Recently a member of our group who shall remain anonymous (Marlon), challenged each of the
BWS group members to consider our favorite books and to write something regarding our top
five picks.
While that may sound easy enough, there is more to be considered. If you ARE a reader, you will
understand that trying to pick only five is like trying to pick your favorite child. If you are NOT a
reader, you may be trying to recall if you have even read five books in your lifetime. Either way,
the challenge is more daunting than it seems on the surface.
I am definitely a reader, so searching my mind for the thousands of books I’ve read in my
lifetime and trying to pick five is not something I believe I can do honestly. Instead, I’ve picked
five that have been influential in my life in some way.
In no particular order:
A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
My best friend found this one and shared it with me in our late teens. I know that it
spawned an entire series that I read and enjoyed. But this one is the one that influenced
me (and her). We were two young mothers in a rural and economically depressed area. In
this book, we found encouragement to overcome the obstacles we faced and make life
better. We never got as rich as Emma, but we found the determination to improve our situations. And isn’t it the job of a good story to change our lives in some way?
Time Out of Mind by John R. Maxim
If I had to pick just one, this would be my favorite fiction book. Although the author is
prolific, I don’t know of any of his other books that are similar to this in any way. The
first time I read this, the characters all felt like old friends. It’s a fun book to read if you
love time travel/ghost stories/romance/crime/history. It’s none of these genres precisely
but contains elements familiar to each. It is also set mainly in NYC of the near and more
distant past, and since my family is from NY it was fun to read about how the City once
was and events that took place there. It is out of print, so every time I see a copy in a used bookstore, I grab it. I’ve worn out three copies from frequent rereading, and every once in a while, I give a copy to a good friend.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Like so many other people, I first encountered this book as required reading in college. I don’t believe I would have ever picked this one up on my own. Since my first reading, I have bought and given away numerous copies. A story of the old traditions interrupted by outsiders, the biggest lesson we can learn is that we shouldn’t intrude on things we don’t
understand, and that once it happens it can’t ever be undone. That’s a powerful lesson that we all need to consider, especially as the global connections in our world bring everyone closer together.
A Tan and Sandy Silence by John D McDonald
Not the start of a series, but it was the start for me. I found this book on my mother’s bookshelf when I was a preteen and the back cover promised intrigue. At the time, I had already devoured all the Agatha Christie on the shelves and was looking for more. This book was my introduction to the gritter side of mystery fiction, and bad boys everywhere as I swooned over Travis McGee.
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
This is a book that people either love or hate. I love it. I love all of Faulkner, but this is
my personal favorite. Writing a story as stream of consciousness is hard enough. Now try
writing so that it is understood. Yes, it’s a different style. Yes, it touches on difficult subject matter. I personally prefer stories that make me use my brain. If this is too much to tackle, I recommend As I Lay Dying or the short story A Rose for Emily. Both are
amazing.
Honorable mentions
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Yes, I read the book long before I watched the movie. This one absolutely fascinated me
because it was a view of The South that I had never seen. Plantations, hoop skirts, fine
gentlemen, and a war on home turf. To me, this was The South that Never Was. And then I
realized what the book really is. It’s satire, purely and simply. Even better, after reading
Margaret Mitchell’s autobiography I learned I was right and had understood the book.
To Build a Fire by Jack London
When I was a child, adventure stories were considered “boy books”. Fortunately for me,
my family was more enlightened and believed I should read any book I wanted to. My
grandmother had a collection of Jack London books and this was the first story I read. Although
technically not a book, but a short story, it introduced me to the world of adventure that was
missing in most children’s book and inspired me to learn more about the world and cultures
outside my hometown.
So that’s five books, right?
