Thursday Thirteen: Old Friends

 

13 Repeatedly Reread Books

 

I’m sort of borrowing this idea from Nicholas over at A Gentleman’s Domain. I’m sure there will be little overlap.

When he posted his list the other week, I commented saying how some books were like comfort food. It’s just comforting to curl up with them and spend some time with old friends. Some may be familiar to you, many may not. I’ll curl up with them any time.

1. Joan D. Vinge, The Snow Queen: Definitely from my sci-fi/fantasy period. This book is battered and worn from all the times I read it in high school. I’m also ashamed to say, the edges of the pages are garishly colored with marker. I knew it was mine though!
2. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Hawkmistress: I think I scoured every local bookstore, new and used, looking for Darkover books. I’ve reread many of them, but these two are my favorites. In this one a young girl with a talent for telepathy with birds ends up caring for three monstrous banshee birds and doing her part in the war.
3. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Stormqueen: This one graphically illustrates what happens when uncontrolled hormones are unleashed. It’s your every nightmare about the teenage years, multiplied a thousand-fold because the heroine controls the weather. Except for the part about the weather, I could relate.
4. Madeleine L’Engle, The Moon by Night: Yep, I read all the Murray books (A Wrinkle In Time et al), but I was always partial to the Austins for some reason. I still use the word “zuggy” to describe the richness of lobster and how you can only eat so much of it before feeling sick. Zachary fascinated me with his older, more sophisticated ways just like he did poor Vicky.
5. Madeleine L’Engle, A Ring of Endless Light: Zach’s back and he’s still flirting with death. However, Vicky has a new friend, Adam (from Arm of the Starfish also well worn). This one never fails to make me cry, yet overall it is uplifting. It definitely sits at the crossroads of hard science, philosophy and science fiction.
6. Anne McCaffrey, The Lady: Another coming of age story. With horses. I think this actually belonged to DH (his family loved Pern too). It’s become a close friend of mine as well, along with The Year of the Lucy.
7. Anne McCaffrey, Three Women: Three novellas in one. Horses, dogs and back to Ireland. Ring of Fear is probably my favorite of the three, followed closely by Mark of Merlin which is actually a WWII set story. The Kilternan Legacy rounds out the volume and is a fun but at times too realistic a look at dysfunctional people. Ring of Fear has its share of those as well, but I’m a sucker for the horses and I love Orfeo (the horse) and Eurydice (the Maine coon cat).
8. Debra Dier, Scoundrel: Even after knowing the “mystery” I keep going back to this one. There’s something about the characters that keep pulling me back to them.
9. Kat Martin, Gyspy Lord: I was on a Gypsy obsession for a while trying to find a book I’d read in the 80s. It was about a Lord who had grown up with his Gypsy mother and ended up fighting for Romany rights in the House of Lords. This isn’t that book. It’s good in its own way, but I wish I could find the other again.
10. Shirley Busbee, Gypsy Lady: This time the girl’s raised by the gypsies and focuses on her story as she must decide between her two worlds.
11. Marguerite Henry, Misty of Chincoteague: Did I mention I was horse mad when I was younger? We owned several Appaloosas at one point. I think I’ve read just about every Marguerite Henry book in print numerous times. This and King of the Wind were two of my favorites. It always impressed me that those Spanish ponies survived on Assateague as long as they did.
12. Suzanne Enoch, England’s Perfect Hero: Post Traumatic Stress Regency style. This is the second in a series and my heart breaks for this poor guy trying to rejoin the world he fought to preserve. Amazing read.
13. Julia Quinn, The Viscount Who Loved Me: I had a hard time picking between the first several Bridgerton books for a representative one. I picked this one because I’m allergic to bees as well. Thankfully not as tragically as Anthony’s father. I also have a soft spot in my heart for Kate, and what a wicked game of Pall Mall. I’d love to have been there.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1 Susan Helene Gottfried 2 marcia v 3 storyteller
4 On a Limb with Claudia 5 Nicholas 6 Jennifer McKenzie
7 Debora Dennis 8 Kimberly Menozzi 9 December
10 Bethanie 11 Maribeth 12 Imogen Howson
13 Bethanne 14 Winter 15 Paige Tyler
16 Robin L. Rotham 17 Di 18 Debbie Mumford
19 Kathleen Oxley 20 21

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35 thoughts on “Thursday Thirteen: Old Friends”

  3. I’m sorry to say this is the first time I have seen these books. Will have to go on a hunt to see if I can get any of them here in Oz. Happy T13!

