Oh Noes a Meme!
Photo by James Strachan/Getty Images
Ganked from Green LA Girl, who didn’t tag me but whose party I’m crashing anyway.
A book that changed my life
The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder, when I was 16. It also made me crave sticky buns.
A book I’ve read more than once
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
A book I’d take with me if I were stuck on a desert island
Or rescue from a burning building: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. I still remember scanning the opening chapter in my cold elementary-school library, flipping through the pages of alternately red and green text, delicious shivers skimming down my back like water off a bathing duck.
Maybe Survive on a Desert Island by Claire Llewellyn would be a smarter choice, though.
A book that made me laugh
God, all of the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett.
Just an example:
All dwarfs are by nature dutiful, serious, literate, obedient and thoughtful people whose only minor failing is a tendency, after one drink, to rush at enemies screaming “Arrrrrrgh!” and axing their legs off at the knee. —Guards! Guards!
A book that made me cry
I’m not the overtly sentimental type—Titanic made me roll my eyes in agony while a girlfriend tore through the Kleenex beside me—but The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger did make me tear up.
A book that I wish had been written
(I just realized I misread this as “a book I wish I had written.” The ego has landed, folks.)
I was underwhelmed by Jasper Fforde’s debut, The Eyre Affair, but his current literary outing about nursery-rhyme crimes? I had that idea when I was 10 (e.g., did Humpty Dumpty fall or was he pushed?) Also, the Griffen & Sabine series by Nick Bantock.
Also, also, Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, which felt like home. I made the hub read it because if he didn’t love the book, he could not possibly love me. Does that make sense? He was probably thinking, “Woman, couldn’t you just make me a damn MIX TAPE?”
A book that I wish had never been written
I get just one? Grimm Memorials by R. Patrick Gates. Complete, irredeemable offal. An absolute waste of paper and ink.
A book I’ve been meaning to read
My to-read list could embalm several mummies. Proust is somewhere therein.
I’m currently reading
Sonya Taaffe’s short-story collection, Singing Innocence and Experience, which I might attempt to explicate later.
The time has come, the Walrus said, to tag … Felicia Sullivan.
Amy said,
September 6, 2006 at 5:11 pm
The Time Traveler’s Wife was the first book that EVER made me cry… like a dang baby. Especially the end. Oy!
Nicole said,
September 6, 2006 at 6:21 pm
I love “The Neverending Story.”
Michael Ende also wrote a book that I have seen with two different titles “Momo” or “The Grey Gentlemen.” It offers an interesting commentary on society and time.
I enjoy the information you post in this blog. Thank you.
thissinglespark said,
September 7, 2006 at 10:33 am
“After You’d Gone” by Maggie O’Farrell was the one book that had me sobbing. When my partner came home to find me one the couch with tea and tissues, and asked me what was wrong, all I could manage to choke out was, “go away.” Stayed up until 3 bawling my eyes out. Highly recommend reading it, but only if you’re in the mood for a good cry.
Noo said,
September 8, 2006 at 10:23 am
Yes, Neverwhere. Great book!
felicia sullivan said,
September 8, 2006 at 1:01 pm
OK :)! I’ll bite.
The Worsted Witch » Oh Noes Another Meme! said,
January 25, 2007 at 5:42 pm
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