Thursday, October 21, 2010

Rethinking My 'Fill in the Gaps' List

I've lived with my Fill in the Gaps book list for about six months or so, and I am starting to think I put too many "should-read" books on the list and not enough "wanna-read" books.  Plus, I might already have read a couple of books I listed.

First: Ayn Rand.  I read one of her big books.   Atlas Shrugged, I think.  I think.  Granted, it was nearly 30 years ago, but I know I slogged thr — er, read one of her mammoth books.  I also read a short one: We the Living.  Maybe even Anthem, too.  I didn't keep a list when I was in high school and college, so I'm at a loss.  Plus, do I want to read it?  Really, really want to read it?  If I already did, the answer is "no."  If I didn't, the answer may be "no" anyway.  So, I shall ponder Ayn Rand.

While I'm at it, I'd better ponder Edith Wharton, too.  I know I read one of her books.  Was it The Age of Innocence?  She's not a one-hit wonder, and I don't want to miss her good stories, but there's too much to read to leave a re-read on the list.

Plus, I must strike The Seven Per-Cent Solution — I read it while dating David.  (Part of our courting was trading book suggestions.  He may never forgive me for recommending the book I was reading when we first met: The Lovely Bones.  Hey, at least I stopped him before he picked up House of Sand and Fog!)

Finally, I made the list Dickens-heavy.  He probably deserves it, but I do think I set a Dickens record on that list.  I will ponder that decision.

Here is the question: what shall I put in their places?  Well, I've been eyeing Up in the Air for a while, and I just happened to pick up a copy because I thought it was on my list.

What can you suggest I add in place of the ones being so unkindly kicked off my Gap list?  My friend Louise shared an article a Tweeter wrote to a response to her inquiry of "books that changed your world," and I was thrilled to see so many of my "gap" books on there.  (On the other hand, maybe I should have been embarrassed that I hadn't yet read them....)

Tell me what books changed your life, and why I should read them.  Offer your suggestions in the comment section below.  We'll talk.

4 comments:

Beth said...

I have a list of books to read before I die. I plowed through Ayn Rand a couple of years ago. I gave "Atlas" to my (conservative) boss to read. Thought he'd like it. I also enjoyed Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth." Then they did a mini series on HBO,(I think), that left me unfulfilled as they had to leave out so much of the book. One of my favorites now days is Elizabeth Moon. Much of her stuff is sci-fi, fantasy, but I like her style. "The Speed of Dark" and a little book called "Remnant Population" are two of my favorites.

Chris said...

I LOVED Pillars of the Earth -- he wrote a sequel a few years ago, World Without End. I haven't read it yet, but the folks who turned me on to "Pillars" really liked the sequel. And I heard the same thing about the miniseries....

I will check out Elizabeth Moon.

Have you ever read any Connie Willis? One of my favorites is The Doomsday Book. I reviewed it on my old book blog, http://book-lovers-get-your-english-on.blogspot.com/2008/03/doomsday-book-review-by-chris.html . If you are into time travel, this will interest you!

What else is on your list, Beth?

Beth said...

I will check out Connie Willis. On my list is "Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency" and "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul" by Douglas Adams. I have them both on my Paperback Swap wish list. But I got a Borders gift card recently, so I may buy them myself. =)

Chris said...

Check out these two Connie Willis books:
Doomsday Book
Miracles and other Christmas stories

I picked up the "complete Douglas Adams collection" a few years ago and loveloveloved it!