Which Books Have Stayed In Your Memory

[Lip Service]

Can you come up with four books that have stayed in your memory from way back

Don't overthink this too much just dredge your memory and see what comes up

If you wish you could also mention why these books have remained in your mind

[rapa]

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY by Robert James Waller

THE DOVEKEEPERS by Alice Hoffman

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

PLAINSONG by Kent Hauf

These were all books that I found hard to put down and could reread again with pleasure.

[Mandy Muffin]

Our class read "A Christmas Carol" back in the 4th grade, then we acted out the story.  It was a French parochial school and we read the book in French.  On many Christmas seasons, I reread the story, but my French has grown rusty and I do it in English now.

I read "A Town Like Alice" by Nevil Shute prior to spending a month in the Outback about 25 years ago. There is something about Alice Springs that is magical.

I remember reading "Exodus" by Leon Uris, and relate it to the modern struggle for Israel to survive.

A couple of years ago I read "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tratt and loved the book so much, I bought a good quality repro of the painting and hung it in my living room. (When you get old, everything seems way back.) 

[Flowergram]

A Tale of Two Cities and Call of the Wild  - the first due to one man's love of a woman and the second for the man's love of a dog.  Go figure?  (I have a strange mind).

   

[Lip Service]

The ones that come to mind 

The Count of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas, a classic tale or betrayal and revenge

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, a personal search for authenticity and meaning

The Earthsea trilogy by Ursula LeGuinn, a fantasy story almost made real by the power of the writing

Godel Escher and Bach by Douglas Hofstadter, a unique work about artificial intelligence but brings in deep aspects of music, art and spirituality and ends up being an examination of beauty in various aspects

[Joanne]

1.  Bel Canto - I have read this one at least three times, maybe 4.  Maybe it's the music part that resonates.

2.  The Poisonwood Bible; 

3.  Work Song - Loved everything by Ivan Doig.  This one especially.

4.  Girl With The Pearl Earring - Like viewing the picture to read this, and also to see the movie, but liked the book 

     better.

THIS IS A GOOD EXERCISE, LIP SERVICE.  THANKS!

[Ursula]

The Source by James Michenor; fictional look at the development of religion based on the finds at an archeological dig in Israel; this book fascinates me; I've read it 7=-8 times and I seldom reread any books.  Too many books, not enough time!!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini...powerful book, emotionally draining!!

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Just to name a few!!

[Jick]

A Son of the Circus by John Irving

Reamde by Neal Stephenson

Make Way for Lucia by E.F. Benson

Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pychon

[Carci]

1000 White Women by Jim Fergus, moving story of the plight of the American Indian as white settlers forced them out.

The Blessing Stone by Barbara Wood, each chapter follows a remarkable gem on a journey through 1000's of years.

A Maiden's Grave by Jeffrey Deaver, busload of deaf & mute schoolgirls highjacked by 3 escaped convicts (page turner)

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay, moving WWII novel of the shameful Vel' d'Hiv roundup in Paris... just one of several unforgettable WWII novels I read a few years ago

Hard to stop at just 4... but I think these may be ones which some of you have not heard of before... highly recommended!

[Carolyn Tewell]

Joanne I agree with you on The Poisonwood Bible. Actually I just reread it this summer and was so impressed I got a copy for my oldest daughter age 50 since this book was a hit back in what? The 90's?

A Woman of Substance...reread this year
The Thornbirds...reread this summer

One Door Away from Heaven by Dean Koontz...this book taught me how fun fiction can be on Audiobook...up until this mystery I only listened to Non-Fiction.

Fun thread! Thanks!

[Joanne]

And I think I have one more that absolutely does me in..."The Madonnas of Leningrad", probably should have used that one instead of something, but I can't cull from my original four!  "People of the Book" too.  Maybe the list should be ten instead of four!! LOL

[Grammie Sue]

Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen,  The Street Lawyer by John Gresham,   Some Wildflower in My Heart  and A Garden to Keep  by Jamie Langston Turner.