It's a habit and I cannot break it.
No matter how many wonderful books come into my hands, and how many times I tell myself that the world supply of great books is limitless, and by re-reading the same books over again I am stifling myself, I just cannot stop.
I love to get invested in a character, read through a series, see the fulfillment of that character's destiny, and then go back to the beginning and pick it all apart and see what Easter eggs, foreshadows or just plain cool points I missed the first time around.
Because of this habit, I really can't limit myself to just one book that I've read more than three times. I can't even limit myself to a single series of books that I've read more than three times.
But I'll give you my favorites and a good guess at how many times I've read each.
#5- The Great Book of Amber
(comprising Nine Princes in Amber
, The Guns of Avalon
, Sign of the Unicorn
, Hand of Oberon
, Courts of Chaos
, Trumps of Doom
, Blood of Amber
, Sign of Chaos
, Knight of Shadows
and Prince of Chaos
)First Read: Summer 2006
Re-read: Winter 2006, Fall 2007, Winter 2008
These ten short books make up one very, very large book of high fantasy at its finest. The fantasy actually mingles with science fiction at times, creating a universe unlike any other author has ever created (at least to my knowledge)
The gist: The descendants of Oberon, who make up the Court of a nation called Amber, can manipulate their surroundings as they move. They add, subtract or change things as they walk, creating a new world. The further they move away from Amber, the more different the world becomes. Each world they create lives and evolves, becoming a "shadow" of the true world, Amber. The story follows the feuding siblings as they try to control the throne recently absconded by their father, Oberon. Intrigue, conspiracy, cover ups, revenge and all manner of low-handed shenanigans ensue.
#4- The Chronicles of Narnia
(comprising The Magician's Nephew
, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
, The Horse and His Boy
, Prince Caspian
, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
, The Silver Chair
, The Last Battle
) First Read: I can't even remember... I think I was eight. So... 1991 or so?
Re-read: Again around 1994, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and partially again in 2010
Seven short books are combined into one long book, outlining a story that begins with the Creation of a world, Narnia, and ends with the Final Battle between Good and Evil.
The stories are exemplary allegories, though Lewis claims he didn't intend them to be so. Regardless of intent, the Christian themes are strong and well executed, and have remained a favorite of mine since before I can remember. The old BBC versions of these were some of my favorite movies as a kid, and I think I nearly peed my pants when the wardrobe appeared on screen for the first trailer for the first film.
#3- The Lost Swords
(the combination of these books has been changed often, so even though I have four books, there are really twelve stories involved)First Read: Summer 2004
Re-read: Summer 2006, Fall 2007, partially again in 2009
The set up for this series is one of the best concepts I've ever seen. There are real, living Gods, including many that we today would recognize (Mars, Aphrodite, etc) as well as others we might not. One day, they get bored and create a game. Vulcan, the metalsmithing God forges twelve Swords and the Gods distribute them amongst the people.
Each Sword is indestructible (except when used against another of the perfect Swords) and holds a mystical power: one leads the holder to perfect luck, another protects the innocent against attack regardless of the wielder's abilities, another gives the holder the ability to bend the will of all around him to match his will, another heals all wounds. The Gods want to watch the people fight each other to gain control of the Swords, and they are arguing about which power is the most useful.
This series is fabulous because it gives the reader a lot of food for thought: can a "good" power can be evil when wielded by the wrong person? What would you rather have on your side- luck or skill?
#2- Twilight Saga
(comprising Twilight
, New Moon
, Eclipse
and Breaking Dawn
)First Read: Spring 2006 (first book only)
Re-read: Fall 2006 (book one and two) Summer 2007 (books one, two and three) Summer 2008 and winter 2009 (all four)
I know you probably already have an opinion about these books. If you haven't read them, I exhort you to re-think your opinion. Yes, hordes of twelve year old girls gush about these books and Taylor Lautner's abs. Yes, they are absurdly popular, and could be easily classified as "overexposed."
However. They are good. They are fun, they are compelling and they are interesting. Stephenie Meyer's vampires make MORE sense than most vampires I've read. A lot of publicity centers around the fact that they "sparkle," though if you've read the book, "sparkling" is how the human eye processes what it sees, since the vampires are basically made of granite (granite sparkles, too, you know).
There's a happy ending, of course, but there's also a blood feud, vampire politics, revenge, werewolves and a whole story that revolves around choice and agency. Oh, and for the record, I predicted the storyline of the fourth book. Because I am awesome.
#1- Harry Potter
(comprising Sorcerer's Stone
, Chamber of Secrets
, Prisoner of Azkaban
, Goblet of Fire
, Order of the Phoenix
, Half Blood Prince
and Deathly Hallows
)First Read: Summer 2005 (first six books)
Re-read: Winter 2006, Spring 2007, Summer 2007, Winter 2008 and currently reading to my kids (we're in the middle of the Half Blood Prince).
This should really come as no surprise.
First off, the world Rowling builds in these novels is extraordinary. The vision for a whole wizarding world hidden among our world is genius. The characters are rich and compelling. Severus Snape stands as one of the great character studies of all time; after murdering Albus Dumbledore, we were still arguing about which side he was really fighting for. That alone could stand as a testament to Rowling's ability to create complex characters and stories.
I, frankly, believe that high school students could spend a year reading and dissecting these books- and these books alone- to learn about plot devices, narrative voices and character development. These stories are so chock-full of cliffhangers, foreshadowing, twists, red herrings, hooks, alliteration, allegory, symbolism and so, so much more.
A blogging friend of mine posted a bookish meme, after reading it on another blogging friend's site. I can't not participate! This post was written in response to the 30 Days of Books.
The full list:
Day 01 – The best book you read last year
Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
Day 03 – Your favorite series
Day 04 – Favorite book of your favorite series
Day 05 – A book that makes you happy
Day 06 – A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 – Most overrated book
Day 09 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite writer
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favorite writer
Day 15 – Favorite male character
Day 16 – Favorite female character
Day 17 – Favorite quote from your Favorite book
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favorite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favorite romance book
Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favorite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favorite title
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your Favorite book of all time
