Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Let the games begin

Unlike Jilda, I didn't begin reading much fiction until much later in my life. But once I got started, I average a book every week or so.

When the BBC did the list of 100 books and estimated that most Americans had read six or fewer, I took the challenge. I'd read 28, but after posting the list here a few weeks ago, many of you had read more than I had. If you didn't get a chance to see the original list, click here.

Since then, I've read two more of the books on the list. Currently, I'm reading Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac which was published in 1958. I find his use of language and rhythm of his words fascinating.

I've come to understand that there are more great books out there than any of us will ever have time to read.

I'm curious. What's the best book you've ever read?

For everyone who comments between now and Friday with a favorite book, I'll put their name in a hat and get my lovely spouse to draw one out. The name she draws will win an autographed copy of my first book Remembering Big. International shipping is pricey, so I'll have to come up with an alternate gift for anyone living outside the U.S.

Let the games begin.


10 comments:

  1. The Man Without a Country, by Edward Everett Hale. And it's really short so it doesn't take long to read. I first read it in History class and never forgot it.

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  2. The best book I ever read was Silence of the Lambs. The story was okay but really nothing special. I found the characters interesting and different than characters in other books I have read. What really struck me about this book is that there was not one wasted word. I have read other books by the same author and they were good enough but his word mastery in Silence of the Lambs was something I doubt I will ever see again.

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. I was 56 when I read my first 'real' book. 'Executive Orders' by Tom Clancy. Since then I have read over 2000 books. I love Jack Higgins, Patterson but I will never forget 'Exec Orders' and for that reason, it is the best book. The only classic I have read that I ENJOYED was the 'Mayor of Castorbridge' I wasn't thrilled at the ending, but the fiction seemed so real.
    I was a professional story teller for years, changeing to the printed page has been a challenge. My proofer must have found thousands of errors in 75000 words., the latest book bleeds RED.
    I gained great respect for a professional writer. ;-)

    I even need a proofer for comments...

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  5. Oh gosh...there are a few but I will say To Kill a Mockingbird followed by Call of the Wild.

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  6. The best book I ever read is the "Good Book." When I was 12 or 13 or so, I determined to read through the entire Bible one year. I did it, and that was a pretty good accomplishment for me.

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  7. The best book I've read, at least the one I've read the most times, is "The Agony and the Ecstasy," Irving Stone's novel about the life of Michelangelo.

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  8. What a thought-provoking post! Sure 'n I was humiliated by all the book titles I've NOT read. Those which have had the most emotional impact (on me) are Rebecca and The Diary of Anne Frank .. but in the end, Gone With the Wind stands above the rest.

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  9. I've read 1000's and all good books.
    I think the book that first opened my eyes when I was a kid the most, was
    The First Circle by Solzhenytsyn. Living in a nice country one never thinks stuff like that
    happens. Today, years later, we see countries so far behind, that the culture shock on both sides is incredible

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  10. My dad reads a lot but he doesn't read fiction as yet I of course do read fiction a lot of fiction I have a lot of different types of books and authors that I like and I can read 2 or 3 different books at the same time which my grandson finds strange he doesn't get that I don't get confused and mix up the stories in my head

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