Y&R Discussion Group

Topic: Books That Stay With You

I recently learned that the film opening at Caanes is 'Blindness'.  It was produced by a Canadian and Julianne Moore is starring. I remember reading that book a number of years ago and it was one of those stories that still stays with me. I believe the book won the Nobel prize in 95. The story takes place in an unnamed Latin country. The people are suddenly struck down with total blindness until almost everyone is blind. I won't tell you the rest.

Another book that stays with me is Cormack McCarthy's 'The Road.'   What stories have stayed with you?

I was just scrolling through the board when I saw your post and I just had to comment on "THE ROAD" by Cormack McCarthy...who happens to be my FAVORITE WRITER. He absolutely blew me away with this book. I read it three times before I returned it to the library, and later purchased my own copy. Did you know he won the NOBEL PRIZE for it?  I listened to the recorded version on CD...beautifully done!  I can't recall the guys name who read it but he was perfect.  I was soooo moved by the beauty of his writing [especially about such a desolate subject] that I went around telling anyone who would listen that they should READ THIS BOOK.

Also read "NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN", "CITIES OF THE PLAIN", "ALL THE PRETTY HORSES" and"BLOOD MERIDIAN" and recommend them all. 

My favorite book of all time is a children's book.  "The Phantom Tollbooth."  I just love the cleverness of it all and think it's an ingenius way to get kids to think about words and numbers in a different light.

The other book that really affected me was "Night" by Elie Weisel. 

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I wanted to read Night but decided not too as I knew it would upset me. I understand it was a great book. I think Oprah featured it once - Pronoun

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Posted by: Babyducks
Date posted: Sun May 4 21:35:20 2008
Message:
My most recent from a couple of years ago was "Water For Elephants".  I loved that book.

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I read that last year. It was very entertaining. I bet they make a movie about it. - Pronoun

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Posted by: serialmom
Date posted: Sun May 4 15:18:53 2008
Message:

One childrens (?) book thst came ot mind  is Sounder.  I remember reading it aloud to my daughter she was about 9. Another that came to mind was Black Beauty  Hard to believe it was written in 1907.  (I'm sorry, I just got in the tearjerker mode with the song topic)

 

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Don't know Sounder but it sounds very familiar. Black Beauty of course. I loved that book when I was little and always wanted a horse like Black Beauty. I don't know why my parents wouldn't buy me one! lol - Pronoun

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Posted by: carmen
Date posted: Sun May 4 11:57:48 2008
Message:

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has always been with me. each time my kids have read it, i reread it also. i love that book.

and stephen king's "The Stand" was another book that really stuck with me. i cried reading it. how weird.

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Stephen King, now that's a surprise. What is the Stand about? I've read a couple of his books and his short stories. I liked Misery - Pronoun

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Posted by: Peridot
Date posted: Sun May 4 11:48:35 2008
Message:

I have a long list of "golden oldies" that have stayed with me since I first read them decades ago, books like To Kill a Mockingbird, East of Eden, The Good Earth, and Of Human Bondage.  More recent books like The Joy Luck Club and The Kite Runner have impressed me with their moving stories and glimpses into other cultures.  I'd also include the Harry Potter series in books that have stayed with me.  Aside from the sheer fun they are to read, I appreciate these stories for their treatment of universal themes like friendship and sacrificial love.

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I've read all those (except Harry Potter) but I haven't read Human Bondage. I loved East of Eden but I think John Steinbeck is one of the greatest writers ever. I've read all his books - PRonoun

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Posted by: Mitch
Date posted: Sat May 3 22:44:40 2008
Message:
Funny you should mention it.  I've just started re-reading Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey.  Today I found a copy of Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge in the Salvation Army's 75%-off book sale.  Something else I've been meaning to re-read is Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth.

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So many books, not enough time to read em all. I have only read the Good Earth. It's another great one. I haven't read the other two. Why did they stick with you? - Pronoun

The Bridge of San Luis Rey because of the predestination theme. The Razor's Edge because of it's subtle use of metaphysics. I guess they both have that in common...eom...Mitch

I like those themes too, I'll have to read them, thanks - Pronoun

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Posted by: rushlan
Date posted: Sat May 3 21:46:08 2008
Message:

"To Kill A Mockingbird" is a story that I will never forget.  There are so many lessons to be learned from Harper Lee's story. 

As for a more recent novel, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" still runs around my head, though I just read it about a year ago.  I believe this story of the struggle and strength of Afgan women will remain with me for a very long time. 

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Of course To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic! It took her ten years to write and was her only book. I loved it too. The movie was also great with Gregory Peck. I haven't yet read the Thousand Splendid Suns, I've been waiting for it to go on sale. I know it's supposed to be good - Pronoun

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