{"id":346,"date":"2008-08-26T13:02:25","date_gmt":"2008-08-26T17:02:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/washwords.com\/words\/?p=346"},"modified":"2008-08-26T13:23:16","modified_gmt":"2008-08-26T17:23:16","slug":"we-are-the-stories-we-tell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/washwords.com\/words\/2008\/we-are-the-stories-we-tell\/","title":{"rendered":"We are the stories we tell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although I’ve stumbled on SmallWorld Reads, a great blog, a few times now, today is the first time I really investigated her Life Books Challenge.<\/p>\n

SmallWorld Reads: Life Books Challenge<\/a><\/p>\n

Who doesn’t have a list of favorite books? Chances are, those books are favorites because they tell a universal truth, and, most likely, because they say something about you. <\/strong> [Washy note: Isn’t that lovely? and True?!]<\/p>\n

Part I: Choose Your Life Books<\/strong>
\nWhat are the books that, in some aspect, define you? Think about who you are in terms of spirituality, love, economics, values, worldview–the list could go on and on…. Give us your life in books. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So…. <\/strong><\/p>\n

My Part I<\/span>:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

gosh this is tough…<\/p>\n

1) Charlotte’s Web,<\/em> E.B. White<\/strong> – friendship, love, children’s writing.<\/p>\n

2) Ramona Quimby<\/em>, Age 8 – Beverly Cleary<\/strong>. I read this book literally five billion times (give or take a few) – again great children’s writing about family, getting through the hard times whatever those are in your (8-year-old?) mind.<\/p>\n

3) Yellow Wallpaper<\/em> – Charlotte Perkins Gillman<\/strong>. oh, the creeping, creeping, creeping…. disturbing classic text on mental health, feminism, history without ever being preachy.<\/p>\n

4) To Kill a Mockingbird <\/em>– Harper Lee!<\/strong> Need I say more? Okay, it’s about justice, love and life? and written beautifully.<\/p>\n

5) O Henry stories <\/strong>– I love the surprise twists! Morality play? maybe but still<\/p>\n

6) Gosh, anything by Mark Twain<\/strong>, but I’m partial to some of the lesser knowns: Puddinhead Wilson, his short stories (Adam and Eve).<\/p>\n

7) East of Eden – John Steinbeck<\/strong>. Good and evil and good vs. evil. Wow.<\/p>\n

8) Grendel<\/strong> (and anything else by) John Gardner. Okay, admittedly, he’s a local hero (taught at my alma mater, died tragically) but wow, this is poetry and ache and love and beloging…<\/p>\n

9) Freakonomics<\/em> (or Fast Food Nation<\/em> or Paradox of Choice<\/em><\/strong>) okay these are by different authors but share being classic examples of journalism at its finest – teaching without preaching, boiling down to plain english.<\/p>\n

10) I’m at 10 already? I was hoping to keep to 10. Danny the Champion of the World, <\/em>Roald Dahl<\/strong> (or anything else by Dahl). See the trends? I love children\/young adult literature and I love the lesser known works of great writers. This story is so touching about a boy and his dad, is well written, clever, contains humor and mystery and tenderness… what’s not to love?<\/p>\n

Hmm, I think I have to consider this my start. I want to include some creative nonfiction (any Best Essays of… [Insert year] <\/em><\/strong>or issue of Creative Nonfiction<\/strong>) would do or … Eat, Pray, Love<\/em> <\/strong>which I’m finally reading now or Eggers’ A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius<\/strong>….<\/em><\/p>\n

I would LOVE to hear your favorites. Join SmallWorld’s challenge or, if not, just tell me in the comments. I’ll be back with more sooon…..<\/p>\n