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Showing posts with label C.S. Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C.S. Lewis. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: School Daze, Reading Haze
I almost skipped participating in TTT today because I didn't think I'd be able to come up with much for today's prompt: Top Ten Books I Was Assigned to Read in School. I'm sure I was required to read plenty, but I just can't remember specifics, especially before college. At Brigham Young University, I studied English, and those years are a little bit clearer. Still, it was a bit of a struggle to come up with ten.
As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Books I Was Assigned to Read in School (and how I felt/feel about them)
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee—TKAM is my favorite novel of all time. I believe I first encountered it in college. I've read it many times since and I love it more each time I read it. It's a classic that's timeless, approachable, and always inspiring.
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis—I'm thinking this children's classic was probably something one of my elementary school teachers read aloud to us rather than assigned us to read ourselves. I remember being enraptured by the story. Some of the magical images it conjured in my young head still linger there quite vividly.
3. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather—All I remember about this book is that I was bored to tears by it when I was assigned to read it in high school.
4. Watership Down by Richard Adams—I vaguely recall being assigned to read this in one of my college lit classes. Although I know I enjoyed it, I have no recollection of what it's about except that it involves rabbits...
5. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck—This is another one of those books that put vivid images into my head. I believe I first read it in high school.
6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald—I disliked this classic when I first read it in high school (possibly college) and I despised it even more when I reread it a few years ago with my son, who was studying it in a high school English course. He was likewise flummoxed by it and kept asking, "What is this book even about?" Seriously!
7. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson—This hilarious holiday book wasn't assigned reading, but I remember so well the day my stern, never-cracked-a-smile 3rd grade teacher was reading it aloud to our class and started laughing so hard that she had to hand the book off to a student to read for her. We were all so terrified of her that it was absolutely shocking to watch her lose control like that!
8. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger—I was assigned to read this book in college and absolutely hated it.
9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle—This is another children's classic that was either assigned reading or a teacher read aloud from elementary school. Again, the vivid images it conjured up in my mind back then are still there. I've reread the novel a few times in the ensuing years and, while it's not a big favorite of mine, it's always a nostalgic read.
10. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury—I believe I read this novel in high school. Other than the book burnings, I don't remember much about the story except that I liked it.
There you go, ten books that I read or that a teacher read aloud to me in school. Have you read any of them? What did you think when you first encountered them? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. I also reply to comments left here, although I am a week or so behind at the moment.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Favorite Quotes From My Top Ten Favorite Novels
While I love finding beautiful, inspiring, meaningful passages while I'm reading or coming across a clever quote about books/reading, I'm rubbish at actually writing them down or remembering them. That makes today's TTT prompt—Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes—a tad difficult. Thank goodness for Google! With a little help from my favorite search engine, I'm going to highlight ten of my most-loved quotes from my ten favorite novels of all time.
By the by, this fun weekly event is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.
Top Ten Favorite Quotes From My Top Ten Favorite Novels
"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."
"I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship."
"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet."
"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs."
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."
"There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."
"She just smiled, said that she loved books more than anything, and started telling him excitedly what each of the ones in her lap was about. And Ove realised that he wanted to hear her talking about the things she loved for the rest of his life."
"Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library."
"Men tell stories. Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over."
There you are, ten of my favorite quotes from my ten favorite novels. Which are your favorites? Which quotes did you choose for your list this week? I'd love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, April 05, 2022
Top Ten Tuesday: A Favorites Freebie
I've been talking about my upcoming move for a while now. In preparation, I've been sorting through my massive book collection, donating bags of stuff to Deseret Industries, and packing less needed items into boxes. I hadn't planned to start showing the house for a couple weeks, but my husband got antsy and listed the house! I've never been much of a housekeeper, so needless to say, I've been frantically cleaning and purging my 5,000 square foot house so I'm not too embarrassed to show it to potential buyers. As I just explained to a friend (whom I addressed by the wrong name in an email), my brain is mush! Last night after cleaning all day, I literally collapsed in my bed from exhaustion and wonky blood sugar. Our first group is coming through the house today, so wish me luck.
