My sister-in-law Deb tagged me in a Facebook challenge to reveal 10 books that have stayed with me in some way. The rules are: you can only take a few minutes to decide and they don’t have to be great art.
Now, while it’s supposed to be a Facebook thingy, my blogging well has been running a bit dry of late. Anyone who’s had the dubious pleasure of crossing my path in recent days will have discovered I only have two topics of conversation at the moment: hysterectomies and the friend who let me down.
I am fretting about both on a pretty continuous loop.
Even in the midst of my OCD madness, I know people don’t want to read about that AGAIN. So books that have stayed with me seems like a nice diversion.
It’s also an insight into my inner geekdom … and the fact I’ve fallen out of the habit of reading books since the blog came along and I got sucked into the digital vortex.
In no particular order …
1. Ender’s Game
I was a total sci-Fi freak as a teen. My idea of heaven was catching the train to Sydney and heading straight to the Galaxy bookshop to get giddy over the shelves of otherworldly wonder. One of my favourite authors was Orson Scott Card and his tale of the conflicts with an insectoid alien species called Buggers and the children who are trained to fight them. I haven’t seen the movie yet. It’s on the list, but I can’t decide if it’s a family event or a guilty solo pleasure.
2. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
This book was bliss for teen me: hilarious AND sci-Fi. I read it to the kids recently and the eldest loved it. The youngest just looked confused.
3. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
A fantasy tale featuring a lead character with leprosy. Freaked and fascinated me at the same time. I still have the books packed in a box for the eldest when she’s ready.
4. The Magic Faraway Tree
Lands at the top of a tree filled with treats … Count me in … Another favourite I’ve shared with the kids.
5. Anne of Green Gables
A feisty lead character with red hair … Yes please said pre-teen me. I blubbered my way through it with the kids last year as the plucky redhead struck an unexpected emotional chord with pre-separation me.
6. Possession
I’m not really a high-art girl when it comes to novels, but A.S Byatt totally blisses me out. I’ve read her entire back catalogue and every book has been challenging but completely brilliant. (And the movie version stars one of my all-time crushes, Jeremy Northam … score!)
7. The Handmaid’s Tale
A disturbing book by another of the handful of favourite “proper” authors I love. The whole handmaid thing really got under my skin.
8. I Don’t Know How She Does It
This book by Allison Pearson spoke to me when I was trying to juggle motherhood with editing Woman’s Day … and feeling like I was failing at both. It’s funny and poignant and real.
9. Austenland
This is about the closest I’ve come to reading a book recently. I discovered it lying in a cupboard and it made me laugh (when I really needed it). The movie was a disappointment, but the book itself was fun. It’s about a Jane Austen fan who goes to an Austen theme park in search of love. Among the ways the movie stuffed it up was by going for a perfectly pleasant but not particularly phwoar-worthy male lead.
10. Heartburn
Oh my god did this book move me during the early horrific days of my separation from Husband. It felt like author Nora Ephron and I were kindred spirits. If I could write something half as good, my work would be done.
Now I’m supposed to nominate 10 other people to reveal the 10 books that moved them … but I’ll be happy if my blog followers all named one or two …
Song of the day: Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights”
housegoeshome 
i got enders game for zac for xmas… he hasnt read it yet but amber has… she luvd it… & the movie – u gota see it!! harrison ford!!. she is devouring books atm – theyr both reading all the skullduggery pleasant on rubys recommendation…
Do they like Skullduggery??
So excited to see you are a Thomas Covenant fan Alana. Did you know that Stephen Donaldson has recently written the Final Chronicles?
I must admit I haven’t read it – is it good??
Yes, highly recommended. First time I’ve corresponded with you Alana, I’m a friend of Glen’s and so enjoy your blog. Sending lots of support as you go through these difficult times. x
Nice to meet you Anna. I will definitely grab the new Stephen Donaldson’s on your recommendation
Unsurprisingly – some of yours are the same as mine! The Thomas Covenant series and Hitchers. Frank Herbert’s Dune is my biggie, which one of mine has absorbed to the point of wanting to use it as an HSC text. Little Women – always good for a weep. Famous Five series, and the Harry Potter series we all enjoyed as a family.
Loved Little Women too!
Hmmm, the digital age has definitely had an impact on my book reading too, because I was a voracious reader from very early on. The last few years I seem to have started several books that still remain half read!
“The Clan of the Cave Bear” series by Jean M. Auel was a big favorite, dealing with prehistoric times, and the anthropological aspects fascinated me. My mother introduced this series to me many years ago.
Stephen King, Christine or The Tommyknockers
James Clavel’s historical fictions, The Last Samurai or Gai Jin
Bryce Courtney, The Potato Factory.
The Penguin Dictionary of Historical Slang…yes, EVERY swear or rude word you can think of…a must read! 😉
Oh I loved Clan of the Cave Bear! Thx for the reminder.
I too was fascinated with The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as a teen (and the TV show on ABC). The Magic Faraway Tree too – what with all those sweet treats. Planning on reading it to my son soon. Slaves of New York by Tama Janowitz, Pride and Prejudice (I just love the language), Bridget Jones Diary, The Devil Wears Prada (I had a horrible boss at the time – it wasn’t a job in magazines though). I have read probably too much chick lit over the years at the expense of other genres. These days all I seem to read is news websites and blogs! I read much much more as a child. Trixie Beldon, Pippi Longstocking, Milly Molly Mandy (LOVED that), The Famous Five, and The Secret Seven were my favourites. Never read Anne of Green Gables but how I loved the mini-series!
Oh Alex, all these favourites I should have included. Loved Bridget and Prada and Pride and Prejudice and Milly Molly Mandy!!!!
Milly Molly Mandy – it was the name (Millicent Margaret Amanda), the haircut, the red and white stripey dress, the little village she called home and who could forget those “lid potatoes”? I hadn’t seen the book for years as I never owned it, used to borrow it from the library as a child. Imagine my thrill when I spied it in my son’s school library recently – not that he would ever borrow it! He’s more into Boy Vs Beast.