It’s All About Meme
Kelly tagged all the children’s lit bloggers, and Alice tagged me specifically, so here goes:
1. One book that changed your life?
The Lord of the Rings wasn’t written for children, but I first (and second and third, etc) read it as a child, so I’m counting it. The reason I say it "changed my life" is that it’s responsible for sparking my romance with Scott. At a college party, we fell into discussion of this mutual favorite and, well, suddenly the music and noise around us faded away, and you know the rest.
2. One book you have read more than once?
Ha, what book HAVEN’T I would be a harder question to answer! Limiting the answer to ONE I’ve re-read is harder still. If I’ve written about a book on this blog, you can bet I’ve read it a bunch of times. But let’s see. One book. Anne’s House of Dreams.
3. One book you would want on a desert island?
Again, sticking with children’s books: it would have to be something very very big. A complete edition of Grimm’s tales, maybe? Or no, I know: The American Boys’ Handy Book. (I think the boys’ version would be more useful in this circumstance than the girls’.)
4. One book that made you laugh?
The Anybodies by N. E. Bode.
5. One book that made you cry?
Old Yeller.
6. One book you wish had been written?
Betsy’s Baby (a sequel to Betsy’s Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace).
7. One book you wish had never been written?
I have thought long and hard about this one since I first saw this meme, and I can’t do it. I can’t wish a book unwritten. There are books I dislike and books that I think have done outright harm. But still, something in me recoils from the idea of entirely erasing one from existence. What if IT was the book that sparked the idea for another book by another author down the line? I’m picturing literary dominoes that poof one another out of existence as they topple down the line. If I wish my most hated book away, I might take something precious with it.
8. One book you are currently reading?
I just picked up Susan Fletcher’s Shadow Spinner at the library yesterday.
9. One book you have been meaning to read?
Rules by Cynthia Lord.
10. Now tag five people:
I think everyone’s been tagged already!* Now, on to the Bookworm’s homeschooling meme. ::::rubbing hands together gleefully::::
*No, wait! I know someone! Heh heh…I tag Scott.
Krissy says:
Old Yeller made me cry too. Why’d Yeller have to die? Why?
On August 15, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Jennifer says:
I guess without Mien Kampf there would be no Number the Stars or Diary of Anne Frank . . . but still . . .
What about the South Beach Diet book or the Atkin’s Diet book? Could you wish one of those unwritten?
On August 15, 2006 at 11:28 pm
xixi says:
nope! the South Beach Diet book was the book that helped me discover that cauliflower is delicious!
(we had previously had a rider on the marriage lic. that said “also i will not cook you cauliflower nor brussel sprouts and if you desire these things you have permission to seek them elsewhere”)
On August 16, 2006 at 9:11 am
Melissa Wiley says:
Well, strictly speaking I was sticking to children’s books in the meme. But I did think about the question you raise—without Mein Kampf would there have been no Holocaust? If so, that’s a domino worth knocking over. Impossible to know, though, if unmaking the book would have unmade the atrocities, or might in some way have made things (hard to imagine) worse. I dunno.
I love that this question is on the meme—very good food for thought, and also it’s been fascinating to see people’s choices. Hmm, maybe I’ll make a list; could be an interesting post.
On August 16, 2006 at 9:20 am
scott says:
Old Yeller made me cry too. Why’d Yeller have to die? Why?
He what?!
No…no…Mom said he just needed to go off to a farm for a while to get better…
Jeez. Thanks for ruining my favorite book ever. Now I don’t even need to finish reading it.
On August 16, 2006 at 11:57 am