Sunflowers and books brighten all my days. -- Photos by Pat Bean
“A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile through without breaking it, or explore and explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man’s mind can get both provocation and privacy.” – Edward P. Morgan
Travels With Maggie
As this morning’s writing prompt, someone in my Story Circle Network writing group asked the following questions:
“What is your all-time favorite book … what does it say about you?.” I immediately started writing down the names of books and authors and couldn’t seem to stop.
I finally realized that I had used up all my blog writing time, especially since I have to get on the road today and drive 300 miles on vehicle-jammed California interstates that annoy my nature-loving soul.
Sadly, I had to stop writing, because when it goes to favorite authors I could ramble on for pages. And since I don’t have time to post a blog, you get this list instead.
Favorite Books:
“Your Erroneous Zones” by Dwayne Dyer, which I read in the 1970s, was the most influential book in changing my life that I ever read.
This red-rock country, which Edward Abbey described in vivid detail in his "Monkey Wrench Gang." -- Photo by Pat Bean
“Gone With the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell was the most fascinating book I read as a teenager. I read it three times and each time imagined a different meaning for Scarlett’s final words “Tomorrow is Another Day.”
“Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand was the most mind-blowing book I ever read. It got me, for the first time in my life, thinking about who I was. .
Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books have given me many floor-rolling laughs and I buy each new one as it comes out.
Robin Hobb’s fantasy books have given me many hours of reading delight. Her characters are vivid and vibrant, her plots surprising, and her writing superb. Start with the Assassin’s Apprentice trilogy, then on to the Liveship series, and then to the Fool’s series to begin. I love how she brings all her plots and subplots together in the end. And she’s a great writer. I read her books way too fast because I want to know what’s going to happen. Unless you’re really into the weird, however, I’d skip the Soldier’s Son trilogy.
Other fantasy writers that top my list are J.R.R. Tolkien (of course), Mercedes Lackey (especially her Valdemar series and more recently her Elemental Masters’ series), Jane Lindskold (Through Wolf’s Eyes), David Eddings, J.K. Rowling and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
And what fan of Harry Potter doesn't know about Track 9 3/4? -- Photo by Pat Bean
Osa Johnson, Tim Cahill, Charles Kuralt, John Steinbeck, Peter Matthiessen, Edward Abbey, Bill Bryson, Beryll Markham and William Least Heat Moon’s books have fed my love of nature and travel.
Agatha Christie, John D. MacDonald, Blaise Clement, Susan Wittig Albert, Rhys Bowen (my latest great discovery), Lillian Jackson Braun, Anne George, Mary Stewart, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh and Nevada Barr have all intrigued my mystery-loving soul. I find it interesting, since I just jotted these down off the top of my head, that all but one of these are women, the lone exception being John. D, but I read every single Travis McGee book and actually cried when MacDonald died.
Irving Stone, Carl Sagan, Margaret Mead, Shirley Maclaine, Dr. Seuss, and Charles Darwin have all fascinated and educated me.
I’m stopping here only because I’ve run out of time. I know I’ve left out at least a hundred more books and authors. The ones above, meanwhile, have done everything from simply giving me pleasure to changing my life.
What do my choices says about me?
Simply that I love to read, I think.
Pat Bean's blog 
From time to time, I do think on the subject of all-time favorite books. The list changes. But the book that always comes immediately to mind is Travels with Charley. This year more than ever. I’ve read it six or seven times, most recently within the last year.
I have a copy of “Travels With Charley” in my RV. And Maggie’s my Charley. Have you read “Road Fever” by Tim Cahill. If you haven’t I highly recommend it.
John D. used to live here in Sarasota on Siesta Key. I loved his writing. His other books are just as good. Check out “The Girl, The Gold Watch and Everything” and “Nothing Can Go Wrong”. He wrote about this area in the 60’s and 70’s and really nailed it with the way the developers were wrecking havoc. “Condominium” was re-enacted in reality when Hurricane Charlie hit the Port Charlotte area and all the poorly built homes there.
My all-time favorites as a teen are still 2 of my all time favorites – To Kill a Mockingbird (have read it at least 20 times) and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I used to finish the last page on that one and turn to the front page and read it all over again.
If you like nature writing check out Diane Ackerman. I loved “The Natural History of the Senses” and am now reading “The Zookeeper’s Wife”, a true story about the husband and wife who were in the zookeepers (and members of the Underground) in Warsaw in WWII. The more things change, the more they stay the same. She is a very vivid descriptionist (if that’s a word). Ah, the beauty of language! Like you, I could go on and on, but must get back to work.
I’ve read everything John D. wrote, “The Girl, The Gold Watch and Everything” was also one of my favorites, but I sure did love that Travis McGee.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
I like your list. Your reference to Mary Stewart caught my attention. I loved her books when I was a teenager and later recommended them to both students and adult library patrons. They were smart, stylish, literate–I’d like to read them all again.
She was one of my early favorites, and I read everything she wrote, but I especially loved her writing best when she broke out of romantic suspense mold and wrote “The Crystal Cave.”
Good grief we have a lot of favorites in common! “Your Erroneous Zones” by Dwayne Dyer right off the bat, I haven’t thought of that book in decades. Now I have to go find it and read it again. Thanks for sharing your list!
Dyer’s book seems so simplistic today — I did go back a few years ago and reread it — but it certainly hit my nail on the head back in the 1970s. And we do have another thing in common, by the way. Our love of animals, as our blogs show. I love your cats. I’ve had a couple of memorable ones in my life, too.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Hmmm…now I’m going to have to give some thought to my favorite books. Happy travels, Pat. 🙂
The Long Ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson was given to me just this year and has gone on my list of favorites to read again and again. Grapes of Wrath broke my heart. And I loved The Red Badge of Courage. I have some newer books as well, but those three will do for now. Nothing like reading, and only a reader can understand that. What about books vs. Kindle or Nook?
Thanks for all your kind comments. I will have to check out “The Long Ships,” of course I read “Grapes of Wrath” and “Red Badge of Courage” a long time ago, and they are certainly books to remember. I have a Kindle. I love it. I also listen to a lot of audible books these days. They are great at night when I can’t sleep and my eyes and neck are both too tired for reading.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com