Your favorite books???

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Short days,low temperatures,wind chill and a warm stove. Sounds like a perfect time to do a little reading. Kind of brings up an intresting question.What are some of your favorite books or authors to read?? I hope this will give each of us some new book titles that we can look forward to reading. 73's and may God bless. Arnold

-- Arnold (ajkc2fli@local.net), December 07, 2000

Answers

If you like novels about the Victorian period, try Anthony Trollope. I'm getting through the "Barset Chronicles" (six volumes, but each great individually. Not real deep stuff, but great stories.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), December 07, 2000.

I've gotten into fantansy/fiction. Terry Goodkind has a Sword of Truth series going. Robert Jordon has the Wheel of Life. And Ann McCaffray's Dragonflight series. The past two summers I have read the Dragonflight series is order of events. This means that I am sometimes reading 3 or 4 books at once.

Before these, I was into historical love novels but I don't think that will appeal to you. Men don't like that kind of stuff.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 07, 2000.


Well, there's always the bible, which somehow never gets old no matter how many times I read it, new meanings arise. I also enjoy Luther Burbank,(plant breeding and genetics), and Pearl S. Buck. I just read the Scarlet Letter, by Hawthorne, for the first time, and Hemerocallis, the daylily, by Munson. They are such beautiful flowers!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 07, 2000.

'Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand, the Eternal Champion series by Michael Moorcock (science fantasy), "Five Acres and Independance", any Orange Judd books, anything by Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, John Donne.

-- Hannah Maria Holly (hannahholly@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

If ya got yer feet up to the woodstove and it feels to good to budge try reading the Lonesome Dove series! Of course don't forget Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday!! ....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), December 08, 2000.


Favorite books - how about authors - Oriana Fallaci, Toni Morrison, Daniel Pennac,Rita Mae Brown ....... to name a few.

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

I just finished reading four books written by Ralph Moody. Those are the only ones written by him that I own. I'll check out some of his other works from the library shortly. I read them every couple of years. They have a good message in them for both kids and adults. The books are autobiographical and are turn of the 20 century living, mainly dealing with ranch and family life in Colorado.

It looks like it's going to be a long winter, so maybe I'll re-read The Complete Sherlock Holmes.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), December 08, 2000.


Dr. Seuss gets read at least three times a day around here. Pat McManus keeps everyone interested in reading. Other than that, I don't know the last time I finished reading a novel. I seem to be kept busy with reference books. I guess I would like to curl up with Merck's Veterinary Manual.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Love to read, just can't find the time .. maybe after moving... well maybe after repainting... after the garden is planted... oh well some time.

I enjoy anything from Pat McManus to Herman Melville, anything about nature, farming, religion...If I can get a copy I'll read it.

73's (My callsign is KC8DRQ & my son's KC8PNF)

Have a good holiday, Rich

-- rich (pnbeldyk@wirefire.com), December 08, 2000.


I've read several books about people moving to Alaska. Makes you feel like it's not so tough here in Cent. Wisc. They are: Edge of The Earth and Way Out There, both by Richard Leo; Arctic Daughter by Jean Aspen; and Wilderness Mother by Deanna Kawatski; then of course there's the Into the Wild book by Jon Krakauer. All are very good winter reading material. Enjoy! I'm going to get a pen and make by next bookstore list off this post.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), December 08, 2000.


From my favorite book of all time:

Precious Bane by Mary Webb. Written about 1924.

" To conjure, even for a moment, the wistfulness which is the past is like trying to gather in one's arms the hyacinthine colour of the distance."

"The whirr of the spinning-wheels has ceased in our parlours, and we hear no more the treadles of the loom, the swift, silken noise of the flung shuttle, the intermittent thud of the batten. But the imagination hears them, and theirs is the melody of romance. When antique things are country things they are easier to write about, for there is a permanence, a continuity in country life which makes the lapse of centuries seem of little moment."

It's set in the English county of Shropshire in the early nineteenth century. A story about a young farm girl Prudence Sarn resigned to a life of endless labor on her tyranical brother's farm. She was born with a hare lip and shunned by everyone. Falls in love with the traveling weaver Kester Woodseves.

Wonderful descriptions of the English countryside, farming practices and traditions of that region. "Love spinnings" when all the women of the neighboring farms got together to spin the flax for the sheets of a soon to be married couple's bed.

Definitely a book to read by the woodstove inbetween knitting socks or spinning or weaving.

Pauline in NC

-- Pauline (tworoosters_farm@altavist.com), December 08, 2000.


Bobbie Ann Mason-In country & Feathercrowns Sand County Almanac-Aldo Leopold Barbara Kingsolver-Pigs in Heaven,Poisonwood Bible,and her earlier ones that I can 't remember Greg Bear's -Songs of earth & power Edward Fox-Little Shepard Of Kingdom Come. Terry Brooks-All the Running with the Demon books

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 08, 2000.

