Hey, it's almost summer - time for a reading list! Thanks to my friend Dan at Media Nation for pointing me to The Boston Globe's interactive list of the 100 Essential New England Books (evah, as Dan says).Some of these seem a little too recent to be on a list of the 100 essential anything and others have a tenuous connection to the region. (I guess if the author is from New England or went to school here, that counts.)
I mean, I know Dan Brown grew up in New Hampshire and his protagonist teaches at Harvard but there's really nothing very New Englandish about The Da Vinci Code! Others seem suspiciously more about New York than Boston. (Catcher in the Rye?)
The most-read books, according to votes from readers, are, not surprisingly, a pair of children's classics: Make Way for Ducklings and Charlotte's Web. I'm glad to see some love for one of my childhood favorites, too: Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.
There are lots of books on the list I've read and loved, lots I've been meaning to read. I'm happy Our Town is included. I'll be seeing David Cromer's acclaimed production next month at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York. (Kind of a neat synergy when you think about it: a Chicagoan's take on small-town New Hampshire comes to New York.)
The book on the list that most people want to read: David McCullough's John Adams. The Globe's number-one book is one I'm embarrassed to admit I've never read: Moby-Dick. Although I think I have a copy - somewhere.
6 comments:
Mike Mulligan was perhaps my favorite story as a child. Cool to see it still making new fans!
I've always loved Mike Mulligan, too. When I worked in Syracuse, I covered education and I was once invited to an elementary school to read to a group of fourth graders. That was the story I picked!
Ok my computer is going crazy!!One more try FTW:
I don't think I've ever heard of Mike Mulligan. *paranoia sets in* Does that make me a bad person?
Hey Joseph,
No, of course you're not a bad person! Mike Mulligan and Make Way for Ducklings may not be as common these days. But either one would make a great gift for a young child! And I've often thought that the best books I've read are the ones I read as a kid.
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