Clarissa's Top 5 Fav Books

I mentioned the other day that I'd love to hear from you guys about your fav books. I just want to say that I have been really overwhelmed by the response and just want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has put their hand up to join in the fun.

Today I bring you the first in a series of guest posts on the topic of My Fav Books.

Clarissa from the wonderful blog Limpets & Penguins kicks us off today. In her own words -

I am a passionate and excitable biologist who loves to read, go camping and eat tasty food. I blog about anything on my mind or what I have been doing, and like to tell people occasinaly about the great books I have been reading.

I asked Clarissa a couple of questions that I love to ask other readers when we meet up for a chat.

1. Where is your favourite place to read? In your bed, on the lounge? Somewhere nice outside?

At home I love to read in bed or in the bath - both places are so comfy. I also love to read at the end of bushwalks, in foreign cities or when camping. I bring my current read anywhere and I will take any opportunity to read!

2. We all know the old addage, 'You can't judge a book by it's cover', but how true do you believe that really is? And, if you can remember (no pressure here, if you can't think of one) what is your fav book cover? Do you have a fav?

I think covers make a difference when you are browsing in the library or bookshop. I don't think they change your decision in regards to whether I buy a book or not, just a good cover increases the likilihood of me picking up the book to have a look at.

On to my favourite books! In some cases, many of the authors books are my favourite but I decided to just choose the best one if you get me. In no particular order...

1. On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. I absolutely love this book. It is really moving, and definently improves on subsequent readings as the emotions evoked by your knowledge of reading it the first time infuse your subsequent readings. I also love The Piper's Son by Melina which I recently wrote about on my blog.

2. The Messenger by Marcus Zuzuk. Many of you have probably read The Book Thief by Marcus, which is also very good, but The Messenger has to be my favourite of his books. It is a bit quirky but is about an ordinary guy who does extraordinary things - and to me that is a very important part of humanity.

3. Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Ok ok, I know it is a science fiction book but it is a fantastic book and deals with things which I think are important - like how we deal with people of different races, religions etc. This book makes me cry. And how it is important to remember people's lives as they lived them and, though painful, understand what they were trying to achieve. This book is the second in the Ender series and all of the books in this series are great, but in different ways. Other great Orson Scott Card books include The Worthing Saga, Maps in the Mirror (a collection of short stories which includes comments by the author), Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Colombus, and many others. Many of his books have made me think a lot.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This book makes me angry and passionate - which is a good thing - about social justice. It is one of those books which make you want to make a difference but also reflect on how difficult things can be.

5. Any book by Agatha Christie! Seriously - her books are fantastic who dunnits, so clever.

Runnerups include LOTR, The Dark is Rising sequence, Harry Potter, I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes and many more!

Well there you have it! Clarissa's fav books. Make sure you pop over to her blog and say hi too! Speaker for the Dead is one I haven't read myself, so I think that one will be going on to the TBR list! And I love to read in bed too, especially in winter!

Make sure you come back Wednesday to read the next post in the My Fav Books series.