Best Books

The Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday’s book critic posted his list of 100 books that changed his life.  Fifty of these are non-fiction and fifty are fiction.  Just thought I would share some of these.  Let me know what you think and what you might add if you were listing your favorites.

Classics that Craig Brown lists:

Tess of the Durbervilles:  I have read this and was very drawn into Hardy’s world.  Hardy does not write novels with happy endings but they are very involving.

Middlemarch:  I read this in college and also went back to it last year.  The setting and characters are so well and deeply portrayed.  I feel as if I know Dorothea with her literal and figurative short-sightedness and she is just one of many who live in this novel.

Cousin Henry:  This one by Anthony Trollope I have not read.  I  read this author’s Can You Forgive Her once when I was home sick and it took my mind off my woes.

Crime and Punishment:  I have not read this novel but always feel that I should.  Thoughts on this one??

Great Expectations:  This may be my favorite Dickens.  I was glued to it when I read it.  Great plot and characters.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:  Not just for children.  I read this when I was about fourteen and then again about two years ago.  A whole world is created.  It does not operate by the usual rules but gives new perspectives including “Off with her head!” and a unique game of croquet.

I think that I would include Anna Karenina in my list.  I will blog on that one soon.