I read this article in BookBub where readers shared books they still think about years after they read them. It got me thinking. What are the books I think about all the time? I immediately thought of three, with a little more time three more came into focus.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel---the bulk of the story takes place twenty years after a virus-caused apocalypse event where over 99% of mankind died. Our COVID-19 outbreak is pale in comparison, yet so many of the elements are the same. I probably think about Station Eleven every single day when I find myself worrying about our future, yet I find hope in the story, too. (First read in June 2015, then re-read in 2018.)
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown---this is the story of the nine American boys and their quest to win a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in rowing. Many of the boys had hard luck stories and their determination to win against all odds is so inspiring. It is a 'then' story and it resonates today, too. (Read in Jan. 2014.)
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth---This is an alternate-history story. Lindbergh beats Roosevelt in 1940 and soon thereafter he forms an 'understanding' with Hitler. Everything falls apart in our country, and fast. This cautionary tale strikes fear in my heart. When Trump won in 2016 everyone said it wouldn't be that bad. I didn't believe them because I'd read this book. Roth and I were right. Things did fall apart and fast under Trump. (Read in 2010.)
Lord of the Flies by William Golding---I read an interview conducted with Golding before his death and he explained that he wanted to explore what would happen if men (boys) were left to their own devises, so he wrote this book. It turns out it wasn't good and things fell apart for the boys stranded on the island very fast. This book provided another cautionary tale that no one seems to be listening to these days. Apparently I spend a lot of time worrying about the future for mankind. (Read in Feb. 2011.)
Wild by Cheryl Strayed---Maybe because we've done a lot of hiking since the COVID-19 lockdowns went into place, I often think about this book where the author recounts her experiences hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and how she found herself along the way. I know why she was able to find herself once she spent so much time in nature. It helps me, too. (Read in March 2014.)
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt---Unlike the other books I've listed there is really no personal connection to this book other than I loved it so much and was completely caught up in the story. I think of it often for those reasons alone. (Read in December 2014.)
What are the books you often think about even though you read them a long time ago?
-Anne
