Some of my favorite books (and why):
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass : Alice is the best character ever– witty, intelligent, independent. Carroll’s nonsense is far from nonsensical. The story reveals new layers as you re-read.
Peter Pan : the book is scary, sad, humorous, and generally amazing. It eats the movies for breakfast.
To Kill a Mockingbird : Scout = another awesome young-girl character. Also, Atticus is amazing. The story is more about the town than the trial, so I think its true value is often underrated/overlooked.
Cobwebs : This book is the one I turn to when I’m stuck in the technicalities of writing. Also, a very cool story that involves spiders, i.e. my favorite creatures.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks : it’s not insulting to my intelligence, the story is great, the writing is skillful, and it taught me about the Panopticon. It’s another one I learn writing from.
Jane Eyre : Jane is the untilmate protagonist. The book is full of great quotes, it was a surprisingly easy read, and it blew Austen’s stories out of the water because of its creepy elements, complex characters, and multiple layers.
The Hunting of the Snark (long, long poem) : Clever, funny, distinctly Lewis Carroll. Love!
The Golden Apples of the Sun (especially “The Exiles”) : amazing descriptions, cool stories, and it almost makes me like space and rockets and such. And the way he describes Poe in “The Exiles”… and the dreams… shiver. I also like “There be Tygers” and “The Murderer” and for no apparent reason, “R is for Rocket”.
Currently reading:
Don Quixote
Mansfield Park
(Both of the above are what I call “alleged classics”. I read them and determine if they should still be called classic. The Alice books? Obviously still classic in my opinion. 1984? Um. Not so much. Although I never did finish it, so maybe I’ll give it another chance one day…)