What a great topic! I love to read and could write lists and lists of good books. Anything by G.A.Henty is excellent. He writes historical fiction and from more of a Christian perspective. I have to confess to loving Jane Austen, (my Dad and brother think they are boring and Mom reads them when she wants a nap:o) I also enjoy reading Agatha Christie. SHAKESPEARE!!! Moliere's plays, (especially Tartuffe!). Sherlock Holmes, The Count of Monte Christo, the Scarlet Pimpernel, The Hobbit (anything by Tolkien). Anything by Louisa May Alcott, Lucy Maud Montgomery, E.Nesbit(one my all time favourite children's authors) Doug Wilson and countless others, I can't call to mind right now. Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

-- Abigail F. (treeofl@nbnet.nb.ca), December 08, 2000.

"A Latern In Her Hand" by Bess Streeter Aldrich has been my favorite since high school. One of these days I'll order it again. The "Left Behind" series is good especially #8-ver exciting series. "The President's Lady", "Those Who Love" and "Love is Eternal" all by Irving Stone. "The Oath" "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness" by Frank Peretti are exciting. And the Christian pioneer love stories by Gilbert Morris.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), December 08, 2000.

My reading is very diverse and goes through periods. Right now it is Thomas Harris, Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, starting Black Sunday tonight. I love Stephen King and especially Anne Rice. My movie viewing and book reading are for pure entertainment.

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.


C.S. Lewis (esp. his Chronicles of Narnia), and the Books of Buckskinning, put out by Rebel Press. Tidings From the 18th Century, by beth Gilgun, and anything about Scotland!

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 08, 2000.

Hello a book that i just read is called "Patriots surviving the comming collapse " by James wesley rawles. Its about a group of christians and how they survive after the stock market melts down.The author makes you think about a lot of things that you normally dont think about if thier were no stores anymore.This is a pro-church book.I cannot recall one foul word being used. The books previous title was Teotwawki (the end of the world as we know it) I believe its available thru the big chains under the new name.If anyone knows anymore survival type books please let me know. thank you.

-- john hubbard (ghubbar@bellsouth.net.), December 08, 2000.

As a child my favorite books were The Boxcar Children,My Side of the Mountain,Baked Beans for Breakfast and Misty of Chincoteque(sp.).

As an adult Anthem by Ayn Rand , A Small Farm in Maine,and the 'Bennie Harper Mystery ' series by Earlene Fowler.

-- Raya Amick (Raya2448@ivillage.com), December 08, 2000.


I just found a series that my husband and I have a hard time putting down! We get it in audio book form because Mike is legally blind...

the series is the Left Behind ones...by Tim La Haye and Jerry B. Jenkins. It's a series of 8 books so far (9 is coming out next summer)...

Each book is riveting, about survival and the end times. The characters are compelling and you feel like you know them personally and find yourself loving,hating, and crying with them.

I just found these this past two weeks and have in that time found almost a dozen people who exclaim over them when I say I am reading them. they are very popular!

Idaho Cher

-- Cher Rovang (fullcircle@nidlink.com), December 09, 2000.


I'll do authors, if that's okay. Number 1 God, 2 Mark Twain, 3 Phillip Dick, 4 Ayn Rand, 5 Tim LaHay, 6 Fred Allan Wolfe, 7 Douglas Adams, 8 Jean Auel, 9 William Burns.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), December 09, 2000.

What fun! I will second my friend re: the Left Behind Series. MOST excellent. Also the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. Any thing by Corrie ten Boom-my favorite is In my Father's House but still love the classic The Hiding Place. I can read and re-read any Grace Livingston Hill. The Zion Chronicals(sp?)by Brock and Bodie Thoene are riviting. Put on the coffee and put up those tootsies!! Q.

-- queen (queenbuffness @ hotmail.com), December 09, 2000.

Couldn't get into the "left behind" series...neither could any of us here.

Some we liked were the (Scottish) historical fiction series by Diana Gabaldon. Start with "Outlander".

Edward Abbey wrote some great fiction, try "The Monkeywrench Gang". His essays are excellent too,in other collections, especially if you like Aldo Leopold.

Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" (its on my desert island list) and "A Soldier of the Great War".

For nonfiction (and non-threatening) try Diane Ackerman's "Natural History of the Senses" or "Natural History of Love". Excellent gifts for your partner in life. Also, "Woman, A Geography" by Natalie Angier.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), December 09, 2000.


My word! What an intense subject! A vote for Pat McManus, another for Dave Barry, and a plethora of other really funny guys and gals! There is so much good stuff out there, to wit: Swiss Family Robinson, Stephen King's stuff, Roger Van Tilburg Clark (go look, and the Oxbow Incident is not the last of it!). But if I had only 1 to read, it would be my old buddy James Fenimore Cooper and the "Leatherstocking Tales"! Viva Chinkagook!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 12, 2000.

I forgot to mention Gene Stratton Porter. My husband reads them aloud to us, and they are really good! It is all I can do to keep from picking up the book to see what will happen next! They are good wholesome stories, probably out of print, but can be found at ebay.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 12, 2000.

Arnold, why are you using a phony address? VERY annoying! BL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), December 12, 2000.

