tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post2450445009298675973..comments2024-03-25T05:49:46.932-04:00Comments on My Name Is Not Bob: The Best Books Ever (According to Me)Robert Lee Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-4683467898729962162011-06-29T22:38:36.429-04:002011-06-29T22:38:36.429-04:00I'm always happy to see Anne Sexton on a list....I'm always happy to see Anne Sexton on a list. :)Collin Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03777180960376039699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-35532433372731886822011-06-28T12:52:13.751-04:002011-06-28T12:52:13.751-04:00Thanks, everyone! I've got a new reading list ...Thanks, everyone! I've got a new reading list now--and confirmation that I need to re-visit The Grapes of Wrath.Robert Lee Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-17473453209114680172011-06-26T19:51:17.636-04:002011-06-26T19:51:17.636-04:00The Wayward Bus was one of the last Steinbeck book...The Wayward Bus was one of the last Steinbeck books I read thinking I would like it the least, but it ended up being one of my favorites. The suspense of "when's he gonna get her?" kept me from putting it down. And don't let the movie version of East of Eden stop you from reading the book. Oh yeah, and treat yourself to Ants on the Melon. :) <br /><br />PS -- interesting that Giving Tree was suggested, as it's message is a bit on the controversial side. I controversy, I believe, that would never have occurred if both the tree and the boy's gender had been switched by the great Mr. Shel.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13160019550828281289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-5917201612482581072011-06-26T17:32:54.107-04:002011-06-26T17:32:54.107-04:00I've read many of these -- but two are on my a...I've read many of these -- but two are on my absolute all time favorite list too, interestingly one in adult (As I Lay Dying) and one in children's (Corduroy). Loved A Tale of Two Cities, too, that another commenter mentioned. My very favorite nonfiction (and one of my all time favorite books period) is House by Tracy Kidder, fascinating character descriptions. (I loved a Walk in the Woods, too, especially the first 1/3 -- very very funny and super good.) Great post!Julia Munroe Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09798422149542791454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-82476020805197580642011-06-26T15:02:15.506-04:002011-06-26T15:02:15.506-04:00Happy that I've read so many of these as well ...Happy that I've read so many of these as well :)Jessie Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181286764480973423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-42289040672041117852011-06-26T14:49:52.455-04:002011-06-26T14:49:52.455-04:00Robert, that's when you add a category to avoi...Robert, that's when you add a category to avoid tokens.<br /><br />I will have to check out Bryson's book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-22634229160591543392011-06-26T13:31:11.174-04:002011-06-26T13:31:11.174-04:00It does it in a silly way, Jeff, but The Monster a...It does it in a silly way, Jeff, but The Monster at the End of this Book teaches a powerful lesson.<br /><br />Richard, I tried getting a nonfiction book on there, but I just couldn't do it without feeling like I was throwing in a token nonfiction title. A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson, came the closest.Robert Lee Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-48373256730039136262011-06-26T13:26:03.348-04:002011-06-26T13:26:03.348-04:00Make that The Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceMake that The Art of Motorcycle MaintenanceSheree Young https://www.blogger.com/profile/17735338050922122743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-45615460395668299102011-06-26T13:22:27.844-04:002011-06-26T13:22:27.844-04:00Velveteen Rabbit, The Book of Tea, The Things They...Velveteen Rabbit, The Book of Tea, The Things They Carried, Promises at Dawn, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintence, Olive Kitteridge, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Don Quixote, <br /><br />Go Dog Go, all Suess and Silverstien and Mercer Mayer, The Brimmingtown Musicians, Drummer Hoff, Wind in the Willows, The Velveteen Rabbit, Pig I Will, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, <br />Poetry- Pablo Neruda's Selected Poems, Texas Poetry Calendar,<br /> all Billy Collins books except the last one, The Moon is Always Female,Sheree Young https://www.blogger.com/profile/17735338050922122743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-22262690570766600032011-06-26T12:02:52.729-04:002011-06-26T12:02:52.729-04:00Mark David Chapman ruined "The Catcher in the...Mark David Chapman ruined "The Catcher in the Rye" for me. I know, it's stupid.<br /><br />Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude," Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea," Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine," and Adams' "Watership Downs" would be my top five. William Faulkner and Kent Haruf would round out much of the rest of my top ten.<br /><br />What about non-fiction books? Thomas Merton, Kathleen Norris, Thich Nhat Hahn, Jimmy Carter and George Sheehan would complete that top five.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-75693023237137695942011-06-26T10:02:33.030-04:002011-06-26T10:02:33.030-04:00*The Monster at the End of this Book* is wonderful...*The Monster at the End of this Book* is wonderful. It's nearly conceptual fiction! I love your picks. Your post made me track down William Stafford, a poet I'm well aware of but have never seriously read.Jeff Newberryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537370554735280893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-31771607366425457312011-06-26T07:57:31.427-04:002011-06-26T07:57:31.427-04:00You know, Joshua, I've read a lot of Steinbeck...You know, Joshua, I've read a lot of Steinbeck, but I've still never read "East of Eden" or "The Wayward Bus." I've never read "Ants on the Melon" either.<br /><br />I love those two children's book too, Lisa.Robert Lee Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-17669865851269450202011-06-26T01:36:59.659-04:002011-06-26T01:36:59.659-04:00I agree that AS I LAY DYING and THE CATCHER IN THE...I agree that AS I LAY DYING and THE CATCHER IN THE RYE are exceptional novels.<br /><br />For children's books, I don't think any list is complete without Shel Silverstein's THE GIVING TREE and Dr. Seuss' THE LORAX.Leigh M. Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04419221093398839195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-25129543876200509612011-06-25T22:16:39.304-04:002011-06-25T22:16:39.304-04:00There are so many steinbeck contenders -- but the ...There are so many steinbeck contenders -- but the top two would be "east of eden" and "the wayward bus." And why not the complete short stories of Flannery O'Connor? They're all so good. But you may have picked the best. I agree with one comment on "guess how much i love you" for a children's book. and "where the wild things are" may be better than "in the night kitchen," but i think i may like the latter better. As for poetry, where's Ezra Pound's Translations? And have you ever read Virginia Hamilton Adair's "Ants on the Melon?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-67757625685513567922011-06-25T21:52:28.128-04:002011-06-25T21:52:28.128-04:00I started The Grapes of Wrath, but had a life even...I started The Grapes of Wrath, but had a life event distract me from finishing. I have a feeling it would be a Top 5 contender if I were to finish.Robert Lee Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733003865003484352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4693401219959272564.post-8676862168330815102011-06-25T21:46:22.411-04:002011-06-25T21:46:22.411-04:00I loved "The Monster at the End of this Book&...I loved "The Monster at the End of this Book". I had forgotten all about it!<br />Here are mine, with no comments as I am typing with my thumbs.<br />Prose<br />The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maughm<br />A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens<br />The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien<br />The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck<br /><br />Children's<br />Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBrattney<br />Go, Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman<br />Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown<br />Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Suess<br /><br />I kept them to four just because!<br />Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com