March 30, 2005

A Question

This post is a break from our usual tradition of intellectual, eclectic brilliance and wit to ask YOU, the gentle readers, the Beehive Faithful, a question. :-)

What, besides the Bible, do you think are the three best written books in the English language, and why?

I would say:
-- Mansfield Park for the delicacy and maturity of its tone, storyline, characters, themes, and writing
--The Lord of the Rings for the staggering achievement of creating Middle Earth in such entirety and perfection, the beauty of the language, and the incredible plot with echoes of the Bible
--And--- Winnie the Pooh, for creativity, the amazing realness of the characters, the comic timing, and the sheer brilliance of the wonderful and FUNNY writing style.

Yes, I know, that last one is a little odd. But Winnie the Pooh, REAL Winnie the Pooh, not the weak, watered-down Disney version, is one of those books that I just can't stop reading. I go through it at least once a year. :-)

11 comments:

Tim said...

Three? I have to pick three!?! That's a hard one.
--Ivanhoe for its believable characters, excellent writing, and attention to period.
--Winnie-the-Pooh, I agree :). "Charming" isn't a word I use often but I think it applies well.
But I don't think I could choose a third. The Lord of the Rings is my personal favorite and The Wind in the Willows is masterfully written. And there are so many I haven't read that I couldn't make a final decision. I suppose Beowulf doesn't count?

TheHeadGirl said...

fa-so-la-la:
Three? Surely you meant, uh, thirty or something.

Three titles that instantly come to mind:
Pride and Prejudice for its sparkling dialogue and well drawn plot.

ooh, no. It can't be done. There are more than three titles running around in my brain right now. *wimpers from the stress*
Persasion, Dorothy Sayers, Jane Eyre, Glimpses of the Moon, PG Wodehouse.
It won't do. You ask too much and I refuse to be limited by such narrow minded categorization. ;-)

X said...

WINNIE THE POOH? How can that be? I really think that Beowuldf should be in there. Ah, I going towards the poetry side

X said...

I'm*

Anonymous said...

This is Katwoman(still haven't figured out my ding-blasted password :-)

Dahling, you ask the impossible but...

#1 Wind in the Willows, for its keen insight into the minds and imaginations of children, its brilliant descriptions, and its sparkling characters.
#2 Pride and Prejudice, for its biblical view on social status, good parenting, friendships, enemies, wisdom, and love (*sigh* :-).
#3 Till We Have Faces, for its brilliant mastery and reflection of glorious, eternal biblical truths that have a drastic impact not only on our daily lives and happiness, but on our eternal destination. The last few chapters of that book are possibly amoung the most beautiful, soul-stirring words ever written. (I kinda like this one, can you tell?)

My choices are really based upon the progression of a person's maturity in reading and wisdom. First Wind in the Willows(a delightful children's book that my Dad loves to read), then P&P(which can be read by a 9-year-old, but never loses its vivacity and relevancy), and Till We Have Faces, which gives new insight every time you read it. A children's book is not timeless if it does not give pleasure to an 80-year-old.

Unknown said...

Well, mine would have to be:
The Lord of the Rings
-you should know why.
The Sacketts
-because Louis Lamour is such a storyteller and the whole theme of the books are right down my ally.
?????
I think I have a lot more but two will sufice for know.

I will send the letter eventually to ya'll.

ithchick said...

This one's easy:
Lord of the Rings-its scope, way it permeated culture,
Wind in the Willows-its universal appeal, beautiful language,
and
Heretics and Orthodoxy-for its rich theology, also good for depression and general angst of mind

fa-so-la-la said...

Ok, Ithillian Princess, spill the beans-- WHERE did you find Heritics and Orthodoxy? HMMM? I'm dying to read it, and can't find it.

ithchick said...

I own it honey, hardback all the way. I don't know where Mama got it, I'll have to ask.

fa-so-la-la said...

LEND IT TO ME PLEASE? IF YOU PRIZE OUR FRIENDSHIP? :-)

ithchick said...

if my mom will let it out of her sight...sure