We like Gene Stratton Porter's books too. Indiana University Press still prints them. We have enjoyed Harold Bell Wright books also, expecially Shepherd Of The Hills and Exit. Our whole family reads as much as possible and even though our two oldest are 19 and 22 we still have some read aloud times with the whole family.

-- Terry (aunt_tm@Hotmail.com), December 12, 2000.

Brad, I use a phony address too. It keeps my real ones safe from stuff I don't want, check out the threads on here about privacy.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), December 12, 2000.

CS Lewis (Narnia, and Space Triolgy), Tolkein, GA Henty, LM Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Martha Finley (Elsie Dinsmore series), Books about Herbs, Tom Clancy, Frank Peretti (esp. The Oath) Gary Paulsen (The Hatchet,Brian's Winter, Brian's Return), My Side of the Mountain and The Other Side of the Mountain, Cynthia DeFelice (Lostman's River, Weasel, The Apprenticship of (?) Whitaker), and a couple of magazines: Chalcedon Report and Credenda Agenda

Many times I enjoy reading juvenile/young adult fiction because the stories are short and I don't have a lot of time for reading. Some of the above is what get read aloud for homeschooling. (Not Tom Clancy!)

-- Heather (heathergorden@hotmail.com), December 13, 2000.


Arnold, If you are interested in the Second Amendment, the best book is "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross. You can find it on Amazon. My favorite book of all time is "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. If you like light science fiction, anything by Orson Scott Card is excellent. To me, reading anything is an education and can take you to other places. Mary

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), December 13, 2000.

I started reading a series by W.E.B. Griffin this past year. The Corps, it's a series of 8 books. A Fictionalized account of the war in the Pacific. It's good entertaining reading. If you want to give them a try, the first book in the series is Semper Fi.

-- Paul Marohn (pmcm@pcom.net), December 13, 2000.

Brad and Anne, Sorry about the incomplete address.Not done intentionally. If we were all perfect we would not have any need of this forum. Best Wishes and God Bless. 73's Arnold

-- Arnold (ajkc2fli@localnet.com), December 13, 2000.

Just started the second book of the Left Behind series, also like books by Janette Okes(sp) She's written several series, Christian based, family type books but not so "bible preaching" to turn off most readers. I feel better after reading them anyway! I also like biographies and autobiographies. Like the Jane Lawless mysterie series too. Barb

-- Barb (WILDETMR@YAHOO.COM), December 13, 2000.

For mystery and murder Dick Francis - Eileen Dryer - Sue Grafton - Sara Paretski - Science Fictionand Fantasy Elizabeth Scarborough - R.A. MacAvoy - Anne McCaffery - Terry Prachett - for reading aloud the Henry Potter series - C.S. Lewis - Ralph Moody - Zane Gray - Tolkein - for Romance fiction Susan Wiggs - Nora Roberts - Pamela Morsey - LaVyrle Spencer - for literary reasons Miguel de Cervantes - Dickens - Shakespeare - any poet, any time. And as long as you have your feet propped up with the room warm and toasty, the livestock is fed, the pantry is full and the roof don't leak - write your own dang book!

-- Maggie's Farm (elemon@peacehealth.org), December 13, 2000.

I read so many books, it's hard to limit my choices. However, I've been a big Dick Francis fan for YEARS, and I THINK my favorite author is Sheri Tepper (reading her latest, "The Fresco", right now). Also been reading the fantasy series by George R. R. Martin (first book is "A Game of Thrones"), but I warn you, they are each VERY long, and then you have to wait a year for the sequel.

Darn! I KNOW I've forgotten something I wanted to recommend to you all. If you like Sci Fi/Fantasy, you'd probably like Anne McCaffrey's Freedom series.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 14, 2000.


Most any mystery. "One Straw Revolution" by Masanobu Fukuoka and anything by Gene Logsdon.

-- Jerry Miles (neljer@txcyber.com), December 14, 2000.

Howdy Arnold Well where to begin I have over 4000 books in my personal library. Just read J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series, LIKED IT. Other books in past 10 days includes handbook on Microsoft Office 2000, Retail Marketing, Poul Anderson "Time Wars", "Long Meg" by Rosemary Minard, Space 1999 by John Rankine, Skull Gate by Robin Bailey, Making Of A Gunman by Max Brand, Animorphs by K.A. Applegate, Damnation Alley by Roger Xelazny, Practice Effect by David Brin, Rifle for Rent by Gene Caesar.

Which reminds me I just got in 3 boxes of books that I've not read yet. By now I guess you know why my wife says I eat books. I can read straight through 2 before I get sleepy.

Reading is much more fun than Television. Besides I "see" them in my mind so I always can "watch a movie" all I need is a good book.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), December 14, 2000.


I REMEMBERED! I like to read James Alexander Thom's books -- novelized history. Like FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA, which is about the Clark Family (George Rogers Clark and his brother, William Clark) and Lewis & Clark's Expedition. Also, Follow the River and The Red Heart, and many others.

Other authors who have written well and prolifically about the history of this country, both Native American and European, are Allan W. Eckert and A. B. Guthrie (notably The Way West, about a group of pioneers on the Oregon Trail).

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 15, 2000.


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