Baby, You're So Classic

“What’s your favorite book?” That’s a question I get asked a lot—mostly on first dates . . . but also when people find out that I write. And talk about an unanswerable question! First, I read 90 to 150 books a year, so that’s a few books to choose from. Second, books are like food—it depends on what you’re in the mood for. Pasta? Sushi? Burritos? Fantasy? Contemporary? Classic? Even within those genres, it’s hard to choose, so I’ll be doing a series of posts with some favorites for each. This week’s winner is classics. They all happen to be short, so you can get your summer goal to read a classic done ASAP. ;)

1. My all-time favorite classics? The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. All seven books. If pushed to choose one, I would say . . . no, don’t make me choose! I’m sitting here running through them in my mind and I can’t pick. If I read one, I have to read them all. These books are awesome for a couple of reasons. First, they represent my deep-down fantasy that I, an ordinary girl, could be called into extraordinary circumstances and not just triumph but end up being crowned a queen. Second, I love the idea that God (in these books represented by the Aslan, the great Lion) always watches over us, seen or unseen, and guides our journey. Third, I’ve always wanted to shoot an arrow like Susan Penvensie (as seen on YouTube).

2. Second favorite classic: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This book makes me want to cry, and it’s the fox’s fault. As the little prince travels, he meets a fox who asks him to tame him. The fox says it’s okay that the prince will move on and leave him because he’ll be happy to look at the wheat fields and be reminded of the prince’s hair. Well, despite this disclaimer, the fox cries when the little prince is about to leave. In frustration, the prince says it did the fox no good to be tamed when his pain was the inevitable result. The fox replies that has done him good because of the color of wheat. In other words, no matter how hard it is to leave people or experiences behind, they were worth it because of what they added to your life and your heart. In the words of Wicked, “Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” Heart: #wrenched.

3. The Giver by Lois Lowry. This book is simply written but punches me in the heart every time. The Giver’s society has chosen a highly regimented, emotionless lifestyle because it’s safer and easier than dealing with the uncertainty, pain, and joy that comes with free will, emotions, and risk. The old Giver is charged with remembering these experiences and emotions for the whole society and then passing them down to the new Giver. I love how this book shows the beauty and novelty of normal things like snow, music, or laughter. To me, this book embodies the role that awe should play in my life. Are there stars out tonight? Look up. Do I get to spend time with people I love? Take a moment to appreciate that.

4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Do I need to explain why I love that book? No. Come to my house at Christmastime and we can read it together. (My mom has read it to the family every Christmas for 20+ years, so . . . yeah I’m pretty much an expert on how it should sound when read aloud.)

So there you have it—my favorite classics. Comment below with your favorite classic and why you love it. Then stayed tuned for next week’s fantasy favorites!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash