Last night was a nice dinner at Mom and Dad’s who invited my Aunt, her daughter and son-in-law over for dinner. Mom said that she was going to invite them over after 5:30 PM since I was working and the daughter was working. I ended up coming home early so that I could plow the driveway from the latest snow fall. I called my parents to see if the relatives were still coming over and they were already there, including my oldest brother. So I dropped the plans to do any plowing and went over to Mom and Dad’s.
It was a great time with everyone and the dinner and dessert were absolutely delish. But conversation eventually got to great novels from time-tested authors to modern-day ones. And I couldn’t believe how literarily deficient I was. It was long ago that I came across this list from Dr. Sparky’s blog, Welcome to My Truth, which I probably printed out about 6 months ago, but have never taken action to start reading.
Hemingway
As many of you know, I am taking time off between the holidays and not going anywhere. So in addition to fiddling with my new DSLR camera, I want to read some great works. Perhaps even stay away from the television during this time as well.
This is where I want to ask you…What do you recommend as a great book to read? And I think I would want to start with a novel that is time-tested by a familiar author, such as Hemingway (but don’t necessarily restrict it to Hemingway). Any suggestions?
Have yourselves a VERY Mery Christmas and a continued Happy Hanukkah!
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The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder. Suddenly Last Summer, by Tennessee Williams. The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters, by C.S.Lewis. And Mein Kampf, by Adolf Hitler (to see what happens when bad economic times let certain types of people into power).
Maurice by E. M. Forster
The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Other Voices, Other Rooms by Truman Capote
Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac
I am afraid I am not much help with it comes to suggesting the great literary works of our time. When I read it is either a work related book, or Janet Evanovich (Love the Stephanie Plum series).
I do want to wish you a very merry Christmas… and a new year filled with laughter success and true love! Thank you for being such a kind friend to me!
{HUGS}!!!
Wendy
I took a gander at that list – it has grown since I did that meme. There are a number of great books on it. I would be hard pressed not to come up with a long sub list. Of course, one of my fav’s is not on that list: Gulliver’s Travels (the entire book – not just part one). *grin*
J. Maarten Troost, very very funny travel writer
Armistead Maupin, gay San Francisco books, Tales of the City Series is priceless
John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces, just brilliant and soooo funny!
David Sedaris, just about anything he does is good.
And, of course, any self help relationship book!
Hang in there !
Funny you should ask this – I am composing this week my own 100 best books of all time; I hope to publish it before the year is out. It will contain 100 of the best books I have ever encountered.
I would be keen to hear if you have read any.
At Swim, Two Boys by Jamie O’Neill
How Long Has This Been Going On by Ethan Mordden
Both of these books are more modern than anything Hemingway wrote, but they are novels of great significance nonetheless. I strongly recommend both of them, though the O’Neill is tricky to get into. I loved it, though his writing is, what? Artistic? I don’t know the literary term for it. I don’t think it is stream of conscience. It is, however, very poetic.
Read these two: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and then Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor. Look for comparisons between the two novels.
1984 by George Orwell and think about fear and manipulation by government.
The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck, as well as East of Eden, The Pearl.
Main Street and Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
Gift from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindberg
Christmas Memory by Truman Capote
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tann
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque
And although I haven’t read it yet, I see on many reading lists the title: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
I hope the holiday provides you with lots of reading time.
Cheers!
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
The Lord of the RIngs by J.R.R. Tolkien
Happy Holidays!!!
“Felsh and Blood”, Michael Cunningham. It’s the most exquistely lyrical novel I’ve read in a long time. If you like it when I wax poetical, you’ll love him.
Oh honey I could go on for DAYS when it comes to books but you’ve got some good ones here!
It sounds like many of my favorite titles are already listed here. It’s the holiday season, though, so you should find a few minutes to read O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”, which is always worth another look, I find…and easily read in a short time.
I recommend “The Caine Mutiny” by Herman Wouk and Evelyn Waugh’s hilarious “Decline and Fall”.