Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Books, Books, Books!

A Book Meme
(I still do not quite know what a "meme" is -- perhaps it will be in the 2006 Merriam-Webster's? -- but I think I've inferred the meaning correctly by reading plenty out there. So, I'm going to start my own and see if I can get some participants.)
Five favorite fiction writers:
1) Jane Austen
2) Isabel Paterson
3) L.M. Montgomery
4) Sandra Dallas
5) Sophie Kinsella
Five favorite non-fiction writers:
1) Bill Bryson
2) P.J. O'Rourke
3) Thomas Sowell
4) Jim Powell
5) Stephen Cox
Five favorite children's writers:
1) Laura Ingalls Wilder
2) John D. Fitzgerald
3) C.S. Lewis (I know, I know -- he's great in any genre and the Narnia books are hardly only for children. But I read them when I was a kid, so they'll always be tied to my youth.)
4) Carol Brink (of Caddie Woodlawn fame)
5) Beverly Cleary
Favorite book read in 2005:
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
Book you're looking most forward to reading in 2006:
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L'Engle (It's been on my list for a while. I bought it, and I am looking forward to a relaxing stretch to dig in)
Five books on faith (not necessarily Christian faith, if that is not your spiritual bent) that you would recommend:
1) The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
2) When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett
3) No Compromise: The Keith Green Story by Melody Green
4) Living the Questions: Making Sense of the Mess and Mystery of Life by Carolyn Arends
5) The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Five books that made you laugh out loud:
1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
3) Eat the Rich by P.J. O'Rourke
4) A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
5) Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
A fictional character you would like to emulate:
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice (natch!)
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? If yes, which one?
Ha! Just one? This bibliophile has had crushes on Mr. Rochester (Jane Eyre), Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), and Gilbert Blythe (The Anne of Green Gables Series). Almanzo Wilder (The Little House Books) should get an honorary mention, though he's not really fictional.
The best biography you've ever read:
The Woman and the Dynamo: Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America by Stephen Cox
A book you love with a short review:
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This is one of the best books I've ever read -- it was gripping, dramatic, well-written, and gave the reader a remarkable sense of time and place. Larson weaves a tale both inspiring and haunting as he alternates the narrative between the vision and determination of a brilliant architect who struggled to make the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago a shining reality, and the cunning and ruthlessness of a serial killer who used the bustle and anonymity of the enterprising young city on the verge of world notice to lure his victims to their deaths. I actually stayed up through the night on the edge of my seat to finish this book, and never regretted that decision through the following bleary-eyed day. Top-notch historical research and beautiful writing make this an engrossing read.
Five people to tag:
(And no pressure meant if you're short on time and long on responsibilities)
Dad -- Darn it! I'll get you to post somehow or another.
Vermonster -- I know you don't have a blog (yet!), but, if you are so inclined, you may answer in a comment.

5 comments:

Jo said...

Oooo, what a fun meme! I'll have to think on this one, as some of these will be hard to narrow down to five (or one). It may have to wait until next week since I'll be traveling tomorrow.

Justine said...

Happy and safe travels to you and bunchkin.

Arielle said...

I'm working on it, Justine. =)

Amigo said...

I'll start on this and hope to have an answer by Sunday evening. Thanks for the tag.

Arielle said...

Okay Justine, finished and posted! Sorry it took so long. (It was partly because I had to narrow down my list of books to do the short review on!)