"What five books do you think someone absolutely must own?"
That was the question Kristian from Never Fully Dressed – Without a Style! asked me when I was invited to participate in her post designed to get to know other bloggers better.
So here are my picks…in no particular order;
The Picture of Dorian Gray became my inspiration for all of my late teens and early twenties which could be described best by this quote, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” - Oscar Wilde. This became my mantra at the time. Yes they were wild and crazy times (not like today mind you…I was no Miley Cyrus!) but that is what youth is for and I don't regret any most of it.
Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance was the basis for many a long wonderful discussion about life and where it takes us. Grab a big glass of wine and prepare to stretch your brain. I've read this multiple times and each time I discover something new.
The Outsiders is just a fabulous intense page devouring read that captures the innocence of youth and loss thereof beautifully. My favourite bit is the poem by Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay. The book is way better than the movie as is pretty much always the case.
How To Win Friends and Influence People was the self help book before they were popular. My Dad gave it to me to read when I was a kid. I've read this at least three times but I should probably be reading it daily, there are so many easy practical solutions for improving your life and providing much needed perspective.
The Little Prince I read first in French with my then boyfriend and now husband some 23 years ago, so it has an extra soft spot in my heart. This book always makes me cry…but in a good way.
A big thank you to Kristian for thinking of me and making me reflect back on some of my favourite books.
What are your top five books and why?
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Out of your selection I’ve only read The Outsiders, which was wonderful.
I’m a voracious reader but there’s a handful I can read over and over again –
The God of Small Things, Shantarram, A Suitable Boy to name three! xxx
what a fabulous selection! i love how diverse your choices are!
Wonderful selection! I am not sure about influential, but most unforgettable include “Stranger In A Strange Land” by Robert Heinlein and “Existential Psychotherapy” by Irwin Yalom. Oh and “Watership Down”. Oh yeah, and “1984.” Thanks for this!
Watership Down was #6 on my list. I loved that book.
Hmmmm….I’ll have to ponder, but I can tell you that one of the books on my list would have to be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Loved it as a kid, and still love it. ALSO love Nothing Gold Can Stay.
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Oh what great books. I need to re-read a few of those, including How to Win Friends and Influence People. One of the best motivational books ever. In fact, I am going to download it again tonight!
I also love love loved the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Had I only known where I would have ended up working. 🙂
Thanks for including me in this Kristian : )
I love books and have not read any of these and will need to add these to my to read list.
I read mainly mindless books so they are not influential at all. But on the top of my head. One book that really moved me was Wild Swans. Being of Chinese descent, my family never spoke about the hardships they went through. This book really opened my eyes how tough life was for my parents and my grandparents.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Wow, that’s a pretty difficult question to consider, I actually don’t know off the top of my head! You’ve got such an interesting and varied taste in books!
That’s a good list – I’ve only read The Picture of Dorian Gray. But I’ve meant to read Zen and the Art… I’ll have to put that on my library list.
I’ve got five favorites, but I just love the stories and the way they’re written. There’s nothing deep in it.
A Prayer for Owen Meaney, Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atonement, The Poisonwood Bible
Oooh, yes, I loved The Poisonwood Bible too. The trouble with me is usually my No. 1 book is the book I happen to be reading at the moment. Fiction, non-fiction, you name it, I just fall completely under its spell and think the author is a god. I just reread Dorian Gray last month, and of course, it was No. 1 too.
Awesome list!
For me: Chesapeake by James Michner is probably the only book I’ve intentionally re-read. Sentimental thing with my dad.
I re-read cookbooks-does that count?
My parents also had me read How to Win Friends and Influence People when I was very young–I’ve read it since then and some of the concept have stuck with me for many years! The Outsiders is among the most favorite books I discovered through high school reading assignments–I’ve never read The Picture of Dorian Gray, but I’ve seen the old version of the movie.
Oh I love that The Little Prince is on your list! What a great memory of you and your then bf/now husband. So sweet.
xo,
nancy
The Outsiders is a fabulous book. I used to have my high school students read it and they loved it.
Debbie 🙂
http://www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com
Two out of your five I would honestly have to say would be on my top five as well. The Outsiders, I can still remember the emotions that went through my mind as I read this book (back in 7th grade), and also “The Little Prince”. My other three would be; “The House on Mango Street”, Shadow of the Wind” and “Pride and Prejudice”,