When I feel down, the one activity that seems to ground me is reading. And not just any old reading activity, but reading books that I have already read. Books that I already like.
Everyone has their trigger, I think, that throws them into the funky funk. Mine is disorder. Chaos. Uncertainty.
This is why the book that brings me out of the metaphorical depths has to be a book that I’ve already read and already love. It has to be the book that promises to envelope me fully in the certainty of a plot movement to the point that I let my guard down just long enough to learn something I didn’t catch the last time around.
I invariably find a new sentence or a subtle plot twist that I missed before. And the satisfaction of finding something new inside something old is comforting, inspiring, and soothing.
This past week, I reread Alex Haley’s Roots. This is my all time favorite book and if you are an American, and haven’t read this book yet, for God’s sake, go read it. It’s about Africa, slavery, the South, racism, family, beauty, heritage, justice, perseverance, kindness and all the flawed and tragic things that make being a black, white, brown, purple, green or red with yellow polka dots American both special and magnificent.
I think non-Americans will like it, too. I’m just saying that it should be, like, required reading for the citizenship test (that I think everyone should have to take, but that’s another blog post).
And, yes, I already know that there’s some enterprising smart ass out there who is going to cite paltry evidence that Haley plagiarized from another author to write this book. I don’t care. I love the book, alright?
So, anyway, let’s say you were being exiled to a desert island for the rest of your life because the whole world is completely jealous of you and nobody can stand being reminded of their innate inferiority to you any longer.
Baggage restrictions dictate that you can only take ONE book. Given that this will be the only book that you will ever read for the rest of your life and you will have to read it over and over again, which book would you take with you?
I am so very curious as to how many of you are going to write “Twilight.”
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Avitable Said,
January 5, 2009 @ 10:42 pm
Watchmen. With the subtext, pretext, and actual text, it’s three books in one!
I remember trying to read Roots a while ago. It wasn’t my cuppa.
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Rachel Said,
January 5, 2009 @ 10:43 pm
That is the hardest question in the world. I love way to many books, but if only one –
She’s come undone by Wally Lamb.
I loved this book. I actually cared about the main character, even though the feeling was HATRED, seriously if she was a real person, I’d have beaten the daylights out of her. But any book that makes you feel that strongly, is a great book
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RW Said,
January 5, 2009 @ 11:45 pm
Robert Musil’s “The Man Without Qualities” because the new translation comes in two volumes and goes on for 1700 pages. It’s kind of an enigma. People say there are hundreds of novels woven together in the book and I think I see what they mean. I’m sure it’s one of those things that would be different every time you read it. I recommend it strongly.
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Sarah Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 1:40 am
I have The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series all as one book. I’d take that. Because even as much as I love my Stephen King, if I am exiled to an island I would probably want something that would make laugh instead of being scared outta my mind.
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B.E. Earl Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 2:07 am
The Bible.
Just kidding. One choice would probably be “Blue Belle” by Andrew Vachss. I’ve read it dozens of times and it is easily my favorite Burke novel of the series. Really hit his stride after “Flood” and “Strega”. But it’s too short. A tic-tac, really. I’d need something with more sustenance.
Could it be a collection of novels in one book? Like say the first three books in the Ender series by Orson Scott Card? That would be fantastic. No?
OK, then maybe the unabridged version of “The Stand” by Stephen King. The one with the illustrations by Bernie Wrightson. It’s popcorn, I know. But it’s delicious.
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Tami Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 5:17 am
Honestly, I read The Secret Life of Bees this weekend and it’s my new fave. Definitely one to read over and over…
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SciFi Dad Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 6:57 am
Since I don’t know how you feel about my honest answer, I will go with Plan B.
Red Dust, by W.D. Valgardson.
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noraisins Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 8:31 am
I never run out of things I want to read and so I have never read a book more than once. Because of that, I would probably pick a book I have never read before, but I couldn’t tell you what that would be. Maybe this is because I read mostly non-fiction books.
