It should be easy, right? I thought about the books I’ve read which have been thought-provoking,
entertaining, and how much I hated for them to end. Then, I reflected on the tomes which
changed my life or outlook in some long-lasting meaningful way. The task is actually quite
daunting as I know I’ve read more than 10,000 novels in my lifetime.
Titles and authors flashed through my brain before I sat down to type this. The books I loved as a
child, the classics I read as a teenager, and the myriad of genres I’ve perused, and damn, I think I
have my list together. Here we go.
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. The main character Francie Nolan’s upbringing and personality have always reminded me of my mother’s similar experience and demeanor. I pull it out every couple of years and wish I were reading it for the first time.
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. The author brilliantly mixes fantasy and reality as he describes the world of London, Above and Below. It’s adventurous, exciting, and I give it an edge over his other works (American Gods, etc), because there’s never a dull moment nor too much backstory which can deter the exhilaration.
- It by Stephen King. I know that there are other works by this author which shine (get it?) as well, but to me, the friendship between the members of The Loser’s Club is magical, beautiful,
and makes me nostalgic for the days when I had friends who didn’t think I was weird or different
because each of them was unique in their own way. I hate when screenwriters change things to
make a story more appealing to the masses. Richie was my favorite character because he always
had a joke or story to tell, no matter the situation. Reminds me of myself. - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. It got even more difficult as I narrowed down my
choices. This book offered everything one could want in a story. There was romance, adventure,
friendship, historic figures, horror (the water moccasins!), and it used the American West as a
broad canvas on which to create an epic story. Gus McCrae was an unforgettable character.
Pause.
Shout-outs to The Outsiders, Charlotte’s Web, Johnny Tremain, Great Expectations, Get
Shorty, Mystic River, The Count of Monte Cristo, Nobody’s Fool, To Kill a Mockingbird, and A
Raisin in the Sun.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle-Stop Café– by Fannie Flagg. There were so many scenes which evoked both laughter and tears, and whose story was it really? Evelyn’s? Idgie’s? Ninny’s? Big George? Lol. The author weaved a beautiful tapestry of characters, time periods, emotions, love, politics, race, and it is highly recommended.
Thanks for everything,
Marlon S Hayes
