A friend of mine was tagged by someone on FB to list 10 of his favorite books. I forget what the rules (if there were any) of selection were, but that's where the idea came from. I chose the following books because of the impact they had on me at the time I read them, and the fondness I still feel for them. The list is as chronological as I could remember in the order I read them, but I'm sure it's not exact. And it covers a good number of years.
1) Rod Serling's/Twilight Zone Ghost Stories - I don't remember the actual title of the book, although it was something like that. And I only remember one story from the book, but it was the first time I remember being truly scared. I was roughly 10 years old at the time. The story I remember was about a pair of professional ghost hunters who finally encountered an actual haunting. I got so spooked that I lifted my feet up onto the couch out of fear something would grab me from underneath it. And so began my complete fascination with ghost stories.
2) The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien- I did, of course, thoroughly enjoy The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but The Hobbit has a special place in my heart. I associate the warm memory of it with my childhood. And although I did re-read The Lord of the Rings, I would not be able to count the number of times I have read & re-read The Hobbit.
3) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess- This book was actually recommended to me by a high school English Teacher of mine. I didn't see the movie until many years later. It did not have the impact on me that the book did. The book stunned me.
4) Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey- This novel was not anywhere near as popular as One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, but it was my favorite Kesey novel, & quite impressed me at the time.
5) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin- Another milestone for me. It led me to the reading of countless science fiction novels & stories. It really did open up my appreciation for the genre.
6) The Stand by Stephen King- I have read quite a few stories & novels by Stephen King, but The Stand I will always remember as a favorite. It awoke in me the twisted love I have for apocalyptic novels of all kinds.
7) The Gates of Anubis by Tim Powers- This is one of 4 books listed here that I have read multiple times. Tim Powers is very difficult to categorize in my opinion. He is unique. I have read many of his books, & this will always be a favorite of mine.
8) Mickelsson's Ghosts by John Gardner- Gardner was another favorite author of mine. Unfortunately for the literary world, he died at the age of 51 in a motorcycle accident. Mickelsson's Ghosts was not as well known as Grendel, or The Sunshine Dialogues, but it was my favorite of all the books he wrote. It was also semi-autobiographical to a degree, although a work of fiction.
9) Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons- Another one of the books I was compelled to read more than once. It also hooked me on Simmons. Anything I haven't read of his, be it horror, mainstream or sf, I have in my possession and just haven't gotten to yet.
10) Consider Phlebas by Ian M. Banks- I believe this was the first book I read by Banks, & it was the first novel about the Culture. The protagonist was both heroic and tragic. And again, I was once again hooked on another author.
And there they are. Ten books that have added a great deal to my life, one way or another. It was quite impossible to not think about what 10 books I would choose once the idea had entered my mind. Kind of like a song that you can't stop humming or whistling once it's in your head. So, needing someone to blame, I blame Matt. He knows who he is. I know it wasn't his idea originally, but if it wasn't for him, the damn song never would have found a home in my head.
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