FIFTEEN REVEALS
Three different FaceBook friends and former students have asked me to list my favorite 15 novels that had an impression on me. Favorable, I assume or Richardson's Pamela and other 18th century English novels would fill up half that list. The other half would have been from existential writers I was also forced to read to get a Master's degree.
I was supposed to make my list in 15 minutes. I cheated. I felt since I had to go further back in time than any of them, I should be allowed more time for pensivity. At least that was my rationale.
So here's what I came up with. With only the briefest of explanations to follow. They are in no order for the most part.
A Tale of Two Cities
Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Stand
Great Expectations
Angela's Ashes
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Oasis--a Brian Hodge novel. One character is half-based on me.
Animal Farm
Cold Mountain
Across Five Aprils
Friday Night Lights
Goldfinger
The Grapes of Wrath
The Good Earth
No intent was made to sound literary or well educated. These are the ones I liked. I hated to leave out Joseph Wambaugh's The Choirboys along with some Ray Bradbury, but 15 is 15 and not 17 or 18. I also purposely left off The Last Game and Niches and Crannies--two feeble attempts of mine to write novellas. Simply because despite the time I devoted to them, they really are not very good.
It was a good exercise, and like Beth, Laura, and Celeste, I would be interested in reading others' lists as well.
Three different FaceBook friends and former students have asked me to list my favorite 15 novels that had an impression on me. Favorable, I assume or Richardson's Pamela and other 18th century English novels would fill up half that list. The other half would have been from existential writers I was also forced to read to get a Master's degree.
I was supposed to make my list in 15 minutes. I cheated. I felt since I had to go further back in time than any of them, I should be allowed more time for pensivity. At least that was my rationale.
So here's what I came up with. With only the briefest of explanations to follow. They are in no order for the most part.
A Tale of Two Cities
Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Stand
Great Expectations
Angela's Ashes
The Mayor of Casterbridge
Oasis--a Brian Hodge novel. One character is half-based on me.
Animal Farm
Cold Mountain
Across Five Aprils
Friday Night Lights
Goldfinger
The Grapes of Wrath
The Good Earth
No intent was made to sound literary or well educated. These are the ones I liked. I hated to leave out Joseph Wambaugh's The Choirboys along with some Ray Bradbury, but 15 is 15 and not 17 or 18. I also purposely left off The Last Game and Niches and Crannies--two feeble attempts of mine to write novellas. Simply because despite the time I devoted to them, they really are not very good.
It was a good exercise, and like Beth, Laura, and Celeste, I would be interested in reading others' lists as well.
posted by TQ @ 3:09 PM
1 Comments:
At 4:34 PM,
Cee said…
Thanks for sharing TQ. I'd also like to add The Stand, my absolute favorite of Stephen King's collection. Angela's Ashes was also a favorite of mine, which I (feckin') forgot about!
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