I have read most of Wallace Stegner's books, and love his writing. Angle of Repose was my first to read, and it remains my favorite, partly because one of the locations in the book is an area in which my mother grew up, so I was able to identify with the story. All of his books are written beautifully.

The first books I ever remember reading were The Boxcar Children and then Nancy Drew. I think this is when my love of reading began. Reading Sue Barton, the nurse series, was my first introduction to the career I would choose. Later, I read Gone With the Wind which is my favorite book of all time. I've read it so many times I can't count. I read alot but those books are a part of my history.

For the longest time, my favorite book was To Kill A Mockingbird. Then a few years ago, I read The Secret Life of Bees. I think TKAM is still my all time favorite. I saw the movie first and loved it then read the book and loved it, too. The thing that really stuck with me, I hope it changed me for the better, was the theme of empathy and never harming the Boo Radley's and Tom Robinson's that we encounter in our own lives.

I can honestly say that YOUR BOOK has meant a lot to me!! I read 2-3 books a week and do reviews for two different venues. I haven't had a book affect me quite the way this one has in a very long time. Your personal story very much mirrored my own experience with my grandmother and your writing reignited my emotions and love for her. Reading is a gift we can all share in and it's so important to remind ourselves it need never be a solitary hobby. Bravo, Mr Schwalbe!!

A favorite book from my childhood is Laura Ingalls Wilder's The Long Winter. My family moved all over the US when I was growing up but my grandparents and great grandparents were pioneers in South Dakota. That book gave me such a sense of identity that I went on to read every one in our litttle mobile library that she wrote. Many years later, I read them to my children during an especially difficult winter. Their simplicity and and good will rang true all those years later.

As an adult, The Color Purple helped me to understand the deep power of love especially in the face of great trials and injustices. Two books I recently finished before your wonderful book continue to haunt me and cause me to rethink my assumptions. The are The Book Thief and Mornings in Jenin. Others have mentioned the difficulty of chosing which books meant the most, and I couldn't agree more. The amazing thing to me is that so often the perfect book finds its way to my hands at the perfect time. Your book helped me following the death of a special aunt. Love of family and books shine in every chapter.

Dolena,

Oh how you brought back memories!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Little Women. I have read that book at least 10 times!!! You brought back some fond memories!!!

My other childhood favorites were HARRIET THE SPY by by Louise Fitzhugh and The Little House on the Prairie series.

I've read GWTW twice and one of these days I'd like to read it again. This summer I went to a signing of an author who wrote a bio of Margaret Mitchell and the process of publishing her novel. The little I've read is fascinating. It took her so long because she kept putting it away, thinking it had no merit. I need to get back to that book. Oh, to have the time to read all I'd like to!

I have been giving the same answer to this question for so many years, "To Kill A Mockingbird". This is written so beautifully and the characters are so alive and the story is just as important, even today, that it just never gets old or irrelevant. Much like Will's mother I find that there are certain books that I have to read again every few years. This is also one of the few books that you can cheat and watch the movie. I fell in love with Gregory Peck and he will forever be Atticus.