Tuesday, March 04, 2008

THE MEMPHIS READS QUESTION

What books were so good that you INSISTED your friends read them?









Thanks to Kay Due, Public Services, for a great question!

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Comments:
This is a really interesting question for me because it makes me reminisce about the books that I have loved (and wanted to share) at different points in my life.

Flowers in the Attic—Andrews (Jr High)
In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens--Walker (College)
Mama Day—Naylor (College)
Everything by Toni Morrison (College)

About five years ago, I wanted to start doing some financial planning and started a (short-lived) book club for support. I recommended Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad because of the stories the author tells about his two dads.

More recently, I have INSISTED that friends read Getting Mother’s Body.

Just today, a friend and I were discussing what a great movie "No Country For Old Men" is. He decided to re-read the book of the same title by Cormac McCarthy, but INSISTED that I read McCarthy's The Road--he actually found it on the library shelf and handed it to me to check out.
 
I don't read many mysteries, but I am a sucker for a great suspense. My mother actually recommended Joy Fielding's SEE JANE RUN to me first. Within the first few pages, I was hooked and probably finished the novel within 3 days. Since then, I have recommended this suspenseful story to family, friends, co-workers, and even customers who want a story they won't be able to put down!
 
A few of the books that I felt everyone should read as I read them included Diet for a Small Planet, The Grapes of Wrath, Crime and Punishment, All Quiet on the Western Front and of course most of the books in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.
 
This is a great question because it takes me back to those early days of reading in middle school. We all read Babysitters Club and then moved into R.L. Stine's Fear Street books.

In high school I read and loved On the Beach and the short story The Lottery. While working at my local library in East Tennessee I encouraged customers to read James Patterson, still a must-read for me now!

In college I added The Handmaid's Tale, Metamorphosis, and The Things They Carried to my list of "must-reads." After college I found Janet Evanovich, Kay Hooper, My Antonia and many more authors and books you've seen me review here.

I know that not all readers will enjoy my taste in books--but I almost always have a favorite to recommend to a friend.

Beth, Higland Branch Library
 
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer or any book by William and Martha Sears
 
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