I loved this piece from The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates about how certain books just have that personal appeal:
Savoring
In the article above, Coates talks about how certain books just "call to him," and how he doesn't want "the journey to end." I know you know that feeling. For Coates it was Battle Cry of Freedom, The Intuitionist, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatsby.
Another wonderful piece from Coats had me wanting to read Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence all over again.
The Age of Awesome
Ta-Nehisi Coates has that passion for books--all kinds of books. I love it when that passion comes off the page.
I was sitting here trying to recall that feeling, and remember which books really triggered it for me. Definitely Richard Wright's Black Boy is on my list. So is Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath. Middlemarch. Howard's End. The Sound and the Fury. Light in August.
Wally Lamb's I Know This Much is True, and The Hour I First Believed.
Rock Island Line and Driftless by David Rhodes.
What books have called to you? Which books have you savored, not wanting the journey to end?
9 comments:
So many good books. I love East of Eden,The Grapes of Wrath & Cane River (set in my home state of La.)I'd be remiss if I didn't mentioned Native Son & A Lesson Before Dying. Great topic.
Middlemarch and Lady Chatterley's Lover are two of those books for me.
@Felicia-Cane River is a book I'm always meaning to read. All the others I feel the same way: don't let this book end.
@Brenna-Middlemarch is perhaps my favorite book of all. I haven't read Lady Chatterly's Lover yet, but it is on my shelf.
Ah Middlemarch is still on my to-read pile. Some books, for me, that I wanted to savor include The God of Small Things and Anna Karenina. I loved the Age of Innocence as well, which I just read a couple months ago.
I just finished and loved Just Kids by Patti Smith. Here is a sample sentence: "At its best, our friendship ws a refuge from everything, where he could hide or coil, like an exhausted baby snake." Yowza.
@zeteticat-I agree with you about Anna Karenina...Thinking of rereading Age of Innocence.
@Betty-I've heard nothing but good things about the Patti Smith book-I think I'd really enjoy it.
Wally Lamb's books stay with me too!
One from my early reading days is Little Women - it is a comforting re-read for me.
@Booksnyc-Little Women is definitely a comfort read. The characters are so much a part of my psyche.
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