This won't be a shock, because I often talk about my favourite books, but here goes...
Pride and Prejudice - Admit it, you didn't expect that one, did you?
Diary by Chuck Palanhuick - It's one of those books I just keep going back and re-reading. A woman is trapped in a loveless marriage, with a child that doesn't seem to like her much, and an overbearing mother-in-law. Seems quite a normal literary situation, doesn't it? But all is not what it seems!
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - This is a very happy and uplifting book, which gives a new take on Heaven. At the end, I just felt really happy and uplifted!
The Rendezvous and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier - I'm not keen on her novels, but her short stories are divine and beautiful, rich and fulfilling... in fact everything I'd like to be as a writer.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Read it, if you haven't done already... just read it. A great story, a great way of really understanding the plight of Jews during Nazi Germany.
You'll also notice I haven't, as usual, passed either of these awards on to anyone else. If you'd like to tell me about your favourite books, I'd love to read about them. And everyone deserves the Sunshine Award because your blogs cheer me up. Yes, I'm talking to you right now!
The problem with Pride and Prejudice is that I can now only think of that film scene, the lake and wet shirt, you know what I mean! The book has faded in comparison. The Book Thief was good but I found it traumatic (I'm a sensitive bloggy person) and Daphne du Maurier can be scary. I like the sound of The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Must give that a try. Thanks for the link :-)
ReplyDeleteTo me P&P will always be head and shoulders above everything else. This du Maurier collection isn't scary, just wonderfully told - one of the stories is almost a fairy-tale.
DeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteSorry, haven't read any of those books. I'm sure that doesn't shock you though.
I'm not shocked at all. I'll be more shocked the day I realised we've both read the same book... and liked it!! :-)
Deletei'm a Jane Austen dabbler, and enjoy the movies based on her books, but not the books themselves. my brain doesn't like wading through the language, and i'm very visual. P&P is my favorite of the movies, but i enjoy Sense and Sensibility too.
ReplyDeleteI think her language is wonderful, much easier than Hardy or Dickens for example.
Deletewell, i don't read either one of those. :)
DeleteI loved Pride and Prejudice, too. :) I haven't read Diary, or The Book Thief, but I may have to check them out!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the awards! :) Oh, and three of my favorites are Angela's Ashes, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Ordinary Princess. :)
I tried Phantom, but I really couldn't get into it. I don't think I made it past the first 30 pages, and that was a struggle. I was disappointed because I love the play.
DeleteCongrats on the awards. P&P is of course a classic. The Book Thief was excellent. My faves change around - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Diary of Anne Frank, anything by David Sedaris, and The Liar's Club by Mary Karr.
ReplyDeleteYes, To Kill a Mockingbird is wonderful, and Diary of Anne Frank equally wonderful but for very different reasons - that was such an important book. I have never heard of David Sedaris - one to look out for.
DeleteWhat a fun thing to list your favorite books. But I'd likely have a hard time with that one. I like so many book for different reasons.
ReplyDeleteThere are books I like, and books I love, so it's quite easy for me. It's music I can never put into a list - now that would be a very large task!
DeleteCongrats on your awards! I see The Book Thief on a lot of lists! :)
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read it, I'd highly recommend it.
DeleteI still have a copy of Five People - a lovely book I want to read again.
ReplyDeleteI've read it a couple of times - I love reading favourite books lots of times.
DeleteCongrats on your awards. We like some of the same books.
ReplyDeleteWe have good taste, Susan :-)
DeleteI heart P&P too! I've also read Diary - I can't say I "enjoy" his work, but he's an amazing writer. Read his "Lullaby" too, which is pretty danged messed up. :-) Want to read more by Palahniuk...anything you'd recommend?
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
Lol - I agree 'enjoy' isn't the right word for Palahniuk. I've also read Invisible Monsters which had quite a good twist (at least, a twist I disn't see coming). I tried Haunted, but really couldn't get into it - I think by then he was just writing to shock rather than having a good 'shocking' story. I liked Fight Club more than the film - if you've seen the film - the ending is more realistic.
DeleteThanks! I think I'll check out Invisible Monsters! (I heard something similar about Haunted, which was disappointing to learn, but now that you've seconded it, I probably won't be reading it.)
DeleteI really have to read The Book Thief...keep hearing good things on it. Congrats on the awards
ReplyDeleteThe Book Thief is lovely - although I leant it to a friend recently, and he couldn't get into it.
DeleteI bought the Book Thief for my Mum which she loved and you've reminded me to borrow it from her! I couldn't get into the 'Five People...', I might give it another go. I've just finished reading a quite unusual book for me, Defending Jacob by William Landay. It's what I'd call a crime family saga rather than a crime thriller. I was absolutely gripped and can't stop thinking about it even now I've finished - which is always a good sign. My all time favourites though, are The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (and the sequel, Tandia) and Flying Under Bridges by Sandi Toksvig - brilliant reads with lots of emotion in the first and dark/wry humour in the second. Thoroughly recommended.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the awards - totally deserved :)
Defending Jacob is now on my TBR list - I love stories that stay with me. I'll look out for the others too. Thanks.
DeleteIt's always really nice to read about other people's favorite books. I love getting to know others this way.
ReplyDeleteMy tastes are so varied I'm not sure how much success you'll have with me :-)
DeleteHey Annalisa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding me to your follow list - I appreciate it :)
Congrats on being such a sunshine-y Book Reader (and thanks for the tip re The Book Thief... that is a must read - and I didn't even know it was out there...)
I could've sworn you were already there - I'm sure Blogger just randomly unfollows people for me.
DeleteI think The Book Thief is one of those books everyone should read.
I am embarrassed to admit that I have not read any of your favorites! I started Pride and Prejudice, but never finished. I was 17. Maybe too young to appreciate?
ReplyDeleteI think I read it for the first time when I was about that age - maybe it's just not for everyone. But also... you should give it another go, just to make sure :-)
DeleteOh Mister Darcy :). I adore Jane Austen, I am re-reading her works and I adore the elegance of the language. Congrats on the award, kisses :).
ReplyDeleteI've not read Mansfield Park or Emma yet. I read Persuasion and didn't like it at all. Love P&P, S&S and Northanger Abbey though.
DeleteIt's so difficult handing out these awards as great blogs like yours very obviously have had them before!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your books. It's always interesting to see what other readers like to read.
It's much more difficult to share them out now, which is why I usually take the easy way out and not tag anyone... I know that's not strictly playing the game though :-)
DeleteI loved The Book Thief! What a fascinating read. I haven't read the others- but I plan to read Pride and Prejudice soon. I would also put The Handmaid's Tale, Pillars of the Earth, and Wonder by R.J. Palacio on my list. If you have't read any of them- I would recommend them.
ReplyDelete~Jess
I read The Handmaid's Tale a long time ago, but Atwood is one of my favourite authors - she's so diverse. I haven't read the other two yet.
Delete