I believe one of the best ways (or at least an interesting way) to learn about a person is to find out what books they like to read. So here's a little introduction to me, by the books I read.
The first book I ever loved: The Berenstain Bears Old Hat New Hat
I don't think I've seen this book in at least 20 years, but I can still see the pictures in my head. For some reason, I just loved this book. If I'm remembering correctly, I think the book had a good rhythm to it, like a Dr. Seuss book, which I also loved. My mom read this book to me so much that I had it memorized and I thought I knew how to read. Thirty years later, my mom probably still has this book memorized.
What I was reading in elementary school: ALL of the American Girl books (the Molly books were my fave, even though I had the Samantha and Addie dolls), every single Nancy Drew book our little town library had, Beverly Cleary's Ramona books, and of course, like every other child of the 90s, The Babysitter Club books. [To learn what your favorite children's book series says about you, click here. The American Girls description is spot on!]
What I was reading in middle school: R.L. Stine's Fear Street books (remember those?), but I don't think those were literary enough to count as our free reading books for school. I was really into Sherlock Holmes books for a while, probably somewhere around middle school. I also remember reading Lord of the Flies for school and loving it.
What I was reading in high school: Some of my favorites that were required reading for school were The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Outside of school, this is when I discovered The Bell Jar, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Such broody books.
What I was reading in college: I read only the bare minimum of my textbooks. Just what I needed to read to get by. Because I had better things to read, like all of the Harry Potter books. I was a bit behind when it came to Harry Potter and this is when I caught up. I also went through an Ayn Rand phase in college, and loved Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
My favorite book, ever: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Beautifully written. And that Paloma. She's a feisty thing.
Tie for second runner up is between Never Let Me Go and Cutting for Stone.
Book I loved that everyone else hated: The Scarlet Letter, Lord of the Flies, and probably every other book that was required reading in school. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? seems to fall into this category too. I thought this book was quirky and hilarious, but a lot of people I know didn't like it at all.
Book I hated that everyone else loved: Gone Girl
Hate is a strong word. Dislike is probably more appropriate. I just didn't see what all the hype was about. Full disclosure, I have seen the movie and actually enjoyed it, although I think the book did a better job of conveying the creepiness of all of the characters.
Best book I ever read after hearing about it on NPR: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
Whenever I hear a book being discussed on NPR, I always add it to my to read list, and I have yet to be disappointed.
Best book I ever read after reading about it in another book: A Bend in the River
Whenever a character in a book mentions a book that they loved, I always want to read it. The mom in We Need to Talk About Kevin (best disturbing book I ever read) said this was her favorite book, so I read it and it is in fact, a great book.
Favorite YA book: If I Stay
I read this book in one day when it first came out after hearing about it on NPR (and long before all of the movie hype). Since I read way more young adult books than anyone my age should read, I actually have many favorites in this category. Close runner-ups: Wonder, Eleanor & Park, The Fault in Our Stars, The Book Thief, and The Diviners.
Favorite non-fiction book: Daring Greatly
I actually read very little non-fiction (probably because I'm too busy reading YA) and when I do, I tend to lean toward self-help. Not sure what that says about me.
I would read anything written by this author: Joyce Carol Oates
Her writing can be a bit disturbing, but she always delivers. If you're new to Joyce Carol Oates, High Lonesome is a good place to start.
Best author reading I've attended: Zadie Smith reading from NW.
Very close runner-up: Junot Diaz reading from This is How You Lose Her.
*links to Amazon are affiliate
What book or books would you use to introduce yourself?
The first book I ever loved: The Berenstain Bears Old Hat New Hat
I don't think I've seen this book in at least 20 years, but I can still see the pictures in my head. For some reason, I just loved this book. If I'm remembering correctly, I think the book had a good rhythm to it, like a Dr. Seuss book, which I also loved. My mom read this book to me so much that I had it memorized and I thought I knew how to read. Thirty years later, my mom probably still has this book memorized.
What I was reading in elementary school: ALL of the American Girl books (the Molly books were my fave, even though I had the Samantha and Addie dolls), every single Nancy Drew book our little town library had, Beverly Cleary's Ramona books, and of course, like every other child of the 90s, The Babysitter Club books. [To learn what your favorite children's book series says about you, click here. The American Girls description is spot on!]
What I was reading in middle school: R.L. Stine's Fear Street books (remember those?), but I don't think those were literary enough to count as our free reading books for school. I was really into Sherlock Holmes books for a while, probably somewhere around middle school. I also remember reading Lord of the Flies for school and loving it.
What I was reading in high school: Some of my favorites that were required reading for school were The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Outside of school, this is when I discovered The Bell Jar, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Such broody books.
What I was reading in college: I read only the bare minimum of my textbooks. Just what I needed to read to get by. Because I had better things to read, like all of the Harry Potter books. I was a bit behind when it came to Harry Potter and this is when I caught up. I also went through an Ayn Rand phase in college, and loved Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
My favorite book, ever: The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Beautifully written. And that Paloma. She's a feisty thing.
Tie for second runner up is between Never Let Me Go and Cutting for Stone.
Book I loved that everyone else hated: The Scarlet Letter, Lord of the Flies, and probably every other book that was required reading in school. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? seems to fall into this category too. I thought this book was quirky and hilarious, but a lot of people I know didn't like it at all.
Book I hated that everyone else loved: Gone Girl
Hate is a strong word. Dislike is probably more appropriate. I just didn't see what all the hype was about. Full disclosure, I have seen the movie and actually enjoyed it, although I think the book did a better job of conveying the creepiness of all of the characters.
Best book I ever read after hearing about it on NPR: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
Whenever I hear a book being discussed on NPR, I always add it to my to read list, and I have yet to be disappointed.
Best book I ever read after reading about it in another book: A Bend in the River
Whenever a character in a book mentions a book that they loved, I always want to read it. The mom in We Need to Talk About Kevin (best disturbing book I ever read) said this was her favorite book, so I read it and it is in fact, a great book.
Favorite YA book: If I Stay
I read this book in one day when it first came out after hearing about it on NPR (and long before all of the movie hype). Since I read way more young adult books than anyone my age should read, I actually have many favorites in this category. Close runner-ups: Wonder, Eleanor & Park, The Fault in Our Stars, The Book Thief, and The Diviners.
Favorite non-fiction book: Daring Greatly
I actually read very little non-fiction (probably because I'm too busy reading YA) and when I do, I tend to lean toward self-help. Not sure what that says about me.
I would read anything written by this author: Joyce Carol Oates
Her writing can be a bit disturbing, but she always delivers. If you're new to Joyce Carol Oates, High Lonesome is a good place to start.
Best author reading I've attended: Zadie Smith reading from NW.
Very close runner-up: Junot Diaz reading from This is How You Lose Her.
*links to Amazon are affiliate
What book or books would you use to introduce yourself?