Right now I am reading:
In a different voice, by Carol Gilligan
1917 Hailfax Explosion and American Response, by Blair Beed
Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert
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shiny Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 8:47 am
I would choose Microserfs by Douglas Coupland — for precisely the same reason that you choose to re-read Roots. It’s a comfort book, something I know will move me emotionally and out of which I can discover new treasures with each subsequent read.
Microserfs was published in 1993 and follows a fictional account of a Microsoft employee who decides to leave his comfortable digs in Seattle and follow a friend to his Silicon Valley startup company. The book reads more like a blog than almost anything else — which is pretty incredible since it predates blogging by almost a decade. The subject matter is a bit different (the new craze is multimedia CD-ROM! Oo!) but the writing style is quite similar.
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Miss Britt Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 8:47 am
Oh, this is tough for me because I don’t reread.
I had the complete works of William Shakespeare in one big book once – it was my grandfather’s and somehow it got lost in one of our moves. If I could have any book in the world with me, it would be that one. And that’s the only one I can imagine reading over and over and over again.
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Sheila (Charm School Reject) Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 9:54 am
I have my go to books when I’m in a funk – mostly romance type books because I know they have a happy ending.
But, if it were a book I had to re-read a thousand times it’d be between
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee;
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb;
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell;
or, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
These are all amazing books that I can read (and have read) over and over again without getting sick of them. If I’m going to be stuck with one book, I’d want it to be something that will take a while to read.
I’ve never read Roots. I always mean to but don’t. Must add that to my list of books to buy.
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Turnbaby Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 10:51 am
I am laughing at this unruly bunch–there’s no way I could do just one either–I’d finagle some way to get around the baggage deal;-)
And I guess if I had to do a ‘Sophie’s Choice’ if caught (which by the way is a fine fine book) I’d grab Gone With The Wind. A lot of folks have never read this book and don’t understand that it is so much more than the movie. This would be an excellent companion to Roots actually.
It is about the South and gives us the glimpse of antebellum world but it quickly turns to a tale of women finding strength as their lives are utterly destroyed but doing what must be done. It’s also about slavery, racism, beauty, heritage, culture, how reconstruction dealt us a hand in race relations that is still being played today. It’s about life and loves—both mature and immature. It’s about marriage and friendship and society and how a small careless thing can have huge consequences.
It’s also 1034 pages;-)
I would also be sneaking in The Prince of Tides(Pat Conroy), Light in August (Faulkner), In The Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (James Lee Burke), Shutter Island (Lehane) and that’s just for starters.
I do this ‘comfort’ exercise with movies too. I’ve had that post in queue for about —hmmm—two years now
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Finn Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Just one? I have trouble parting with books because I reread all the time. I don’t think I could choose just one. No, no I can’t.
What I want to read completely depends on my mood. I read everything from “fact” books and biographies to chick lit. And I love them all. One? Ugh. I don’t wanna go then.
Rereading a loved book is intellecutal comfort food. And it doesn’t make your ass bigger. Well, in theory. I suppose if you just sat around and read it and didn’t get up or anything…
You know what I mean. Right?
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Sarcastica Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 12:24 pm
Twilight, the complete series…haha lmfao I just had too!!
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Princess of the Universe Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Either the Complete Works of Jane Austen or the Fionavar Tapestry (3 books in one) by Guy Gavriel Kay.
The Twilight series is pretty good though!
xo
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ADRealty Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
I can’t do books but I can do authors. Danielle Steele, Michael Crichton, Og Mandino. I use to be able to do Stephen King but my imagination went wild with Kujo and could never read him again. I love movies, can’t get enough of them. The Notebook. The End of the Affair. The Titanic, corny I know. The Red Violin. My name is David. I better stop here. hee hee. You opened up a can of worms with this blog. Glad your still venting, keep it up, you don’t want the baby picking up on your bad vibes.
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Coal Miner's Granddaughter Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
I would have to flip a coin for either Dune by Frank Herbert or Contact by Carl Sagan.
