Mar
The One Well Read
I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. I read all types of books but always had my favorites…
You know, the ones you’d return to again and again, the pages getting more and more worn with each passing. When I was a kid, those well-read copies were generally my Little House books (still have them today). I loved Laura Ingalls and everything about her life.
In fact, on my bucket list, is a visit to as many of her houses as I can go (to date, I’ve only been to the one in Mansfield, MO so I hope I don’t die anytime soon).
But I digress.
Anyway, I have a book that I return to again and again as an adult, too. And, like my Little House books, the pages are worn and tattered and yellowed with age. I could buy a new copy, but I don’t want to. There’s a comfort in knowing that’s my book. 
The book–with the actual cover I have–is this one right here… I absolutely adored A Cry in the Night by Mary Higgins Clark the first time I read it. And I love it just as much with each subsequent read (and there have been many). I’m not sure what it is that pulls me to this story. But I’ll try to explain.
The sense of place in this book is strong, the characters so layered you can’t help but feel as if you’re walking alongside them in the book. And even though I know what happens now, it still packs a wallop.
Oh, and there’s one more thing. It’s this book that made me decide to pilot my writing dream in the direction of mysteries.
So what’s your book? The one you’ve re-read time and time again? And while you’re at it…tell us why.
~Elizabeth
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:23 am
The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge. I singlehandedly wore out the copy my library had, and then I bought a copy for myself as an adult. I still read it about once a year or so. It’s my “security blanket” in book form. It soothes me like no other book ever has. When I’m upset, I read it and feel better. When I’m happy, I read it and feel happier.
As an adult, I guess the ones I come back to most often are the Georgetown Series (Ammie, Come Home, Shattered Silk, and Stitches in Time), by Barbara Michaels. I love the continuation of the characters, and how we get to see the changes in their lives as the books progress. They were written years apart from each other, so it’s like hearing from someone you hadn’t had a chance to visit with lately.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:54 am
Shel, I LOVE your description of the Georgetown Series. I’ve never read them, but your description alone makes me want to go out and pick them up. Thanks!
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:35 am
The books that I can literaly pick up and turn to a random page and start reading are any of the Harry Potters, but that’s true for a lot of people. Same with the Bible. But an odder choice for me is Michael Malone’s Handling Sin; it’s a wild ride of a tale that is a joy from start to finish, with one outrageous adventure after another as our respectable (boring) hero chases his elderly (and pretty wacko) father across the country, encountering everything from Hell’s Angels to renegade nuns to the Klan. Totally nuts, and heartwarming to boot.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:00 am
My favorite book as a kid, although I’ve read it at least twice in the past ten years, is Irish Red, by Jim Kjelgaard. It’s so easy to lose myself in the woods with Danny and his dogs. All the books of his I’ve read (there are a few I haven’t, as they’re oop & hard to find) can bring me right into the story, and I still go there every once and a while.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 am
As a teenager, I must have read the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series 4 or 5 times. (Stephen R. Donaldson). The vivid descriptions of a land with magic and evil, but not as preachy as Lord of the Rings.
Of course I still have my copy of “The Green Berets” which is what I was reading when my now wife turned around in her airplane seat, introduced herself and asked me what I was reading.
As I got into college and later I read a lot of David Edding’s The Belgariad and the Elenium. Here the stories were good, but the individual characters were great. Cranky old grandfather types, wise-ass thieves, sometimes doing dumb things.
Read a lot of W.E.B. Griffin stories, but got tired of him using copy and paste to fill out each book.
Of course now I can recite ‘Guess how much I love you’, or any of the Thomas the Tank Engine stories by heart.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:34 am
I was reaading the second book in the Thomas Covenant chronicles (The Illearth War, I believe it was) when i went into labor with my first child! And 22 years after the fact, I believe I could still do a creditable job of Goodnight Moon.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am
My all-time favorite book is Mark Twain’s “Innocents Abroad”. I read this about every ten years, ever since I was 29. It’s still as fresh, funny and on the mark as it was more than 100 years ago, too.
Love “Goodnight, Moon”, too! Having a grandson gave me the opportunity to revisit children’s favorites like that, and “Love you Forever”, and a little book of poems about food. Sorry, can’t remember the title, but it was my kids’ favorite, and now my grandson loves it, too.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 am
I keep coming back to Mercedes Lackey’s book By the Sword. The main character winds up being the only one who can ride off to rescue her brothers bride-to-be. I love how she grows through the whole book, finding out that the sheltered life is not for her, and she finds her true calling. Yes, it is a sword and sorcery type book, complete with a magic sword… but the main character doesn’t depend on the magic. She depends more on her inner strength.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Forgot about Goodnight Moon. My son isn’t into that one as much.
I can also do a lot of the Clifford books “Hi, I’m Emily Elizabeth …” My middle child loved everything about Clifford.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:54 am
As a young adult, I read and reread ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOPHINS at least twice a year. My son even read it 4th grade for a class reading project. I found the sequal to the book at a local used bookshop, I haven’t read it yet. I think I want to keep the magic going from the original book. I still remember when I finished reading it the first time, I sat with my mom and cried for the island girl.
In my 40s, my go-to favority book is by Sandra Brown, ENVY. I love the intrigue, the ah-ha moment at the end. The human sprite shines thru this book. It does pain my heart a little bit to see this book at the Goodwill Store–everyone should love this book!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Hmmmm, great conversation and more books for my TBR pile…LOL
My fav as a kid..Wrinkle in Time. My fav kid book as an adult… Harry Potter – anyone — I’ve read two of the Twilight series and not as drawn into that world…even though it’s set near home…
Reading aloud…Shel Silversten — Where the sidewalk Ends… LOVE it…
Fav adult book… I think The Stand still holds this place in my heart. I’d say The Talsman comes in a close second. And I probably think about the Talsman more than the Stand.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:55 pm
No question. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I think it is such an excellent story and what an editorial on the times. A Pulitzer, can you believe it, she never published another novel. What a shame! It’s a classic. My copy is falling apart.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”
Every page on our Doc Seuss shelf is wilted and worn from many hands, and many turnings. For me, these books are the equivalent of a warm blanket on a dark and cheerless night. They remind me that I can be silly and profound and imaginative and serious and poetic and nonsensical, all in one.
Thanks for helping me choose a direction, Doc. And happy birthday.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:08 pm
To Kill A Mockingbird. I remember reading it for the first time and had so many questions that I wanted answered.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:18 pm
My all-time favorite re-read has to be Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders’ of Pern. I think I’ve read it at least 20 times by now.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Wow, these are spectacular, everyone! They got me thinking. I, too, can recite many of the Clifford books as my youngest was a huge fan. I used to be able to recite the entire, MR. BROWN CAN MOO, HOW ABOUT YOU? book as that was one of my oldest’s faves.
Joe, one of my favorite quotes from Doc Seuss (pronounced Soice–though few know that) was one that wasn’t in a book. It was told to me by a young man who had more confidence than any I’ve ever seen (in a neat way). He said the quote was something about: The people who mind don’t matter and the people who matter don’t mind. Love that.
I have so many books I want to try out now!!!