Straight from The Broke and the Bookish comes this Tuesday’s
question:
What are your best books of the year?
7. Mrs.
Dalloway: I was pondering over whether to include
this book. While I wouldn’t say it
was one of my favourite reads, it has potential. I really need to read it again to get more appreciation for
it.
6. Son Excellence, Eugène
Rougon: so interesting to learn all about French
politics under the Second Empire.
Again, Zola’s wonderful descriptive powers made the journey into this
story delightful!
5. The Old Man and the Sea:
It redeemed my opinion of Hemingway and made me willing to try more of
his reads. Very enjoyable!
4. The Warden:
I had no idea Trollope was so much fun! I’m going to read the whole Barset Chronicles series.
3. The Chronicles of Narnia:
I’d read it as a child, but as an adult I was blown away by the various
scholarly themes imbedded in it ……… Pascal, Plato, the chronicles had them
all.
2. The Odyssey:
a re-read and a read-along. I truly gained a much greater love for this poem reading
it the second time.
1. Paradise Lost:
I’d been scared of this poem for years but I decided to plunge in with
a read-along and what a plunge!
Milton's use of the English language is masterfully stunning; I looked
forward to every section read and every post on my blog. Simple amazing!
Seven books was all I could come up with. I’ve realized that I had a much better “line-up”
at the beginning of last year. I’m
assuming that was simply coincidence, however I’m glad that I’ve posted on this
topic because it will help me be more choosy in my reads for the rest of the
year.
What about you?
What are your favourite books for the year? Have you had good luck or bad luck with your choices?
I loved Paradise Lost when I read it in high school. I remember being the only one in my class to write an essay on that text. It is an incredible work!
ReplyDeleteNow that I've read it, I can't believe that I was so intimidated by it. Yes, in a couple of parts I had to read slowly and carefully but overall his words just captured you. I think it will be my #1 of the year at the end of it.
DeleteI'm glad the Chronicles of Narnia are on your list! They are my favorite books of all time, for the precise reason that despite your age or interest, they always have something to offer.
ReplyDeleteI also had seven on mine, because I just haven't read very many books this semester. :-(
Oh, good! Someone else who had less than 10. I feel like I'm in good company! :-)
DeleteI was a little disappointed that I could pick out a few books this year that I didn't like. Perhaps I'm in a choosier mood, but, as I said, I'm going to be more selective with what I read until the end of the year.
awesome, what a list! I love very much Milton
ReplyDeleteYah! Another Milton fan!
DeleteGreat list! I've been interested in reading Trollope for a while, now. I think that may be my project - next year?
ReplyDeleteI think you'll enjoy Trollope very much. He's wonderful ….. funny, expressive, insightful and his characters are well-drawn and fun! The Barset Chronicles are very enjoyable reads.
DeleteWith the exception of THE LION, THE WITCH, and THE WARDROBE, I haven't read any of these. Shame on me. I should definitely throw some classics into this year's reading lineup.
ReplyDeleteLewis is perhaps my favourite author. I love how he can stretch from a simple child's point of view, to a common man's, to an intellectual scholar's. The Narnia Chronicles incorporate all three into one narrative. I can only say, WOW!
DeleteI'm encouraged by how much you enjoyed The Odyssey - I've always wanted to read it but it does intimidate me a bit.
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoyed it more the second time, since I was already familiar with the different characters and the peoples Odysseus met, so that allowed me to concentrate more on their actions and motivations.
DeleteI hope you enjoy your read of it, Sam!
Excellent choices :) Glad Mrs Dalloway made the cut, even if it was hesitant!
ReplyDeleteWell, I loved To The Lighthouse so much, that I couldn't leave it out. And I do feel that I have more to learn from it ---- I feel a re-read coming on!
DeleteI started re-reading To the Lighthouse last night. It was the first Woolf I'd read, and I knew nothing at all about her. Now with 10 years of Woolf knowledge my mind was absolutely blown by the first chapter!
DeleteDon't you dare make me want to pick it up again! ;-) I can see that you are getting MUCH, MUCH, more reading time than I am these days.
DeletePerhaps I can revisit it this summer but with my list, I can see all of it will be spent trying to catch up on what I'm already reading. :-Z
It's because I'm desperate to finish my Classics Club list that I've dropped everything else :) Not watched one single Law & Order episode all month. Really want to finish by September :)
DeleteLOL! Is that Law and Order UK? I like that series better than the U.S. ones.
DeleteWow you've got some nice classics on your list....makes sense with the name of your blog and all! HA!
ReplyDeleteTTT
Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know
I actually have been on classical overload this year and, while I love reading them, am actually looking for a little break. I have a few less heavy books planned for the summer and I can't wait for it to come.
DeletePopping over now to check out your list. Thanks for stopping by!