Go ahead and say it… GEEK!
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Faiqa Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
@Avitable: Huh. I forgot to read that one.
@Rachel: OK. Now, I have to read this book.
@RW: 1700 pages. Huh. You shou;dn’t have told me that.
@Sarah: Good point, no Stephen King on a deserted island.
@B.E. Earl: Oooh. I loved The Stand. I’m going to re-read that one. I don’t think it was popcorn. I thought it was… poignant. f course, I was 19 when I read it.
@Tami: What? No Twilight?!!
@SciFi Dad: I find your choice very offensive and intolerant. I don’t think we can be friends anymore. LMAO.
@noraisins: I’ve only really gotten into fiction in the last two years or so. Otherwise, my tastes are similar. But, wait, you’re stuck on an island with only one book for the rest of your life you would take one you’ve never read before? And it would be non-fiction? I admire that kind of bravado!!
@shiny: That sounds really good. Makes my list of stuff I need to read. And hey, are you saying that CD-ROM’s are *not* cutting edge?
@Miss Britt: “Love all, trust few, and do no wrong to anyone.” Can’t go wrong with that guy.
@Sheila (Charm School Reject): Those are great books. I think I’ll re-read To Kill A Mockingbird. I think the first (and last) time I read it was in 7th or 8th grade. I think that age was probably too young to actually get it.
@Turnbaby: I’ve read Gone With the Wind. I’m writing my Master’s thesis on Civil War/Reconstruction and Social Memory. It’s my feeling that Gone With the Wind is a wonderful example of how personal experience choose to remember history as well as shape history itself with their own memories. Plus, it’s a very good book.
@Finn: But everyone’s jealous of you and they don’t want you around to remind them how much they suck, remember? You *have* to go.
@Sarcastica: Smart ass.
@Princess of the Universe: I wonder how Jane Austen would feel about being included in the same sentence with Twilight?
@ADRealty: I loved Titanic. I don’t think it’s corny. I like watching movies over and over again, too. That’s def. one that I would watch again.
@Coal Miner’s Granddaughter: Yep. Pret-tty geeky. But you make geeky look good.
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Robin Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
I have way too many books that I love to just pick one.
However, I did hear that Roots was epic. I haven’t read it yet, though….
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twinkie Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
I LOVE Desert Blood by Alicia Gaspar. It’s a book based on the real life (and still happening) Juarez murders of innocent women most of whom work at American factories. Some are prostitutes. Some are tourists looking for a good time and getting more than they bargained for. None have been solved. In her novel she explores a few theories of who’s doing it, what’s happening and why nobody cares enough to do anything about it.
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Rachel Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
i stuck to the rules – but I also loved I know this much is true – by Wally Lamb and Microserfs (which Shiny said) \
but i also love trash romances because they are easy reads and you can pick up one and it’s like you read them all
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Faiqa Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 6:18 pm
@Robin: But you’re being banished, see? You *HAVE* to pick ONE. LOL.
@twinkie: Wow. That sounds really, really good.
@Rachel: When I was around sixteen, I discovered V.C. Andrews. Queen of trashy romance and sordid stories. Have you read any of her stuff? She wrote Flowers in the Attic and about a million other books. Those were awesome.
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Elizabeth Kaylene Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
I recently did that with the Twilight series. I was overwhelmed and subconsciously just needed that comfort. HOWEVER, that’s not my book of choice.
I would take either Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead-George or Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Those are my two all-time favorite books. Even though they’re for young adults, I’ve read them over and over and over again, and they always help me through.
I’m going to have to read Roots now.
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Rachel Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
I read the Flowers series, sort of had to when i was younger -it was a law.
I haven’t read any other stuff from her family- I tried just didn’t like it.
But – give me a Jude Deveraux, or one like that – i read it in a few hours.
