What are your five favorite books, and why?
My favorite five books come from a variety of genres. At the top of the list is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, because it deals with romance in a time period where good manners, morality, good upbringing were highly valued. And of course the characterization is so rich we feel like we identify with the characters by the end of the book. Another of my favorites is Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt This is a memoir in which McCourt deals with poverty in his childhood Ireland in the early 1900s. He handles the topic so skilfully I was able to laugh and cry at the same time. Then there's The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. What can I say? Ms. Morrison writes about topics most of us tend to shun - rape, incest, racism, self-loathing, and she does this in her own inimitable style. More recent titles that are among my favorites are Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese and the Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The former is an epic tale of twin boys born to an Indian nun and an English doctor. A gripping story of sibling rivalry and betrayal, it held me spellbound for hours. Life of Pi drew me in with its philosophical and humorous look at survival.
What do you read for pleasure?
Novels from every genre except horror and sci-fi.
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