All that is a long, rambling way of saying that I don't have a lot of brain power for today's Top Ten Tuesday. Luckily, the topic is a freebie and it dawned on me last week that I've never done a TTT list of my all-time favorite novels. If you made a list of your favorite novels/books, what would you put on it?
Before we go any further, let me remind you to hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our loyal TTT hostess some love. If you're in a list-making mood, why don't you join in the fun?
My Top Ten Favorite Novels of All Time
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (published 1960)—This entertaining, thought-provoking novel has long been my favorite.
2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (published 1868)—With a group of warm, loving women at its core, this one makes me laugh, cry, and swoon (I just imagine my own ending in which Jo is as madly in love with Laurie as he is with her).
3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (published 1843)—The only Dickens tale I've read all the way through, I adore this novella for many reasons. I re-read it every December to get me in the Christmas spirit!
4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (published 1908)—I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the irrespressible Anne. She's an unforgtettable character.
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (published 1847)—I'm due for a re-read of this wonderful Gothic classic.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (published 1998 in the U.S.)—Entering the world of Hogwarts for the first time was a singular experience and one I experienced as an adult. Being seen in public reading a children's book was a bit embarrassing for me, but pretty soon EVERYONE was reading HP, young and old. One of the things I love most about this book and the subsequent installments is the way it created a magical reading community.
7. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (published 2015)—This epic World War II novel is haunting and memorable.
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (published 1957)—If you can't tell, I love Christmas. While it's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas that we read to the kids every year (even though some of ours are in their 20s), it's the irrascible Grinch that I love most. His antics make me laugh, but his change of heart makes me cry since it so embodies the spirit of Christmas.
9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (published 1950)—I first read this delightful fantasy novel in elementary school. It captured my imagination so thoroughly that I remember the visions that danced in my head, even at that young age. For nostalgia's sake and because it really is a wonderful book, I count it as one of my all-time favorites.
10. Still Life by Louise Penny (published 2005)—I credit Kay with introducing me to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He's a stand-out literary detective and I've loved every book I've read about him. Still Life is the first installment. Is it my favorite of the series? Not necessarily, but because it's the introductory volume, I let it stand in for the whole series.
There you are, my top ten favorite novels of all time. Do we have any in common? Which would you put on your list of most-loved books? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: Just Because It's Your Birthday Doesn't Mean I'm Going to Read the Books You Recommend!
Once upon a TTT, someone (I wish I could remember who, but I can't—if it was you, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!) made a list of the top ten books her husband had recommended to her that she'd never read. Since my husband's birthday was on Saturday, I thought it would be fun to use this as my list topic today.
My husband and I will have been married for 24 years in August. We were attracted to each other because we have a lot in common. We were reared in similar environments with similar values. We like (mostly) the same types of music. We both enjoy traveling, learning, eating, talking, researching family history (we are 8th cousins once removed, after all), etc. People even say we look alike! When it comes to our reading preferences, though? We're miles apart. He prefers non-fiction, whether it's the newspaper, online articles, a biography, or some deep, philosophical tome. When he does reach for fiction, it's almost always sci-fi or something highly satiric or allegorical, all of which I usually avoid. Because of this great divide in our reading tastes, I rarely take his recommendations, poor guy. To be fair, he doesn't take mine either, so I guess we're square. At any rate, I decided to create a list of the top books he's recommended to me in recent years that I still have not read (and, honestly, probably never will).
Before we get to that, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl to wish Jana a happy birthday and to join in the TTT fun.
Top Ten Books My Husband Has Recommended to Me That I Will Probably Never Read
1. The Martian by Andy Weir—As much as I enjoyed the movie version, this novel is such a snooze fest that I couldn't get past the first few chapters. Way too many details for me.
2. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis—This is one of my husband's very favorite books. It's a religious allegory about a bus ride that goes from heaven to hell. When the hubs tried getting me to listen to The Great Divorce on audio during a car trip, I promptly fell asleep. I did enjoy the on-stage production we watched of it, but I'll likely never actually read the book. Sorry, honey!
3. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl—I have considered reading this classic philosophical text by a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, but I've never gotten around to it.
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey and sequels by Arthur C. Clarke—Space + allegory? Hard pass.
5. The Gift of the Devil by Emily Ayars Smith—A very wise friend of ours just published this book about her experiences with life, God, and Satan. My husband is probably the book's biggest fan and has bought multiple copies to share with others. I probably won't read this one only because, as a general book reviewing rule, I don't read books written by people I know. Too awkward.
6. Greenlights by Matthew McCounaughey—I'm not sure I've ever witnessed my husband enjoying a memoir as much as he did this one. He says the book is irreverent, but hysterical. I do like McCounaughey, so maybe I'll get around to this one eventually. Who knows?
7. Anything by Terryl and/or Fiona Givens—Terryl Givens is a professor of literature and religion who writes deep, intellectual books about spirituality, Mormonism, Christianity, and other topics. His wife is an equally knowledgeable teacher and scholar. My husband is a huge fan of them both (he and Terryl are also distant cousins). I'm sure they're both awesome, but reading their writing makes my head hurt. If I have to re-read a sentence ten times to understand it, I'm out. I'll just get the highlights from my husband, thank you very much.
8. Healing Your Family History by Rebecca Linder Hintze—We have numerous copies of this slim book laying around the house, but I've never actually picked one up and read it. I don't know why since I'm very interested in family dynamics and family history. This one is about patterns that develop in families and how to get rid of the harmful ones. My husband has found it very helpful and always recommends it to people. I honestly have no idea why I haven't read it yet.
9. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card—I have a love/hate relationship with Card's books. This one falls in the latter category. I've tried to read it several times and I just can't get past the first chapter or two. It doesn't resonate with me at all.
10. Muddy by Dean Hughes—I've actually read a number of books by Hughes, who writes historical fiction for both teens and adults. He mostly focuses on the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His newest series, which starts with Muddy, is based on the experiences of early members of the Church who were called by Brigham Young to settle the Muddy River Valley (what is now Nevada), among whom were some of my husband's ancestors. Polygamy was practiced in the Church at this time and the series focuses largely on the challenges and difficulties that arose from the practice. Like many members whose families have long been associated with the Church, my husband and I both have polygamists in our family lines. His were excellent at the practice, having many wives and numerous children. Mine were more like polygamy dropouts. Only a couple of them engaged in the practice and none of them had more than two wives at a time. In fact, my great-great-grandpa only lasted for a year or so as a polygamist before he had an argument with Brigham Young that resulted in him leaving the Church, abandoning one of his wives, and high-tailing it out of Utah, never to return! Anyway, my husband enjoyed Muddy quite a lot. He says it's interesting and entertaining. I'm sure he's right, but honestly, I don't want to read about plural marriage. Like my ancestors, I just don't have the stomach for it!
There you are, ten books my husband has recommended to me that I probably won't ever read. What do you think of his choices? Have you read any of these? What books has your spouse/significant other recommended to you that you have totally ignored? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.
Happy TTT!
Sunday, February 04, 2018
The One Where I Actually Read Something My Husband Recommends to Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
My husband often accuses me of ignoring the many book recommendations he's given to me. And justifiably so. It's not that I don't appreciate his suggestions or that I don't want to experience a book that he's enjoyed—it's just that we like very different kinds of books. You've no doubt noticed that I'm a fiction kind of girl. I read for entertainment, so I generally shy away from anything that's too deep. As I like to tell my husband, if I have to re-read every sentence five times before I understand it, I'm out.
One of my husband's very favorite books is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. He's been urging me to give it a go for a long time, reassuring me that it's more readable than many of the tomes he likes to consume. Ironically enough, it wasn't until it was selected as the next pick for my book club that I finally gave it a chance. And you know what? The hubs was right. It's a worthwhile read. Do I count it as a favorite of mine? No, but that's okay. I'm glad I read it and took the time to ponder Lewis' thoughts.
