Blog assignment #1 -- Most memorable books

My most memorable reading experiences come from several different genres and appear below in no particular order.  Each of these books has, in some way, left a significant mark on me.

1.  When The Sun Goes Down: A Collection of Philmont Ghost Stories, Lori and Jared Chatterley.  I read this immediately after I had gotten off the trail from a three week backpacking trek going through Philmont, the location that the book has stories of.  On my backpacking trip we went through almost every spot that the book has a ghost story for.  The book has a majority of its ghost stories set on top of Urraca Mesa.  On a map, Urraca Mesa looks like a skull, and there is one spot that is called "The Eye" (because it looks like the eye of the skull).  The Anasazi believed that "The Eye" was the portal to the afterlife and that a creature - the Imp - protected it so that evil spirits would never get out.  Many stories have been told about the area.  On my trip, my crew was told many of these scary stories, and one night hiked onto Urraca Mesa at midnight and slept inside "The Eye."  (I get chills by simply writing this account)

2.  Boy Scouts Handbook (The First Edition, 1911).  As a Boy Scout, this was a particularly interesting read for me.  The current 2010 edition is extremely different from the 1911 edition.  I very much enjoyed discovering how many differences there are between editions, and seeing what it was like to be a scout in 1911.  Requirements for the ranks and merit badges were much different.  There were also some badges that we no longer have, such as "Stalking."  The two sections that struck me the most were the chapters titled "Chivalry" and "Patriotism and Citizenship."  The section on chivalry talked about the old knights and stories of pioneers and struggles for freedom.  It is a great section that teaches good manners, cheerfulness, character, courage, duty to God, and qualities that each scout should individually develop.  I was also surprised to find a whole section that covered U.S. history in how we acquired our land, the wars we have been a part of, significant figures such as Abraham Lincoln, the functions of government, military, etc... The book ends with a letter written by President Theodore Roosevelt emphasizing the importance of scouting, and supporting the Boy Scout movement.

3.  The Bible.  I've been reading through the Bible to strengthen my faith.  It is a book that is in many ways widely misunderstood.  Through deeper study and analysis I have been able to find truth that strengthens my belief in God.  I've carried it many places with me.

4.  The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara.  This reading for AP US History fed my interest in Civil War history.  As soon as I began to read this book, I could not put it down and finished it within three days.  The history got me interested in the events that occurred at Gettysburg, and the different perspectives that the story was told from particularly hooked me.  It was interesting to get a glimpse into the minds of both Union and Confederate leaders.

5.  Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury.  The story of this book hooked me.  I kept reading to find out what would happen to such a censored and brain washed civilization.  I found the book frightening in its suggestions on what could happen in a censored and homogeneous society where all books are banned and people are all alike.

6.  The Maximum Ride Series, James Patterson.  I read this series around 7th and 8th grade, and something about teenage mutant bird people interested me.  98% human, 2% avian, adventure, action, and a plot to save the world.

7.  The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins.  I honestly did not think that I would enjoy these three books when I first heard about them.  My younger cousins loved them, and my mom had read the first one and suggested that I read it.  I picked the first book up while traveling over spring break during 11th grade.  I simply couldn't put them down until I discovered what had happened to all of the characters.  I got through the first book quickly, and could not stop until I finished the third.  I finished the trilogy over one week.  It was a new kind of book for me, and the whole survival aspect kept everything interesting.

8.  Redwall, Brian Jacques.  A story filled with action, adventure, and interesting mice/rat characters.  This novel caught my attention at a younger age.  The plot is filled with mystery and develops perfectly to grab the attention of young boys.

9.  The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame.  I read this book during middle school, and don't remember too much about it.  I remember really loving the story and animal characters.  It contains a variety of character personalities, adventure, morality...  It is a book that I will definitely go back to read again soon.

10.  Where The Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls.  I read this at about 13, and loved the raccoon hunting stories.  It is a great read about a boy and his two hunting dogs.  I fell in love with the dogs and the ending was very touching.  In my adventures into the wilderness, I now always look for ferns.