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melwilRemember the debate/meme/thing-a-ma-jig that went on when the list of books - 1001 books you should read before you die- came out. well I went through the list again, and realised I'd read 20 of the 1000, and started half a dozen more.
And it all made me wonder - what books would make my list of books you should read before you die? And since I'm doing nothing at the moment, I'm going to start compiling my list.
1. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Ok, they may not be the best written books in the history of the world, but no one can deny the impact they've had on children's literature in a time when everyone tells us children don't read anymore. And that's not even getting into the way they can carry you into such a rich, textured world.
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Yeah. I don't think anyone's going to fight me on this one
3. Travelling Mercies by Annie Lamott
One of my favourite books on religion and faith.
4. April Fools Day by Bryce Courtenay
It's rambling and occasionally hard to follow, but is also an honest and heart wrenching account of life and death of the author's son. It kills me every. single. time.
5. Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
I've read quite a few dancer biographies and autobiographies, and I'd thoroughly recommend most of them to fellow dancer types. But this is one dancer autobiography I'd recommend to all readers. It's a great story.
6. Shrub by Molly Ivins
A book about Bush written before Bush was president. A good example of how politics should be written.
7. My Life by Bill Clinton
A good politics geek book *g*
8. All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos
Again, a great book for the politics geeks among us
9. Not Happy, John by Margo Kingston
A little out of date now, but still gives a goodaccount of the visit to Australia by George W. Bush where we basically gave up all the rights and traditions of Australia to the US Secret Service
10. Queen Kat, Carmel and St. Jude Get a Life
Australian young adult fiction written before it was the popular thing to write. Still a fantastic coming-of-age story
And it all made me wonder - what books would make my list of books you should read before you die? And since I'm doing nothing at the moment, I'm going to start compiling my list.
1. The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Ok, they may not be the best written books in the history of the world, but no one can deny the impact they've had on children's literature in a time when everyone tells us children don't read anymore. And that's not even getting into the way they can carry you into such a rich, textured world.
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Yeah. I don't think anyone's going to fight me on this one
3. Travelling Mercies by Annie Lamott
One of my favourite books on religion and faith.
4. April Fools Day by Bryce Courtenay
It's rambling and occasionally hard to follow, but is also an honest and heart wrenching account of life and death of the author's son. It kills me every. single. time.
5. Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
I've read quite a few dancer biographies and autobiographies, and I'd thoroughly recommend most of them to fellow dancer types. But this is one dancer autobiography I'd recommend to all readers. It's a great story.
6. Shrub by Molly Ivins
A book about Bush written before Bush was president. A good example of how politics should be written.
7. My Life by Bill Clinton
A good politics geek book *g*
8. All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos
Again, a great book for the politics geeks among us
9. Not Happy, John by Margo Kingston
A little out of date now, but still gives a goodaccount of the visit to Australia by George W. Bush where we basically gave up all the rights and traditions of Australia to the US Secret Service
10. Queen Kat, Carmel and St. Jude Get a Life
Australian young adult fiction written before it was the popular thing to write. Still a fantastic coming-of-age story