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hello haha narf Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
i truly think i would take a book that is actually a child’s book…one that i have read so much i can practically quote word for word. the little prince is so special to me that i really think that would be my choice. granted it couldn’t be one of the new translations because i would be irate at the minor changes, but if it was k. woods’ translation, it is in! small and light weight, too.
(you gonna smack me when i tell you that i have never read roots, but i have seen the mini series a few times?? sorry!)
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Tariq Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
I would take with me a book called “How to get off an island in 21 days or less!”
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Faiqa Said,
January 6, 2009 @ 11:22 pm
@Elizabeth Kaylene:I’ve not heard of those, I’ll be sure to read at least one. And, I can completely see how Twilight would be comforting.
@Rachel: Few hours… that’s how I was with the Andrews books
@hello haha narf: I think this will make us even: I have never read the Prince, but I saw a claymation movie of it. I think I will read it, though, in case N. may enjoy it. AND I have never seen the Roots miniseries.
@Tariq: Which illustrates just one of the many reasons why I am madly in love with you. Still. Always.
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Turnbaby Said,
January 7, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
“”I’m writing my Master’s thesis on Civil War/Reconstruction and Social Memory.”"
My major was History with a concentration in the American Civil War/Reconstruction.
Another reason to worship at the altar of the awesomeness of Faiqa!
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T-Bird Said,
January 9, 2009 @ 3:13 am
New here, I was going to go with Ulysses, but after reading the rest of the comments, it now seems sort of an obviously pretentious choice.
But really, it’s perfect for a desert island: long, complex, and in the end, somewhat comforting.
Ooo or Confederacy of Dunces. Yes I think I’ll choose that.
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stef Said,
January 10, 2009 @ 2:05 am
i know i’m 5 days late in commenting, but i’m just now catching up on all of my blogs (!). i read way too many blogs. and too many books. for real? i can only pick one??
my two favorite books of all time are “atlas shrugged” by ayn rand, and “fierce invalids home from hot climates” by tom robbins. i love them both, it takes me ages to get through them (and i’m a pretty fast reader, not to toot my own horn), and i’ve read them both at least three times, although probably more.
in addition, both books, while being fiction, have a lot of interesting philosophical ideas that take me awhile to process and consider (hence taking longer to read), which makes them perfect “exiled to a desert island” reading material.
but just one? i’d probably toss a coin. and cry the entire time. books: they are my addiction.
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stef Said,
January 10, 2009 @ 2:06 am
oh, and also? thanks for the “roots” recommendation. i’ve heard of it, but never read it or heard anyone recommend it. i’ll definitely be checking that out soon.
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Cissa Fireheart Said,
January 11, 2009 @ 12:08 pm
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It’s always been my favorite, since I was 14 years old. At 31 I can still relate to it.
Or the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in one giant book, like Sarah listed..
They both are great works, and both make me think and laugh. I’d need that on a desert island.
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Petunia Said,
January 12, 2009 @ 2:24 am
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which is the story of King Arthur told from the women’s perspectives. Fantastic, and with all the content about people’s connection to the earth it would give me quite the insight about “connecting” with the island. Plus, still gives me food for thought even though the first time I read it was over 10 years ago!
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Allyson Said,
January 12, 2009 @ 7:49 pm
Ok, I’ve decided, since it is a baggage space issue, I would bring that electronic book dealie so I could download and store hundreds of books, and use only the space one book would take up. And, if I had a rich house, I would have the library from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, so please don’t ask me my favorite.
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Karl Said,
January 18, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
I hate these kinds of questions, mostly because the thought of me stuck on an island with only one of ANYTHING makes me insane. Amazing that I love “Lost” so much.
That said, I’d have to take the funniest book I’ve ever read in my life: “Youth in Revolt” by C.D. Payne. Laugh out loud funny. It’s like “Catcher in the Rye” on steroids.
Drama-wise, though, I think I’d have to choose “I Know This Much is True” by Wally Lamb, one of very few books to actually make me cry. Or “Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey N (I can’t spell her last name). That one made me cry, too. Fantastic books.
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