Most Inspiring Book You've Ever Read

[SuzieQ]

I loved Puzo's, The Godfather. I read it for an American Lit class in University and I was sad to finish the book! I soooo enjoyed the concept of vigilante justice..in fact, it's one of my favorite things now. :)

[Antonio_Bay]

Not exactly a book book, but The Crow, especially the artwork inspires me. As well as, and this is a strange one; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Never read Through the Looking Glass though...

[SuzieQ]

Sounds like scary stuff, and I always have a hard time with scary reads. I have to read Headhunter this week before I spend a bit of time with my friend's husband, grilling him about building narratives. He's one of the authors of that book, so for the pleasure of his company and to better arm myself with constructive narrative questions, I have to give it a go.

To give you an idea of how weak my stomach is, in grade 5 when they screened the Autobiography of Miss Jane Tibman (featuring Cicely Tyson), they sent me out of the class so I wouldn't be upset.

My mother would later crack a valium in half to help me go to sleep when I was eleven -- just so I could relax.

[Antonio_Bay]

Sounds like scary stuff, and I always have a hard time with scary reads.

The Crow? No, more sad than scary.

[BOP TILL U DROP]

the most inspiring book i've ever read is called amos fortune, free man.. it's a children's book about a boy who had been captured from africa during the days of american slavery. i read it when i was like 7 but i never forgot it.

[SuzieQ]

Geez you read that when you were 7, I think my first book ever read was when I was 10, and even then, I think it was the dandy, "Are you there god, it's me Margaret." It was very salacious, I think at the time. Some schools even banned it. The contraband subject: she talked about having her period.

After that, I think it was W.O. Mitchell's, "Who Has Seen The Wind." I don't remember much about it, but I know it was a good and classic read.

Now many years later, having a B.A. in English Literature under my belt, I'd have to say some of the best writers ever have to be Dafoe (Moll Flanders), Puzo (Godfather). A.S. Byatt (Possession, Angels & Insects - for her treatment of non-linear narrative. Fantastic - movie sucks, though), Lamb (I Know This Much is True -- long, but good) and Michael Ondaaje (English Patient -- I met him recently; very helpful). Honorable mention to Jane Austin (who, incidentally and in my opinion, writes the best men) and Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights).

I've heard from others about some good other writers. White Palace was a memorable book - the movie sucked, even with James Spader and Susan Sarandon. I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, in fact, Doris Lessing comes to mind and so does Tony Morrison (Beloved). I found Beloved good but very emotionally draining...

..but I digress...

[JK]

I read The Hobbit when I was seven...

[SuzieQ]

You're just grandstanding now.

[JK]

Nope, just putting in my two bits. If I were grandstanding, I'd say I read Han Solo at Star's End when I was six... ;)

[BOP TILL U DROP]

I'm sure I'm missing a bunch, in fact, Doris Lessing comes to mind and so does Tony Morrison (Beloved). I found Beloved good but very emotionally draining...

..but I digress...
tony morrison? i don't get her. i had to read tar baby and i ab-so-lut-ly hated it. i think i hated it so much because i didnt understand it. i understood it to a certain extent, so, susie q, if you've read it, please help me.

[SuzieQ]

I've only read Beloved - but she uses alot of imagery in her words. She also uses unusual writing styles to emphasis her characters and their events.

She usually talks about the black slave experience in the south.

As I said, she's hard to stomach reading. She spends as much time dwelling on the Black slavery experience as Spielberg does about the jewish genocide in eastern europe.

Sometimes I wish these guys would just lighten up...do a UFO comedy or something, hire Richard Dreyfuss or something.

[phit_demon]

I r readz.

[Antonio_Bay]

lol

[BOP TILL U DROP]

i m weasel?

[JK]

I R Baboon!

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/5/5d/180px-I-am-Weasel.jpg

[Czaple]

U read wordz 4-real-z?