“Oh magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words.” “From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came into adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived. As she read, at peace with the world and happy as only a little girl could be with a fine book and a little bowl of candy, and all alone in the house, the leaf shadows shifted and the afternoon passed. ” -from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (1943) Facebook statuses have recently been overflowing with The 10 Book Challenge: "In your status, post 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don't take more than a few minutes and don't think too hard. They don't have to be the 'right' books or great works of literature, just ones that have affected you in some way." I was tagged and have decided to share my faves here on my blog. I have to say that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn quickly came to mind! Here is my quick list of books that have had an impact on me (sorry, I couldn't quite keep it at 10, so here are the Top 15 Books I Love)... 1. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White 2. Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder 3. Heidi by Johanna Spyri 4. Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard 5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 8. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 9. Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries (& Harriet Vane) by Dorothy Sayers 10. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling 11. Kristin Lavransdatter Trilogy by Sigrid Undset 12. 84 Charing Cross Road (and all others) by Helene Hanff 13. Andy Catlett: Early Travels: A Novel by Wendell Berry 14. Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis 15. Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father translated by Vera Bouteneff Honorable mention/Not to be missed: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien; Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren; Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene; James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small series; Little Britches books by Ralph Moody; The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett; Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes; Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth Jr.; Pride and Prejudice and Emma by Jane Austen; David Copperfield by Charles Dickens; Mitford Series by Jan Karon; Grand Duchess Elizabeth by Lubov Millar. Did I leave out any of your Top 10...15...or 20???