Some excellent choices for starting out! I like the ideas of both cannon fodder and where the reading life starts, and not where it ends. I have The Awakening of Miss Prim and haven’t started it yet-might move it up for a during the school year read where I need something lighter. For Lord of the Rings; I would suggest skipping “Concerning Hobbits,” (the introductory section) on the first read. It provides details that you love when you love the world, but can be hard to get past for people coming from the movie (which actually was me in Middle/High School, it took me a few tries!). I 1 million% agree with Hannah’s idea of detective fiction (and I add the Brother Cadfael novels of Ellis Peters as another place to go for that) and the two gothic novels. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde blew me away and disturbed me in the best way on my most recent reread. Other books I recommend: Zorrie (Laird Hunt), Never Let Me Go (a more plot driven/less slow Ishiguro), Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Muriel Spark), Lost Horizon (James Hilton), The Bridget of San Luis Rey (Thornton Wilder), Silas Marner (George Elliot-a good classic to start with if you want to go that route; has certain tropes/plays with fairy tales, very moving/sweet, asks big questions, nice and slim). And Kidnapped by RLS is another fun classic to start with-because it’s a “kids” book that’s a classic it’s actually a good way to get into that older register/time period, and it’s just a great adventure story. Also if you want a really sad one, but still quality writing and moves along, Things Fall Apart.
1. absolutely skip concerning hobbits the first time...but even then it takes a long time for them to start on their journey. So just be prepared. It is good for your soul to slow down to Tolkien's narration speed, but it might take some time to get used to!
2. I still need to read Never Let Me Go...I am very excited!
3. Can everyone please read Muriel Spark so we can talk about it. I'll read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie if you read Aiding and Abetting.
This is due for a reread....it is such a great Spring/Summer book, but my TBR pile is too big! Curse you homeschool pre-reading (which is actually amazing because I'm getting to read all these amazing books with my kids!)
Treasure Island and Oliver Twist are great (and I knew I would love them), but I'm surprisingly loving some G.A. Henty historical fiction (The Cat of the Bubastes is the one I'm working through now). And then Heroes by Kingsley Amis has been fun too. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am. I'm working through The Children's Tradition 5th Grade book list. I will be reading the 3rd Grade list aloud with the younger kids which I am also excited for!
To start someone in the reading life, my recommendation might be A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. It served me in "graduating" from the candier kids' books into really reading well.
I have a book budget....and then I have 1,000 excuses to exceed the book budget. It's for the souls of my whole family! But also for real need a new bookshelf!
Enjoyed the conversation and temptations. :) I'm really looking forward to Guillermo del Toro's film adaptation of Frankenstein in November as well as the upcoming East of Eden limited series.
Some excellent choices for starting out! I like the ideas of both cannon fodder and where the reading life starts, and not where it ends. I have The Awakening of Miss Prim and haven’t started it yet-might move it up for a during the school year read where I need something lighter. For Lord of the Rings; I would suggest skipping “Concerning Hobbits,” (the introductory section) on the first read. It provides details that you love when you love the world, but can be hard to get past for people coming from the movie (which actually was me in Middle/High School, it took me a few tries!). I 1 million% agree with Hannah’s idea of detective fiction (and I add the Brother Cadfael novels of Ellis Peters as another place to go for that) and the two gothic novels. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde blew me away and disturbed me in the best way on my most recent reread. Other books I recommend: Zorrie (Laird Hunt), Never Let Me Go (a more plot driven/less slow Ishiguro), Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Muriel Spark), Lost Horizon (James Hilton), The Bridget of San Luis Rey (Thornton Wilder), Silas Marner (George Elliot-a good classic to start with if you want to go that route; has certain tropes/plays with fairy tales, very moving/sweet, asks big questions, nice and slim). And Kidnapped by RLS is another fun classic to start with-because it’s a “kids” book that’s a classic it’s actually a good way to get into that older register/time period, and it’s just a great adventure story. Also if you want a really sad one, but still quality writing and moves along, Things Fall Apart.
Okay lots of things:
1. absolutely skip concerning hobbits the first time...but even then it takes a long time for them to start on their journey. So just be prepared. It is good for your soul to slow down to Tolkien's narration speed, but it might take some time to get used to!
2. I still need to read Never Let Me Go...I am very excited!
3. Can everyone please read Muriel Spark so we can talk about it. I'll read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie if you read Aiding and Abetting.
1. I agree. It took me about 3-4 tries before I read through, so I do think if you go in unprepared it can be tough.
2. It is so so so good. I am haunted by it.
3. It’s a deal!
I loved “The Blue Castle”!!
This is due for a reread....it is such a great Spring/Summer book, but my TBR pile is too big! Curse you homeschool pre-reading (which is actually amazing because I'm getting to read all these amazing books with my kids!)
What are you loving in your pre-read stack?!
Treasure Island and Oliver Twist are great (and I knew I would love them), but I'm surprisingly loving some G.A. Henty historical fiction (The Cat of the Bubastes is the one I'm working through now). And then Heroes by Kingsley Amis has been fun too. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I always am. I'm working through The Children's Tradition 5th Grade book list. I will be reading the 3rd Grade list aloud with the younger kids which I am also excited for!
Also for the record....Charles Kingsley not Kingsley Amis! My bad!
Just recently reread that book. It's one of her best, I think.
To start someone in the reading life, my recommendation might be A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. It served me in "graduating" from the candier kids' books into really reading well.
Oh I am pro that recommendation! Those were some books I read early on in my adult reading life as a jumping off point!
What book budget? Yes. This list qualifies as budget busting, but it's a comprehensive one. Thank you 😊! Have a splendid day!
We’ve been joking that we’ll need to add a “bookSHELF” budget soon with all the lovely books we want to add to our libraries 🙃
I have a book budget....and then I have 1,000 excuses to exceed the book budget. It's for the souls of my whole family! But also for real need a new bookshelf!
So do we!
Enjoyed the conversation and temptations. :) I'm really looking forward to Guillermo del Toro's film adaptation of Frankenstein in November as well as the upcoming East of Eden limited series.
Oh I did not know about the East of Eden series! That is fun!
And we are always here for providing book temptations!