Books You Can't Stop Reading and good thoughts for John

[Athene]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking but had to jump into the book 
conversation. Quickie intro: Athene, university student from Canada...

I love books! Now, my list of favourites might be too long to put 
here. :) So I'll offer a condensed version.

- I love everything written by John Irving, but especially 'A Prayer 
For Owen Meany' and 'The Cider House Rules' 
- 'Fall on Your Knees' by Ann-Marie MacDonald broke my heart 
- 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' and 'Little Altars 
Everywhere' by Rebecca Wells were a rather strange but excellent look 
into friendship
- 'Stones From The River' by Ursula Hegi is another heart-breaking 
book, about a woman in Germany during WW2 
- 'The Truth Machine' by James L. Halperin, for a fascinating 
(fictional) look at the future of society
- The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King (which I don't own but have 
read many times) 

These are all books that I own, and have read so many times that they 
look quite old and used... and I'm fairly sure I could quote large 
chunks of them on cue. My friend teases me that I have to re-read 
books I've already read, because I have to leave off reading them for 
long periods at a time (for school work). I refrained from 
putting 'The C++ Programming Language' by Bjarne Stroustrup on my 
list of favourites, even though I spend more time with my nose in 
that book than any other! That doesn't mean I love it! <g> 

I don't know if I'm unable to explain why I love these books or can 
quote them, though. It's probably because they were all just so 
*good*. Keep you up reading, late at night type of good. Those don't 
come along too often!

But if we're talking about books we loved when we were younger, then 
I have to submit to the shame that I also liked the baby-sitters club 
books. But there were millions of others like me! I wasn't the only 
one! :) Oh, and the whole "Sweet Valley" series, I think it 
was "Sweet Valley Twins" and "Sweet Valley High"? <sigh> What was I 
thinking? ::shakes head:: Thank goodness I've matured!

**

On a more serious note, I've been through the family-member-with-
cancer process a few times, so I understand how you feel, John. My 
thoughts are with you and your aunt. I wish her the best.

- Athene


--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "jenny from ravenclaw" <meboriqua at a...> 
wrote:
[snip]
> Are there books that you have read so many times you *still* know 
> chunks by heart?  Are you also unable to explain why?