All Time Favorite Books
Submitted by tnelson on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 10:01
Tags:
- Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
- Anything by Kurt Vonnegut
- A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
- Cider House Rules, by John Irving
- Anything by Maya Angelou
- King Rat, by James Clavell
- Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
- Watership Down, by Richard Adams
- The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
- The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
- Absalom, Absalom!, by William Faulkner
- All plays by Tennassee Williams
- All plays by Arthur Miller
- Dr. Zivago, by Boris Pasternak
- The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
- The Scarlett Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
Watership Down is by Richard Adams
Have you ever read Galapagos, by Vonnegut? By far one of the strangest books I have ever read!
I thought "Watership Downs" was by John Updike. "King Rat" was by James Clavell (of SHOGUN fame).
You're right on Clavell, but Watership Down was definitely written by Richard Adams.
It appears you are correct re: Watership Downs. Are you surprised (as I am)that any list of favorite books could exclude "Catch 22"?
Well, I remember my high school class being pretty much divided between "loved it" and "hated it." Sure, it would go on my favorite books list, but I'm sure it's not a universal.
A boneheaded local newspaper columnist went so far as to say you couldn't appreciate Catch-22 unless you were a war veteran that came under fire. Pretty small subset of the population; I'm surprised the publishers were willing to do a print run for a book of such limited appeal. Don't get me wrong, I personally only read books by and about 29-year-old white males from western Massachusetts, because I couldn't possibly appreciate anything else. Yeesh.
I see your point. All of us would have a tough time enjoying Twain or Faulkner. My own frame of reference regarding "Catch 22" was set against the backdrop of the Vietnam conflict. What amazed me then (as now) was that Heller could portray the terror, humor and futility of WWII to early 70's draft bait with such clarity. I suspect the story may be universal.
Well, I've never experience war at first-hand of any sort and I loved Catch-22 both when I read it the first time in junior high and again when "required" to read it in high school.
I read Catch 22 and definitely liked it. But I guess it didn't make as big an imprint on me as the others. I probably read it at the same time as Catcher in the Rye. Yet, Catch 22 didn't really affect me the same way (although I do use the phrase constantly, without thinking of the book). Perhaps I should reread it.
I believe king rat was written by William Kotzwinkle
I think you're thinking of Doctor Rat.
I have neglected this list for a while. Thanks to folks who jogged my memory about the missing authors. As soon as I read that I thought, Of Course! How could I forget?
I just added a new book. It's called "Ishmael" and is written by Daniel Quinn. It's a philosophical essay disguised as a novel. It's very short, but not easy reading. I found it very thought-provoking.
Just finished Watership Down and it is definitely a candidate for my list of favorites. My husband is skeptical that a book about rabbits could be so great. I'm just going to have to make him read it.