We never know when our time will be up. As I inch closer to sixty, I feel myself giving up things. I'm getting closer and closer to the end of my working life. I've given up on my idea of visiting Italy. It's pretty clear I'm never going to walk the Appalachian Trail or ride a bike across Texas.
Does that mean I'm going to exit this life without making an attempt to read every good book? No, I haven't given up on that dream. I don't care about reading the best book of March; I want to read books we want to reread, books we want to tell everyone about, books that stick with us. The best books.
I've already read a lot of those, I think. Suite Francaise. My Name is Asher Lev. Civility. The Little Prince. A few years ago I read My Ideal Bookshelf. I later made my own ideal bookshelf:
Last year I read Read This! Handpicked Favorites from America's Indie Bookstores. I spent several days with Read This, making lists of books I might like to read based on recommendations from booksellers.
And long, long ago, I found the "One Book" List online. Each reader was invited to submit the name of the one book that most affected his life. I can remember taking a look at the list periodically back in the early nineties and finally printing it out in 1998. Glad I did, as it seems to no longer exist online. I was happily able to retype the list today as a Google Doc.
Now I want to use all of these ideas to come up with My Book Bucket List.
Could you help me? What books would you recommend? I'd love to have you add your recommendations to this list.
I'll keep this up for 2015 and post about it early next year.
The Sunday Post is a meme hosted by Kimba at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news and recap the past week.
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page. We share books that we found in our mailboxes last week.
It is now being hosted here.
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which you can share the books you've acquired.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from! I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme Book Journey loves to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme.
Do you want each of us to recommend 1,001? ;)
ReplyDeleteHey, you go, Bryan!
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ReplyDeletePeony by Pearl S Buck
ReplyDeleteSorcerer's Apprentice by Tahir Shah
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Bestseller by Olivia Goldsmith
The Flavour of the Month by Olivia Goldsmith
Victoria Evangelina
I just sat and wrote down five or six book that came to mind and placed them directly on the form. I'll come back and add more. What fun.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great project! I don't know if my favorites would fit on that list, as I tend to enjoy books....and then forget about them. But I will ponder this project.
ReplyDeleteEven after you retire, though, there will be even more time for reading. I have discovered that.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
I'll be 35 this year and I've already given up anything involving the Appalachian Trail! I'm not sure that was ever on my to do list though. I'm not sure I have any books to suggest but I will most certainly be keeping an eye out to see what suggestions you get!
ReplyDeleteGreat project! I'll have to ponder this a bit then I'll come back and contribute to the list. I turned 50 last Spring and I'm realizing how fast time flies!!
ReplyDeleteFun project! I'm not very good at this. I think it's because I don't have the gift of discernment. But it's also because books, for me, are often about context. I don't imagine Edward Rutherfurd appears on anyone's "best" lists but reading Paris in Paris is an experience I treasure. A lot of people actively hate self-help books -- but the right book at the right moment has changed my life.
ReplyDeleteCool project. I have a couple to recommend. By the way, you never know about life beyond what you call the end of your working life. You might still ride your bike across Texas or visit Italy or even walk part of the Appalachian Trail. I'm a few years older than you and I find myself beginning to dream and think about doing things again that I thought we're behind me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI put a couple titles I could think of into the form. I dont think you should give up on visiting Italy! It's amazing.
ReplyDeleteI added a few. I could probably add 1,001 books, but I didn't. Tee Hee!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!!
Leaving my link to It's Monday! What Are You Reading.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading
Love this idea Deb, I'll be back to contribute a few to your list. And thanks for including the google doc of the "One Book" List you typed up, I've never seen it before so it was great to check out.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'll have to think a bit about this. If pressed, my favourite books of 2014 (alone) were:
ReplyDeleteLost & Found by Brooke Davis
Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
When the Night Comes by Favel Parrett
Deb