Eliza Maxwell’s Top Ten Books – and a Few Pet Peeves

When someone asks for a personal top ten list for books, I always panic a little.  “That’s too vague!” I cry, already imagining the amazing books that I won’t be able to fit onto the list.  “Ten books written for kids? Ten beautifully written books that moved me to tears? Ten books by women? Ten books by men? Ten mysteries that shocked me? Ten circus books? Ten books that taught me something about life, love, diversity, culture, death, parenthood, millennials?  It’s too much!  I need parameters!”

My husband, ever the voice of reason, says, “Calm down. Just list the books you’ve read more than once.”

Whew. Sigh of relief.  I can do that.  So without political agenda and without worrying about whether there is enough representation for the various amazing authors, stories, and voices out there, I’ve gone through my shelves and tipped out the first ten books (or series of books) that I have verifiably read more than once, most more than twice.

#10

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

“I have not broken your heart – you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.”
― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

#9

Ender’s Game/ Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card

“Sometimes David kills Goliath, and people never forget. But there were a lot of little guys Goliath had already mashed into the ground. Nobody sang songs about those fights…”
― Orson Scott Card, Ender’s Shadow

#8

It by Stephen King

“Home is the place where when you go there, you have to finally face the thing in the dark.”
― Stephen King, It

#7

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

“Now … if you trust in yourself … and believe in your dreams … and follow your star … you’ll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy. Goodbye.”
― Terry Pratchett, The Wee Free Men

#6

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

“Men are simpler than you imagine my sweet child. But what goes on in the twisted, tortuous minds of women would baffle anyone.”
― Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

#5

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

“You think you know how this story is going to end, but you don’t.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal

#4

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

“I wanted to cry, but I realized that I was too old for that. I would be a woman soon and I would have to learn how to live with a divided heart.”
― Anita Diamant, The Red Tent

#3

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

“It has been said that civilization is twenty-four hours and two meals away from barbarism.”
― Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

#2

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

“Have a biscuit, Potter.”

– J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

#1

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King

“Did they all live happily ever after? They did not. No one ever does, in spite of what the stories may say.”
― Stephen King, The Eyes of the Dragon

As a bonus for those of you who made it to the end, I’ll throw in a mini-list of Pet Peeves: (You’re welcome. ☺ )

1. Sitting in a warm seat
2. Putting peanut butter in the fridge.
3. People in my personal space in the check-out line.
4. Reading the end of the book first.
5. Duck faces.