece. I read my old one to bits (literally.) It's funny, because, going back and looking at it objectively (objectivistly? ^_^) the writing can be (dare I say?) kind of stilted at times. But what a great story. And what great ideas. I remember thinking after finishing it that if I had read this before college, I would have failed nearly every class (kendo would have been fine), because I would have been honest about what I thought, and would have felt compelled to give my own, original answers rather than regurgitating what I knew would (and did) get me 'A's. Life-changing, for me, after attending a liberal-arts university.

34. 1984 (Orwell) - In 1984 no less. Found it fascinating. Goes well with Atlas. Cringe-making to see so much of it (and Atlas) coming true. :-P

35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley) - YUMMY! I love this book! I have the prequel waiting in the wings.

36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) - I guess i'll try to learn more about this.

37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)

38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)

39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) - really enjoyed this one, didn't keep it, find myself often wishing I had.

40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel) - had this on the shelf for a while courtesy of MILand a garage sale, I think, but no. The cover art put me off, as did images of - um - the "10" chick? (OMG yes I DID judge the book by its cover)

42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) - interesting. Disturbing.

43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)

44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom) - had it from the library, never got around to it. See "Tuesday's With Morrie."

45. Bible - a few times in different versions. It's very X-rated, which I find ironic and amusing these days. Back in grade school, we'd always choose stuff from "Song of Solomon" (TG's favourite book, I bet) when we were to select a bit to read or have read to us. The teacher forbade us to shoose from SoS after a certain point. I liked to read Revelations because it's so Sci-Fi.

46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy) - can't recall. All that Russian Lit has blurred together into one giant, tiresome memory of foot-fetishes and beating dead horses.

47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) - ??You know, I don't remember for sure. I *think* so. But I don't remember. I remember starting it. And I remember the story. And I remember watching the film and knowing parts of what would come next and parts that were changed, so I *must* have. . .

48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt) - sounds so depressing, but I may anyhow.

49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) - that loathesome Steinbeck again. I did read the last page (was it the last? with the nursing the man part?) when my shocked friend showed it to me in high school (required book in her class.)

50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)

51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver) - people tell me it's like my childhood. I am afraid. I had a great childhood, so don't read anything into that. I think it's just the missionary part that makes them say that. But I should check.

52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens) - It was the best of books, it was the worst of books. Actually, it was just OK. I think it put me off Dickens but it was probably the language because this was back in High School when I had FAR more interesting things to read (like Dune.) I should try other Dickenses now that I don't mind that sort of thing.

53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card) - AWESOME book!!!! Another of my all-time faves.

54. Great Expectations (Dickens) - it's Dickens. See A Tale of Two Cities.

55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)

56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence) - in my library basket for 6 weeks, but I was still slogging though 1,600 pages of outlander books. I'll try again.

57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling) - why is this here? Why aren't they together is what I want to know.

58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough) - I watched the mini with my mom when I was 11ish. It was intriguing and shocking to my child-self. I'd kinda like to see if the book is even better.

59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) - most of it is a blur, but I remember thinking it was cool.

60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger) - I'll look it up. If it's really about time travel.

61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) - I think so anyway. Wasn't this the one with the dead horse?

62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand) - long live Howard Roark! Great story! But read this before Atlas if you're going to read them. Both her main men have the initials HR (but her husband's name was Frank) and both her female leads have the initial D.

63. War and Peace (Tolstoy) - one of those books you think you "might oughta" read just because it impresses people. ^_^

64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice) - Juicy.

65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)

66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares) - I might.

68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller) - heh! Who could forget Major Major Major Major? Or the LePage Glue Gun? ^_^ i want to read this one again.

69. Les Miserables (Hugo) - on my shelf (in English)

70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) - as a kid. Didn't "get it" though it seemed like there was meant to be something to get. Have a hunch that re-reading would produce the same result.

71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding) - almost bought it at a library sale for 25 cents. Have been kicking myself for not doing so ever since.


72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez) - I hate cholera. And cholera shots. Ow.

73. Shogun (James Clavell)

74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje) - I have a hunch it will end badly.

75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett) - A few times, maybe?

76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)

77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith) - can't recall, but maybe.

78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)

79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)

80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White) - yes, and hated the author for killing Charlotte.

81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)

82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck) F*ing Steinbeck. F*ing Lenny. I was traumatised.

83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)

84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)

85. Emma (Jane Austen) - gosh, I *think* so anyway. They're all kind of running together - the Austen's I've read, and the Austens I mean to read. Pretty sure, though. I know the story well enough.

86. Watership Down (Richard Adams) - I suspected the rabbits would all be killed.

87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)

88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)

89. Blindness (Jose Saramago) - one I actually never finished and don't intend to. It got SOOOoooooo tiresome. Same thing over and over. I saw the ending coming back at the beginning. (yes, when I got sick of it I skipped to the end to check) Ech. Why is this on the list? This is not a lasting classic. This is a flash in the pan.

90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)

91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)

92. Lord of the Flies (Golding) - read it and then years later listened to the author read it (on tape) with my stepson. Fascinating, though bits of it make me sick.

93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck) - long, long ago

94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd) - loved this! Also the Mermaid Chair. My first Kidd was her nonfiction The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, which I love.

95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)

96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton) - of course!

97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)

98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)

99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)

100. Ulysses (James Joyce) - oh lord! The onewithnogrammarandallthewordsrunonlikethiswithnopunctuation
whyIwonderwhywhywhyIdidreadAPortraitoftheArtistas
aYoungManbutfounditwanting


Oh, I'm suposed to tag folks, aren't I? How about an open invite: do it if you want to. ^_^