# What books are a permanent part of you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620 "2008-08-20T00:48:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/21 "2008-08-20T12:54:43Z")
All of the _Lonesome Dove_ series- I think they’d have to amputate them like a limb to keep me from musing constantly on Gus, Call and gang. Or Bigfoot Wallace from _Dead Man’s Walk._ \*The Stand \* by Stephen King _Melissa_ by Taylor Caldwell- first grownup book I read. _The Godfather_ by Mario Puzo- although the movie is equally absorbable. _English Passengers_ -glad to see even books I’ve read recently can still become ingrained. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/22 "2008-08-20T15:49:15Z")
The Bible- particularly Genesis, the Gospels & Revelation Rand’s Atlas Shrugged Taylor Caldwell’s Dear and Glorious Physician Stoker’s Dracula Shelley’s Frankenstein Lewis’ Narnia & The Great Divorce Walker Percy’s Love in the Ruins King’s The Stand Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth & its counterbalance David Chilton’s The Days of Vengeance Erich Von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods & its counterbalance Brad Steiger’s Mysteries of Time & Space Gary Allen’s None Dare Call It Conspiracy ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/23 "2008-08-20T15:50:13Z")
_The Outsiders_ by SE Hinton - the book that got me writing and the biggest influence on my work even now (I write teen fiction). _Lord of the Rings_ - the idea of a fellowship and doing the right thing even when it’s hard or scary (geek alert: I have the tengwar for nine tattooed on my wrist because of this sentiment :rolleyes: ). Antonia Forest’s Kingscote books - the best-written school stories I’ve ever read, and which have given me a lot of words/phrases I use in my daily vocabulary even if people look at me like I’m nuts. To a slightly lesser extent, _The Grapes of Wrath_, especially Tom Joad’s speech about ‘every time you see a guy fighting for something to eat, I’ll be there’. _The Stand_, partly because it’s a great book and partly for the same sentiments as LOTR - how would you react and which side would you be on if society broke down or you were faced with a challenge that might end in your death? \*1984 \*- sparked off what will probably be a lifelong interestin reading - and writing - dystopian fiction. And _Gone With the Wind_, because it’s brilliant, and if I ever have a daughter I’ll be naming the poor unfortunate Scarlett (or Eowyn, hee hee). ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/24 "2008-08-20T16:02:55Z")
_The Eye of the World_, of the Wheel of Time series. The rest of it not so much, but that first book is burned into my head. _Good Omens_. _Redwall_. _The Dark Tower_ series, which sort of surprises me because I only just read it in the past year. Still, it immediately resonated wonderfully with me. Yeesh, those just define my life. Geekus majorus. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/25 "2008-08-20T16:26:03Z")
Lets see there are several both fiction, and non fiction. Shogun: James Clavell The Caine Mutiny: Herman Wouk Rocket Boys: Homer Hickam The Body: S King Langoliers: S King Carrying the Fire: Michael Collins A Fall of Moondust: Arthur Clarke Mutiny on the Bounty: Nordoff & Hall Demon Haunted World: Carl Sagan Faith Healers: James Randi Icerigger:): Alan Dean Foster Nor Crystal Tears: Alan Dean Foster Brave New World: A Huxley The Time Machine: HG Wells ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/26 "2008-08-20T17:20:16Z")
**Gone with the Wind** and the **Outlander** series by Diana Gabaldon. I’m currently rereading _Outlander,_ and it never fails to delight. I’ve made my daughter promise she’s going to read it after she’s done with _Breaking Dawn_. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/27 "2008-08-20T17:35:54Z")
**The Milagro Beanfield War** , by John Nichols: one of the funniest and most poignant books ever. **White Nile** and to a lesser extent, **Blue Nile** , both by Alan Moorehead. Two of the most readable books about British exploration of the Nile River. **Cradle of The Storms** , and **Mush, You Malemutes** by Bernard Hubbard, S.J.: Two extremely well-written books about his exploration of southwest Alaska, Katmai, etc. **Lonesome Dove** , by Larry McMurtry: one of the literary masterpieces of our time. **Shogun** , by James Clavell: another modern masterpiece. **Mila 18** , by Leon Uris: a powerful novel of the Warsaw Ghetto **Lord of The Rings & The Hobbit** , by Tolkien: It almost seems like a cliche to mention these books, but they were mesmerizing and complex, and displayed true brilliance by the author in creating this world. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/28 "2008-08-20T17:38:56Z")
Pratchett’s books (definitely including Good Omens), LoTR, HitchHiker’s Guide. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/29 "2008-08-20T17:42:18Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Lord of the Rings, Hobbit & Silmarillion all by J.R.R. Tolkien of course. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Stranger in a Strange Land, I Will Fear No Evil, and many others by Heinlein. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee I guess that is about it, The Lensmen series is borderline. [/QUOTE] I need to add the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a serious oversight. Maybe I think of them less as books and more of a complete media presentation. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/30 "2008-08-20T17:52:08Z")
