only one: fiction
ok.
so, during your aforementioned time in the slammer, you passed the endless hours by reading. and you found that “real” books (like history, art, biographies, and academics, etc) were much more purposeful and informative than those mind-numbingly entertaining fiction books.
anyway, you were released from prison about 2 months ago, and part of your probation requires you to be actively involved in at least ONE social club/team. so, you’ve decided to join this crazy new society of book burners. the group’s formal title is The Society of Readers Rejecting Your Stories (aka: The SORRYS) - and at the yearly induction ceremony incoming SORRYS are FORCED to get rid of all but one fiction book.
[gasp]
which one would you keep? why?
disclaimer: the scenario depicted above is solely a work of fiction and hypothesis; it is NOT a representation of my personal perspective on fiction and non-fiction. i have NO issues with fiction books, and actually prefer them over non-fiction. so, please, don’t sue me or leave mean comments. kthx
Your infatuation with prison lately is starting to concern me…
inW: is that the title of the book you wanna keep?
Yes, volumes 1-3.
Volume 4 stunk…
Excellent question! I’m excited to read the responses.
My answer would have to be The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. (Is that cheating? It’s actually three books, but they come as a set.)
They’re my favorite fiction books. I literally cannot put them down when I read them. If you absolutely forced me to pick just one, it would have to be the last one, As Sure as the Dawn.
I know they sound like romance, but they’re not. They’re historical fiction. They incorporate real people from the Bible (like Paul) but it’s all fiction.
Man, I love those books.
In response from your statement on my blog:
I had no idea this was on your book list! I just picked up at the library, but I did think of you and Drew being up in that area as I read it.
Becky: i’m a Rivers junkie – read ALL of ‘em… so, i’m gonna say that you CAN keep the whole series, but don’t tell any of the other new SORRYS that i gave you special permission!
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
I didn’t even have to pause for thought on this question.
OK, to play nice
I have to ditto Natalie Jane. I am not a big fiction reader. If I am going to read, it is usually not because I have time to, but need info.
However, years ago I saw the movie and then a friend recommended I read the book and I did. I LOVED it!
Hitchhikers: my man would be SO proud!!!
My favorite genre is mystery novels, but the book I have re-read the most is Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
It is both a character driven story and a great adventure. Augustus McCrae is one of my favorite characters, although I imagine myself more as James Bond.
Page after page of such interesting characters. A long story but very fast paced. Every page holds my interest.
The book also works as a historical novel. It gives us a sense of the era of that most American of icons, the cowboy. Who could not love a good cowboy story.
Id definitely have to make a hard choice between “Space” by James A Michener, and “The Source” by the same author.
Both are historical fiction, but they were both very good reads.
Ooh, this is a tough one. Part of me wants to say “Wuthering Heights” because I love it so, but part of me says “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. I’m going to go with “Redeeming Love” — I can’t be reminded too often of God’s overwhelming, unconditional love and forgiveness.
Any of the “Alex Cross” novels by James Patterson (probably “Along Came A Spider” is my favorite) – he delves into the crazy killer mind better than anyone!!!
Now, can you trade in your one novel at the end of the year for another the following year?
Kara: DITTO on redeeming love… i’d take that one as well.
Dan: um. no trading. if you’re a lifetime member, then the book rule applies for life!
Redeeming Love! No question!
Pride and Prejudice
Lord of the Rings, hands down greatest fiction novel, no question…and it will come in handy because its such a huge book I can also use it to work out my biceps and be the muscle for the SORRYS for incoming people who have issues “letting go” of their other books.
“Those mind-numbingly entertaining fiction books..”
HEY! I RESEMBLE that REMARK!! Ah ha ha ha!!!
I’d keep MY book. Whether it finally satisfies my publisher or not, I’ll take that one over any other. I mean, that’s like asking me to chose between my child or yours…I’ll take mine. You’ll take yours. Plain and simple.
TheNorEaster: i noticed at your blog that you were a writer.
glad you were able to take that whole farce with a grain of salt! and, if the question was re: CDs, i’d have to choose my “child” as well…
P & P for sure!
wait. fiction = not real, right? just kidding
I would choose The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
It would have to be The Chronicles of Narnia for me.
Mandy:
And there we go! Every artist knows his, or her, craft is like a child. You put all that effort into creating and raising and disciplining and it becomes a kind of love all its own and when the time comes, you have to let the kid make its mark on the world.
Ron:
“Everyone knows that novelists are liars. And that’s why we can be trusted to tell the truth.”
~E. L. Doctrow
Heh.
But if I could chose a Graham Greene book, it would probably be “The End of the Affair.” And that’s all I’m saying about that before anybody starts to get the WRONG idea!
Okay, no trading our books in, but there’s no rule against trading with other SORRYs right???? So I think I’ll make best friends with Becky (Mark of the Lion), Kara (Redeeming Love), Kristiapplesauce (P & P), and Tawny (Narnia) . . .seriously all my favorites!! I’ll throw in Northanger Abbey and we’ll trade away!!!
You crack me up girl! Where do you come up with these scenarios?!
I would choose any Danielle Steel book…i love a good romance novel!
Leilanni: brilliant… there are obviously NO rules against sharing books. Kudos to you.
Leilanni, I put Northanger Abbey in my wishlist on Amazon, I haven’t heard of that one. We could definately trade.
In Worship! You’re a HH2G fan too??? (Actually that explains a LOT!) NOW i understand, Tam! you poor girl
You are cheating though, You didn’t get Mandy’s permission for a Trilogy – my favourite is the fifth book in the increasingly innacurately named HH trilogy.
I would choose Robert Heinlein’s ‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ though because i can still listen to my HH2G LP records of the radio series (Original) and watch the DVD and pray that a decent TV channel re-runs the TV series every year or so to get my ‘fix’.
Stranger In a Strange Land – whilst being from my favourite genre – Science Fiction – has a ’strangely’ familiar theme – anyone who reads it will never forget it! Heinlein is a master Author. I read my first book of his (Have Space Suit – Will Travel!) around age 12 and did not want to reach the end of it because i so loved reading it i did not want to not be reading the work, to no longer have the anticipation of what was to come next not in my life anymore – that takes real talent.
love <B
TheNorEaster – I am reading “the End of the Affair” right now. It’s in my stack o’ books that I am currently tredging through.
Ron:
It actually surprised me quite a bit. I won’t say why, though, since you’re in the middle of it. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I thought it was very well written, too.
Ron & Nor = very interesting….
Love: you’re right! he didn’t get permission! hmmmmm……..
my sister’s keeper, by jodi picoult
I know it has been said AND this isn’t a current post…but I would also take Redeeming Love. (I have really missed the conversation on this blog Mandy. My laptop is in the hospital and had to have a heart transplant. It is going to make it, but we are waiting on the anti-rejection disks to come from Dell. For now I am using my kids computer…a desktop. Ug!) But I will be back later this week, even if I am only lurking, I still love this blog!