15 Books That Stick With You

by Susan C. Daffron

As part of the blog tour for my novel Chez Stinky, Jayda asked that I do a guest post on my five favorite books. But I confess, I had trouble narrowing it down to only five books.

Like many authors, I love books and I read a lot, so I went back and checked a list I did before to see what I said. It was one of those Facebook things that went around a few years ago. The idea was to list fifteen books you’ve read that will always stick with you. The list is the first fifteen books you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

The list still works for me and because I'm a bookaholic and can't limit myself to just five books, here they are along with a short explanation of why they were memorable.

1. Little Women - L.M. Alcott

I read this book multiple times when I was a kid. I totally wanted to be Jo off writing adventure stories in her garret.

2. Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - R. Pirsig

The first time I tried to read it, I got nowhere. Then I tried again and loved it.

3. Gone with the Wind - M. Mitchell

My aunt introduced me to the movie version of GWTW and I later read the book.

4. The Razor's Edge - W. S. Maugham

One of those books that sounds like it would be dreaded by English majors everywhere, but amazingly relevant, even though it's old.

5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - B. Smith

I loved this story, partly because it's one of the few books where the main character is a bookish introvert.

6. Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White

Tied with Charlotte's Web as one of my fave children's books...

7. The Secret Garden - F.H. Burnett

I re-read this on Kindle not too long ago. Dickon remains a great character.

8. Way of the Peaceful Warrior - D. Millman

Many of the messages in it resonated with me because of where I was at that point in my life.

9. Early Ann Rice (Interview with the Vampire/Vampire Lestat)

Anne Rice's descriptive ability is amazing. Although I've never been there, I almost felt like I'd visited New Orleans after reading some of her books.

10. Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling

The series got dark toward the end, which I liked less, but I read them all.

11. Wizard of Oz (the series) - L.F. Baum

My uncle gave me the complete set of the Wizard of Oz books when I was a kid and I read them all.

12. You'll See It When You Believe It - Wayne Dyer

One of those books that makes you realize that how you look at the world can make a huge difference in your life.

13. The Lorax - Dr. Seuss

My introduction to environmental issues. Don't be the Once-ler.

14. Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

For every teenager who has felt misunderstood. (I certainly felt that way.)

15. Janet Evanovitch Stephanie Plum books.

When you need a laugh! Janet is the master of hilarious descriptions. All readers undoubtedly have an image in their mind of exactly what Lulu looks like, for example.


Be sure to check back later today for the review of Chez Stinky on Two Children and a Migraine