Welcome to Danielle's Best Books Blog!

So why a blog about best books?

Back in 1987 my favourite English teacher, Mrs White, presented our class with a list of "must reads". I poured over this list happily ticking off the ones I'd already read and excited at the prospect of having been given some direction in developing my reading interests further. Since then whenever I've come across a "must have read", "top 100 books", "all time favourite books" list, I'm taken back to that class and the inspiration I felt. Twenty odd years later and with four years studying literature at Uni under my belt, I think I'm also fairly able to check the list with a more discerning eye and not just blindly vow to read them all. Then it occurred to me, why not create my own list?

A couple of weeks ago I sat and with a blank Excel spreadsheet before me, I started my own list. Not an easy task I can assure you! I scanned my bookshelf taking note of the books I'd loved, but what about books I'd borrowed from the library or from friends? Slowly but surely I compiled my list.

There are around 40 books on the list and it is by no means exhaustive. My reading days are far from done! The only criteria I set for inclusion is that it must have been enjoyable to read and have moved me in some way: made me laugh, made me cry, made me think, made me want to read it again.

Although I've read many books that are deemed "classics" or "high end", I think it's fair to say that some of these books were a chore to read. I would wade through them because it was required of me but could hardly wait to reach the end. While my list certainly includes classics, it also includes books that could be considered "popular" or even (God forbid) "commercial".

When it comes to books, can you ever read widely enough?