My First Love … The Hobbit

The Hobbit Movie comes out this week.   I am taking this occasion to respond to an award nomination months ago from David at Lead.Learn.Live.   His site is the place to go daily for some inspiration and fun.  Back in September he nominated me for the Booker Award.

I love to read and thought it was cool to list some of my favorite books.  Alas, it took me a few months to write about it.  Hey, I was too busy reading!

With these awards there are rules.  As I get deeper into my blog life I realize that rules are well, guidelines.  1) Nominate 5-10 bloggers and let your recipients know. (2) Post The Booker Award picture. (3) Share your top 5 books of all time.

Let’s see if I get around to nominating fellow bloggers.  For those reading this post do share your own list of favorite books.  No need to list five … remember these are guidelines.

Okay, here is my list.  Give me a week and it may change and that is good.   My love of reading is profound.  It is my main means to relax; to slow the heart rate, breathe, and open the mind to possibilities.  This list has a few book series, but once again … guidelines, not rules.

1. The Red and the Black (Le Rouge et le Noir) by Stendhal: A classic (French 1830); A complex book full of great characters and considered the first psychological thriller.
2. The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov: I read it for extra credit in High School Physics.  History, vast space and a human story.  Science Fiction rocks.
3. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.  I love his writing.  He has larger scale books with deep, deep feeling and meaning.  This book though, while short, speaks to me.  Great characters that seem so real.  Have you ever smelled a book?  This book smells of fresh seafood, of life.
4. The Gabriel Allon Spy Series by Daniel Silva:  Great writing and modern-day spy novels.  Start at the beginning and go.  Did I mention great writing?
5. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: My favorite book.  It was voted as the best book of the 20th Century.  Yep, I am in good company.  I hope that those who only know the movies read the books.  So well written and a thrill each time I read it (yea, a few times).
6. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien:  The first book I remember reading as a young teenager and wanting more.  It started me as a book reader and specifically searching out fantasy / science fiction novels.

You never forget your first love.  From all accounts the new Hobbit movie will be great.  All the better to get me to read the book yet again.