Monday, August 22, 2011

Favorite Read?

by C.L. Phillips

The more I write, the more I read.  Usually slightly out of genre if I'm in the midst of a big creative push.  If I'm on the nth draft, I might read an old favorite.  And when I'm determined to work on craft, I read an old master.

My question for you dear reader/writer is this - What are your top three "must have" pure enjoyment reads.  The three books you take on your trip as you circumnavigate the world?  Or the three books you take with you to the in-law's house on that one week family vacation.  Or the three books you take with you when you know life is going to be stressful?

My top three go-to-must-have-will-never-lend titles are:

1)  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
2)  The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3)  The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

As a mystery writer, what I find interesting about my list is that none of these books would be classified as a mystery, yet they all have a huge mystery and intrigue.  And with a slightly different lens, I would consider all of these books magical fantasy. 

Hum....I wonder if my go-to-must-have-will-never-lend book list is trying to tell me something? :)

Please share ...your three titles are??  Inquiring minds want to know. :)

8 comments:

Gina said...

OK. Any of the Harry Potter books, although I think I've read Half-Blood Prince the most. The Mists of Avalon. I can't think of any others that I've read repeatedly and still would read again.

Ramona said...

1. Harry Potter series
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. War and Peace

Jenna said...

God. Too many. But a few that stay on the shelf and that I read over and over again:

1. Harry Potter series
2. Vorkosigan series
3. Anything by Elizabeth Peters
4. Anything by Jennifer Crusie
5. Ngaio Marsh
6. J.D. Robb

So fantasy, science fiction, mystery/suspense, and romance. Although it's not the genre that appeals, it's the writing. All of it is outstanding in its own genre.

Jenna said...

I forgot Julia Spencer-Fleming. Another of those where each book is a full course meal all on its own. And if we're talking stuff left over from childhood, Astrid Lindgren's The Brothers Lionheart is still on my shelf. Yes, I take it down and read it.

Karen in Ohio said...

It's too hard to limit ourselves to three books, isn't it? There are too darn many good reads.

Love the Outlander series, too, and it's one I reread every time a new one comes out. Harry Potter, too.

The Amelia Peabody series is good, but if I had to limit myself, I'm not sure it would make the cut. Maybe the Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries. Because, you know, there are a LOT of them. She's written up to "U".

Patg said...

All things Jane Austen. Though I love all her books, I reread Persuasion the most. I also read sequels of individual characters from her novels. Not rewrites of her books.
All things Agatha Christie, but the Murder of Roger Ackroyd is the best 'writing' lesson.
Ringworld series by Larry Niven, though broadening that, The Known Worlds Series.
Patg

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I take my ereader that has my Jane Austen and some new books by favorite authors.

clpauwels said...

Since we seem to agree three stand-alones are completely insufficient and that series are quite acceptable:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy five (six?) book trilogy, complete with towel

Dirk Gentley's Holistic Detective Agency (another Douglas Adams masterpiece)

Sue Grafton's Alphabet series

The Tao of Emerson (for those introspective moments)