100 Book Challenge Meme

[delphi]

Throwing my list in for the 100 Books Challenge meme:

Delphi's Formative Reading

As some other folks have noted on theirs, this isn't a rec list or endorsement of any of the authors or content, just a look back at books that shaped me personally or creatively—ones that made me think about myself or the world in different ways, ones that made me realize the possibilities of writing, and ones I just glommed onto. There's one or two there that I only read about ten years back, but for the most part these are books from my childhood, teens, and twenties. I limited authors to one book, going with the first one of theirs that made a deep impression.

If you give it a go, let me know how many you've read!

(I started by just trying to think of a hundred books I re-read in my youth, without factoring in any importance, but once the list came together, I looked it over and was like: Yeah...that tracks.)

Comments

[kitarella_imagines]

I haven’t read many of your list of books but a few stand out (in no particular order:)

1. Danny The Champion Of The World—LOVED this book. The subterfuge. The lovely relationship between Danny and his widowed dad. The caravan. The great pheasant caper with the raisins.

2. Making History—an intriguing idea about what if Hitler had been replaced by a popular, attractive, charismatic leader? Plus a cute gay storyline in the years when this was still a bit shocking. I suppose we are now seeing what would happen if Hitler had been popular aren’t we, in the world.

3. Mrs Frisbee And The Rats Of NIMH—another childhood favourite. Kind of scary, kind of cool, with an environmental message. I can’t remember it too well but it was an experience.

4. Reaper Man—another one I can’t remember much about, but I really like the universe Terry Pratchett created.

5. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole—this is SUCH a great depiction of 1980s Britain. It really brought back memories of my adolescence as I am almost exactly the same age as Adrian Mole!

6. Tales Of The City—this was such a lovely series. Again, showing non heterosexual relationships and characters which was so refreshing in the decades when people were nervous of anything non heterosexual. I also found out recently that the actor who played Michael ‘Mouse’ Tolliver was also in The Professionals when he was about 12! Playing a feisty kid who tries to fight off kidnappers.

The book that made THE biggest difference to my life, however, was Great Expectations. I swore that I would never become a Miss Havisham and pine after a man who broke my heart and base my life around someone like that. So, when a man came along who did break my heart, I didn’t pine after him. I let him go, moved on, found someone else and lived happily ever after. So thank you, Miss Havisham and Charles Dickens.

[delphi]

Oh wow, I had no idea that Marcus D'Amico had been in an episode of the Professionals. Looking him up just now, I unfortunately hadn't known he passed away a few years ago, far too young.

And oh, Great Expectations is a great pick. I think it was my favourite Dickens when I was younger. That's a good philosophy to take from it, too. ❤️

Funnily enough, Reaper Man is one of the Discworld novels that riffs off Great Expectations a bit, with Miss Flitworth (whose fiance disappeared before the wedding) being someone who likewise moved on instead of doubling down, albeit with lingering doubts that Death helps resolve at the end.

[kitarella_imagines]

I thought the boy looked familiar so I looked him up and found out his identity. The Professionals episode was Weekend in the Country, I'm sure you found that out. He played quite an important role, I expect he really enjoyed being in such a popular show with famous actors like Martin and Lewis. Sad that he died so young though.

Yes, no way was I going to pine over a man and end up like Miss Havisham! Life is too short, what was she thinking to let that idiot ruin her life. Man up, woman! LOL.

I enjoyed reading quite a few Pratchett books but it was many years ago so they’ve all merged into one. Maybe that’s why I liked Reaper Man subconsciously though—the Great Expectations angle? I enjoyed Good Omens too but I don’t remember Crowley and Aziraphale being lovers.

[delphi]

I think Good Omens might have been my first Pratchett, and it would have made the list if I hadn't read Gaiman's Sandman first and was trying to limit each author's appearance to one book. I read Good Omens to tatters when I was younger, and I ended up really enjoying the television adaptation—especially the decision to make it explicitly a love story.

[kitarella_imagines]

It might have been my first too…not sure. It must be 20 years or so since I read it and the main thing I remember about it is the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

I never watched the TV version for some reason. Probably because I'm a bit tired of David Tennant, he seems to be everywhere these days, so does Michael Sheen. If they’d had lesser known actors I might be more keen.

I'm glad you enjoyed it though, it seems to be a really popular show and fandom. Maybe one day I'll watch it, I'm usually late to fandoms, and like them long after everyone else has moved on🙄😅