On favorite books

When people used to ask me what my favorite book was, I wasn’t quite sure what to say, so I responded with the Chronicles of Narnia. It wasn’t until a few days ago when in a conversation with a friend I realized that the Narnia books really aren’t my favorite books ever. Which isn’t to say I don’t like them — I do — but I never felt entirely comfortable with my response.

Now, though, I’ve realized which books are my favorites — books like Crime and Punishment, Don Quixote, Pride and Prejudice, and Jane Eyre. I like lots of other types of books as well, but the books that have really changed my life — the books that have made me who I am — are mostly the classics. They’re at the very top of my list. I don’t know how I didn’t realize this all along. :)

The catalyst for this epiphany was actually that I started reading The Brothers Karamazov and talking about it with said friend, and almost from page one I was in love with the book. (In fact, it already feels like it’s going to claim the title as king of my favorites.) It’s so good. I love Dostoevsky. And Tolstoy. I’m not entirely sure why I love the Russians most of all, but I do, unequivocally. Here’s a beautiful quote I just came across in Karamazov a few hours ago, for example: “If you repent, you love, and if you love, you are with God. Love redeems and saves everything.” Mmm.

Anyway, there does seem to be a higher activation energy needed to get into a classic (to stick with the chemistry metaphor), but once you get in it’s pretty easy to keep going, I’ve found. I can’t wait to read the rest of Dostoevsky. And the Jane Austen novels I haven’t read yet. And…and…and… :)

Ben, we should be friends. Because you just listed some of my all-time favorite books (except I haven’t read Don Quixote and you didn’t mention Les Miserables). I sometimes feel bad that I list some of these books as my favorites when I have only read some of them once (P&P and Jane Eyre excepting—I don’t know how many times I’ve read those… I am currently on page 100 of P&P again). Anyhow, Brothers of K. is so profound–and yet it is the honesty with which his characters confront life’s complexities that I love most. I should read it again. Thank you for the suggestion :).

ps. I used to know a girl in the New Play Project (Bianca)–does she still do it??

The Brothers Karamazov was one of my son’s favorite books after taking Grigg’s Pen and the Sword class. My new son in law is reading it in Russian. I have not read it yet.

When it comes to books, I am in the moment, kind of love the one you are with.

Since my flash drive died and crashed my thesis, I have had little time to read, while rewriting my thesis. I do get scripture in and I am reading Pollyanna for the first time. I am reading it with my nine year old daughter. I think the glad game is influencing me.

Perhaps after the next two weeks of intense thesis writing, I will then be in a space to read more, and enjoy long walks in the sunshine. The Brothers Karamazov might be a great summer read. But first…light reading. Natural light is best for my eyes.

Wow- you read my mind. I’m part of a law school forum and last week I was reading a thread titled “what books you’re reading the summer before you start law school” and The Brothers Karamazov came up #1 on several peoples lists. I asked what the fuss was and they all said it was great. So you highly recommend it eh? Hmm.. now I’ll REALLY have to consider it.

My dad and I were just talking Karamazov last night—the book is top of the list for the both of us.

Although, when I was asked the favorite book question just last Sunday, I only got a funny look and a “What?” after declaring Dostoevsky my love.

By the way, The Holy Secret has references to The Brothers Karamazov in it. I remember seeing BK in the theater at BYU my freshman year. I was profoundly moved - it was one of my first experiences with great art.

Russian authors are my favorite, too. The summer I first discovered Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, I spent the entirety of it shut up in my room devouring their books. And secretly, when no one else was around I read the Russian names aloud, falling in love with the Russian language as well . . . which, of course meant that I needed needed *needed* to study it. The same goes for Russian classical music and ballet– gorgeous, brilliant, enormous and deep, and absolutely accessible to the soul.

Carly: Then we’ll be friends. :) I still haven’t read Les Mis, I’m afraid, but I still love the story (which I know from the movie and from shreds of the musical). And I don’t think it’s a problem to list books as favorites when you’ve read them only once. Sometimes it only takes once. :) (And yes, Bianca’s still the lead dramaturg for NPP. In fact, she’s the one who mentioned the script submission deadline at the show I went to in August that got me started on all this.)

Donna: While I understand the need to focus on writing, isn’t it useful, though, to take breaks for reading? Not necessarily long breaks, but it seems to make a difference.

George: Yes, I highly recommend it. You’d better start reading it. :P

E: It’s their loss if they don’t understand. :)

Sean: Cool, I need to read it. Do you know which version of BK you saw? Was it at International Cinema?

e: Amen! I don’t know how they pull it off so successfully — and across so many of the arts — but you described it perfectly — gorgeous, brilliant, enormous, and deep. That’s exactly it. Mmm.

It was a live play, not a film. It was during my freshman year, 1991, so it’s been, um, a while. I don’t recall exactly where it was, other than that it was on campus, but it wasn’t a major production (like at DeJong). That makes it all the more amazing to me that it impressed me so. I was very left-brained at the time, and I had some great experiences with art and creativity that year. Seeing this play was one; taking Music 101 from Prof. David Randall was another; taking Humanities 101 was another - that’s where I first discovered great classical music. That year broadened my horizons and interests quite a bit.