Kailana over at The Written Word is collecting a blogger’s list of 10 Books You Can’t Live Without so I’m joining in and posting my list. Definitely not easy but here are my Top 10:
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez. Possibly the only book I’ve read re-read several times. Yes, it is that good.
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. A story of love, sex and food and lots of drama.
Chocolat by Joanne Harris. I see a trend of chocolate here. This one captured me from the very first line, “We came on the wind of the carnival.”
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee. A powerful story that stayed with me long after I finished reading it.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Simply wonderful. I even liked the movie a lot too.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. My first Atwood novel which perhaps may be why it’s my favorite.
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. A story about friendships and breaking out of the routine, plus it’s set in Italy. What’s not to love.
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m sure I shed some tears when I read this book. I dare you to read this and not fall in love with “Turtle”.
Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder. If you missed out on taking a philosophy class in college (like I did, I was busy taking mythology) then this is a great introduction to the history of philosophy.
Perfume by Patrick Süskind. In eighteenth-century France there lived a man who was one of the most gifted and abominable personages in an era that knew no lack of gifted and abominable personages. Creepy.
Already I’m thinking I’ve left off Sputnik Sweetheart, Northanger Abbey, The Magus, A Prayer for Owen Meany and many, many more.
I can’t wait to read everyone’s Top 10 list as I’m sure I’ll find lots of titles to add to my TBR list. Thank you Kailana for compiling this!
Oooh, I don’t know if I’m brave enough to attempt this!
I loved The Enchanted April – the film was good, too – did you see it?
Good list. I’m going to have to add some of these to my TBR list.
My lists changes constantly, but I might give it a go. I’ve read 7/10 of your list. Just not The Enchanted April (love the movie though), Disgrace & The Bean trees. Never heard of Sputnik Sweetheart…
Thanks for joining in! You have several books on there that have not come up yet. We are totally getting a very wide-spread list! If people keep joining in, I am going to be interested to see what happens.
I just read Perfume a few months ago; brilliant book.
I see you’ve included a book from my country, South Africa. I don’t think I could read a book like that, but who knows …
“Remains of the Day” is one of my favourite movies. I’m sure the book must be even better !
I haven’t read any of those! Though I did see the movie Chocolat, cuz Johnny Depp was in it.. LOL
I’ve been working on my list for a couple of days. You’re list looks very interesting. I’ve only read Chocolat, which I adored, so I’ll have to look into these for my TBR list.
Oh, wait, I did read Like Water for Chocolate (do I sense a theme here?) and hated it. But it was probably just me, not the book. I used to have a problem with magical realism. I should reread it.
Oooh, not many books I’ve read on your list, but I do have many many on my stacks waiting for me. I really need to bump Sophie’s World up a notch because I dig philosophy.
Lesley – I understand 🙂 I actually saw the movie The Enchanted April first and then read the book. And, I’ve even seen a stage version which was fabulous too.
Nik – You’ll have to do this one too. I want to see what your books would be!
Lazy Cow – My list changes a bit too. Sputnik Sweetheart is by Haruki Murakami and I do highly recommend it.
Kailana – It’s fun to see so many different lists isn’t it?
Susan Helene Gottfried – By chance have you seen the movie? I’m sort of tempted but of course am afraid they’d ruin such a fantastic book.
Gavin – Disgrace was bleak to say the least. I have read several other Coetzee novels and liked them a lot too. I have seen Remains of the Day and thought the movie was excellent too.
SciFiChick – Yes, the Johnny Depp factor does help to make the movie a favorite of mine 😉
Heather – You can’t go wrong with chocolate! Ha. Oh I’m sorry you didn’t like Like Water for Chocolate but if you don’t enjoy magical realism I can understand why you wouldn’t be keen on this one.
Andi – I think you’d get a kick out of Sophie’s World.
Remains of the Day is one of my all-time favorites and I’m currently reading Chocolat! It’s hard to narrow down to 10, but Remains would definitely be on my list . . . if I wrote one.
Wow, I don’t think I can possibly narrow my list down to TEN! I’ll try, but…
I loved Like Water for Chocolate, Chocolate, and The Bean Trees. I only mildly liked The Handmaid’s Tale, though. Enchanted April is in my stacks.
Re-read the Chocolate books and curl up with some real one! Enjoyed your list.
Ah, man! I want to do this but I can’t narrow it down to 10!
your list is very good and I don’t know if I have a Top 10 so much as just books I really enjoyed reading and for some reason come to mind right now:
Out of Africa – Isak Dinesen
Mrs. Dalloway – Virginia Woolf
The Golden Notebook – Doris Lessing
Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love and War – Deborah Copaken Kogan
Alias Grace – Margaret Atwood
Death Be Not Proud – John Gunther
Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
I Capture the Castle – Dodie Smith
About the Author – John Colapinto
Naked – David Sedaris
Nancy – Yay, glad to hear it’s also tops on your list. Hope you are enjoying Chocolat.
Les in NE – I know, it’s terrible to ask us to narrow down to 10 isn’t it? 🙂 Hope Enchanted April will be a good read for you.
Isabel – You are a smart one! I need to do that 🙂 Hey, and where’s your list? You must post it.
Dark Orpheus – Believe me, it was hard. I’ve been contemplating changing it but then I’d feel sad for the ones I took off 🙂
Christine – Mrs. Dalloway and Naked are two that I also felt bad about leaving out 🙂 I tried The Golden Notebook once and couldn’t get into it but it could have been the whole right book/wrong time thing. I would like to read some Lessing though.
Ah, I just might have to join this one. 🙂
I had a bad reaction to Enchanted April, but maybe it was just my mood (that happens, you know). There’s a lot on your list that I haven’t read; I need to update my list.
That’s a good list! I loved Sophie’s World too; perhaps I should read it as a motivator to go read some philosophy!
I have seen these, but I don’t think I could come up with a list of only ten. I love your choices! I really need to read Perfume. I mooched it last year and it looks good!
Melissa – Say it isn’t so! Well, we can’t all love the same book so I understand. I can’t wait to see your list!
Dorothy W. – Yay for another reader of Sophie’s World. I swear I hardly ever hear anyone talk about despite the fact that it’s been such a bestseller and all that.
Danielle – You are still on a France kick aren’t you? If so Perfume would be a perfect read.
I’m not certain I know where to start with this one. It’s worse than having to select just eight records to take to the UK’s mythical desert island. I’m going to have to give it some thought to see if I’m brave enough to commit myself.
More titles to add to my ever growing wish list! A few of the titles were already there, and The Handmaid’s Tale is among by TBR collection. Someday . . . I am not sure I can come up with a list. The Top Ten I Can’t Live Without sounds so . . . well, final.
Great list this, Iliana… although I gave up on two books – Sophie’s World and Handmaid’s Tale. Just couldn’t get into them. Loved Perfume, Chocolat. All the others are now on my Must Read list. Esp Enchanted April -sounds good.
Great List! The Handmaid’s Tale made my list as well. And I think I have almost all the others on my TBR!
Ann – I agree almost too hard to do this! Of course I reserve the right to change my list at any time. ha,ha.
Literary Feline – I hope you like The Handmaid’s Tale as much as I did 🙂
Kisane – I think with all the craziness you’ve had with work lately The Enchanted April would be a perfect comfort read.
Stephanie – Yay! I am glad to hear that.
Ah, Love in the Time of Cholera is one of my favs, too. After reading it for the first time I wanted to restart it that day! 😉
I just finished Chocolat. This is a very interesting list. I’ve fogotten what Bean Tree was about.And yes, I do prefer Love in the Time of Cholera (so beautifully written) over 100 Years of Solitude.