I have had a great time with the Great Books Week Blog Tour this week. But, like all great things, it is now ending. The prompts have been fun, and they have forced me to look back on the great books I have read.
I have thought a lot this week about what constitutes a great book. Just the classics? Only popular works? Who declares a book great? Well, in my life, I do the declaring.
To me, a great book has many different qualities. The writing is superb and it has a timeless sense to it. The characters have depth and the story meaning. But the most important thing about a great book? The thing that really makes it great not just good or well done? Impact. Great books touch me. They speak to my soul and resonate with my being. When I finish reading a great book, I may put it down, but I never put it away. Great books don’t allow me to put them away. They stay with me, haunting my remembrance until one day I pick them up again. A great book changes me, if only minutely.
I love great books.
Today’s prompt is another tough one. Those NAIWE folks sure know how to make a girl think!
When I want to give someone a special gift, I give them … because…
I have no one answer for this question. When I give a special gifts, I try to find what book will be the most special to the person I am giving it to. This is not the same for all people. Sometimes the most special of gifts is the one nobody else would have thought of.*
Since it is pretty much impossible for me to say what book I would give someone without knowing who that specific someone is, I am going to answer this question a little differently.
These are the great books I have recommended/gifted a LOT recently:
My mom lent me her copy of this book, insisting I would love it. Boy was she right! I couldn’t put it down. Diane Setterfield weaves an intriguing story, with all the necessities of a great gothic novel. This book is beautifully and masterfully written. Since first reading The Thirteenth Tale, I have pushed it into the hands of anyone who will listen long enough. I even demanded Bubba and I read it together (we usually try to stick to middle grade and young adult when we read to each other). This book is simply amazing.
If you read agent blogs, you have probably already heard many wonderful things about this book. I first heard about it on an agent’s blog. Then on another. And another. And another. All of these literary agents had great things to say about it. One of the blogs belonged to Garth Stein’s agent, so of course the book got rave reviews, but two other agents said they wished they had represented this book. After all that hype, I knew I had to read it. I actually ended up listening to the audiobook on a long drive-and didn’t want to get out of the car. Ever. All I wanted was to sit and listen to Enzo’s words. I cannot remember another time a book touched me in quite the way this one did. After finishing it, I immediately began recommending it. To everyone. Consider this my recommend to you: go out and get yourself a copy of The Art of Racing in the Rain. It is well worth it.
This is not a happy book. It is gritty and real and heartbreaking and beautiful. I was first introduced to Bastard Out of Carolina when I saw the movie on TV as a kid. When I realized the movie was an adaptation of a novel, I sought out the book. I have read this book multiple times, and every time it cuts me to the core. My heart breaks for poor Bone, the young narrator. I cry, I cringe, I stew with anger. I love. This is a haunting story of a young girl just trying to fit in the world and be loved by the mother who is not strong enough to care for her. Bastard Out of Carolina is not for the weak of heart, but it is a great read for anyone who likes a little truth.
Have you heard about this one enough yet? There is really not much for me to add about Crime and Punishment. In case you missed that I love it, I totally do. I recommend this book quite frequently (always the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation). If you haven’t read this book yet, repent and get a copy. Seriously.
Okay, I think I gave enough suggestions to keep my followers busy for a while!
*For my high school graduation, my sister Rani gave me a copy of Space Cat (complete with an upside-down, backwards note:) ). Is it a great book? Not really, but it was one of the most memorable gifts I have ever gotten.
***
If you are wondering what the craptastic tag on this post is all about, read this blog post about Victoria’s Secret being disgusting and discriminatory and find out.
And it comes to an end…
I have thought a lot this week about what constitutes a great book. Just the classics? Only popular works? Who declares a book great? Well, in my life, I do the declaring.
To me, a great book has many different qualities. The writing is superb and it has a timeless sense to it. The characters have depth and the story meaning. But the most important thing about a great book? The thing that really makes it great not just good or well done? Impact. Great books touch me. They speak to my soul and resonate with my being. When I finish reading a great book, I may put it down, but I never put it away. Great books don’t allow me to put them away. They stay with me, haunting my remembrance until one day I pick them up again. A great book changes me, if only minutely.
I love great books.
Today’s prompt is another tough one. Those NAIWE folks sure know how to make a girl think!
When I want to give someone a special gift, I give them … because…
I have no one answer for this question. When I give a special gifts, I try to find what book will be the most special to the person I am giving it to. This is not the same for all people. Sometimes the most special of gifts is the one nobody else would have thought of.*
Since it is pretty much impossible for me to say what book I would give someone without knowing who that specific someone is, I am going to answer this question a little differently.
These are the great books I have recommended/gifted a LOT recently:
Okay, I think I gave enough suggestions to keep my followers busy for a while!
*For my high school graduation, my sister Rani gave me a copy of Space Cat (complete with an upside-down, backwards note:) ). Is it a great book? Not really, but it was one of the most memorable gifts I have ever gotten.
***
If you are wondering what the craptastic tag on this post is all about, read this blog post about Victoria’s Secret being disgusting and discriminatory and find out.