Thursday, April 2, 2009

Speech class party

Our speech class had an end-of-the-year party. Frisbee, candy, soda, awards, other good stuff. Somebody gave me a gift certificate to a local bookstore (for teaching)... now I don't know what book to get. I never get books, I always use the Library. If I get books, it's because I think they're worth reading again and again, and worth keeping for my children to read. If I get books, it's because somebody gives them to me as a gift (or as a gift certificate). If I get books, it's because I want a copy preserved if our country ever became a fascist regime.

Which makes picking books tough. So far all I've thought of is That Hideous Strength or Mere Christianity.

Any suggestions?

6 comments:

  1. Do. I. Ever. Well, I feel horribly insecure about any suggestions I could make, (like seriously, books that could top That Hideous Strength or Mere Christianity in buy-ability, pshaw) but whatever.

    - Tale of Two Cities. Because a really nice hardcover copy of this book is both a household staple and a definite for inclusion in a time capsule. It's just, yeah. Brilliant. Perhaps one of the best technical novels ever written. Yeah.
    - Lord of the Flies. I feel like everyone should have two copies of this book - the nice shelf copy and then the beat up copy for marking up and such. But I have a feeling you already have this one.
    - Alas, Babylon. The bummer about this book is that it's not being published in hardcover, but it's freaking brilliant, one of my favorite books of all times, and definitely a book you want to have if society collapses or something. Practical, philosophical, and interesting.
    - Norton's Poetry Anthology. No joke, you'll probably have to buy one for college anyway, and anthologies are just amazing. Basic overview of the most brilliant poetry of the civilized world condensed into one book.

    Also, bookstores also sell notebooks. When I get gift certificates I rarely spend them on books, but instead stock up on those ridiculously expensive, leather-bound Italian notebooks. Just throwing it out there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't buy Dickens. I hate Dickens. He's a great writer I'm sure, but I was scarred as a child, I will never like Dickens.

    I can't believe I didn't think of Lord of the Flies! We don't even have a copy in our house *shock*

    I'll have to read the other two first. Which is good, since my reading list is pretty bare right now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, notebooks, I buy them at the dollar tree and then give them duct-tape covers. Heh, it's all about what's on the inside.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just go with That Hideous Strength and be done with it ;)

    I don't know if this counts as "regifting" but sometimes when I get a gift certificate I buy books to give to other people because I think the book is THAT good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My suggestion:
    "Jayber Crow" by, Wendell Berry

    I've never read a better "novel."

    I would not be the same person without it.
    The book changed me; it changed the way I see the world; it changed the way I love the world.


    Seriously.

    (and if you don't buy it...I'll lend you my copy...because you HAVE to read this book)

    ReplyDelete