I browse Pinterest a lot and one of my biggest pet peeves is the unrealistic expectations that site brings to the table. Unicorn cupcakes and Death Star hand carved pumpkins aside, my biggest beef is with the “Top 75 books you MUST read this fall!”. Seriously? 75 “must read” books to be consumed in the 3 months of fall? Who writes these impractical lists and what reality do they live in? It’s annoying.
Anywho, rant aside, the hubs got me a writing class for my birthday! Excitement abounds! Right out of the gates, the instructor jumped to the merits of writing…you guessed it…LISTS! Luckily, she’s much more reasonable than Pinterest and recommended lists of 10. (You got that Pinterest? 10…not 75). So with her suggestion, I figured this week’s post would feature a list of my favorite books of all time.
In no particular order, I bring you my 5 favorite books of all time!
1. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
No joke, this book actually put the fire of Alaska in me and when we finally made it to Denali and saw sled dogs in action, it was like a part of my soul broke loose and tore through the track with those big beautiful Huskies.
2. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Outsiders is the ORIGINAL teenage angst manifesto. I’ve been in love with Ponyboy since the 3rd grade. This is one of those rare books where after reading, I sigh and start reading all over again. And after that 2nd reading, I’ll turn on the movie and sigh all over again for the next two hours.
3. Who Rides With Wyatt by Will Henry
This yard sale bargain box book hooked me on Westerns for life. There’s something endlessly romantic and all American about cowboys, the Wild West and the fine line between right and wrong. Did I mention “Tombstone” is my favorite movie?
4. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This book is entirely responsible for my obsession with Arthurian legends. Zimmer Bradley took a male dominated tale and turned it entirely on its head. The Mists of Avalon is an incredibly deep and rich tale that draw its strength from the strength of the female characters. I have read this book at least once every couple of years since high school.
5. The Light Between Oceans by M.L Stedman
There are good books and then there are books that curl up and wiggle like worms into your heart and take up permanent residence. The Light Between Oceans is the latter. I’ve never cried so hard while reading a book in my entire life. The pages were literally soaked and got all crinkly water-damagey.
If you have time to sit and read for several hours, I recommend the first three books. If you’re looking for something longer than an afternoon read, The Mists of Avalon or The Light Between Oceans are fantastic books to curl up under a warm fall blanket and snuggle with.
Until next time, happy reading!
Cheers-
-R
Hops & Lit 