books and reading

My friends and I are always recommending books to each other. We pull out our notebooks and PDAs and scribble down authors and titles. This sharing is an integral part of our friendships. When I open and browse in 100 One-Nightight Reads, I feel as if I have been talking to a good friend - and want to scribble down notes to myself.

This collection of essays recommending books that one can happily read in one night - is so much more than an annotated bibliography! David and John Major are sharing their own personal recommendations with us all. They are offering an intimate tour of the books that have mattered to them. Each essay has an individual approach and when you read it, you feel as if you have had a conversation with the author.

Sometimes I am reminded of old friends - books such as Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart that had a profound influence on my thinking when I read it twenty years ago; sometimes I am delighted to find a new book that I didn't know about - such as Louis Begley's Wartime Lies that must go on The List. Then it's nice to remember old favorites such as Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep. One of the things I like about this book is that this is not a list of classic books that 'ought' to be read - its much more personal than that - broader in range - and much more fun. As I was reading, I found myself saying "Oh yes, I remember reading that,"- or "I must reread that!" - or "I must remember that one!"

Each essay elicits a specific response and this review would be too long if I wrote down all my comments. But the collection gives pleasure - a persuasive collection, that makes readers want to read more and might encourage those who don't read as much to pick up a book.

I think that teachers and librarians who offer guidance to young people would enjoy this book and find it useful.

100 One Night Reads is a fantastic piece of reference work. Virtually all the books I've read and written on for school over the past two years has been recommended by the Majors.
100 One Nights lets me find books that I know I will like, and that are universally excepted by teachers everywhere as being sophisticated literature. I haven't gone wrong once. Every book I've chosen from 100 One Nights has been well worth my time, and great material for the ensuing report. I've even started reading some of their suggested books just for the hell of it.

How many times have you stood examining a book in a store or library, and wished for more information about the story or the author? Or how often have you presented a book to your reading group to persuade them to select your pick, but couldn't say much about it beyond "I heard this was great?" Now with John and David Major as your passionate and intelligent guides to 100 wonderful books, you can make that informed choice. For each selection, you get their succinct and witty descriptions, which are enjoyable before and after you read the book. If you love to read, I highly recommend that you buy this book. You will use it a lot, and never regret it.