  7. Gosh, Kaige. I don’t think I’ve read any of these books. I do love Madeline L’Engle – but the wrinkle series. Maybe I should branch out a bit. Is your writing in this same vein?

  8. My list would be considerably different from yours. I’ve only read a few of these but I do enjoy all of L’Engle’s work and have read some Zimmer and McCaffrey. Loved ‘Misty’ as a kid but haven’t looked at it for years.
    Hugs and blessings,

  9. Claudia, if I wanted to emulate any of the authors on this list, I’d say Quinn and Enoch are the ones I’m striving toward. Regency romance with a good dose of humor. My writing is currently much sweeter as well.

    For me, the Austin family was just more down to earth than the Murrays. In Arm of the Starfish you get to meet Meg & Calvin O’Keefe’s family. I’ve read that one multiple times too. Polly’s a sweet kid and of course there are more twins.

  12. You’re right — there is no overlap! I have read Scoundrel, but it’s not that Scoundrel; it’s a thriller by Bernard Cornwell.

  15. I remember a few of these and I know I read them. Isn’t it fascinating to see what other readers hang onto?
    Me, I reread Dorothy L. Sayers, Frank Herbert and Terry Brooks.

  16. Haven’t heard of most of these. *sorry* But it’s great have that keeper shelf you can always rely on. Too many to mention here, but I’ve got a shelf full myself. 🙂

  19. Oh, I LOVED Misty, too! And I’ve read L’Engle and McCaffrey, but not those particular ones… While I’m not a romance reader, the gypsy books actually look interesting. Neat list!

  20. I haven’t read any of these. I am more a mystery suspense reader.
    Right now I am reading a biography on Padre Pio.
    Maribeth:)

  22. Hmmm…looks like I’ll be adding to my TBR list…again! Do you think the fam will willingly move out of the house for a year or so while I just sit around and read without interruptions? Yeah, I didn’t think so. But it was worth a try!

  23. I was a fan of Marguerite Henry too. Had all of her books, all of the Black Stallion books… Never got into Pern although all my friends were. I have all of the Bridgerton books. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is my fave. There is something about the girl that no one sees that I empathize with.

  25. Kaige, that’s a fabulous list. I kept sighing in pleasure as I read the titles. Loved those two Darkover books the best, too. Actually I liked that era of Darkover better than later time periods. And I love the Anne McCaffrey and Marguerite Henry books.

    Chloe

  27. I haven’t read any of those either! And I don’t know if I could name 13 books I’ve read over and over — at least not as an adult. I’ll have to think about that.

  28. Wow, Kaige! Thank you for including ENGLAND’S PERFECT HERO as one of your rereads. It’s probably the book I’m proudest of writing.

    And it’s amazing how similar our young reading lives are! MISTY, anything by Anne McCaffrey, and I have to add Mary Stewart and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.

    Good luck with the writing! Keep plugging away. I always say that the two hardest words to write are “the end”.

  30. it deleted my post *sigh*

    But, Englands Perfect Hero is one of mine as well – Ms. Enoch – If you come back, thank you for handling his panic attacks with kindness – seriously.

    Kaige, photocopy your list, add
    Romancing Mr Bridgerton
    Slightly Dangerous
    This Heart of Mine
    Pride and Prejudice (of course)
    Long Fatal Love Chase
    The Perfect Rake
    I’ll stop now 🙂

  31. Thanks, Bria — panic attacks are hard to explain unless you’ve had one. Or more. *g*

    And Kaige, your blog has inspired the one I’m posting tomorrow on http://www.thegoddessblogs.com — on books that influenced you as a young person. Stop on by and say hi on Friday, if you get a chance.

  34. It’s true, Kaige – some books are just like comfort food. Comfort books AND comfort food – now that’s really something! I’d have to think of what my list would consist of. Great post. I haven’t read any of those, but I do like some of MZBs other works, so I will definitely check out some of these other titles and authors. =D

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