[QUOTE=Indygrrl] _Lord of the Barnyard_, by Tristan Egolf, which is just maybe the best book I’ve ever read. [/QUOTE] _Lord of the Barnyard_ might be my favorite book ever. I was disappointed in _Skirt and the Fiddle_, not because it was bad, but because LotB was such freakin’ genius. I haven’t read \*Kornwolf \* yet. Almost everything I’ve ever read is kicking around in here somewhere, but another book that really stuck with me, that I haven’t seen mentioned (although I may have missed it) is _House of Leaves_. I \*love \* that book. The Navidsons are as real in my mind as my own friends and family. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/31 "2008-08-20T18:11:04Z")
The Lord of the Rings Earth Abides The Naked Sun The Foundation novels ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/32 "2008-08-20T20:43:35Z")
Franny and Zooey Raise Hight the Roofbeams Carpenters The Bell Jar The Catcher in the Rye 'Til We Have Faces The World According to Garp The Hotel New Hamshire The Anne of Green Gables Books ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/33 "2008-08-20T21:14:39Z")
Let’s see… Children’s (or quasi-children’s) fiction: The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe, The Silver Chair, A Ring of Endless Light, & A Wrinkle in Time. Adult fiction: Beach Music, The Secret History, Time Enough for Love, The Lovely Bones. Non-fiction: Demon-Haunted World, The Power of Myth. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/34 "2008-08-20T21:28:35Z")
The \*Harry Potter \*series (I’ve had all seven books–or as many of them as were published at the time–in continuous rotation in my car for the last couple of years. I just can’t get enough of them). Ayn Rand’s _Atlas Shrugged_. \*Watchmen \*(the graphic novel) Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s _The Egypt Game_ Stephen King’s _It_ Jay Williams’ _The Hero from Otherwhere_ (one of my favorite children’s books) The _Three Investigators_ series The _Trixie Belden_ series _The Manitou_ by Graham Masterton _Little Fuzzy_ and its sequels by H. Beam Piper _Flowers in the Attic_ by V. C. Andrews and its immediate sequels (guilty pleasure, but hey…never got into any of those past the FitA series) The Sherlock Holmes stories _House of Zeor_ and its sequels, by Jacqueline Lichtenberg _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_ and _Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator_ by Roald Dahl A lot of the books that are part of my life, I discovered at a very young age. In fact, out of all those I listed here, all of them except Harry Potter were discovered during or prior to college, and most of them when I was a teenager. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/35 "2008-08-20T21:51:06Z")
_Lord of the Rings_ and _The Hobbit_ _Danny the Champion of the World_ and J_ames and the Giant Peach_ by Roald Dahl _The Prydain Chronicles_ by Lloyd Alexander _Wonderful Life_ by Stephen Jay Gould _Assembling California_ by John McPhee _Foucault’s Pendulum_ by Umberto Eco **winterhawk11** - I loved _The Hero from Otherwhere_ when I was a kid! I don’t think that I have thought of that book in 20 years. Didn’t Williams also write the Danny Dunn books? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/36 "2008-08-20T21:53:57Z")
[QUOTE=Ol’Gaffer] **winterhawk11** - I loved _The Hero from Otherwhere_ when I was a kid! I don’t think that I have thought of that book in 20 years. Didn’t Williams also write the Danny Dunn books? [/QUOTE] Yep, along with Raymond Abrashkin. That’s how I found out about THFO in the first place–I was a big Danny Dunn fan as a kid, though haven’t reread them in many many years. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/37 "2008-08-20T21:55:22Z")
The Narnia Chronicles Princess Bride (yes, it was a book first) Transmetropolitan I don’t have them memorized, but Heinlein’s future is definitely part of my mental makeup - his open-mindedness is a big part of me. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/38 "2008-08-20T22:28:57Z")
Heinlein - _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_, _Stranger in a Strange Land_, _Glory Road_, \*Starship Troopers \* (actually almost all of RAH’s work!) Dorothy L Sayers - _Murder Must Advertise_, _Gaudy Night_ James Clavell - _Shogun_ Niven & Pournelle - _The Mote in God’s Eye_ Not one in particular but the whole series of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfeal books and Lindsey Davis’ Falco stories. There must be lots more but these are the ones that sprang to mind immediately. ---
**Author:** ![freekalette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@freekalette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freekalette)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/39 "2008-08-20T22:38:50Z")
In ascending order of entrenchitude: 1. Hobbit/LOTR/Silmarillion 2. Dark Tower series 3. Gordon the Goat, by Munro Leaf (bonus points to this one for being entrenched in my dad’s soul too.) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620/40 "2008-08-21T00:53:24Z")
I’m pretty sure my DNA is made up of these ingredients: **Lord of the Flies** **The Dark Tower** up to Book 3 (the rest of the series was closure and Book 4 was a good tale on its own, but no more than that) **Watership Down** **Of Mice and Men** **War of the Worlds The Time Machine** and, of course, **LOTR.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-books-are-a-permanent-part-of-you/460620.md?page=3)