TGIF and Follow Friday...Books For Which I am Thankful

Books For Which I am Thankful...
(TGIF from Greads and Follow Friday from Alison Can Read)

During my childhood:

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle--- This book was my favorite and most important book of my childhood.  I read it over and over and used it repeatedly for reports, etc.  

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis--- This series rocked my world as a child.  All of the symbolism, creativity, and wonderful characters opened my brain to a whole new world.  I still love this series and reread it often.

• Where the Red Fern Grows by Rawles--- I went through a phase where I only read animal stories.  This was my favorite and it still holds a special place in my heart.  I can cry just thinking about it.

During early adulthood:

• Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns--- This is the book that brought me back to reading after a long hiatus. It was after reading this book that I helped form a book club and started reading great literature.

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen--- Though I have read many classics, this remains my favorite and it reminds me why great literature is important in my life. It is still one of my all-time favorite books and I reread it every few years.

• Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver--- This was my first Kingsolver book (read out of order) and my introduction to a favorite author. All of her books speak to my better self.

Audiobooks that are especially delightful:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, read by Roses Pritchard. I didn't read this book as a child. This audiobook was my introduction to this classic.  It remains my favorite book and favorite audiobook of all times.

• Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale.  If you haven't listened to a book read by Jim Dale, you are missing one of the highlights of life. My family listened to this audiobook when we took the favorite family car-trip vacation.  We were all enraptured by it.

• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie, read by the author. This semi-autobiographical story is both funny and poignant. The experience was heightened by Alexie's unique reading.

 Recent reads for which I'm especially grateful:

• Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese--- This is my favorite book of 2011. I liked EVERYTHING about it.

• The Giver by Lois Lowry--- I finally read this classic piece of children's lit. Now I know what all the fuss is about.

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett--- I think this book is very transformational. I want to encourage everyone to read it.

YA Books that are a cut above:

• Looking for Alaska by John Green--- I am a John Green fan, so I like everything this author writes.  But if I can talk students into reading his books, it seems to change the way they look at literature, too.  His books are all excellent.  Looking for Alaska was his first book.

• The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak--- This historical fiction is so well-written, it just blows readers away.

• Going Bovine by Libba Bray--- Funny, symbolic, and poignant. This book represents the best of the best of recent YA lit.

As a librarian I am very thankful for these series:

• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling--- these books have done more for children's/YA literature than any other series, ever!

• Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer--- a whole new genre was spawned by this series, Paranormal Romance. Many, many students found the joy of reading because of this series and have continued reading after finishing it.

• The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins--- just when it seemed that reading was going to slip back into an unpopular past-time along came the Hunger Games. Kids love it and now can't get enough of Dystopian lit.

What books are you especially thankful for?

*TGIF followers, forgive me for not following the question of the day.  I wanted to express my thankfulness this week for books, so I actually am answering last week's question now.