Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Reading List

I just returned from a fantastic trip to Milwaukee to visit some dear friends from seminary. These people are the kind of friends everyone wishes they had. With them, everything is easy. We fell into old patterns of conversation and silliness, laughter and seriousness with such ease it was as if we had never been apart. It was everything I needed and more…

One of the many highlights of the weekend was a spontaneous discussion we had over breakfast about the top ten books we want to read in our lifetime. It made for great conversation all-around. Never mind the fact that it fed our inner nerds and the list-making-OCD that inhabits the Julies. You’ll find my list (in no particular order) below…

1. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

2. The Brothers Karmazov by Fyodor Doystoyevsky

3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

4. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

5. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

7. Roots by Alex Haley

8. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

9. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

10. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

These are only the top ten books that I haven’t read that I would like to read in my life. I had a hard time deciding on just ten. There are several others I read in high school and college that I would like to read again, too. I have also started a list of authors I enjoy and would like to read anything they have written. Maybe I will share those lists with you later.

I would love to hear from the handful of people who visit my blog on what their choices might be for their own list. Feel free to tell me about books you think I forgot in my own “top ten,” too!

3 comments:

Matthew said...

You are a beautiful soul. And I miss you so very much. all my heart, jules. all my heart.
--mge

Goalie said...

If I've watched three of them, does that count? And the LotR trilogy really should count as three. :)

There are a number of books lying about that I still endeavor to read. None are earth-shattering, just ones that piqued my interest. A specific one is _Jurassic Park_. (Deep, I realize.) For some reason, I committed myself to reading before watching. Though I still haven't watched it, I haven't read it, either.

That whole identity thing really is a shrouded mystery at times. I've been reminded of Corrie Ten Boom lately and (put this on the list) want to read or re-read some of her things. My mother read _The Hiding Place_ with me when I was young, so my ears perked up when I heard of Corrie's perspectives as I got older. To have such peace and forgiveness? How does one with so little have _so much_? No answers from this end. Looks like I'll need to do more homework.

Goalie said...

PS: It was rather interesting that you commented on my blog this week. I was thinking of you just a few days before that! I peeked at your blog then, and decided to come back when I had more time. Here I am!