The allegorical story in The Great Divorce is told by a man who dreams he gets on a bus and takes an incredible journey through Heaven and Hell. He converses with his fellow passengers, meets a variety of supernatural beings, and has his mind opened to some surprising truths about life, death, human nature, and good vs. evil.
I know a good deal of Lewis' ruminations went straight over my head, so I'm not going to even pretend that I understand The Great Divorce. I did, however, enjoy "meeting" the different bus riders, each of whom represents a different type of person—the proud, the faithless, the fearful, etc. When my husband asked me which of them I most identified with, I replied, "Um, all of them?" I saw portions of myself in each of their weaknesses, which definitely provided food for thought. I also appreciated Lewis' ideas on letting go of "earthly" concepts like fairness, justification, quarrels, etc. as I, too, feel that such things do not exist in heaven.
Overall, then, I enjoyed The Great Divorce. It's a short book with some big messages, most of which I would probably have to read about five more times in order to really get. Maybe I'll do that.
(Readalikes: Besides The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the only other thing I've read by C.S. Lewis is The Screwtape Letters. It's similar to The Great Divorce, I think.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: The Great Divorce is from my personal library.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Before the Year Ends: A Belated Top Ten Tuesday List
If you want to join in the TTT fun, it's not too late. Click on over to The Broke and the Bookish, read up on the TTT rules, make a list of your own, and have a jolly old time hopping around the book blogosphere. It's a great way to find new book blogs to love. The last thing on Earth I need is more titles on my TBR
Here we go with the Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to Reading Before the End of the Year:
1. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah—I loved The Nightingale, so I've been anxiously awaiting a new novel from Hannah. There's not a lot of info on this one, but apparently it's about a family struggling to survive in Alaska. I'm down with that. (Even though this one doesn't come out until February 2018, I'm hoping to get an ARC to read this year. Keep your fingers crossed for me.)
2. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis—My book club chose this book for our October read. Even though it's one of my husband's all-time favorite books, I haven't read it yet. We saw the play on Valentine's Day a few years ago, which sounds like the ultimate irony. In actuality, The Great Divorce has nothing to do with romance—it's an allegorical tale about heaven and hell, good and evil, etc.
3. You May Already Be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis—I enjoyed Ellis' The End or Something Like That, so I'm interested to see what she does with this MG novel about a girl's plan to win a million dollars in order to save her family from their depressing trailer park existence.
4. Murder On the Orient Express by Agatha Christie—With the movie coming out soon, everyone wants to read this one (as evidenced by the fact that there's a looonnnggg wait list for it at the library). I first read And Then There Were None years ago, so it's definitely time for me to try another classic Christie mystery.
5. Caroline by Sarah Miller—I was a raging Little House on the Prairie fan as a child. It's been that long since I've read the series; I'd like to re-read it soon, then move on to this novel written from Mrs. Ingalls' perspective.
6. Reading People by Anne Bogel—Another thing I was obsessed with as a kid was those personality quizzes you could always find in teen magazines. Reading People goes beyond those to discuss how personality shapes everything we do. Sounds fun!
7. The Emperor's Ostrich by Julie Berry—I'm a big Berry fan, so I'm excited to read her new MG novel about a young dairymaid who sets off in search of her lost cow with a magical map to guide her way.
8. Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence—I adore books about books, so this one sounds right up my alley. It's a collection of love and break-up letters written by a librarian to the tomes she loves and loathes.
9. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan—This novel about a woman who's on a quest to understand the life of her missing father has been getting a lot of buzz. I'll be interested to see if it deserves it or not.
10. Healing Your Family History by Rebecca Linder Hintze—I'm so Mormon that another thing I'm totally obsessed with is genealogy. Lately, I've been able to help other people research their own family trees. Listening to their stories has made me absolutely fascinated with how all of us are influenced by our family histories. My husband keeps recommending this book, which talks about how to break free from destructive familial patterns, to everyone he knows.
So, there you have it. I'm hoping to read 77 more books this year to hit my goal of 200 and these are just ten that are on my list. What else should I read before 2017 disappears? What titles are you still hoping to read this year? Leave me a comment and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
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