Some readers/friends were intrigued by my having kept a list of books I have read ever since I was ten years old. One asked me if I had a link to that list. Alas, no...the list only exists in handwritten form in three battered notebooks. But I thought it might be fun to list here the first 50 books on the list (from when I was ten) and then the most recent 50, these many years later. Here goes:
50 books I read when I was ten years old:
(For some reason that I cannot remember now, I only wrote down the last name of authors.)
1. Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Hidden Staircase, by Keene
2. Mary Poppins, by Travers
3. Ghost Parade, by Sutton
4. Sorority Girl, by Emery
5. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Flying Express, by Dixon
6. Petronella
7. Anne Thorne in America, by Bertram
8. Ginny Gordon and the Broadcasting Mystery, by Campbell
9. The Children at Primrose Lane, by Cutter
10. Little Women, by Alcott
11. The Emperor's Bracelet, by Cole
12. Margaret, by Lawrey
13. Carol Goes on Stage, by Boylston
14. Florence Nightingale, by Leighton
15. The Mystery of the Strange Messages, by Blyton
16. The Hardy Boys and the Yellow Feather Mystery, by Dixon
17. The Mystery of the Missing Necklace, by Blyton
18. Master of Maryknoll, by Saville
19. Stranger Within the Gates, by Hill
20. Will Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, by White
21. Beacon Lights of Literature, by Shattuck
22. Stars for Sylvia, by Haskin
23. Relax, Chum, by Rose
24. The Rockingdown Mystery, by Blyton
25. Rupert
26. The Mystery of the Secret Room, by Blyton
27. Fifth Formers at St. Claire's, by Blyton
28. Judy's Perfect Year, by Bennet
29. Susan's Helping Hand, by Shaw
30. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Melted Coins, by Dixon
31. Black Beauty, by Sewell
32. Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, by Wells
33. Danny Orlis Makes the Team, by Palmer
34. Danny Orlis Plays Hockey, by Palmer
35. Scotch, by MacTavish
36. The Ring-O-Bell Mystery, by Blyton
37. Little Men, by Alcott
38. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Missing Chums, by Dixon
39. Felicia Cartwright and the Mystery of the Missing Sideboard
40. Quin, by Rice
41. David's Victory, by Pearce
42. Sixth Reader, by VanSickle
43. The Wonderland of India, by Hunting
44. Cherry Ames,Senior Nurse, by Wells
45. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Broken Blade, by Dixon
46. Jack and Jill, by Alcott
47. Helen's Babies, by Habberton
48, My Diary, by O'Brien
49. The Little Colonel, by Johnston
50. Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Missing Jewelbox, by Keene
(What can I say? I was big on mysteries, on series, and on Enid Blyton...)
50 Books that I have most recently read:
(I have starred the ones I most highly recommend)
1. *Yesterday Morning: A Very English Childhood, by Diana Athill
2. *The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett
3. *Stet: An Editor's Life
4. A Short History of Women: A Novel, by Kate Walbert
5. Nellie Without Hugo, by Janet Hobhouse
6. Strong Poison, by Dorothy Sayers
7. The Art of Mending, by Elizabeth Berg
8. *Somewhere Toward the End, by Diana Athill
9. We Used to Own the Bronx: Memoirs of a Former Debutante, by Eve Pell
10. *Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It: Stories, by Maile Meloy
11. 101 Things You Didn't Know about Jane Austen, by Patrice Hannon
12. The Sharp Teeth of Love, by Doris Betts
13. The Writing Class, by Jincy Willett
14. *A Gate at the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore
15. *That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
16. Girl Trouble: Stories, by Holly Goddard Jones
17. *Love and Summer, by William Trevor
18. *Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
19. Goodbye and Amen, by Beth Gutcheon
20. *All That Work and Still No Boys, by Kathryn Ma
21. The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After, by Melanie Gideon
22. The Prayer Room, by Shanthi Sekaran
23. *Too Much Happiness: Stories, by Alice Munro
24. *The Man in the Wooden Hat, by Jane Gardam
25. *A Good Fall: Stories, by Ha Jin
26. Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition, by Andrew Friedman
27. *Family Album, by Penelope Lively
28. Only Child: Writers on the Singular Joys and Solitary Sorrows of Growing up Solo, edited by Deborah Siegel
29. *Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays, by Zadie Smith
30. Becoming Jane Eyre, by Sheila Kohler
31. *Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son,by Michael Chabon
32. The Gatekeeper: A Memoir, by Terry Eagleton
33. Lies My Mother Never Told Me: A Memoir, by Kaylie Jones
34. *Yesterday Morning: A Very English Childhood, by Diana Athill
35. In the Driver's Seat: Stories, by Helen Simpson
35. The Favorites, by Mary Yukari Waters
36. *Do Not Deny Me: Stories, by Jean Thompson
37. *Lark and Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips
38. White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, by Tim Wise
39. When Madeline Was Young, by Jane Hamilton
40. Spoiled: Stories, by Caitlin Macy
41. MotherKind, by Jayne Anne Phillips
42. Imaginary Men, by Anjali Banerjee
43. The Fatigue Artist, by Lynne Sharon Schwartz
44. The Fundamentals of Play, by Caitlin Macy
45. *Blame, by Michelle Huneven
46. Jane Fairfax, by Joan Aiken
47. Arkansas: Three Novellas, by David Leavitt
48. *Nothing Right: Short Stories, by Antonya Nelson
49. Best Food Writing 2008, edited by Holly Hughes
50. *Mentors, Muses, and Monsters, edited by Elizabeth Benedict
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I remember your notebooks! I always thought that it was admirable. I've just kept my lists in my head, but they are certainly there!
ReplyDeleteInterested in my list? Let me know.
ReplyDeleteTO Lusia: Absolutely! Please send me whatever you feel comfortable sharing, either in the comments section, or as an email,and tell me if you are willing for me to publish some or all of it.
ReplyDeleteAnd if others would like to share their lists too, with me and/or with others reading this blog, please do!
I always love to learn what others are reading!