Goodreads Bookshelf
Book Meme
posted Friday, 2 March 2007
Considering yesterday's Thursday Think 'n' Share topics, this seemed like a timely meme to grab from Sarah's blog. I'm not tagging anyone, so feel free to grab it for yourself on your own blog, give your answers in my comment box, or just sit back and read my answers. Alternatively, you could do none of the above, but as you're already here you might as well at least give it a read.
1. One book that changed your life
Sarah's answer on this started to influence me as I thought of my first fantasy books--The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy--which I read back in 4th or 5th grade. Given how much fantasy and science fiction I've read since then, it's fair to say that those books changed my life. Still, my first interpretation of the question led me to think in terms of books that changed the way that the mature me thinks. With that in mind, I would have to say one of two books... I'll go with Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. The guy who would later become my best friend suggested it to me sometime in November or December of my junior year. Its influence on me was two-fold. First, it was the book that got me really interested in non-fiction, in books that talk about how various aspects of the world, humans, and our cultures work. Second, my friendship with my best friend grew directly out of that shared reading, subsequent discussion of that book and its ideas, and then more reading and discussion of of other books through the years. Our friendship isn't limited to books, but they've been right at the heart of it for years now.
2. One book you have read more than once
The first one that comes to mind is Walden by Henry Thoreau. I read it twice in college, once in grad school, and now again as I teach it. I'm sure it could easily stand to be read by me once a year. I could name several others that I've read multiple times, though.
3. One book you would want on a desert island
Even before seeing it, I would have put Sarah's answer: collected works of Shakespeare. She thought it was cheating, but for my part I already have the collected works sitting on my shelf, so I'm content to think of it was one book. The reasoning behind that is that--at least once you've read enough Shakespeare and/or Renaissance literature to know what's going on, Shakespeare really is quite probably the greatest writer in the English language. I've read a chunk of Shakespeare and if I had nothing better to do I should love to polish off the rest.
Of course, I think we all know that the real answer to that question for each and every one of us should be a survival guide, but we all understand the premise of the question.
4. One book that made you laugh
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Laughing and thinking.
5. One book that made you cry
Nothing comes instantly to mind, but I have it from a reliable authority that, as a small boy, I cried at the end of Bridge to Terebithia.
6. One book you wish had been written
About the first twelve times I read this, I thought it was asking about a book that I wished I had written, but it's not, and I don't have a good answer to it. Maybe the autobiography of Jesus, so we could get it straight from the horse's mouth instead of someone a generation later writing down hearsay. How did one of the most influential literary figures of all time actually see himself?
7. One book you wish had never had been written
Nothing really comes to mind.
8. One book you are currently reading
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
9. One book you have been meaning to read
Just one? I could make a list, but since I came very close to actually starting this one over winter break, I'll say Going Local by Michael Shuman
1. One book that changed your life
Sarah's answer on this started to influence me as I thought of my first fantasy books--The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy--which I read back in 4th or 5th grade. Given how much fantasy and science fiction I've read since then, it's fair to say that those books changed my life. Still, my first interpretation of the question led me to think in terms of books that changed the way that the mature me thinks. With that in mind, I would have to say one of two books... I'll go with Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. The guy who would later become my best friend suggested it to me sometime in November or December of my junior year. Its influence on me was two-fold. First, it was the book that got me really interested in non-fiction, in books that talk about how various aspects of the world, humans, and our cultures work. Second, my friendship with my best friend grew directly out of that shared reading, subsequent discussion of that book and its ideas, and then more reading and discussion of of other books through the years. Our friendship isn't limited to books, but they've been right at the heart of it for years now.
2. One book you have read more than once
The first one that comes to mind is Walden by Henry Thoreau. I read it twice in college, once in grad school, and now again as I teach it. I'm sure it could easily stand to be read by me once a year. I could name several others that I've read multiple times, though.
3. One book you would want on a desert island
Even before seeing it, I would have put Sarah's answer: collected works of Shakespeare. She thought it was cheating, but for my part I already have the collected works sitting on my shelf, so I'm content to think of it was one book. The reasoning behind that is that--at least once you've read enough Shakespeare and/or Renaissance literature to know what's going on, Shakespeare really is quite probably the greatest writer in the English language. I've read a chunk of Shakespeare and if I had nothing better to do I should love to polish off the rest.
Of course, I think we all know that the real answer to that question for each and every one of us should be a survival guide, but we all understand the premise of the question.
4. One book that made you laugh
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Laughing and thinking.
5. One book that made you cry
Nothing comes instantly to mind, but I have it from a reliable authority that, as a small boy, I cried at the end of Bridge to Terebithia.
6. One book you wish had been written
About the first twelve times I read this, I thought it was asking about a book that I wished I had written, but it's not, and I don't have a good answer to it. Maybe the autobiography of Jesus, so we could get it straight from the horse's mouth instead of someone a generation later writing down hearsay. How did one of the most influential literary figures of all time actually see himself?
7. One book you wish had never had been written
Nothing really comes to mind.
8. One book you are currently reading
Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
9. One book you have been meaning to read
Just one? I could make a list, but since I came very close to actually starting this one over winter break, I'll say Going Local by Michael Shuman
Your comments, as always, are most welcome. (3)